Pentax K20D

[Wayfarer]

I am seriously thinking about buying a K20D having been a long time Olympus user, any opinions good or bad would be appreciated from people who own, or have experience with this camera.
Thanks.

[mattdm]

I had an Olympus C5060 before I went to the Pentax K10D. There's definitely a different feel between the brands, but I'm really happy with Pentax. (The K10D is very like the K20D in build, but the K20D improves on it in dozens of ways big and small.)

I think you'll be very pleased with the K20D — anything in particular you're concerned about?

[Mr Guy]

I've got a K110D, and I'm waiting to buy a K20D until I'm confident that the next version will either be out of my price range, or a must buy. It's expected to have some kind of announcement in the next month or two to have some kind of summer release. I can't really comment on the K20D except to say I really, really, really want one.

So since I'm useless, I'll give you a link to a completely unbiased and extremely objective thread, Happy k20d users post here @Pentaxforums.com

Cough.

[Usuqa]

i really really want one to but i bought a 50-135 DA* instead hehe..

Ive never used a k20d but i love my gx10 (rebranded k10d) and i could only Imagen good things about it since it improves on my current model in lots of ways big and small.

Some things i love about my gx10 wich also apply to the k20d.

1) in camera share reduction (horizontal, vertical and Rotational <-- other system don't have that)
2) dust/weather sealing
3) the ability to change iso,shutter speed, and apature just by the 2 scroll wheels (u hold the ok button change the iso).
4) The build in flash can be used to control a wireless flash.. or 2.. or 3 (some systems require you to by a flash to do this).
5) Muti exposure (upto 9 shots), This lets you do in camera HDR, its amazing for night shots and also can be used for cool effects also.
6) The ability to use old lens very easily by pressing the GREEN button while in manual mode (the camera then adjusts everything to take a shot as if it was using a modern lens)
7) very simple one.. it has IR sensors on the front and back making it easy to use a remote on from any angle .
8) in camera RAW conversion
9) Nice and big view finder (for a crop body anyway)


the k20 also add's ontop of this

1)Better sensor (14.6mp, usable iso1600 (even 3200 if exposed correctly) max of 6400)
2)live view
3)lens adjustment (some lens can front/back focus u can save upto 5 lens)
4)small improvements in almost all aspects over the k10d

Pentax also has some really nice lens, like there pancakes and limited's, there DA* lens are pretty nice to, i just got my 50-135 and its amazing

[MalD]

I finally found a film replacement, and I can still use my 20 year old glass as well as Digital lenses.

I have been using Pentax cameras for a very long time and have always found them a pleasure to use. For the price ( I paid $1700 with Lens and 4 G card the month it was released) it has been my constant companion. Are there any thing I don't like ? Not really but there are acouple of thing I have noticed.

1.Invest in a good sholder strap the supplied one is ok for short walks, it gets heavy.
2.Learn the menu system as some of the nice functions are a liitle hidden.
3.read the manual, several times, and then cross reference the page references to the functions like the green button, as it does several things depending what mode you are in.
4.Battery life is great but it when it says it is running down about 1/2 way - charge it up !
5.ISO 3200 is a bit grainy - no biggy for me , I like the effect . All in all a very solid camera.

[Choet]

I have had the Pentax K20D for now 10 months and have been quite impressed with what I got for the price. When I bought this camera I was moving from film to digital so I found that initially it was very daunting and a bit complex. However, the manual that comes with it is very comprehensive (mine is a little tattered from being used so much). As you are already a digital camera user this may not be the case. The menu can take a bit to get use to.

I love the fact that it is waterproof and dust-proof and I like its to performance in low light conditions. Sure it is not as good as a high-end camera but for the amount you pay I am impressed.

This is a camera that I have been able to extend my creative abilities and produce photos that I am happy with. So my opinion is that it is worth the money that you pay for.

[sillybilly]

I just bought a K20D less than a week ago and I am really enjoying the camera. It's a solid camera with a steel body. The body is weatherproofed and it has a dust removal system. The shake reduction is built in so you don't have to buy an upgraded lens-instead you can buy a faster lens. It's compatible with my previous Pentax AF lenses. My first camera (over 20 years ago) was an ME super and I bought a K1000 shortly after that. I have always liked Pentax they make a solid camera and the features on the 20D are excellent. The way I understand it the 20D is an upgraded 10D. They are not as easy to find as a Nikon or Canon, but I have had really good experiences with Pentax camera's in the past.

[Trigger]

I still have the K10D for a year before I got a K20D and both serve me well,and to the fact @ 320 lens can be use with this mount


cheers

[Afflictionphotography]

I literally just left the camera store and this was the camera i was playing with....very solid, inexpensive and a friendly(if you have knowledge of camera functions). It shoots at 3.5 fps but has a cool feature if you have genuine fractals or an enlargement software. You can for 3 seconds shoot at 21fps at 1.3megapixels. Obviously not great size or ppi quality but with genuine fractals it looks great...the store had a 20x30 print shot at 1.3mp and enlarged and changed the ppi in post production and i could not see any flaws....this is the new camera in the bag for me....oh but without the batterygrip it runs on AA batteries????? dont like that.Hope it helped.

[Tittan]

I have a Pentax K20D, and my girlfriend has one too. We went to Svalbard this summer, and the camera really did shine there. We rented kayaks and went across the Advent Fjord, we went to the Pyramid, and we did a lot of other nice trips - and all the time, we could use our cameras, as they are the perfect outdoor camera.

Back home here on mainland Norway, I use my camera both inside and outside, and I don't care if it rains, is windy, or if the sun shines from a blue sky. The camera even tolerated -20°C last winter, without any trouble!

So, if you're into landscape photography, candid photography, or would like a camera you can bring "everywhere", I will be happy to recomend the Pentax K20D.