Pentax K10D?

[Sidebyte]

With all of the hullabaloo concerning the Pentax K10D before it was available I find it curious that there is almost no input regarding the camera by users? I see more posts even regarding the Sony? Is it the lack of lenses or maybe the acquisition by Hoya that seems to maybe minimize the popularity and reporting of the camera.

It looked so good on paper vs. its competitors in the same price range. The Olympus 410/510 is getting a lot of attention also......

[Mr. Pickles]

Maybe Pentax shooters shoot more and don't talk at all about their stuff? I don't know. Suppose to be a very good camera, but the lens options they have don't appeal to me, but I can see some that would love their line of lenses.

[bogiesbad]

Originally Posted by Sidebyte

With all of the hullabaloo concerning the Pentax K10D before it was available I find it curious that there is almost no input regarding the camera by users? I see more posts even regarding the Sony? Is it the lack of lenses or maybe the acquisition by Hoya that seems to maybe minimize the popularity and reporting of the camera.

It looked so good on paper vs. its competitors in the same price range. The Olympus 410/510 is getting a lot of attention also......

Greetings from a new member,
Please forgive my abundant ignorance I am making the move from point-&-shoot to DSLR.
I just bought the K10D and eagerly await delivery. I bought this camera for a few reasons: Price...@ $800 w/lens (and 2-day shpg) I could afford this
Construction...70 some-odd seals; claimed weather resistance
Lenses...I understood the shake reduction incorporated into the sensor allowed
the use of non-IS lenses (unlike Canon)...I assumed all Pentax mount
lenses would work (some with adaptors) per manufacturers claims
I would appreciate any input on my decision and once I get my hands on the camera I will post my uninformed review
chris

[Mr. Pickles]

The K10D sounds by all accounts like a fine tool. I wouldn't send it immediately back because people don't post about it.

Keep in mind that weather resistance doesn't mean "under water capable".

As for the in-body IS, which is becoming popular from those other than Canon or Nikon (IS in the lens is "better", especially for longer lenses, but does cost), it should work with ALL the current Pentax lenses, but may NOT work with older ones, with or without an adapter. The reason is the electronics between the lens and body. If the camera isn't allowed to tell what the focal length of the lens is, it can't compensate for camera shake. So, naturally, manual lenses won't work with IS.

Still, it isn't a Pentax limitation. It is the same with the new Olympus and others.

So open the package when it comes, read the manual (ha), and take some shots with an open mind. And post your examples here. I'm sure you'll get some good info to back up what you think of your new piece of equipment.

Enjoy...

[bogiesbad]

Thanks Mr. Pickles,
I made use of the search and found a thread which reinforces my decision. I learned at an early age with a Pentax Asahi (?spl) given to me by my dad. I've been drooling over the pro-sumer DSLR's for several years but I'm happy Pentax entered the market at a time I could afford one...very excited

[Mr. Pickles]

And Pentax "pancake" prime lenses are pretty neat and a lot of others would like their camera brand to do the same.

[tcom]

Originally Posted by Mr. Pickles

As for the in-body IS, which is becoming popular from those other than Canon or Nikon (IS in the lens is "better", especially for longer lenses, but does cost), it should work with ALL the current Pentax lenses, but may NOT work with older ones, with or without an adapter. The reason is the electronics between the lens and body. If the camera isn't allowed to tell what the focal length of the lens is, it can't compensate for camera shake. So, naturally, manual lenses won't work with IS.

While it is true that the body needs to know the focal length of the lens for in camera SR (shake reduction as Pentax names it) to work, the K10D (or K100D) displays an additional menu when switched on with a lens not reporting the focal length. The menu lets the user select manually the focal length. So SR even works with old M42 lenses.

I have used SR with 30-35 years old M42 lenses without any problem.

[tcom]

I am using a K10D and I am very happy with it. The body performs really well. The user interface is in my opinion very well designed. A lot of functions are available directly on the body without having to go into the menu, and with the latest firmware upgrade, you can even press the ok button and change iso setting with one of the control wheel. I find it great.

I have posted the one or other photo taken with this DSLR. Some full size samples are under K10D Photo Gallery by Dominique Schreckling at pbase.com.

On my last holidays, I have done a three weeks trip through the Egyptian desert, going from oasis to oasis. I was careful about sand, but the weather sealing of the body did a great job. I have some photos of the trip under Egypt 2007 Photo Gallery by Dominique Schreckling at pbase.com.

