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Pentax K10D aand K100D cameras
Greetings from Norfolk (UK)
I am considering whether to buy either a K100D or a K10D Pentax, and am interested in what current users of the two models have to say. I am obviously aware of the price difference, the different no. of pixels and the different type of battery used, but what features make the K10D worth the extra. Also, if I buy the K100D how many shots am I likely to get from a set of batteries (assuming that flash is not used) ??? Any information would be much appreciated. -- Richard. "I have yet to see any problem, however complicated, which when looked at in the right way, did not become still more complicated" Poul Anderson |
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Pentax K10D aand K100D cameras
"Richard Wrigley" wrote in message ... Greetings from Norfolk (UK) I am considering whether to buy either a K100D or a K10D Pentax, and am interested in what current users of the two models have to say. I am obviously aware of the price difference, the different no. of pixels and the different type of battery used, but what features make the K10D worth the extra. Also, if I buy the K100D how many shots am I likely to get from a set of batteries (assuming that flash is not used) ??? Any information would be much appreciated. -- Richard. "I have yet to see any problem, however complicated, which when looked at in the right way, did not become still more complicated" Poul Anderson As a 15 month owner of a K100D I can answer some of your questions. I've read quite a bit about the K10D as well and seen many images. First off, don't buy the K10D or any of the other 10MP cameras for reasons of image quality alone as the K100D is the match of them despite being 6MP. Up-res a K100D picture to 10MP and there's a miniscule difference, absolutely tiny, and I would go so far as to say that using RAW and Silkypix 3 as a converter it produces the most natural colours out of any of the 10MP and below cameras. JPGs are fine but I find that the main problem is that there is a fine line between perfect images and blowing out things like the sky, and to get great results you will have the learn how to get spot-on exposures, but the highlight flasher and digital preview helps a lot with this. RAW just gives more leeway and I find it easier to work with. JPGs also put more reliance on the white balance being correct at the time of shooting, the K100D is fine I find in daylight conditions outdoors and indoors, but in artificial light just be prepared to perform a manual WB ritual first (quite easy), I don't find any of the presets much use with the wide variety of lighting available these days. To be worth going to the dearer cameras you have to be lusting after speed, as that's all the K100D is lacking really. The small buffer means it's not a camera for rapid fire bursts. Autofocus is fine and fast with the right lens in good to dull light but below a certain level (pretty dim) it slows down more than most DSLRs. A flashgun with an AF assist light brings the speed back up indoors though (even if flash isn't used), I use a Sigma EF500 DG Super which can shine its assist light without firing the flash in its ISO mode. There's no wireless flash, although I can use the built-in flash to trigger my Sigma in manual mode set to a fixed power, so some fun with remote flash can be had on the cheap. I get about 600 shots from a charged set of Uniross Hybrios over any period of time they're ever likely to stay in the camera (months). These and the Sanyo Eneloops are the K100D batteries of choice for rechargeables. For non-rechargeables, lithiums like Energizer e2's are the way to go (about 1500 shots). Ordinary NiMh rechargeables are OK if they're good ones and used up within say a week where good ones will get about 800 shots, but the low self discharge ones mentioned are much better in the K100D for general use. Don't use alkalines apart from emergencies (about 100 shots if you're lucky) or rechargeable lithiums unless you're absolutely sure they are regulated to 3v per double-pack (I forget the proper name) and aren't 3.7v each. The K100D is a joy to use with old cheap manual lenses, the camera gives an AF confirmation when manually focusing, and stop-down metering is easy and works well (one extra button push required). The K10D is a fine camera, it produces the best RAW out of all the 10MP cameras mainly in highlight detail. If you want sharp JPGs you will have to change the default settings, a quick comparison with the competition may show JPGs as having soft edges but there's better texture detail especially at higher ISOs and it tends to look very good in print being this way. Edge detail can be enhanced by using Bright mode and reducing saturation. It's faster than the K100D and matches the competition for speed again until the light is very low where it slows down more than Canon and Nikon, don't know about Olympus. If you bought a K10D it would be for the extra speed, the unique exposure modes it has, and wireless flash capability using the built in flash. It can use the newer lenses like the 16-50 and 50-130's quiet ultra sonic AF motors which the K100D can't (the K100D Super can). I've run out of time now, hope this helps. |
