k-x or k-7 for beginner?

[pazkallah]

hi! i'm new to the forums here, this is my first post after the introduction one. anyways, i'm shopping around for my first dslr, and pretty convinced on pentax, just not sure which to go with. the k-x seems like great bang for buck, BUT i was thinking that maybe i should just go for the k-7 so i won't feel tempted to upgrade later and then having wasted money buying 2 cameras, when i could go for k-7 initially. i already understand that the lenses are what are most important, and have been really studying up on all things dslr. i've been working w/a fujifilm finepix s700 for the past 2 yrs, and it offers a lot of freedom for shooting in aperture priority, shutter priority, full manual, and such. i haven't spent those full 2 years mastering the controls, but i am gaining a working knowledge of them and definitely plan to take my photography to the next level.
i'm looking at these bundles on ebay. they seem to be excellent deals, but then, i'm new to all this, and could really use a second opinion.

NEW PENTAX K-7 DSLR CAMERA+3LENS 4GB NEW MONSTER KIT K7 - eBay (item 140375254743 end time Feb-16-10 08:33:43 PST)
NEW PENTAX K-X SLR CAMERA+3LENS 4GB HUGE MONSTER KIT KX - eBay (item 140375254803 end time Feb-16-10 08:33:49 PST)

k, thanks!

[inkista]

This is just my opinion, but my thinking is that just because you pay more money for a camera doesn't necessarily mean you're going to keep it longer. It might. But most people purchase dSLRs like they purchase most other digital equipment. Within three to five years, they start looking to upgrade, whether it's computers, iPods, phones, or cameras. Unlike film cameras, these babies are mostly electronic circuitry, now. So, to my mind whether you want to blow the cash to get a higher-tiered camera has to do with how many of the additional features you're going to use, and for how long.

I tend to advise that as a beginner, you'll want to get the lower-tiered camera, and save the money for lenses. This is because within three to five years, you'll be looking for a new camera body, anyhow. And in that time, your camera body will have depreciated like crazy, while your lenses are probably still going to be going for much the same amount of money. The value of your cash lasts longer with your lenes.

Now, this assumes that it's going to take you three to five years of shooting with your entry-level body to get disgusted with it and want upgraded features. If you're shooting full time professionally or as a student, you may actually advance fast enough to needing those advanced features within the lifespan of the camera. But if you're shooting full time professionally, chances are you're already well past your first dSLR body and you weren't considering an entry-level camera, anyway. If you're a student, you're probably more restricted by budget than by features and the choice of an entry-level to midgrade is moot. So, I assume you're a hobbbyist shooter, in which case, your progress to needing mid-tier camera features is going to be roughly the lifespan of an entry-level dSLR.

[pazkallah]

thank you for your advice, i shall surely take that into consideration!

[Niresangwa]

I recently ran up against the same rub when advising a friend trying to choose between the same two models.

I gave the same advice, for the same reason. Save your money for the glass. Getting a K-x kit and using that extra 300-400 for the 50mm 1.4 prime would serve you much better. You can pick up serviceable longer zooms for a pretty cheap price. The lenses you can always keep, the body, who knows what will come along?

So, he plumped for my advice, and bought a K-x. I had the honour of shooting with it for an hour before the proud daddy got bored and wanted it back. It's a great camera. like all the pentax dslr's, very intuitive interface and some awesome features. Had i not just upgraded my second camera with a k10 bargain i found, I would be plumping for one of these. Small, light, just awesomeness in a camera.

If you need any reviews on it, go to PentaxForums.com - The Largest Pentax-Dedicated Photography Forum Community- Home and look at the reviews posted there.

good luck!

[Yunna82]

Hi!,

I'm also first time involved to this field of photograph..i would like to have my first camera dslr which I'm might be thinking to take Pentax K-x. This because i already considered with many type of brands in the market now for camera dslr and this is most worth it for the beginner. I think i will not regret to buy this camera because for my compact camera also i'm using this brand and it bring my satisfaction when i take picture.