As for the lenses, it is true that the lens line up is not on par with Canon or Nikon. But Pentax recognized it and is working hard on extending the range. Apart from that, you can still use lenses from third party manufacturer. I am using a Sigma 17-70, a Tokina 80-400 ATXII and just added a Voigtlander 125/2.5 APO Lanthar macro lens without any problem.

I have also a lot of photos taken with either K10 or K100 on Around Lake Constance Photo Gallery by Dominique Schreckling at pbase.com

Hope I could help.

[TankSlapper]

I have the K10D and am very happy with it (I am a relative newb to DSLRs, so take my opinion for what it is worth).

I chose it over the Nikon and Canon of similar cost because of the build quality, seals, in body IS, and the layout of the controls. It also has some neat shooting modes (like aperature priority).

I knew I would be worse off as far as fast auto focus, but the new lenses that are rumored to be coming in the near future should do better. In good light I think it is on par with the other brands (of similar price point, of course). It seems to be not as good in low light.

You can see some of my shots here:
Pentax K10D Photo Page
Sea Otter Classic 2007 - Sunday

There doesn't seem to be too many "Pentaxians" on this board. I do see a lot of discussion on some other forums.

[bogiesbad]

Very nice photos tcom and tankslapper...

I just got my hands on the K10D and I'm quite impressed....but somewhat dismayed as I will need some time to even begin to use it's features correctly. I am also concerned about feeling something shifting inside the camera when it is tuned on end and back again. It is very slight but I can definitely feel movement...do any of you owners feel the same thing...I hope.

[TankSlapper]

bogiesbad: The movement you feel is normal on these cameras.... This was a reply from Pentax regarding the "klunking" (from another forum)

Dear Sir/Madam,

That noise is the anti-shake reduction sensor inside. So you have
nothing to worry about.

Thank you for contacting Pentax.

Good luck and post up some pics when you can!

[bogiesbad]

Originally Posted by TankSlapper

bogiesbad: The movement you feel is normal on these cameras.... This was a reply from Pentax regarding the "klunking" (from another forum)

Dear Sir/Madam,

That noise is the anti-shake reduction sensor inside. So you have
nothing to worry about.

Thank you for contacting Pentax.

Good luck and post up some pics when you can!

Thanks TankSlapper,
I am very much relieved. I used it last night for the first time (other than a few test shots) at the local fourth of July fireworks display and got some wonderful shots...thanks to the search engine and Mr. Pickles, and others. I will post some here this evening...I am quite anxious to get some criticism.
chris

[bogiesbad]

I really need to work on my photo management skills...here's a few:






I wish I had shot from a higher perspective to add more reflections...

[Mr. Pickles]

Looks like the camera works well to me.

[nighthunter]

I love mine

[djarvis]

I've had my K10D for about 6 months now, after first having a Canon Digital Rebel. It is definitely not as easy a camera to use, but I love it. Has much more capability, and I like the built in image stabilization and weather sealing, since I am by nature too lazy to lug a tripod.

As to the learning curve, Pentax built this camera to be more appealing to advanced film users, I have read. It definitely catches what you see - if pics indoors with tungsten lights, for example, then they will have a tungsten yellow tinge with the Auto White Balance. That being said, when in a hurry I just put it on P or the Green box setting, and point and shoot with good results generally.

But it is the settings that give it power. I love the easy adjustments of the TAv mode (shutterspeed and aperture) along with ISO at the same time, all by programming the dials to do what you want, so no buttons or menus needed for ISO adjustment. Also, the shooting speed is very quick, and with JPEGs on a fast card, unlimited. (I use SandDisk Extreme III, and shooting JPEGs, can't shoot faster than the files copy.)

The only downside of my K10D is that the fill-flash quit working already. After shooting outside all day long on a drive across southern Wisconsin, I took it back to the camera shop I got it at, and they took care of sending it back under the 1 year warranty. Now I am in withdrawal, waiting for it to come back.... but already about 1300 pics to go through and convert from DNGs to keep me busy.

All-in-all, very happy with it. Haven't posted to a forum yet because until I sent it in for the repair, I didn't have time for this kind of thing!

[tcom]

In case interested, I have added a new gallery with the photos of my recent trip in South Africa, all photos done with K10D. The camera worked very well, had not any problem under rain nor in the dusty Kalahari desert.

The photos are here: South Africa Photo Gallery by Dominique Schreckling at pbase.com