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Pentax K10D aand K100D cameras
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Pentax K10D aand K100D cameras
On Dec 31 2007, 5:36 am, "Richard Wrigley"
wrote: Greetings from Norfolk (UK) I am considering whether to buy either a K100D or a K10D Pentax, and am interested in what current users of the two models have to say. I am obviously aware of the price difference, the different no. of pixels and the different type of battery used, but what features make the K10D worth the extra. Also, if I buy the K100D how many shots am I likely to get from a set of batteries (assuming that flash is not used) ??? Any information would be much appreciated. -- Richard. "I have yet to see any problem, however complicated, which when looked at in the right way, did not become still more complicated" Poul Anderson The K10D is a good camera, pretty complex, a big control set and is able to produce good images if you put some work into them. But also consider Olympus's E-510 for "out of the box" quality, both images and kit lenses. Plus, it's a lot lighter, the K10D verges on the weigh of some of the semi-pro models like Nikon's D200. |
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Pentax K10D aand K100D cameras
Steve B wrote:
"Richard Wrigley" wrote in message ... Greetings from Norfolk (UK) I am considering whether to buy either a K100D or a K10D Pentax, and am interested in what current users of the two models have to say. I am obviously aware of the price difference, the different no. of pixels and the different type of battery used, but what features make the K10D worth the extra. Also, if I buy the K100D how many shots am I likely to get from a set of batteries (assuming that flash is not used) ??? Any information would be much appreciated. As a 15 month owner of a K100D I can answer some of your questions. I've read quite a bit about the K10D as well and seen many images. Hello, Steve: I've had my K100D, since September of 2007. Got a damned good deal (on the body only), from BuyDig.com http://www.buydig.com: $379 USD, with free shipping. A Pentax $50 rebate check - which took slightly more than a month to arrive, incidentally - lowered the final price to $329. Sweet! First off, don't buy the K10D or any of the other 10MP cameras for reasons of image quality alone as the K100D is the match of them despite being 6MP. Up-res a K100D picture to 10MP and there's a miniscule difference, absolutely tiny, and I would go so far as to say that using RAW and Silkypix 3 as a converter it produces the most natural colours out of any of the 10MP and below cameras. All very true. JPGs are fine but I find that the main problem is that there is a fine line between perfect images and blowing out things like the sky, and to get great results you will have the learn how to get spot-on exposures, but the highlight flasher and digital preview helps a lot with this. RAW just gives more leeway and I find it easier to work with. JPGs also put more reliance on the white balance being correct at the time of shooting, the K100D is fine I find in daylight conditions outdoors and indoors, but in artificial light just be prepared to perform a manual WB ritual first (quite easy), I don't find any of the presets much use with the wide variety of lighting available these days. I generally concur with these statements, above. Except, I've not shot any RAW images, yet, because the K100D's bundled, Silkypix-based software applications (i.e., Pentax PHOTO Browser 3 and Pentax PHOTO Laboratory 3) run much too slow, on my ancient Pentium III 1GHz/1GB RAM computer. Minimum requirements are Pentium 4 and 512MB (with 2GHz and 1GB, recommended.) To be worth going to the dearer cameras you have to be lusting after speed, as that's all the K100D is lacking really. The small buffer means it's not a camera for rapid fire bursts. Autofocus is fine and fast with the right lens in good to dull light but below a certain level (pretty dim) it slows down more than most DSLRs. A flashgun with an AF assist light brings the speed back up indoors though (even if flash isn't used), I use a Sigma EF500 DG Super which can shine its assist light without firing the flash in its ISO mode. There's no wireless flash, although I can use the built-in flash to trigger my Sigma in manual mode set to a fixed power, so some fun with remote flash can be had on the cheap. Still haven't tried burst mode, nor do I own a compatible external flash unit. I get about 600 shots from a charged set of Uniross Hybrios over any period of time they're ever likely to stay in the camera (months). These