[davenn]

hi gang,
initial comment ... not really new to digital photography .....
have had a fuji S7000 for 5 years, a S9500 for 3 years and my Pentax K10D for
~ 2 years. That being said my Q is the same .... the K-x or the K-7 ?? .
the price difference is really not an issue so it really boils down to what you people that
have one or the other or both think of them. After reading the usual reviews they are both
good cameras and of course both have their negatives.
any issues with movie mode is not an issue for me my 2 fuji's and a sony HD handycam
fill that bill

... does the K7 really produce better images?
... does it blow out bright areas whilst shadowed areas remain dark like the K-x or my K10D ?
and as a result do you have to exposure compensate the K7 like Kim spoke of in the
K-x review ?

cheers
Dave N

[RubyT]

See if you can find a K20D. Price is similar to the KX, features are more similar to the K7. It does not have the video, and it is larger than the K7, but it does have the top LCD and you can toggle focus. I am skipping the K7 and I might skip the next one, too.

[mattdm]

Originally Posted by davenn

... does the K7 really produce better images?

Not magically. But it's a nice camera with handling advantages over the K-x, so it could help you to produce better images.

Originally Posted by davenn

... does it blow out bright areas whilst shadowed areas remain dark like the K-x or my K10D ?

Dynamic range is hard for all dSLRs. I think my K-7 does better than my K10D did. It also has convenience features like an expanded-DR mode which help with this.

Originally Posted by davenn

and as a result do you have to exposure compensate the K7 like Kim spoke of in the
K-x review ?

When the scene calls for it, yes, of course.

See Amazon.com: Michael Freeman's Perfect Exposure: The Professional's Guide to Capturing Perfect Digital Photographs (9780240811710): Michael Freeman: Books

This is actually one of the "handling" advantages I mentioned above. The dual-dial control makes changing EV compensation really easy -- I set the camera so the front dial controls EV +/- and the rear dial changes aperture.

[davenn]

Originally Posted by RubyT

See if you can find a K20D. Price is similar to the KX, features are more similar to the K7. It does not have the video, and it is larger than the K7, but it does have the top LCD and you can toggle focus. I am skipping the K7 and I might skip the next one, too.

Thanks for your thoughts RubyT and to you too Mattdm. Its a pity, its the constant
underexposing under good lighting conditions that really frustrates me with the K10D.
It had often made me wonder if there is an actual fault that has developed (no pun intended ) with the camera.

Has anyone heard of the sensor being damaged by bright light whilst cleaning it ? or by any other means ?

I may have to re-read up on the reviews for K20D. I had done so maybe a year ago
to see if it was worth upgrading to it from the K10D. Maybe worth a revisit

Quote:
Originally Posted by davenn
and as a result do you have to exposure compensate the K7 like Kim spoke of in the
K-x review ?
mattdm
When the scene calls for it, yes, of course.

I guess I should have been a bit more specific..... When I was comparing the K7 to the Kx .... Kim was commenting on the regular need to exposure compensate because of the failings of the camera. Rather than the occassional need to do so with a camera that isnt prone to under-exposing

[mattdm]

Originally Posted by davenn

Thanks for your thoughts RubyT and to you too Mattdm. Its a pity, its the constant
underexposing under good lighting conditions that really frustrates me with the K10D.
It had often made me wonder if there is an actual fault that has developed (no pun intended ) with the camera.

The camera definitely errors on the darker side in the name of protecting highlights. Which metering mode are you using?

The K-7 (unlike the K20D) has a 77-zone meter and is somewhat more able to cope with difficult lighting, but it still is a matter of "know your metering system".

Originally Posted by davenn

Has anyone heard of the sensor being damaged by bright light whilst cleaning it ? or by any other means ?

The metering sensor you mean? Seems unlikely.

Originally Posted by davenn

I guess I should have been a bit more specific..... When I was comparing the K7 to the Kx .... Kim was commenting on the regular need to exposure compensate because of the failings of the camera. Rather than the occassional need to do so with a camera that isnt prone to under-exposing

Wellllll, there's a reason that review was pulled. (And it's not "faulty sample".)