Calling Sony & Pentax DSLR Users

CaptainPenguin

CaptainPenguin

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Nigel Cliff
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I have been looking to move on from my Canon 350D and have decided rather than slavishly continuing down the Canon route to look at other options and am thinking about the Pentax K200D,Pentax K20D,Sony Alpha 350 & Sony Alpha 380.
There are 2 main things I need to know what sort of quality are the standard kit lenses and what is the performance like re noise at high ISO (800/1600).
Any information gratefully received
 
I would also consider the Sony a700, but it doesn't have LV.

I think it's a bit of a bargain at the moment, a nice semi pro body, fast AF, D300 IQ, metal body, for a little over £500. Obviously if you want LV then the a700 is a non starter.

Not really that sure about the a380. It's a new release and hence prices are still at RRP (meaning they are high), and apart from a more user friendly interface (for newcomers), I don't think it offers that much about the a350.

There are a number of kit lenses for the Sony's, which vary in price. I would probably avoid the old 18-70, and opt for something like the 16-105, 16-80 or Tamron 17-50. It really does depend on your budget and requirements. Not sure what the new Sony kit lens is like (17-55?), as I haven't seen any reviews.
Here's a good resource for Sony kit: http://www.dyxum.com/lenses/index.asp


Don't really know that much about Pentax, but hopefully someone from their camp will pitch in and give you some advice.
 
Have a pentax k10d myself been very pleased with results from it using raw most of the time k20d came out not long after buying k10d but what can you do would love the new pentax k7 but out of price range at the moment build quility of k10d is great very study not as lightweight as canon 350d or 400d built in shake reduction helps as well saving on money onlenses with sr built in when due for upgrade would go with pentax again underrated camera brand.:)
 
CaptainPenguin said:
Sony Alpha 350 & Sony Alpha 380.
There are 2 main things I need to know what sort of quality are the standard kit lenses and what is the performance like re noise at high ISO (800/1600).
Any information gratefully received
Click to expand...
The 18-70mm kit lens was fine on 6Mp (it was better than the Canon & Nikon kit lenses of the time), OK on 10 but the 14Mp of the 350/380 started showing up it's flaws.
the A380 has a new 18-55 kit lens which looks substantially improved upon the 18-70mm.

As for noise Sonys have a reputation for noise at high ISO but this is down to 2 things:
1) the company mindset veers more towards detail at the ISOs that most people are likely to use most often than aiming for the lowest possible noise at high ISOs which few will use at the cost of detail (it's all a balancing act between noise, detail & sensitivity).
2) a poor jpeg engine at higher ISOs - shoot in RAW & it's not a problem.

As mentioned A380 prices are high atm beause it's new - if you can wait a bit they will drop. Or as mentioned consider an A700 if you don't need LV.
The usual advice applies though - get to a shop & handle.
 
I sold the kit lenses with my Pentax K200d when I got a K20d.
Nothing wrong with the kit lenses, but they did not give the coverage I wanted.
K20d will shoot at ISO 1600 without noise problems. If you look in my galleries under Birds there is a shot (woodpigeon3) that I took an hour ago at ISO 500. The lens was a Pentax 55 - 300mm.
 
Ahoy!

If you go Sony, forget the new stuff, go for the A700. It has a CMOS sensor and was voted #1 in one of the photog mags in the UK. With v4 firmware, it's just brilliant for high-ISO shots (if that's your thing).

No matter what brand you buy into, forget the kit lens. The Sony version is actually very good, but for affordability and quality, research the Sigma 17-70mm DC Macro. Far better IQ (as with all 'kit' lenses). After all, why do they sell for £25.00 on auction sites?

Also, how many AAA batteries can you fit in your pocket? That's the only real downside to Pentax/Samsung (IMHO).

Consider Olympus/Panasonic/Lumix (though lenses can be pricey and not as available (4/3rds system) as the more popular body brands. Oly have the best sensor cleaning system and arguably one of (if not) the best OIS sytems for in-body dSLR cameras.

The Pentax K10D equivalent is the Samsung GX-10. EvilBay that . . . . .
 
Currys have the Pentax K10d @ £330 with 18-55 or £370 with 18-55 & 50-200, in store only.
 
Pirate! said:
Also, how many AAA batteries can you fit in your pocket? That's the only real downside to Pentax/Samsung (IMHO).
.
Click to expand...

How is that relevant?

K10D/K20D GX10/GX20 use the same battery (which also happens to be a Minolta battery)

I think the K1000 may use AA's, or have an adapter option.


To the OP.
Currently I shoot Pentax, but will be switching away from Pentax, probably to Nikon for 2 reasons (unless Pentax fix them)

No full frame camera
No rear curtain sync with off camera / studio flash.

Those two reasons have me looking elsewhere.

If they're not important, the K10/20's are built like tanks.
 
I shoot Pentax but have never recommended the brand to anyone.
Why? .. because you need to go try a camera before deciding which is right for you (and I hate all this tit for tat my camera is better than yours crap). It makes no difference how good the ISO/AF/IQ/ is if the camera feels wrong in your hands then there is no point in buying it.

Unless you are thinking of going pro or ever likely to spend thousands on a fast long lens then 99% of the cameras out there will do what you need.
 
my K20D has done me proud and my K10d did me proud before that, built like tanks, great image quailty and really decent cheap lenses

i have a 16-45mm and a 50-300mm as my main lenses and they are Fantastic

you can check out some of my work on my website :)
 
probably too late in this thread but I shoot with a Pentax K200D and have been very happy with the results so far
 
can't fault my sony a300 ;-)

similar to the a350 apart from 10mega pixels vs 14 mega pixels, which i don't think will make much difference in my use, plus i heard the a350 has more noise at higher ISO.
even though it has higher MP it's still on the same sensor size which makes fps less on the a350
 
Mike.P said:
Yet you have it up for sale :thinking:
Click to expand...

only because of itchy feet on having something different, but if it doesn't go it doesn't go.

bit like cars really, can't fault my old cars but itchy feet to try something different, sometimes learn and wish why did i do it, but hey ho, live and learn LOL
 
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