and the Sanyo Eneloops are the K100D batteries of choice for rechargeables. For non-rechargeables, lithiums like Energizer e2's are the way to go (about 1500 shots). Ordinary NiMh rechargeables are OK if they're good ones and used up within say a week where good ones will get about 800 shots, but the low self discharge ones mentioned are much better in the K100D for general use. Don't use alkalines apart from emergencies (about 100 shots if you're lucky) or rechargeable lithiums unless you're absolutely sure they are regulated to 3v per double-pack (I forget the proper name) and aren't 3.7v each. The K100D is a joy to use with old cheap manual lenses, the camera gives an AF confirmation when manually focusing, and stop-down metering is easy and works well (one extra button push required). I've used Kodak Ni-Mh cells (2500 mAh) in my camera, and experienced adequate battery life. The lens is a FAJ 28mmF3.5-80mmF5.6 autofocus type, borrowed from my Pentax ZX-60 kit (35mm SLR); it's assembled in Vietnam and seems to be a decent performer. Of course, being a "film lens," it's somewhat bigger and heavier than its "digital" counterpart. Also, due to the K100D's 1.5x "crop factor," my particular FAJ is the 35mm equivalent of 42mm-120mm -- hence, I lose at wide-angle, but gain at the telephoto end (my preferences, actually.) Plus, as one would expect, there's no vignetting to speak of. The ZX-60 kit was a mere $74.89 (on clearance), at a local Shopko outlet, back in March, 2006. It even included an excellent carrying case, which happens to fit my K100D/lens combo, nicely. Thus, altogether, the complete DSLR outfit cost me a paltry $404, approximately. The K10D is a fine camera, it produces the best RAW out of all the 10MP cameras mainly in highlight detail. If you want sharp JPGs you will have to change the default settings, a quick comparison with the competition may show JPGs as having soft edges but there's better texture detail especially at higher ISOs and it tends to look very good in print being this way. Edge detail can be enhanced by using Bright mode and reducing saturation. It's faster than the K100D and matches the competition for speed again until the light is very low where it slows down more than Canon and Nikon, don't know about Olympus. If you bought a K10D it would be for the extra speed, the unique exposure modes it has, and wireless flash capability using the built in flash. It can use the newer lenses like the 16-50 and 50-130's quiet ultra sonic AF motors which the K100D can't (the K100D Super can). I'd simply like to add that, the K100D is far superior to the entry-level models from Canon and Nikon, in build quality. After handling those other brands, in stores, I came to appreciate Pentax's apparent dedication to producing rugged and hefty DSLR's. I've run out of time now, hope this helps. Thanks, and same here! Cordially, John Turco |
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Pentax K10D aand K100D cameras
Andrew MacPherson wrote:
heavily edited for brevity PPS I think any discussion of recent Pentax DSLRs has to mention noise. When surrounded by Canons & Nikons at airshows last year I was surprised at how much noisier my 100D was. It's not a subtle camera! This shouldn't be important (especially at airshows :-), but if -- like me -- you usually like to blend into the background when taking pictures, it's not ideal. The K10 is quieter (sample sounds are available in the dpreview reviews somewhere) but Pentax still need to work on this IMO. Hello, Andrew: I haven't noticed any noise issues, with my K100D, and I've shot exclusively in JPEG. Cordially, John Turco |
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Pentax K10D aand K100D cameras
Rich wrote:
edited for brevity The K10D is a good camera, pretty complex, a big control set and is able to produce good images if you put some work into them. But also consider Olympus's E-510 for "out of the box" quality, both images and kit lenses. Plus, it's a lot lighter, the K10D verges on the weigh of some of the semi-pro models like Nikon's D200. Hello, Rich: My K100D is built like a tank, so, why shouldn't it be rather heavier than corresponding cameras from Nikon? As for Canon, its entry level DSLR's seem positively frilly! Cordially, John Turco |
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Pentax K10D aand K100D cameras
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Pentax K10D aand K100D cameras
Andrew MacPherson wrote:
(John Turco) wrote: I haven't noticed any noise issues, with my K100D, and I've shot exclusively in JPEG. Noise as in sound, not noise as in noise! ;-) I've no complaints about the actual picture quality. Andrew McP Hello, Andrew: Excuse my inattentiveness, please...it seems I was plagued by a momentary "brain outage." :-P Cordially, John Turco |
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Pentax K10D aand K100D cameras
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