Pentax *ist DL?

[Spacey]

I am really interested in the *ist DL - especially with a $100 rebate from Pentax.

Does anyone have any comments on the unit? It'll be with the 18-55 lens. How is the build quality? Bettery life? Any other comments?

[Rokcet Scientist]

Why a *ist DL, Spacey? (How do you pronounce that anyway?). You have other Pentax-mount lenses?

[scoundrel1728]

Rokcet, do you have a good reason why Spacey shouldn't choose a *ist DL?

[Spacey]

No, I dont have Pentax lenses.

$469 (w/ 18-55 kit lens)
& $100 Pentax rebate
= price just right for me.

(sorry if that seemed really simple minded) I've thought about the others (D50, 350D) - I have a plethora of SD and MMC memory, it wouldnt catch much money if I sold it. The D50, unless it comes in under $500 with the lens, just doesnt fit the picture (pun not intended).

I dont have much CF memory, and not entirely looking to invest. The 350D feels too plastic'y to my liking. ( I guess I'm preaching to myself, but anyone that has an opnion)

[Rokcet Scientist]

Rokcet, do you have a good reason why Spacey shouldn't choose a *ist DL?

Maybe, scoundrel:
when you buy – and pay(!) for – a (d)SLR you pay for a system of a body with interchangeable lenses. You'll only benefit from the interchangeable lens system if you get more than one such lens. The enthusiast (d)SLR user will thus end up with 2, 3, or more lenses.
So, if you know, or realize – in advance – that you will eventually need more lenses for your (d)SLR, then you may also realize you will want as much choice as possible when that day comes. However, the second you buy brand A or brand B (d)SLR, you will have locked yourself into that brand's system. That system better have as much choice in lenses as possible then, no?
That's why the choice of brand is soooo important: buying a (d)SLR is painting yourself into a corner, whichever way you look at it. So that corner better be the corner you want to be in.

But do you know how to pronounce "*ist"?

[sean_buerger]

Hi there,

why not a Pentax indeed? One has to start somewhere!

What I understand from it, is that it has a great view finder which is very important to me (especially since my camera doesn't have one, haha). Apparently it's much better to use the camera in RAW as the built in JPEGGING doesn't squeeze out the last bit of sharpness. Kit Lenses are usually nothing more than a temporary thing, until you find, that you need to get something that utilizes the camera resolution better.

Much more important than all this is however, that you like what you are buying! Does it feel comfortable in YOUR hand? Is the menu structure understandable to YOU? Does the feature set appeal to YOU?

Don't care about us, when YOU buy a camera! It has to fit YOU!

Just my thought. Sean.

[mikaelwardhana]

I totally agree with rocket science in this case...buying a DSLR is not only about the camera! it is the system..once you buy a brand, you will be locked with it.

And by the way, do you know that those pentax DSLRs are selling sooo cheap second hand?

Please please please get away from pentax (sorry to pentax users out there)...thats my best suggestion.
There's nothing wrong with the camera itself...but the whole system is really not that appealing.

Go with Canon, Nikon/Fuji, or Olympus...these three systems are the most esteblished so far.

I think many here agree with what i just said...

again...pentax....please dont...

[Rokcet Scientist]

But still nobody who know hows to pronounce "*ist"!

[sean_buerger]

ist is german for is :

[Max@Home]

Originally Posted by mikaelwardhana

Go with Canon, Nikon/Fuji, or Olympus...these three systems are the most established so far.

...or if need be: Konica/Minolta (- Sony), also an established name...

*my* €0.02 worth...

PS: *ist DL = asteriskist DL ? still un pronounce able

Kindest regards,

Max@Home

[dougjgreen]

To me, the ONLY question with the Pentax system ought to be whether you consider a 6 MP camera enough. Pentax makes many of the finest lenses in the world - especially their current wide angles are superb. Pentax DSLRs tend to have the best viewfinders of any current inexpensive DSLRs, and it's not even close. And the fact that there are a HUGE number of older legacy lenses that will work just fine on their K-bayonet mount, which has been around for 30 years - and many of these lenses can be found for pennies on the dollar in the used market.

Personally, I went with Olympus, but I can certainly understand that the value proposition of the Pentax SYSTEM is extremely attractive, when one looks at them without the bias that only Nikon and Canon are proper serious choices.

The one major concern is that they have been under financial pressure, and could potentially end up as a division of Samsung, rather than an independent company, and they have not been at the front of the line for getting leading edge sensors into their cameras (Much like the Minolta line ended up as the basis for Sony's product line) - but unlike Sony, Samsung is not a player in high end sensors, so there won't be a technological gain if Samsung takes over Pentax.

[Latinbob]

Originally Posted by Rokcet Scientist

But still nobody who know hows to pronounce "*ist"!

