First post. Upgrading

Hello, newbie here. Am looking to upgrade from a K100D super, which my daughter will inherit. There are a couple of Samsung GX20s with kit lenses at CeX for £220 with 12 months warranty, one in Coventry-hertford street and one in Hounslow. I have asked them for shutter counts and general condition, along with what's included, but they have not provided anything.

Am quite keen on the k20d, looking for good handling and control, which seems to be a strength of the k10 and k20. Being based in Northern Ireland it can be a problem getting second hand kit sent. Some LCE stores will post no problem (how I got my k100d super a few years ago), but others wont. If anyone is able to view the GX20 in either Hounslow or Coventry and let me know the condition, then I could buy with more confidence.

Am also looking at eBay and SRS, but have not made a decision yet. Any experiences of buying from CeX?

Alan

Alan - whereabouts in Hounslow did you see this? I'm only along the road from there, so I don't mind taking a look for you. If it meets your requirements, I can also send it via UPS overnight to you, as I work for a courier company, and can send this at a similar cost to that of Royal Mail.

There is a K-r in the classifieds at the moment for £240 delivered with low shutter count. Would be a much bigger step up than a K20D or the GX20.

Hello and Welcome to the Forum.

I started with a Kr, it is brilliant.

Also SRS have new K-r's in black (and purple) at £299 with kit lens and 2 year warranty.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PENTAX-K-r-Kr-18-55-PURPLE-NEW-2-YEAR-WARRANTY-UK-DEAL...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PENTAX-K-r-Kr-18-55-BLACK-NEW-2-YEAR-WARRANTY-UK-DEALE...

Got to be better than £220 for a used K20D

Love that purple one

Hi all, thanks for the welcome and the replies. I will try and reply to you all at once.

I have looked at the K-r as well, and my reading of the discussions is that the K-r has the better sensor, but the K20d is ergonomically better, and better built. For me photography is about the process, and a camera that encourages more thought about what you are doing makes for more a more enjoyable process. Many of my favourite images are the ones that I have spent time to get right, rather than the lucky, right place and time shots.

Back in the film days, I remember moving from an auto-focus SLR to a manual focus Nikon, and much preferring the more hands on approach. I know that all cameras have the same point and shoot green modes, but the additional controls and top LCD on the K20d swing it for me over the better sensor of the K-r. I wish the budget would stretch to a K5, but unfortunately not. I would rather save for more glass.

£220 for a GX20 with 18-55 seems a pretty decent price, including 1 year warranty. The other option is SRS with £209 for a K20d body. The camera I was asking about is in CeX in Hounslow, which is at 242 High Street. Thanks for the offer of looking at it Steven, that would be much appreciated.

Again, thanks for the welcome, and I look forward to spending more time here.

Alan

Hello and Welcome

Hello and welcome Alan. I'm not sure if you could stretch to it as you have referred to above, but I would recommend you have a look around for a K-5 in preference to a K20D or the Samsung equivalent. There are quite a few around in good condition for between £300 and £350; you might even find one cheaper. This is a much better camera than a K20 or a K-r.

If you are looking at spending £220 on a K20, the stretch to a K-5 does not seem to be massive and in this case I think it would be worth doing this and waiting a while for the glass. I don't know if the warranty is a deal breaker but, have a look on the forum at the K-5's currently for sale.

Regards
David

Thanks for the advice. Have managed to raise a bit more money and am looking for a K5. The K30 deals on SRS are attractive as well. The warranty is not a deal breaker, as long as I can trust the seller. One of the advantages of buying on the forum.

Wouldn't leave me much money for lenses, but I can make do with what I've got for now. Will let you know when I get something.

Alan

Thanks for the welcome. Having sold my k100d super, I have now acquired a K7, a WR kit lens and a SMC-A 50mm f1.7. Very much looking forward to using it. First impressions are a huge increase in the speed of everything when compared to the k100d super. Superb build quality without it being much different in size.

Have not taken any images yet, but will keep in touch on the forum.

Alan

Great choice of camera Alan! You were lucky to get one it would seem as recent discussions have suggested there's not many for sale.

I was arguing recently in favour of the same strengths in a camera that you have identified - namely build, handling, ergonomics and ease of control & operation. The K7 (and of course its successor the K5) have all of that in spades, brilliant cameras, and in my view you get even more with the addition of the BG-4 battery grip.

There's no doubting the superiour image quality of the later versions of the K7 (known as K5 and K5II) if that is what you demand, but you've got more money now for accessories and lenses, which will serve you on future bodies as well. Look forward to seeing some of your shots