Pentax kx

[dave.turley]

Hi,
I'm thinking of an upgrade and was wondering if anyone has an opinion regarding the Pentax kx? I've read reviews etc but I'm never sure whether the reviewer has a vested interest or not. Are there any users of the Pentax here can convince me one way or another where to spend a little too much of my hard earned wages? (obviously the kids won't be fed this month but what can you do?)
Thanks
Dave

[BCampbell]

Not a K-x owner. I am a happy owner of a Pentax MG that rarely sees use (for obvious reasons).

I think the K-x is the best camera t that price point right now. I especially recommend it to anyone who asks about DSLRs who is unlikely to upgrade the body anytime soon -- if ever. I also know a lot of creative types who get a kick out of the idea of mounting old manual lenses, without any adapter or anything needed.

Great camera, if I were buying in right now it would be at the top of my list (doesn't hurt that I have a few k-mounts from that MG kicking around either).

[dave.turley]

Thanks BC,
I've looked at so many cameras as one does when wanting a new one, and I'm a little overloaded with it. The kx is available with 2 lenses. A 18-55mm Zoom Lens & 50-200mm Zoom Lens for £449 which is an amazing deal I think.
I currently use a bridge camera, so the whole lens thing is a little daunting, but I've gone as far as I can with my Panasonic FZ38, although it was a fantastic purchase, and an ideal way to get to understand digital photography as a step up from an ordinary point and shoot. This seems the logical next step.
Thanks again
Dave

[inkista]

I'm a Canon shooter and probably shouldn't even be posting here , but just to play devil's advocate, here's a few reasons why going by the pricetag and the body features may not be all you want to consider, depending on how much you know about where your future lies in photography.

If you plan to turn pro at any point, the cost of equipment is going to take on a different aspect, since equipment can be deducted as business expenses on your taxes.

Mount systems are not (for the most part) interchangeable. Once you select a mount system, you're locked into it.

Pentax cameras and lenses are terrific and well worth the money. But their selections of both are smaller than the selections from Nikon and Canon. There are no full-frame bodies in the line-up (unlike Sony). There are very few lenses faster than f/2.8 (nearly all of them the more expensive "Limiteds"). And almost none longer than 300mm. Depending on what and how you want to shoot, this may or may not matter. And while much is touted about how Pentax bodies are weathersealed, you're only really protected if you're using a weathersealed (DA*, I believe) lens with it, as the mount seal is typically on the lens, not the body. .

The smaller lens/body selection is partly why Pentax has a smaller market share. Which means 3rd party accessory makers target the Big Two first (cf. PocketWizard TTL units).

Now none of this should stop you from getting a Pentax if you know it's what you want and will do everything you need. But dSLRs are camera systems, more than single-unit cameras like P&Ses (even bridge cams). And you should judge the system as a whole, because it's likely within the next decade or so, if you're still pursuing photography with a dSLR, you'll eventually upgrade from a K-x to a K-7 successor.

Camera bodies are easily the most disposable part of that system. They're digital electronic equipment now. It's not a question of if they'll fail but when; unlike our mechanical film cameras that still work after 30+ years. Most folks also get upgrade fever, as with other electronic/computer hardware, and end up upgrading every three to five years for newer/better features. If anything, the lenses are going to be your "permanent" purchase, and what are going to stop you from making a system leap if you're sufficiently far down the road. Learning about lenses is a good thing to do before you buy your first dSLR.

Lastly, a dSLR should not (although it always is) be viewed as an "upgrade" to a bridge camera. With even a 18-55/55-200 kit, you're still going to lose macro capability, supertelephoto reach, and a lot of the portability of a fixed-lens camera. You'll also be able to get things out of focus (really, it's a feature, not a bug), blur things up with camera shake (yes, even with stabilization), and you'll need to learn to post-process to get the best colors and sharpness. The analogy I make is that you're moving from a swiss army knife to a big red toolbox. And you're going to have to buy--and lug around--those tools for the added capability. Most dSLR shooters also own a P&S camera--putting a swiss army knife in the toolbox, as it were. They're different types of tools.

Lastly, and this is just a personal note, make sure you get your hands on a K-x before you buy one. It's probably the smallest dSLR I've ever held, and while I thought it was just swell, I'm a girl with tiny hands, and I'm also comfortable with the small Canon dRebel grip, which many (male) people complain about. Bitterly. And unlike the dRebels, the K-x (iirc) doesn't offer the option of adding a battery grip.

[Niresangwa]

I shoot Pentax, k20's and a k10. A great deal of what Inksta said is spot on, so I'll just add a bit as a pentaxian platform devotee.

I have experience with the K-x despite not owning one. When a couple of friends got into dslrs, I recommended it heartily, and have played with the body a little, and was not disappointed in the slightest. If I wasn't waiting to see what the next body Pentax releases, I would have snapped up a k-x as a niche body already.

There are a few advantages to pentax over the big 2, namely price. For a comparative amount of dough you can get a whole lot more gear if that's ever a concern.

You'll hear a lot of Pentax folks banging on about the much vaunted Pentax glass, and while thats true to a point it's not the be all and end all. Neither is the K-mount and ability to mount vintage lenses. Unless you're a manual focus fetishist, its not going to help you much.

The kit lenses from Pentax are arguably considered a notch above what you would expect from a kit lens. I have a decent array of DA* and Limiteds, yet still use the kit lens on occasion. 9.9 times out of 10 you'll have very nice glass at any focal length you'll need, cheaper than C and N...if you don't, you can always hook up with 3rd party pieces like Sigma.

