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K20D CAMERA

Flatcoat
Posted 01/12/2016 - 18:14 - Helpful Comment Link
Complete novice, which lens would be the best to start with + the camera as a shutter count of 9582. Is this good or bad.
JohnX
Posted 01/12/2016 - 19:12 - Helpful Comment Link
Welcome to the Forum.

Shutter count is fine - hardly used!

As to lens recommendations, what do you/will you shoot?
AndrewA
Posted 01/12/2016 - 19:17 - Helpful Comment Link
Hello and Welcome, yeah that will be a great place to start.

As John says an idea of what you wish to shoot will help with the advice.
Andrew

"I'm here because the whiskey is free" - Tyla

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davem
Posted 01/12/2016 - 19:20 - Helpful Comment Link
Hello

Welcome to the forum.

The K20D is a great camera. You pair it up with FA , DFA and DA lenses and all the automatic settings will work.

Everyone has their favourite lens depending upon what you are shooting at the time I would suggest looking at a used DA 16-45 or if money is a little tight a DA18-55 or the newer WR version (weather resistant)Both lenses are quite small and light.

With al little more cash the DA 18-135WR is a good walkabout lens with a slightly larger range and price. Generally buying off this forum works well and the prices can be very fair.

Whereabouts are you? Sometimes you can be lucky and a forum member may be near by and would let you try a lens or two on the camera.

Others can probably give you more specific advice. But you need to think what you want the lens to do!

Dave
davidstorm
Posted 01/12/2016 - 21:34 - Helpful Comment Link
Hello and welcome, some good advice already given above by Davem. I would tend to agree with Dave in that you should look for a decent zoom which covers a fairly wide focal range, the Pentax DA18-55 (otherwise known as the 'kit lens' as it was provided with many camera bodies when purchased new) is a good place to start, it is a decent lens and can be bought cheaply second hand.

I would also recommend a Pentax 55-300, these come in several variants and are a great telephoto zoom. Don't be afraid of the plastic mount versions (these are the 'DA L' variant) as these are cheaper, have the same optics and are lighter in weight. The plastic mount is robust and will last as long as you don't drop the camera and lens from a great height (I've had mine for 6 years approx. with no problems experienced). The metal mount version (badged 'DA') are a bit more expensive and have a quick focus facility, which means you can manually focus when the camera is in autofocus mode, which can't be done on the cheaper plastic mount version. There are also newer versions with 'HD' coating on the lens, I haven't tried one of these but they get good reports. Don't buy the 'plm' version as it is designed for use only with the latest Pentax DSLR's.

If you get a 18-55 and a 55-300 you will have coverage of a very wide focal range for very little outlay and you'll have kit capable of taking stunning images.

Hope this is useful info.

Regards
David
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Nicola's Apartments, Kassiopi, Corfu

Some cameras, some lenses, some bits 'n' bobs
Northgrain
Posted 01/12/2016 - 21:54 - Helpful Comment Link
Welcome to the forum.

Excellent advice from the two Davids.. little to add on that front .
Flatcoat
Posted 01/12/2016 - 21:56 Link
Thanks for all the advice given,more en-lighten now, I suppose the best way is to get out and about and take some pictures.
Roscoe
Posted 02/12/2016 - 12:48 - Helpful Comment Link
As stated above the K20D is a great camera, I have one, I personally would recommend the DA18-135 as your standard always on lens, as you would have wide angle plus a good amount of zoom.

When money allows buy the DA 55-300mm
Flatcoat
Posted 02/12/2016 - 15:41 Link
Many thanks Roscoe, the camera came with a Pentax 18 - 55mm lens, i have just purchased a used Pentax smc DA 1: 4-5.6 50-200mm ED 49mm Dia. i have tried it and it seems ok, only time will tell
StephenHampshire
Posted 02/12/2016 - 16:19 Link
Well done, the K20D is a well built camera. Mine survived several bumps before taking a fata tumble from about 5 foot to a concrete drive. Even then it still worked, just had a small hole around one of the e-dials that somewhat compromised its weather resistance! I found it worked very well with the 16-45 mentioned above, and also with a really cheap Tamron 70-300 which I originally got with my K100D
stu62
Posted 02/12/2016 - 17:25 Link
[quote:3496ace15f="StephenHampshire"]Well done, the K20D is a well built camera. Mine survived several bumps before taking a fata tumble from about 5 foot to a concrete drive. Even then it still worked, just had a small hole around one of the e-dials that somewhat compromised its weather resistance! I found it worked very well with the 16-45 mentioned above, and also with a really cheap Tamron 70-300 which I originally got with my K100D[/quote

i agree the 70/ 300 is a good cheap lens i had the sigma which i think is just as good
but i would have thought you may already have the 18/55 kit lens which is also under estimated
Roscoe
Posted 06/12/2016 - 17:03 Link
Flatcoat wrote:
Many thanks Roscoe, the camera came with a Pentax 18 - 55mm lens, i have just purchased a used Pentax smc DA 1: 4-5.6 50-200mm ED 49mm Dia. i have tried it and it seems ok, only time will tell

DA lenses will work OK, have you looked for a cheap second battery from the 7 Day shop, they work fine, are miles cheaper than Pentax, and are handy to keep in your bag.

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