Crossroads

Where else to look/ask for advice on Pentax cameras than in a Pentax User forum :

This competition entry from a couple of years ago remains forever burned upon my scarred retinas...

Dan

I'd still hazard a guess that there are more K200D/K-x users on here than on a Canon or Nikon forum!

Seriously though, plenty of users own one of those two cameras, if signatures are anything to go buy.

Blimey!

I loved Gartmore's shot in that comp, and as always, Lilly's photo just oozed quality.

K.

You obviously haven't seen me recently. I've lost weight, flattened the old tum, and basically look better than I have done for years.

Not that that's saying much.

G

Well, I am a K200D user, and the camera is on sale ... but only because I am eyeing the K7 ... I decided against Kx because I use the focus-point indicators and would miss them ... I like the weather sealing as well ... I like the top LCD and that saves me wasting batts on the main LCD view ... I have occassionally used the BG3 with it and till I switched to Eneloops, they have saved a situation or two for me ... with the Eneloops now I use the grip only when I want a 'single' package to shoot with for extended periods ... K200D+BG3+18-250 gets me that ...

I am not looking at the K10D/K20D because I know that I will get the upgrade itch pretty quickly once a few more cams come out ... and the K20D is still retailing for EUR 700-800 here, so i'd rather add the extra 200-300 and get the K7 ... else stick with K200D which has been a solid performer ... and would make a great light backup body as well ...

Are they any specific questions regarding the K200D?

Sorry, I also have no idea. In the past I used K200D and did have to realize that there were not too much K200D users here... If I asked a question about the camera, usually K10D users answered which was very kind of course, but did not replace the hands-on experience of real K200D users...
This was my experience...

Well, I have been using the K200D for about a year now, and I have been very pleased with it.

Most of the photographic issues are the same, no matter what camera model one uses. As for the more technical questions, I find that most are answered by reading the manual, or parallel books, like the Magic Lantern Series.

Another satisfied k200 owner here. A solid little camera, only a K-7 would pursuade me to upgrade.

i have just sold my ist ds and gone for the k200d i am glad i made the move faster af better qualty catch in focus a bit biger in size all in all a good camera if its any help we could meet up and you can have a look at my k200d pm me if interisted

Big, but in my experience necessary for keeping the camera from tipping forward when round my neck with a flashgun attached.

Robbie,

I'll sing the praises for the K200D as well as I have had mine for about 2 years now.

I picked mainly on price, size and the weather sealing and at the moment I would only change it for a K20D because I would like the advantage of the lens compensation. (and I cant afford a K7)

The K200 works the same when in manual mode, you need to press and hold the Exp comp button and this switches from shutter speed to aperture. It was a bit fiddly at first but I soon got the hang of it. Although I assume the two wheels on a K20D would make it much easier due to thier placement

As for grips, I did buy the DBG-3 for it and TBH I was quite dissapointed with it. It adds quite a lot of extra weight (4xAA batts), it felt quite cheap and plasticky (with no rubberised bit like the body) for a Pentax product and the palm of my hand always hits the shutter release button on it and activates the autofocus, all that said if I was to shoot a lot of portraits it does make it easier to hold. That could just be me though cause I am used to the winders on my ME Super and Super A.

As for re-sale the K200Ds seem to be few and far between, drop very little in price and I read a post somewhere that SRS struggle to find them.

The only time I have ever been frustraed with the camera was shooting rapid at 10mp JPEGs it was a little slow writing to the cardand I had to pause for a second or two whilst it caught up, this of cause was not helped by me being a tight git and buying cheap SD cards.

Regards
PaulM

on the BG3, i'll only add that despite the feel, Pentax claims it is weather-sealed as well... and I agree with the palm hitting the grip release... I just try and remember to keep the grip release switched off till needed...

You also have the option of choosing which batteries the camera uses first. I chose the grip batteries since they are more easily accessible.