K200D - which retailer/lenses?

Hi, After several months of research I've decided to get myself a DSLR, and settled on the K200D (my family all have Nikons and Canons so I wanted to be different, plus I loved the solid feel of this camera ). So now I need to find a good retailer and decide on lenses.

I read that the K200D was deleted from Pentax's list of current models some time ago. Can anyone tell me if there are stock shortages across the country and do I need to get a move on?

Can anyone recommend a Pentax Pro retailer - I've found Camera World, Park Cameras, SRS, and London Camera Exchange. I've noticed some price differences, do they price match at all (with other Pro dealers, not just any retailer as that would be unfair)?

I would need the 18-55mm lens, and have seen various bundles. Would probably be able to stretch to the 50-200mm as well and have seen this for around £460. Would this be a good 'starter' package - I would be taking pictures of children/family/pets, some landscape and nature, with a bit of wildlife thrown in if I'm not too noisy . I have my old 50mm K1000 lens too.

Sorry for the long post and all the questions, but I know there are people out there with good experience who might be able to help a novice like me! Thanks in advance.
Andrew

K200D is still available.

A highly reliable and generally cheap online retailer for major items is SRS Microsystems. By the way, quote your Pentax User ID in the comments box to get free post.

I recommend the mark II version of the 18-55mm lens (better optics and cap). The 50-200 is great as well if portability is a high priority. Otherwise consider the Pentax 55-300 or Tamron 70-300.

Consider a second-hand K10D instead of a new K200D if you want a camera with more external controls and a slightly better viewfinder. Or even a K20D if you can manage the extra money.

Andrew - Pete beat me to it by a minute! So reworked my comments a bit.

Park Cameras or LCE are other good vendors to look into - as Pentax Pro Centres all 3 give 2 yr warranties on kit bought through them. Sometimes they will edge SRS on price (but not often)

The 18-55mm is good value, as is the 50-200mm. They will cover most of your immediate requirements but the 55-300mm might be a better bet if your budget will stretch that far as it will give you a better option for wildlife subjects.


Steve

Hello Andrew.
Pentax K200D + 18-55 Mk2 + 55-300 Lenses - £559.00 inc. 15% VAT at SRS
A lot of people on this forum also speak well of the Pentax smc DA 17-70mm lens. It's worth getting into a dealer and trying out some of the lenses.

Hi Andrew,

I got my K200 from shop called 'Kamera' in St. Helens. Their internet site is bestcameras.co.uk. They have the K200D + 18-55 (II) + 50-200 lens for £494 all in. I got very good service from them and they are a ProCentre with 2 year guarentee.

Dan

K200D, 18-55(II), Tamron 70-300, Pentax-A 50mm f2.0

I was in there today for a Pentax 55-300, but they sold the only one they had this morning so I'll have to go to SRS. Didn't know they were a Pro Centre, they do give a 2 year Guarantee on all SLR's though. Noticed they had a window full of Pentax Binoculars, never knew they made that many models.

The owner doesn't seem to like Pentax and dropped them when the K20D came out and went over to Samsung. Now Samsung and all the fancy display cases are gone and Pentax is back.

sim

LCE in Manchester have a number of K200D bodies for a mere £250. Only thing is that they are the silver rather than the black bodies. however if that does not concern you, then its a bargain. Just get your lenses from SRS.

Check oput you'r local PC World.

Some stores have them in stock with the 18-55 mkII lens for around £379!

Web page here.

Thanks for all the tips and info. Think the K20 is a bit beyond my budget, unfortunately, but the K200 looks to be a great piece of kit. Am now looking at whether to buy a Pentax bundle (18-55+ either 50-200, or if I can stretch a bit 55-300), or the standard kit plus a Sigma or Tamron 70-300. Have read that the Sigma APO lens is quite good, and is a bit cheaper than the Pentax 55-300, but is it better to stick with Pentax? Have seen the silver K200, and don't think it's quite my taste. Now if it had a silver prism and top half, and black lower half like the older 35mm Pentax cameras that would be a different matter . Just a bit *too* silver for me..

If you are not in a hurry you could come to our get together, at the Robin hood centre/country park in Nottingham on the 9th of May!..........you will be able to see the full range of lenses belonging to the members, plus a representative from Pentax is lined up so he will have some goodies as well!....could well be worth the trip!

In my opinion the Tamron 70-300 is the budget telephoto zoom to go for if you can't afford a Pentax 50-200 or 55-300.

You'll find lots of detailed info and comments on all these lenses if you search the forum and the internet.

I did try out a Tamron recently and it was very good. The only thing I didn't like was its bulk and the clumsy way it worked. Can't quite remember what it was about it but it didn't operate in the same smooth way that the Pentax lenses do. But it was very similar in performance to the SMC Pentax-FAJ 75-300mm.

Hmmm. Was on the verge of contacting SRS about the K200D, but 2 things happened.
1. I saw the post here about the Samsung GX10, which I can get in a twin lens bundle for £400, at least £60 less than the equivalent K200 package. I like the Pentax name, but a camera is ultimately about the images that it can deliver (constrained in this case by the ability of the user), and so I wonder if the GX10 represents a better package than the K200D. Grateful for any thoughts folk might have on this.
2. I was checking SRS for the K200D bundles, and they have all disappeared into the ether ...is there a stock shortage of these cameras now?
Andrew

The Samsung GX10 is almost the same as the pentax K10D.
You will get over the K200D,
- Prism viewfinder instead of mirror. Prism are most of all brighter and there for better and more pleasant to look through.
- more external controls, no need to go into menu's while shooting.
but you will lose the ability to save in pentax PEF files. Not a big problem but PEF is smaller then DNG the camera makes so you can get more photos on a card.
Everything from pentax will fit on the Samsung except the batterygrip that one is different then the one used on the K10D and K20D.

PS. why not wait just a little longer. When the new pentax is anounced the price might drop of the K20D to clear stock for the new camera.

Just spoke to SRS and enquired why K200D had disappeared from their website. As I feared they have sold out, and believe that it has been discontinued.

Time for me to make my mind up if I want one, and then track one down. Parks Cameras have body only, but others are showing 'temporarily' out of stock...typical of me taking too long to make my mind up!