Pentax k10d Review

[kro77]

I would guess the price is a big motivator between a 30d and k10d decision. I mean the k10d can be had for a song these days, but then again the modern lens selection for pentax is not even close to the level of the Canon or the Nikon selection. But that was a trade off I was willing to make.

[Gerry]

I purchased the Pentax K10D about three weeks ago. It is a learning experience. I am brandy new to DSLR's and have to learn from the bottom
up. I will be taking a class on it next month. It was a used camera and came
with two lenses, filters, battery case, and camera case. It was an opportunity too good to pass up. I agree that the what balance can be
a challenge. I was shooting a special Mass at church. Trying to change the
white balance was difficult, it was too blue,then too much orange, then
too yellow. The green button works for me for now, the pictures are
sharp and clear, the color, I need to work on. I look forward to many
years with this camera and hope to be able to use it properly within the
next few months. I love taking pictures Gerry

[kro77]

Hi Gary,

I am glad you enjoy the camera. I have started shooting raw predominantly and this allows me to mess with the white balance after I shoot so I do not need to worry about it being off. I have really only found the WB to be a problem in low light situations indoors. Outside it is almost spot on for me.

[VLG]

I also would class myself as pretty much a beginner & I did a lot of research before plumping for the K10d, yes it dosen’t have the program modes that many of the other cameras have, but that wasn’t a huge consideration for me. What I was looking for was a camera that I could grow with and taking all the little things into consideration e.g. the body seals, antishake built into the body, massive lens backlog, etc. all meant, I think, that I was getting my hands on to a really nice little ‘centre’ to build upon.
I went with the kit lens as again I think that they offered me plenty of flexibility verses my budget. I must say that we have been very happy together too.

[GEli]

I love mine. Great skin tones/general colour rendition, fantastic UI and the ability to use old glass is a huge plus. The Pentax A 70-210 f/4 I picked up today wouldn't be usable had Pentax pulled a Canikon/Nikkon and fiddled with their mounts. Oh, and it's got SR despite being 30 years old!

I'm also confident that should I ever be accosted with this camera in hand I could easily brain the offender with my camera coming to no harm. My best defense for my camera is, in fact, my camera!

[KRIS]

Originally Posted by Canoe911

While I agree with your review of the K10D I must say that I do not agree with the fact that you feel it is not a good camera for beginners. I am a beginner and have just got a new K10D. I understand that it does not have easy setting such as to just turn it to landscapes or portraits. I am not rich by any means, but feel if you want to advance, you should buy the best you can afford. I think any beginner that invest in inferior gear you will not be happy with what you get later down the road. I think if you look at it like driving a car. I learned on a stick and then it was very easy to drive an automatic. So why learn on an automatic then try to relearn on a stick. I think if you want an easy camera then this one is not for you. But if you want to advance this is a great tool to learn on. Yes a pro can take great pics on a disposable camera. But if all you ever use is a disposable you may never learn to get any better.

I know I am only a beginner and you may dismiss my thoughts as just one guys feelings. But I know that I got one great camera and one great learning tool.

Thanks,
Canoe

Hi Canoe,

I accept your views. Nothing comes easy. It is not the Camera or the controls, or the $ you pay for the CAM., it is nothing else but just our minds which do all the tricks. Buy the best you can afford and learn the controls and their mastery. That way you dont have to upgrade as and when you grow. Cams are pretty expensive gear. I purcahsed a Pentax Z1P film Camera, about 10 years back. My friends told me I am making a mistake, and that I should start with some thing more simple. But this Cam gave me a challenge, it said learn my controls, in a few months I was very comfortable with this and also I was very easily able to click away with the CAMS my firends had. If you climb the Everest, the sand hills along the way would be pretty easy to climb. Again when it comes to driving, I learnt to drive a truck first, which made all the other cars easier to drive. Buying a K10D is a great challenge. But for people with patience and willingness to learn, it is just another adventure. By the way my thoughts are now either K20D or K200D, wich you all can help me make a decision. My heart says K20D, but my mind says K200D.
IT IS ALL IN THE MIND. THE FIRST DOCTOR WHO PERFORMED AND OPEN SURGERY DID NOT EVEN GO TO SCHOOL.

[KRIS]

Originally Posted by kro77

I might have been to harsh, or just thinking badly. When I meant beginner i was trying to lump all people into the same category. I am thinking of people that I know that want a camera that takes good photos and do not want to think about anything else. However some of these same people are under the impression that getting a DSLR will allow them to be better photogrophers. And I know this is both true and false. It allows them more choice, and at time choice can lead to problems, and cause people to give up on it. That is what I was trying to say. Sorry for the bad syntax on my part.

DEAR KRO77,

Beginner is some one who has just started doing some thing new which he has not done before. It is very common for any one taking in to photography normally starts with a point and shoot. Then they see the pics they take, make albums out of the ones they feel good, discard the balance. For many taking pics is just another pass time. They see the scene and snap away. But if you do not know ( I am talking about the Film camera days), in India, for every 10 film rolls sold, only 3 came back for developing. Imagine 7 were just discarded. Here in this forum, if some one joined us, he has joined us for the sake of improving the images he creates. So when we talk about a beginner here, we talk about some one who has understood that there is a theory behind taking GOOD PHOTOGRAPHS. And he wants to learn HOW, that is why he has joined us. So that is the reason our friend was just a bit upset as he was called a beginner. BUT WE ARE ALL BEGINNERS AS THIS WHOLE UNIVERSE IS DYNAMIC IN NATURE AND CHANGE IS THE ONLY UNCHANGING EVENT. Sorry to be PHILOSOPHICAL. But you both are right in your own way. For every one is their OWN ROAD.
In the meanwhile please be HAPPY CLICKING AWAY.

Best Regards,
KRIS

[kro77]

Thanks for the followup Kris, and I apologize if I p'ed anyone off. Just stating my opinion that the camera does take work to use, but it is great for me. I just pimped my K10d with the Magnifying EyeCup and LL-80 focusing screen which has helped me make better composition using the 2/3 rule.

In terms of the K20 or K200, I would like one as well, but I have not really seen any huge compelling reason to upgrade for myself. I do not do alot of low light photography so the main advantage of k20d CMOS would be kind of wasted on me. I think I will stick it out till the K30d.

However I must compliment Pentax on making all the K10d Accesories compatible with the K20d. Nice way of keeping people hooked on their products.

[KRIS]

kro77,

Thanks friend. I also do not do much low light photography. So I went with your judgement and purchased the K10D today. It really feels heavy and the array of buttons make me feel like a pro. Am just chraging the battery which came along with this, and waiting to see the results once I am through.

Happy snapping.
Kris

[Andrew122]

I got a k10d as my first dslr camera after reading tons of reviews on photo sites and forums. I knew its weak points and I decided that I could live with them.

Now I shoot in raw only and process all the pictures in Photoshop. That way you can get the result you want. However its main limitation for me is that I cannot imagine using it at a wedding for example when you need very quick reaction with focussing.