First DSLR...please help me...pleaseee! :)

Hello Pentaxians!

I (finally) decided to spend some money on what will be my first DSLR!

Even if I'm quite young I always used film SRLs and my favourite is my lovely MX...

During these years I collected lots of cameras and lenses paying nothing, now I've got 2 Spotmatic, the complete K series, ME Super and MX...
I've got plenty of fixed manual focus lenses, from 24mm to 200mm, all PENTAX, some m42 but most of all series M PK.

Last year I bought 2 Sigma AF zooms (I'm quite ashamed to admit this... ) for £15!!!! (with a faulty MZ-6 included...)
In the end my only auto-focus lenses are:
- 28 80 mm Sigma Aspherical
- 80 200 mm Sigma Aspherical

Now I feel it's time to buy a Digital SRL...and I'm panicking!

I always said I was waiting for a reasonable priced K-R with kit lens, and now I could buy it for £435 from the close Bristol Cameras...
...but then a friend of mine said "why don't you buy an used camera, you'll save a lot and you'll start gradually".
It's 2 weeks now I've got this voice in my brain...and I can't decide!!!


My options would be:

- K-r with 18-55 at £435 NEW

- K10d with 18-55 used but not much from SRS at £269

- K20d very used (nearly dead I assume...90.000 shots!) from SRS at £249


I think I would need the kit lens anyway because I miss a wide lens...and I'd love to buy a "pro" camera like the K20d...but I'm really scared about the shutter count!!!

I'm a ex-student at my first work experience...and the last thing I want to do it's waist my (not much) money!

What could you suggest me to do?

I know the 2 Sigma lenses are RUBBISH but I can't afford more autofocus lenses, I think I will continue to use my manual fixed M lenses for a long long time...

By the way, do you think about the adapter for the m42 lenses? Shall I buy it? I'm worried it would be too complicated to use...

Thank you, thank you SO much for your help and your support!!!!

PS
Sorry for my English...I'm Italian...

Dan

LINK

Excellent seller, great price, fantastic camera. £350= Bargain.

£249 is a lot for a camera with 90,000 miles on the clock. Ask SRS if they will guarantee the shutter and mirror to 250,000. Otherwise - avoid.

G

You might be able to track down a Kx at a reasonable price... and it's a very similar camera to the Kr under the skin.

There are some good deals to be had on the forum with K10 K20 and Kr models all for sale.
Ian

I recommend the K20D which is still the best build, ergonomics and overall IQ of any of them. The newer cameras are smaller and have video, but unless you stretch to the K-7 you will be missing the two dial system. Since that seems out of your budget the answer is clear.

There's a low count K20D for 300 quid in the sales thread.

Hello Dan

I have both K10 and KX. No doubt the K10 offers more control and produces what I think are quite natural, almost retro looking images straight from the camera. Its also pretty robust and weatherproof.

The KX has that big advantage of great high ISO performance and so suits action and low light work. You can use it with manual control also but you need to use the lcd screen to make some of the adjustments. The KX images seem to be more punchy to me, more digital and a little lesds like film. No doubt all such comments can be sorted on the PC later.

Everyone has their own preferences but whichever camera you select you'll be in for some great times and surely get some excellent pictures.

buy my k-r with kit lens, spare, battery & lens filter 2 months old 380...

If you are worried about a used camera developing a fault then buy new.

Alternatively buy a used camera and put what you save into the bank, in the unfortunate event of the camera failing you have some funds towards the repair cost or upgrading to another camera.

Of course this all relies on you having the willpower not to spend your savings

My choice would be a K20D.

And don't forget that should you buy from SRS [ bless them ] as a Pentax Forum member you don't pay for the delivery - just give them your PUF name and delivery is free

But not necessarilly the one with 90,000 shutter activations

OH that's very very true 90,000 is indicative of a LOT of use

WOOOW!!!

What a nice and kind reception!!!

Thins forum reminds me a lot of my usual Italian Pentax forum...it's true that Pentaxians are always the best, whatever the nationality! eheh


You won't believe me or you'll think I'm exaggerating....but last night I couldn't sleep! I was continuously thinking and talking to myself about the choice I will make and more precisely if that would be the best choice!

Of course having the options of buying a semi new K-r kit at £380 it's tempting... but I think I'm quite decided now to go for the K20d... I don't know...I like it and it reminds me of my lovely K2... big, solid, loyal and...I can't describe it!

Now...I know that would be embarrassing to ask...but I NEVER had shot in RAW mode and to be honest...I'm still good in a darkroom but I'm c... with digital photography...

I love opensource software and I would never, never use a cracked version of Photoshop (and of course I couldn't afford a genuine one) so I think I will use Picasa and GIMP... do you think that would be enough?
Could you please be so kind to give me some links to tutorials, guides, etch?
Is there any good guide to the digital photography?
I just learned what an histogram is!!!


Thank you SO much from the deep of my heart, thank you all for your support!

Dan

Dan,

This is as good a place as any to make a start...

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