Weather sealing and in-body shake reduction is nice. I haven't had any occasion to compare it to lens-based VR technology however.

All of my bodies have been put through the ringer and are built like a proverbial brick. The K-X was no exception to this. As Inksta stated, its small and light but feels solid. It can't be gripped, but then again how many entry-level dslr users really need a grip? It fits my hands nicely...

One of the nice features is the much improved ISO capability of the k-x over previous, more advanced Pentax models. The HD video...meh, I would never use it, maybe you will.

The Pentax interface is very intuitive to use, and you'll be on your way very quickly without too much trouble. Camera controls are also intuitive and in my opinion easier to use than other platforms.

Again, I shoot Pentax, I love it, and its reputation is well deserved. Maybe swing by the Pentax Forums and read some reviews and read over some discussions.

Check out your lens and gear options based on what you want to shoot. I'd be surprised if it wasn't accommodated by the k-x.

In my mind there's little to quibble about at that price and with that model.

[JACOBY]

My daughter got one it's a great camera ya can't go wrong. i'm using a like new K100d she got the white model nice camera feels good in my hands. I taught her on film so the fact that the old glass works is great. Great Site

[BCampbell]

Inkista rightly points out that currently, Pentax upgrade options are slim, and niresangwa brings up the flipside of that; Pentax's current offerings and excellent and, up to a certain level, much more affordable than the Big Two.

So what it comes down to is the often discussed "upgrade path". What Pentax lacks is: a full frame body (a four-digit upgrade) and a wide selection of premium lenses (like the Canon L-series). What sometimes happens is someone buys an entry-level kit, then later decides that it's lacking something -- quality glass, clean high-iso capability, the extra wide-angle reach of full frame, etc. They then go about with a plan to upgrade their kit to accomodate -- maybe buy a 50D or 5DMkII, Canon's 50mm f/1.4 and 70-200 f/2.8L, etc.

Pentax's system doesn't have quite the same amount of flexibility, especially at the extremely high end. But also note that those upgrades are not as light an investment as the entry level kit. If you buy the 5DMkII and two lenses above, you're out nearly $5000. So I actually think those concerns are a bit overrated -- the cost of buying into a new system is easily swallowed up at that point.

What usually ends up happening is after buying the entry kit, people buy one or two extra lenses -- an under $1000 investment, usually a fast prime and a cheap zoom telephoto --and then they decide whether to go whole hog or just stick with what they have. I think in either case starting with the K-x is not the worst possible way you could go; The Pentax system has plenty to keep you busy at that intermediate stage, and if you do make the huge leap you're already buying a new body anyway and those intermediate lenses usually don't make the jump with you (usually with Canon it's the 50mm f/1.8 and/or an EF-S zoom, which are almost always replaced anyway).

Then there's the fact that not everyone needs to upgrade anyway. Those of us who have been in the game for a while I think have a skewed view of this; we tend to be more fanatical than the average hobbyist and reach a little further. The average user, even the average hobbyist, often doesn't need or want more than that entry level kit and a few lenses. We forget about that because, well, they don't come here asking what they should upgrade to, because they aren't upgrading. In that case, the K-x is a bargain, because it really provides capabilities a step above other entry level kits.

So what the general warning will be is: you'll have a more limited upgrade path. Which is true, and unfortunately it's hard to think about that path when you're jumping into your first DSLR. But I think in end, you'll either be a) spending so much money the switch toa different brand hardly matters or b) happy enough that you'll find everything you really need in the Pentax system. There really isn't a lot of middle ground there. But, definitely look at all of Pentax's offerings and compare that to the other brands.

[BCampbell]

And, another note on the backward compatibility with old lenses; no, this is definitely not for everyone nor is it generally recommended. But, I've done some experimenting with adapting manual lenses and I know Inkista has too, and it can be rewarding. At the least, it's a really inexpensive way to experiment; if you want to see if you like a 28mm or 135mm focal length, you can try those for under $100 (actually, probably under $50). I've had a lot of luck using cheap extension tubes to build a $50 macro lens, which you can knock $15 off the cost of due to not needed an adapter. The Pentax SMC 50mm f/1.4 is still a world-class lens, highly sought after even today, and can be had for $100.

I wouldn't call it a selling point; you can easily adapt those lenses to Canon for $15-$20 (Nikon is a different story), but it is something of a bonus. Not everyone's thing.

[Niresangwa]

I think that this is maybe getting off-track for the OP, but am enjoying Pentax getting a little love for once

In all honesty, I wouldn't say upgrading should be a worry for you. If the entry-level features of the k-x are stunting your abilities (and I don't think they would at all, it's exceptionally capable) your next upgrade to a semi-pro body would be either a k20 or k7 both of which will be running quite cheap by the time you would need them.

Lenses? This usually isn't an area in which Pentax gets much criticism, aside from super-telephoto focal lengths. The DA* zooms (though they only go up to 200mm) are arguably on a par with Canon L series. The Pentax Limited Primes and their predecessors , well, they're fearsome and the hall mark of Pentax dynasty. The pro-glass is there if you want it, and much cheaper to obtain without the Canon/Nikon name emblazoned on it.

Much rumour is flying around as the Pentax community is expecting the k7 successor within the next 12 months, and most guesses are (perhaps with fingers crossed) that it will be a FF body, and a cutting edge AF system.

Of course this discussion may be more pertinent to you in a year or two's time, if you ever want to go that route at all. I can easily see a serious hobbyist being happy with the kx for a looong time.

[dave.turley]

Thanks for all your input. Love this site, one simple question and within a day or so, all the relevant info without having to trawl through a million web pages. Thanks again ppl.