Making your mind up

Hi everybody, i am a newbe on here, thanks for having us, i first started with a pentax me super, back in the eightys and still have it, i know its old hat now, and ready to move to DSLR. I want the KR or the nikon D3100, I AM thinking of using my old lenses with the KR, which i know i will loose my alto focus, and my focol lenth will be different. I dont think i am doing myself any favours, what do you think guys? or should i make a clean break. These two cameras are brill, but which one do i go for, thanks.

Well we are biased.. But in my honest opinion. The Kr without your old lenses is a superior camera to the Nikon. So with the lens factor it becomes a no brainer really.

Whilst I think the K-r is the best camera in its price bracket (I would say that wouldn't I), maybe you should share with us your line up of lenses. If they were good lenses, then they still will be. There are plenty of people on here using old lenses.

I am also new to DSLR but have used compact digitals for some years.
I spent several months studying all the reviews of 'entry level' DSLR's (and ones costing a little bit more) and came to the overriding conclusion that NOTHING touches the K-r for the image quality/price level.
Whilst the Nikon 3100 is a contender, for me the USP of the Pentax was it's in-built image stabilisation which means you don't need expensive (and heavier) IS lenses.
I got the twin lens kit from PC World (I never normally shop there but on this occasion I knew what I wanted so didn't need any useless 'help') for around £450.
Keep studying this Forum - I saved myself £130 this week by posting a question about lenses and got a tip-off about a one-day half price deal on Amazon.
Good hunting - but again I'm biased having gone for the K-r. I was also pleased to see that shortly after I bought it PC Pro mag also came to the same conclusion !

you may find, like I do, that the old manual focus lenses are better for shooting video with than the newer auto focus lenses... I have tow 50 1.4 lenses one M one af and trust me, they both get used lots.
and the kr is a great all round camera.

Pentax!!!!!!!!!!

As Stuart rightly points out the opinions you get here will be biased, but then so will the opinions you get anywhere else, even retailers will steer you to the system that will eventually get them the most profit.

Regardless of brand loyalty to Pentax I have to say that having access to older lenses gives you a head start, even if you find the newer lenses are more to your tastes (assuming you buy body & kit lens) the older lenses will still suffice to fill gaps until you can afford to upgrade.

A few unbiased things to help you decide;

1) Look at the specs and prices of each camera and consider what your likely to need, its also worth checking those of higher end models for if and when you upgrade.

2) Check the range of lenses and make sure the focal lengths you think you will need are available at a cost you can afford, don't dismiss third party lenses either.

3) Most importantly, try to find somewhere you can handle both cameras and use your instinct as to which "feels" right.

Finally if you choose Pentax then welcome to the forum, if you go with Nikon then don't forget to list your old Pentax lenses here for sale before you go

Hey Alan, me first for the lenses lol

[quote:3496ace15f="Blythman"]Whilst I think the K-r is the best camera in its price bracket (I would say that wouldn't I), maybe you should share with us your line up of lenses. If they were good lenses, then they still will be. There are plenty of people on here using old lenses. [/
quote]


The one lense i wanted to use was a prinzflex 70x200 macro which i had from dixon years ago, it was good in its day, but looking on ebay, you canot give them away, i have a flash gun which used to fit me super, wondering if it will be compatable with KR

It sounds like the lens will be a "K" mount, the first generation of bayonet mount lenses, check the mount for electrical contacts, they will look like tiny ball bearings embedded in the mount, if the lens has these then its a "KA" mount. the difference is the K mount lens will have to be used totally manually on a DSLR whereas a KA mount will relay some information about the type of lens fitted to the camera and will be easier to use.

To be totally honest (in my humble opinion) that lens especially if its a K mount, is not worth taking into consideration in a decision over weather to stay with Pentax or not, agai with the flash gun it would have to be used totally manually.

I stick with my previous suggestion, handle both cameras and choose the one that feels right.

Cheers bud, i was more leaning towards the pentax, but i surpose it may have beed a bonus if old lense could work well. Its best if i can get a deal with two lense cobination. I was told that pentax hasent got the same sort of after sales service as canon and nikon, but all the years ive had a pentax nothing went wrong, thanks for your replys

I had a drunken fall with my K10D whilst still in warranty - my fault for joining a few ex RAF boys for a drink and proving to be a bit of a shandy p**f - howver, I sent the camera back to Pentax advsing that a fault developed and that I could not rule out the tumble as a possible cause - anyhows I recived the K10D back in about 7 days fully repaired.


Pentax for me - I like to judge a company by its service or a person on how they deal with their mistakes and so far well done Pentax

I haven't mentioned that whilst I am biased to Pentax - I would not have bought a KX for the lack of focus points in the view finder (issue solved with the KR) as I would not buy a camera body without an af motor which rules out the Nikon.

I use many mf lenses but I want the af motor there for when I need it and without having to buy expensive lenses for the af

Pentax cameras also meter with mf lenses which I believe that canikon entry levels jobbies do not - I could be wrong though

Tough choice, the D3100 seems like a decent camera but the old lenses
would swing it for me, I am a big fan and getting worryingly addicted to browsing ebay.
I had an un drunken fall with my K100D, (saving up for something with less numerals), the other day, made an awful crash as it hit a hard floor, all seems fine though! The build quality seems so good.

I think the Canon I picked up the other day would have been in pieces!