K10D release date postponed?

Hi,

check this out:

http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00IUIt&unified_p=1

cheers Steve.

No surprise there then. I'm going to stick with my original expectation that these cameras will not be seen in UK until 2007. I will however be very happy if I'm wrong.

I visited the 'bricks & mortar' retail outlet of www.mediamarkt.es in Cartagena, Murcia yesterday and was very disappointed to find only one Pentax camera in the entire store, a *istDL at nearly €600 with a Sigma lens.

Not even a Pentax Compact in sight. On that score I'm not going to be able to get a Spanish K10D for ages yet.

They did have a Canon 1D Mk II at €4500 and a Nikon 1D (I think that was the model or maybe it was D1). Both very big cameras when compared to Pentax DSLR's.

I was at Pentax UK HQ in Slough an hour ago, picking up my *ist D, and enquired about the release date. They said it was still early November. SRS said the same thing when I phoned them this morning.

Apparently Japan has been delayed to ensure that Europe and North America get their cameras on schedule. I suspect that Pentax have been pleasantly surpprised at the level of interest in the K10D, and the number of advance orders.

G

I spoke to Intro2020 earlier today (I work for Essex Wildlife Trust in a Visitor Centre, and we have an account with them, but it's only in the last couple of weeks I've even thought about getting Pentax's in to order, it's not a stock line we would normally carry, but getting things in to order isn't such a risk for a charity). Anyway, they're expecting a shipment of K10Ds on 15th November. All the kits (body + 18-55) have been allocated to dealers, but 'body only' is still available in this shipment, and they have another one due soon after. They're saying that demand has been high.

The guy I spoke to had had a play with one yesterday, and was impressed (but then he would say that). I'd like to see some high-ISO demo photos, all the ones I've seen so far have been 100-400 I think.

So, from what I was told, I see no reason why the cameras shouldn't be in shops by the end of November. Fingers crossed.

Very tempted myself - I get a 10% staff discount.

Dan

Hi.

The Pentax Canada rep I talked with last Saturday at their hands-on demo at WEM mentioned that the k100D has less noise above 1600 iso than the k10D (although the K10d is still very good) and recommended that if you shoot mainly high iso than the k100D would be a better purchase. I'm not too worried about that and will stick with a k10d if I can get one.

Kevin

It makes sense that a 6MP chip would give less noise than one with 10MP (for the same size sensor).

I would prefer more range at the low ISO end than the high end. 50 would be good, but 100 is better than 200.

As long as 400 is very good, and 800 useable, 99% of my photography will be covered.

And as for the 1%, there's always the 50mm 1:1.2.

G

And there's always SilkyPix 3 - which has injected new life into the *ist-D high ISO images
Matt

Hey George! This is the first time I've heard someone say this, and I am with you on that thought.

I like to use long exposures for a lot of compositions and with my *istD at 200 I need to use some filters to knock down the exposure a little.
A lower ISO is much cleaner too, and more tonal definition. I think the K10D is 100 on the low end right?? Ya you're right, 100 is better than 200... for this bloke anyway