Pentax K-R,K-X or Nikon D5000?

Hi,
I'm completely new to the forums and am buying a new camera soon. I've narrowed it down to the aforementioned three, but am still not sure which to pick. I am considering purchasing a second hand Nikon d5000 or Pentax k-x body and then adding a sigma 17-70mm lens but I need a second opinion on whether this is a good choice or whether I should look at another camera entirely. The K-R is currently too expensive for me to add a lens to as is already costs around £370 while the other two cost around £250-280. My budget is around £450 for both camera and lens. I don't film much at all and my main usage will be for stills. Image quality is the most important factor for me.
Thanks a lot!
SoWhat

I have a Pentax k-x available for sale should you be interested

Hi & welcome,
I can't comment on the D5000 but I have been very hapy with my k-x, especially it's skills in low light situations.

The only thing to check is that you have held one and are comfotable with how small it is.

I think you are right to spend on a quality lens rather than a more expensive body at this stage.

Knowing what photogphy you have done to date and what sort of pictures you like to take (e.g. landscapes, portraits, wildlife) may help people give you informed / personalised advise.

SOWHAT - either buy the K-r from Argos (yes, I know - but it's only £380!!) for the standard 18-55mm lens, or I believe the likes of Jessops have an online deal on this camera with the 18-55mm and one other lens for around the £450-£460 mark!

I had an iST 35mm that decided to die on me whilst I was in Thailand recently (luckily, I had an Optio A40 in reserve!!), and I chose the K-r as its replacement. My one "grump" about the K-r is that the AA battery accessory is an optional extra, costing around £25, but well worth it!

Makes no odds though, which camera you choose - it's not the tool that's in your hand, it's the "tool" that's holding it in his hand!!

K-x is a cracking little camera. I've since bought a K5 but I can't bring myself to part with it

...And remember that if you have a load of Tesco clubcard vouchers you can exchange them for Jessops vouchers so that £10 tesco vouchers = £20 Jessops. Also if you're signed up to Quidco you can get 3% cashback from Jessops. Can't see a 2 lens deal with the K-r on Jessop, but they have it with the standard 18-55 for £399. Unless you do the Tesco clubcard thing, then Argos looks a better bet.

However, SRS have the two lens deal for £479 - 18-55 and 50-200 lenses.

I would be tempted to just get the body + 18-55 - see how you get on and whether you want another lens. The 50-200 comes up secondhand quite often for not much money, and at lest you'll know if a telephoto's what you want by that stage.

RHALLMAN - thanks for pointing out the Jessops issue. They did have an offer on about 4-6 weeks ago though, I believe. Comet and PC World are another two stores worth looking at, but I stick by my Argos suggestion. Me and the wife looked at it in Harrods (£500), before settling on the Argos deal. The £120 saved will go towards buying accessories for the camera.

SoWhat. Like yourself, I am both a new member here and new to DSLR. I have bought, only ten days ago, the K-r. If you have the time please read through my initial posts asking various questions about the K-r.

I was also looking at the Nikon D3100 and the Canon EOS 1100D. After much research, soul seaching and questions both on this forum and directly to Pentax, I am now glad that I got the K-r.

I don't know your location but if you are in the UK Currys have the K-r on offer including two lenses for around £400-£450, depending upon where you are. Also, I'm sure that SRS will be more than happy to assist you. I can't speak highly enough of them. Hope this helps.

Isn't the Sigma over £300 by itself. So any of these are beyond budget.

I'd buy from SRS. £395 for the body with 18-55 kit lens. If money is tight then I wouldn't bother with the 50-200. Spend the extra on batteries and memory cards. You'll be able to pick a 50-200 up on here for £50 later. I bought a twin lens K-x kit prior to the K-r release. After just a couple of weeks I wanted something longer than 200mm, and had to start saving again.

Most important thing is to get one with a 2 year warranty even if it costs a few quid more. Try pricing an extra year at Currys or Argos. I'm sure it'll be more expensive.

Don't dismiss the kit lens as a serious optic. Some of us have never felt the need to "upgrade". That twin lens deal looks tempting. The facility to shoot from 18 to 200 will enhance your photography.

As for the Nikon, it's clearly a fine camera which has been well reviewed, but the Pentax has built-in vibration correction so when you buy some cheap lenses off e-bay not only will they fit they'll be stablised as well.

I agree with Andrew's points. I own the k-x twin lens kit have have always been happy with it. You just need a decent set of batteries, I have increased my focal length to 300mm since. As for sport & nature the 200mm wasn't really at home..

The Kr would be an excellent choice. In my biased opinion, superior to the Nikon

Though I wouldn't buy from Curry's..From previous experience, Aftersales is shocking.

Thanks everyone!
I just need to try out a few cameras to see what feels right, like you said. By the way, you can get the sigma 17-70mm lens for around 150 quid second hand so it would be within budget.

You can get copies on Ebay from China for around £4

or u can get these off ebay sigma,
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Sigma-24-70mm-F3-5-5-6-Aspherical-HF-Lens-PENTAX-K-r-K...
£44,+ postage £5.60 make a offer about £40..

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SIGMA-100-300mm-F4-5-6-7-DL-AF-ZOOM-LENS-PENTAX-FILM-D...
£75+ £7.50

I work for a courier company that specialises in the Chinese/HK market. If I had any faith in what I was buying, I'd get my accessories shipped over that way. I had considered buying the K-5 from www.cheapchinawholesale.net as they priced the camera at around £420-£450 (dependent upon the exchange rate) but that's a lot of money to lose if it turns out not to be what they claim it is - GENUINE Pentax goods.