Newbie, be gentle with me

Hi everybody I'm wanting to get back into photography after 20 years absence (other than some point & shoot snaps for my work). I originally started in '82 with an OM10, then was given a s/h Pentax ME Super which somebody relieved me of after about 10 days so I settled on Olympus got a manual adapter for the OM10 and bought myself a few lenses and an extra body, the OM2n, which I still have, then in '99 bought a Oly C-2500L DSLR(mainly for work shooting building exteriors/exteriors, defects and FRA infringments).
My initial impulse was to continue with an Oly DSLR but doing my research, regarding their model range/experience level, I found that there isn't much on offer and they seem to be going into the mirrorless area. So remembering my brief ownership of a Pentax (which I found very good and gave excellent results), I started to research Pentax DSLR's and found a good choice for different skill levels and budgets and have finally narrowed my choices to the K20D or the K-X models. What is the consensus regarding the best for a novice DSLR user who has a grounding in the basics of exposure but hasn't used said skills for a long time,

Any of the Pentax DSLRs will do just fine, but the K-r is very good value at the moment if you can still find an offer around.

The K-5 is the upper level offering and that too is great value, but it depends where you want to start.

At the lower cost end, second hand K20Ds or K7s could be the answer.

Welcome!!.. As for choosing a Pentax DSLR, I think it really comes down to your budget, and how you see yourself using the camera. I own a Kr, which must be a relatively simple camera to operate, as it is currently in Thailand with my wife who is a total novice at photography. She still refers to slr's as "big cameras", such is her lack of experience with such equipment. So far, she has taught herself DOF, and taking candids of our 3-year old neice and her 7-year old cousin, and you know how difficult it can be to photograph kids!

Hi William.

Take care.

Welcome, as a novice myself I would say the K-x is great, but considering I have never used anything else in the pentax range since 1986 I am a little biased. But its a cracking camera, light and easy to use, so not much science involved in thought processes. I would say that as with all camera's its all in the lense and there are some crackers out there. My favourite at the moment is my Tamron AF 70-300mm F/4-5.6 Di LD MACRO 1:2, and it didn't break the bank. Best thing is as I recently found out is if I upgrade withing the K range all lenses will fit the upgrade so another saving there(I know this sounds like a silly statement but I genuinely didn't know. last time I upgraded I had to buy everything again).

Welcome to the forum

As previously mentioned - the Kr would be a good choice.

However - of the 2 models you say you have narrowed your choice down to - I would have to go for the K20D purely because it would be a great camera for you to 'grow in to' whereas once you have re-awakened your latent knowledge - you could find that you grow out of the K-x

The K20D is also very forgiving in the hands of a novice - I upgraded from a K200D to the K20D a few years ago and it was the best decision I ever made. When feeling lazy - I could still allow the camera to work out everything for me - but it gave me much more scope to get to grips with learning how to get the best out of a DSLR.

Like you - I had been a film user who once knew the basics of exposure etc but I had a 'point and shoot' gap of several years.

As always - opinions are only that - and whichever one you choose - you will not be disappointed with the quality of images that can be produced

Good Luck

Carl

Hello and Welcome!
I have a Kr - superb little camera, and a K200D as well, and can highly recommend either!
The K20 has been one I was keen on, but at the time couldn't quite stretch to one.
Anyway, you can't really go wrong with a Pentax!

Hello and welcome

There are pro and cons as with anything.

I have a K10D - the same body apart from a few tweaks as the later K20D - the K100/K200/KR/KX/K7 and K5 have smaller bodies so maybe handling a few before buying may be your best bet to see which is 'best in hand'.

The K10/K20/K7 and K5 all have dual control wheels and top plate lcd's whereas the others have one control wheel and not, many if any have the top plate lcd.

I will let the more experienced members here advise on the other differences as I have only used the K10 so to comment on the others other than what I have said above would be misplaced.

Hope this helps


Stu.

Thanks to everybody for your helpful comments and I'm spoilt for choice regarding entry level Pentax bodies at the mo. I think my choice has hardened on the K20D as it probably the best bet and as was said it's more flexible and I could 'grow into' it more. The problem is they are very thin on the ground, so let the hunt begin.

I'm looking forward to picking up tips from the other forum topics and articles, so thanks again y'all for the advice, but one thing I would love to know is, 'how did Steven9761 get his wife to go to Thailand and I wonder is it far enough for mine'

all the best

Will

- dunno about you, Will - but I found that marrying a Thai lady was immensely helpful on that score!!