On Wed, Jun 23, 2010 at 10:09 PM, Eric Weir <eew...@bellsouth.net> wrote: > > On Jun 23, 2010, at 2:21 PM, P. J. Alling wrote: > >> Equipment: Pentax *ist-Ds w/smc Pentax M 40mm f2.8. > > This occasions me to post my first -- and probably only ever -- query to the > list. I am a rank amateur, and have been lurking here for several months, > enjoying the photos being shared, taking in what I can, and what I have time > for, of the technology. > > My first and only camera for a long time was a K1000. Have a couple decent > manual lenses from that. Got good at composition. Still have a lot to learn > about exposure. Hit into a spot of real poverty when purchasing film, let > alone getting it processed, was out of the question. Still not flush but have > a little expendable cash left over these days. > > Encounter with a grandniece who's an interesting little photographer for a 14 > year old whetted my appetite to get back in. The K1000 needs repairs that > cost more than the camera is worth. Bought a crude Russian Smena Symbol, > which has no light meter, and which I loved, but lost shortly after acquiring > it. Replaced it with an Olympus XA with which I've been carrying around in a > fanny pack for the last six months, shooting whatever whatever strikes my > fancy. > > To cut to the chase, the cost of film and processing, and the conversation > here, have gotten me thinking about a digital SLR -- a used SLR, one I could > use my manual lenses with [smc 50mm f1.7 and 100MM Macro f4], that could > handle low-light situations reasonably well. Beyond that, my shooting would > be action, landscapes, and stuff I don't know how to characterize -- stuff > that just interests me; people, faces, patterns, shapes, color. Somehow, for > some reason, this summer, I've been absolutely fascinated by clouds. > > So, a used Pentax digital SLR. Keeping the cost as low possible. Though I > couldn't begin to explain why -- maybe I picked up something here -- the K10D > suggests itself. I'd be interested in reactions to that or other suggestions. > > Thanks, > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ > Eric Weir > Decatur, GA USA > eew...@bellsouth.net >
How about a new K-x? They're $500 or so at B&H with the kit 18-55 zoom, have the best low-light performance of any of the Pentax's and are all-round great little cameras. The K10D will not be much cheaper for a camera with overall inferior image quality (the K10D is better built and has a nicer viewfinder and the extra control dial, the K-x is much faster, smaller, has live view, HD video and the better sensor & processing). The K10D is actually the worst Pentax for low-light use due to its ISO 1600 limit. All other Pentax's can do at least 3200 with the K20D and K-7 going to 6400 and the K-x to 12,800. Note you'll want the kit zoom, the sensor in the DSLR's is smaller than a 35mm frame so you're 50mm has the field of view of a 75mm on 35mm, a 30-35mm lens is now normal. Pentax's little 18-55 is a pretty good little lens for the money. -- M. Adam Maas http://www.mawz.ca Explorations of the City Around Us. -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
