Im not refering to the cheapie Canon Rebel digital, the D60 is also less expensive than the Pentax and is a highly rated camera. I am a pentax fan for sure but I am not unaware that Canon makes some of the most highly regarded lenses made by anyone for 35mm. I dont think Pentax makes nearly as many high end lenses as Canon does.
As far as K & M go, Pentax has been fully supporting them with AE and METERED manual on sub $300 SLR cameras for the last 25 years, no EXCUSE for a >$1500 model!!! Maybe a $150 entry level film camera, certainly not a cutting edge camera costing over 10 times as much.... I own over a dozen PENTAX K&M lenses, all superb. I own 1 (ONE) "A" type or later lens which will work as it was designed on the istD. If I cant buy a Pentax DSLR that wont cripple my K/M lenses, then there is really no ecomonic reason to stick with pentax in my mind. I would rather switch brands than stick with a company that abandons their loyal customers with a ridiculous lack of the basic aperture cam sensor which has been on nearly every camera they have made for the last 25 years, even the very low end models. NO EXCUSES for a $1500 camera with a "K" mount on it. If a "K" series lens aperture setting cant be read by the camera, IT ISNT A KMOUNT lensmount. Even the ancient late screwmount cameras had aperture sensing in the body. I dont need to "touch" an istD to know that the absurd abandonment of the K/M full functionality exists. I dont care how good it "feels" if my K/M lenses wont work AS DESIGNED on it. Hopefully, pentax will come to their senses and offer the full K/M compatiblity in future models ( At a higher price of course). It seems that pentax has offered a budget model at a premium price in the istD IMHO. Full frame, higher res., and K/M use will be something I would pay a premium for thats for sure. Maybe by the time that comes out, it will be same price as the istD is now... ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- J.C. O'Connell mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://jcoconnell.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----Original Message----- From: William Robb [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, October 06, 2003 12:22 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: Old lenses and *ist D ----- Original Message ----- From: "J. C. O'Connell" Subject: RE: Old lenses and *ist D > Secondly, isnt the whole point of buying a PENTAX > DSLR the ability to use a large quantity of PENTAX > lenses one already owns? If not, why buy pentax DSLR??? > > I would rather go with Canon which is cheaper and > has a much better selection of AF lenses on both the new > and used market to select from.... Spoken by a man who has touched neither. I never intended to buy an *ist D. I found that after I had picked the camera up, the only reason I put it down was because I had to pull my wallet out of my pocket and pay for the thing. After comparing the *ist D to the Rebel D, I can say for certainty that the Pentax is the better camera. I felt no envy for my friend's Canon, though he sure liked my Pentax. A lot. The K and M lenses are perfectly usable on the *istD, but you do have to be willing to shoot in unmetered manual, or go through that whole kludge thing with partially dismounting the lens. Really, all that is lost from the usage of the pre A series lenses is aperture preferred automatic, and the ability to meter with the built in meter. I can't (and won't) argue with you about the Canon lenses, I don't know if the selection is better or not. I do wonder though if the better selection is going to be a whole bunch of their cheap and cheerful consumer grade zooms, rather than quality glass. I don't care, I bought Pentax for the lenses. I don't like Canon lenses anywhere near as much. William Robb
