First DSLR - K10d queries

No it's not too much; not if you are going to get an SLR anyway of some sort.

The K10D doesn't have Scene modes (Portrait, Landscape, Sport, etc) - but you can quickly learn to reproduce these by using the other controls. It does have a fully auto mode (Green mode), so you can get snapping straight away. Soon you may find yourself using Av mode for much of the time. This really is easy and convenient once you have a basic understanding of what difference the aperture, shutter speed and ISO make.

Before my K10D I had a Pentax *ist DS dSLR. This had Scene modes, but I hardly ever bothered using them, even when I was new to the camera.

As a youngster, my first camera with controls was an old fully-manual film camera given to me by my uncle. I was straight in at the deep end and HAD to learn about aperture and shutter speed from books (and use a hand-held light meter) to get correct exposures - and I did get them! And I had to focus by using the scale on the lens since the camera wasn't SLR.

The K10D by comparison is an easy-to-use luxury, especially thanks to the ability to view your shot straight away afterwards on the LCD screen. If it's not right, you alter the settings and try again. Especially convenient is Exposure Compensation (though it doesn't work with Green mode). Basically, if you want the photograph brighter, you dial in some plus compensation; or minus for darker. There are preview facilities to see depth-of-field as well.

Regarding SRS, either give them a couple of days to answer your email or give them a ring.

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~Pete

It may be of interest to you that the Samsung 50-200 is available for £100 less a penny at one of the larger retailers websites - they must be Crackers!

I think the consensus is that it is a re-badged Pentax.

I have one and a Pentax Mk1 18-55.

Some of the shots I have taken with the 50-200 seem to have a bit more "punch" than most of what I have taken with the 18-55.

However it could be that having had the 50-200 since April, I have been using it in better (brighter) weather conditions!


Regards

Peter

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Peter

Pentax K5
Pentax DA 18-55 Mk1, 50-200 (Samsung), 16-45, 55-300 Mk1, 35 f/2.4
Pentax MZ6 + FA28-90, FA50 f/1.4, M 50 f/1.7
Tamron 80-210mm & 28mm

I bought the 50-200 and as mentioned it's a lovely lens. Small & light and gives good crisp images. The only downsides are that it extends as the zoom is used and it's not fast at f4 to f5.6 but at under a £100 it's a steal.

Mike

Nearly all zoom lenses extend when zooming.

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~Pete

I don't think the kit lens does and the Sigma 10-20 doesn't and while I have no idea why, I had the idea that most modernn designs tried to avoid it but I've never really looked into it.

I was annoyed my rather nice Tamron 17-50 does. If the competing Sigma didn't I'd have bought that but I have grown to love the Tamron quite quickly so I'll forgive it
Mike

Sigma 10-20 does extend when zooming out. Not much, but enough to see towards the 20mm end.

The 18-55 kit lens also extends - when zooming in and out. Unusually it's at its shortest in the middle of the range, just under 35mm.

Certainly some zooms extend more than others, but I don't think there are all that many that don't extend at all, especially budget AF telephotos.

It's hardly a downside with those with plastic barrels as there is little weight moving away from the body.

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~Pete

Well silly old me for not noticing!

Mike

Anyone have an opinion on the fact that the K10D is now discontinued?
Would people consider this a bad time to but into pentax?
I know there are many other bodies out there and it's natural for a company to limit the models they are making but I presume all the accessories will be available for some time.
I suppose I'm getting a little ahead of myself in thinking of the resale value of a K10D before I've even got one
And no, unfortunately, I can't really afford a K20d.

I think it's an excellent time to buy into Pentax.

There's a horde of great new lenses available, the lack of which has been the bane of the brand for years.

The K10D is available new for a steal for a short time more.

There are the K200D and K20D that have just come on to the market.

And there are second hand and refurb K100Ds around, to be had for next to nothing. All of them can use all the lenses.

In other words, more choice, more value, higher specs than at any time since Pentax first made a digital SLR.

By the time you've grown into the K10D, it won't be worth much second hand, granted. But if you're already worried about this, when you describe yourself as a beginner, then perhaps this isn't the road you should be going down.

Quite the opposite. The K10D is only discontinued because it has been replaced by the K20D. Now is the best time ever to get a K10D since it's such good value for money. You would have lost more through depreciation had you bought one sooner. Pentax models hold some value even some years after they are discontinued. There is still demand for the *ist DS, for example.

The K10D and K20D are physically similar, and share some of the same parts, let alone accessories.

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~Pete

As others have said, it's a great time to buy into Pentax, the K10D is a complete steal of a bargain if you're quick and get one whilst they are still available; I bought one for my wife purely because it was too much of a bargain to resist. This particular model has now stopped being made, but the brand/system is still very much alive, kicking, and appears to be going from strength to strength.

As for resale value, yes, you are very much getting ahead of yourself. By the time you've exhausted all the capabilities of this camera, you will be a very good photographer indeed.

Duncan.

hey
I realise I was getting ahead of myself, have been overcautious with issues like this since I bought a dreamcast literally a matter of weeks before it died an ugly death

[sorry if the comparison offends... ]

Here's an illustration that might help.

I bought my K10D for £700 in Jan 2007, so 16 months ago.

New they're now approx £350, so mine with its 9000-odd shots on the clock might just about fetch £250 at the absolute outside.

So it's depreciated £450 in 16 months.

In other words, I've spent £28 quid a month, having more photographic fun than ever before.

Does that put it in context for you?

Of course, I've spent a ton more on lenses too, in that time, mostly second hand. But hopefully they'll more or less hold their value.

I have a K100D and I am sorely tempted by these K10D as I do fancy the extra bits and bobs you get with the K10D. But I just don't feel rich enough at the moment curse it.

At the prices mentioned here the K10D has to be a bargain. I have no idea how little you'd pay for a K100D which is a very nice camera and has given me the impetus to get out and take photographs again but it would be peanuts I guess.

Mike

Here's a thought.

Soon there will be no new K10Ds left.

Nevertheless the K10D has a number of features that will appeal to some over the K200D - the Li battery, and two e-dials for instance.

So do you suppose the 2nd hand value of the K10D will go up, rather than down, once there are no new ones left?