K200D or K10D

Hi,

I am looking a tpurchasing my first digital SLR and have been looking at the Pentax K200D. I have seen the K10D at around the same price? Any one any opinions on which is the best choice?

Thanks

The K10D is an older model, but is more suitable for the keen enthusiast in a couple of ways, at least.

It has a superior viewfinder with higher magnification, and an extra control wheel on the front to save some button pushing. This can be programmed to set one of a number of things, including ISO and exposure compensation.

These features of course don't affect image quality, but do make the camera more enjoyable to use than models without them.

It's also far more convenient when in a hurry to change the K10D Lithium battery than to fiddle around with the 4 AA batteries of ther K200D.

I think there are a few more important advantages to K10 than have been mentioned..... The K10 is sealed against the ingress of damp and dirt etc and, vitally, has an exterior lever to change meter mode from segmented to 'spot'. This is a very important advantage as usersw of K100/k200 are forced to go into the menu system to change meter method, and make no mistake, you WILL need to do this.

There are other more subtle advantages also such as being able to remove/replace the focusing screen for a custom item (massive improvement to camera when using manual focus lenses) ...the K10 is much easier to hold and can take a grip which even greater improvement to ergonomics especially with large lenses.

Not to disagree with John about easy battery change for K10, I would point out that my 2500mAh 'Energiser' AA's in my k100 return 750 exposures per charge and are inexpensive compared to the pentax battery for k10.

On the other hand, if you are stuck in the field with empty batteries, its nice to be able to pop into the nearest convenience store and buy four AA cells - and get on with the shooting.

So is the K200D! It has ove 60 seals!

One other point to note is the addition of a 3rd focussing mode on the K10D over the K200D - continious. Good for tracking flying objects!

The K10D's highly efficient rechargeable lithium ion battery has a high enough capacity to last well between charges, and you can carry a spare battery or two as well. You are not going to need more power than that unless going on a long trip without access to mains electricity - and even then you could take a load of extra batteries if you wanted to. Compatible batteries are available from just £5 each.

As for buying AA batteries from a convenience store, usually the best they have are alkalines, which would only give you a few shots. Lithium AAs are becoming more popular, thankfully, but the price at ordinary shops is usually high at £8+ for a set of 4 cells.

The focusing screens in both the K10D and K200D are changeable.

While I very much like not having to use menus for everything, the lever on the K10D to change metering modes can move accidentally. I'm not sure how or when this happens (perhaps when snatching the camera out of a bag), but it does with mine occasionally. I only notice it when the camera is giving puzzling results. So I regard the lever as much of a disadvantage as an advantage.

The points about the better viewfinder and extra control wheel may seem trivial to those who haven't enjoyed them yet, but once you've had these features, you don't want to be without them. It's just a shame that more Pentax models don't have them.

Hello,welcome to the Forum

Well, I usually get 70 - 100 shots on AA Alkaline batteries, even cheap ones.

And the K200D also takes a grip if required.

OK that's not bad, but being able to buy batteries at a convenience store is an irrelevance if you always carry a spare battery - which you can do easily.

Sorry but the K200D uses the same focussing screen, and it's just as easy to remove. Also the DBG3 battery is just for the K200 and extends shooting life tremendously.

I had the same dilema and went for the K200, the cash back deal made and still makes a big difference

Forgot to mention, as a new user the K10d could be a bit daunting, the K200d is aimed at just this level.

Yes it is but its a camera you can grow further into.
The K10D was my first DSLR and I've used it a lot in Av mode to get used to it. Modes on the K200D like; Picture (Portrait, Landscape, Macro, Action, Night Scene Portrait, Standard Flash-Off), Scene (Night Scene, Surf & Snow, Food, Sunset, Kids, Pet, Candlelight, Museum) aren't really that usefull to my opinion if you are or want to get serious with photography. I don't believe that these modes are used much by the forum members.

The K10D like any other advanced ametuer camera isn't simple and not very forgiving so it takes time and effort before you get you first good shots from it. The first month you will surely swear at it a lot and at yourself when you see the photos back but you will learn a lot more from those then from bad photos taken when it was on a complete automode.

After 5 moths I started to try manual mode and then you know that your very glad you've those 2 controll wheels and a prisma as a viewfinder if you use manual focus. Most of my photos taken the first couple of weeks were also very bad but you learn alot from your mistakes and you get to know what's behind the photo.

You can surely go as deep with a K200D as with a K10D but the deeper you go, the more you will be in menus with the K200D and the more you will be wanting the extra control buttons on the K10D.
It's for you to decide how far you want to go and how much effort you want to put into it because the K200D will be easier in the begining.

Edit: Fixed the quote

BOLLOCKS!

Pardon my french Stefan but the K10D is a Semi-Pro camera, a UNIQUE one at that (tho' we now have its older brother), in fact depending on useage it can be designated a Pro model....."Advanced Amatuer, Pah! ROFL"

Dan;
IMHO there is not really any contest as to which is the better model, as for various modes on the K200D, the K10D will cover most of these quite adaquately if left in the program mode, as others have said, and I think Stefan put it the best, the K10D is a camera you will grow into, daunting for a beginer at first but bear in mind you do have access to the greatest minds on earth when it comes to the K10D.....this forum

K10D, buy it, enjoy it.

Actually theres a sales slogan there....Pentax if your reading "I" thought of it first

Well, in terms of picture quality they should be pretty equal.

And I think the learning curve is easier with the K200D.

Well okay Semi-Pro sounds much better but it's basicly the same right.
I just used advanced ametuer since I've one too and calling it a Semi-Pro in my hands just didn't seem right