I always thought it was "star -ist" :P

I think all of the Pentax DSLRs are worth a look. The K mount has been around seemingly forever. My first SLR was a Pentax, and I hope the company survives.

[Spacey]

I'm going with it.
Mostly because after some rooting around in my uncle's attic,
I found a trunk full of lenses.
Pentax lenses. All in pristine condition. 2 or 3 wides, a fisheye, Tele-prime, 2 tele-zoom, wide-standadrd zoom, standard-tele zoom

and by the way,
the "*" is silent (it is an asterisk) - issssssssssssssssssssssst. the "ih" is the leading syllable.

[Rokcet Scientist]

Please, Spacey, make up your mind. Now do you or don't you have Pentax lenses?
Because when I asked you earlier you said at 04:04:22 AM:

No, I dont have Pentax lenses.

While at 03:40:01 PM you said:

I'm going with it.
Mostly because after some rooting around in my uncle's attic,
I found a trunk full of lenses.
Pentax lenses. All in pristine condition. 2 or 3 wides, a fisheye, Tele-prime, 2 tele-zoom, wide-standadrd zoom, standard-tele zoom

So, which is it now?
If you do have those lenses, you have a reason for that cheap, sorry, affordable Pentax body.
If you don't have those lenses, I'd go with one of the big brands mikael, max and doug mentioned too.
Mind you, these guys know what they're talking about!

[scoundrel1728]

Originally Posted by Rokcet Scientist

But do you know how to pronounce "*ist"?

To the best of my knowledge, the * is silent. The word game Pentax marketing has played with naming its line of dSLRs has put me off. To me it smacks of the same arrogance that the artist formerly known as the artist formerly known as Prince showed when he tried to insist that the press refer to him by what became known as the "Bruce" glyph.

For what it's worth, if Spacey has a trunkful of vintage Pentax lenses and otherwise likes the camera, he has good reason for his decision.

I understand what Doug, Mikael, and Max are saying too and ended up going with Canon myself. I almost went with Konica-Minolta instead because of its relatively good low-light performance and the any-lens antishake feature and am still wondering if maybe I should have held out for an inexpensive body with antishake. However, I had so much trouble finding a K-M 5D that I finally ended up selling my soul to Canon instead.

[Rokcet Scientist]

You, Faust, you!

[Max@Home]

Hi Spacey,

I want to give you a more detailed response, as my name got mentionned in other posts because of my small addition to MikaelWardhana's respons in which I 'simply' wanted to add the Konica/Minolta (now Sony) brand.

First, if you have a trunk full of (be it older) Pentax lenses, then by all means go for *ist!

It will most certainly give you the biggest enormous 'bang for your buck' possible.

From the sound of it, all you might be lacking is a 'true wideangle FoV Lens' on the 'cropped' Pentax DSLR body, so add the kitlens to start with (another good 'bang for the buck' )

Then, start shooting and learning and shooting and learning, fast and almost 'for free' with digital, and with all these nice Camelians to help you out should questions arise )

Do keep in mind, that the newer 'designed for/adapted for' digital lenses all have some more coatings 'on their backs' to eliminate reflections caused by the sensor. But, as dougjgreen added, Pentax lenses are optically among the better on this world, so they should at least perform 'above average' )

And while you are learning and shooting and all that, let's just hope that Pentax survives and/or integrates smoothly in the Samsung group, and that new and better camera's and lenses are to happen...

It is this future-uncertainty that made me advise against Pentax/Samsung and in favour of Fuji/Nikon/Olympus/Canon/Sony-KM/Panasonic in the case that you had to start from scratch building your 'camera-sytem'.

But with that 'trunck' you have a headstart, so what's there to loose? Should you decide to 'cross over' to any other brand in the future, you would only have 'invested' a relatively cheap body and maybe a kitlens in your then 'old' system, while that 'investment' gives you plenty opportunities to discover which way you will eventually be headed, photographically, with or without Pentax.

Go *ist, go!

(And share some of your pics, the early ones too, a great way to get feedback, encouragement and advise, and become better faster )

...*my* thoughts, *my* €0.02 worth...

My kindest regards,

Max@Home

PS: '*' is also the multiplyer on my keyboard )

pronounced: Multipl(e)-ist! (as in 'multiplest bang for your buck')

[dgreene]

I have been shooting with the istD for almost 2 years now it is a great camera. I have a wide range both Pentax and Sigma lenses for it, the camera has served me very well. I would recommend the camera to anyone who is thinking about purchasing one. Good luck with it, I have.

[Spacey]

I did the rooting around post-first comment. The idea didnt hit me until after I posted that the relative in question used to shoot Pentax, and so forth I went upon my trek.

I have Pentax lenses. (and yes, that is quoteable). In this end, I'll just stop while I'm ahead.

Thanks all, your input was very helpful.


(no sarcasm)