K20 D

The only thing I am surprised about is that the screen isn't tiltable or removable (as was remoured) for live view. Live view with a fixed screen, even one with a wide angle view is still pretty pointless imho.

Pentax NL still have no info on the K20D on their site

Apologies if this has already been posted elsewhere, but Trusted Reviews have just put up a hands on preview of the K20D

http://www.trustedreviews.com/digital-cameras/review/2008/01/25/Pentax-K20D-Hands-On-Preview/p1

He certainly thinks it's a capable bit of kit but has a major gripe with the inaccurate metering.

Which could simply be attributed to beta firmware. Others that have handled the K20D haven't reported such problems, but until the final firmware is released, we won't know.

Edit: Odd that on that site that call the K20D an "enthusiasts camera" but the GX20 a "semi-pro camera" (in their RSS feed). Silly, since they're all but the same camera.

I only know one thing.... I want one...
It will be a nice upgrade from my *ist-DS...
But SWMBO isn't exactly sharing the same idea...

Just what I got used to I s'pose
I tried a couple of radio triggers which work fine on the D200 but won't work on the K10D.
IR are not good because if working in sunlight they won't fire.

all we have to wait for is the price..
If the body only will be about Euro. 1200 or less then I will be very tempted to buy it.

There are a couple of points I am interested at, the biggest is how it handles M lenses. The K10D has some metering issues with these lenses and I hope that they listened to the customers and have improved it.

What I still hope for is that besides the "improvements" they made to the raw button they will add another option to this button and that is a custom white balance.
The button is more usefull now then it was in the K10D. The way how I see it now is that the camera is allways in RAW mode and that I can switch it to JPEG mode if needed. Sometimes I shoot some JPEG images when I am at work (non critical work and no RAW convertor on the PC....)

To Gwyn.
Quite right. I have one of the first digital cameras from Pentax (Hewlett Packard) the EI-2000 which is a genuine DSLR (not electronic) 2.25Mp 3x zoom optical plus digital fixed lens. this has a viewfinder and live view with a screen that tilts up 90deg. which is great for low shots and even upside down shots over other peoples heads.
If pentax could do it then why oh why didn't they do it now.
I still use the EI-2000 as a happy snapper or lend it to my wife on holiday and as she is not interested in photography it serves her very well.
Maybe the strategy is to keep adding little bits to the K30/K40/K50 etc. etc so that we keep buying the latest gear and keep the prifits rolling in for Pentax.
As in the $6,000,000.00 man they have the technology they just damwell don't use it all at once.
CHEERS Vic

The El-2000 is a compact masquerading as an SLR, IIRC when you look through the view finder your are looking at an EVF, not actually through the lens, it doesn't have a mirror, just like my Fuji S360.

I have to smile somtimes when I hear questions about why didn't Pentax do this or they could have done that etc all for under 500 quid. If you have any idea of the costs (and time) involved to design, manufacture, test, rework etc new tooling you might begin to understand the ethos of Pentax and the K20D.

For instance, if they wanted to put a tilting screen in the K20D I would estimate it would take a minimum of 3 new injection moulds (think liquid plastic being fired from a gun), these new moulds could cost £100+K each, costs that have to be recouped from the customer.

Not meant to be a rant but I think the customer is starting to ask/expect too much for too little

McBrian

It's not just the injection moulding cost. I have a Canon G1 (v old but still works). The screen is clad in metal and is full tiltable and rotatable. The ball joint feels very robust and I imaging the electrical connectors from screen to body are equally so. In addition, the screen image flips when the screen is rotated, meaning additional software and orinetation sensors.

It is probably also difficult to weather seal a rotating screen.]

I would guesstimate the rotating screen would add £50 - £100.

Live does nothing for me at all, I would prefer a bright viewfinder..

If I ever find myself in a situation when I need to get down on my hands and knees and still end up with a fabulous shot, I just get out my Mamiya 645 with the waistlevel viewfinder....

I am happy to use my K10D for the time being, and I would like to hear from the K20D users what sort of camera it turns out to be. If it turns out to have fantastic IQ, then if the next model keeps the same sensor, but some of the other features are enhanced (fps, flash synch, fast shutter speed, faster AF) then that's what I'd aim for...

Reading DePressing Review is getting depressing, people dissing the camera based on the spec sheet. I have a great camera in the K10D (*ist D is fab too) so I want to enjoy those before getting the next camera....

(what amazes me is that the Pentax K20D is not considered to be as pro-orientated as the EOS 40D.. I know EOS has some of the features like higher fps....but it also has scene modes!)

The K20D "not as Pro as the Canon 40D" I think the author was dyslexic.

We will have to forgive him for that. It is the total opposite, at least for my usage.

Ben

McBrian, I am not expecting to pay 500 pounds for the K20D.
If Olympus can produce a tiltable turnable screen on the E3 then I see no reason not to hope for something similar on the K20D. The E3 has a similar price to that proposed for the K20D after all.
I just feel it is an opporunity missed, that is all.

Nope, the EI-2000 uses a prism with a semi reflective surface, I.E. part of the light is directed at the viewfinder and part is let through to the CCD.
You do loose a lot of light this way.

Word from a supplier here is that the K20D will be available from April, the K200D a month earlier. Price for the K20D not yet announced, but he expects around the same as the K10D was at launch (+/- €1000).
Get saving ....

Oh and I also hear that the new DA300mm* lens will have a minimum focussing distance of just 1.4m. Now THAT sounds interesting


Now where was that bank I could rob?

Maybe we can get a discount if we round up enough people in the Netherlands who want to buy one... I'm in...