SLR question - *istD or *istDS2?

Hello.

I am considering getting a digital SLR. Which camera would be better to get - the older *istD or the new *istDS2? A local camera shop website (Canada) has the *istDS2 body only for $949 and has the *istD body on clear out for $999. On paper they seem pretty similar, but the original price on the *istD makes me wonder if it is a more robust camera and hence might be a better deal at only $50 more.

I am currently using my father's old SuperProgram with SMC Pentax-A 50mm, IMAGE 28mm, and SMC Pentax-M 200mm lenses. Would these lenses work well with the Pentax digital SLRs? What autofocus lense would you recommend to get with a new dSLR?

Thank you for any insights you may provide.

Kevin

The *istD is a more professionally-aimed body, using CF cards and having some features miising on the *istDS2. However, I would probably choose the *istDS2 now, because things progress and it is likely that it will have the edge in image quality. I can certainly vouch for the quality of the *istDS, and I do like the larger screen.

All your lenses will work fine within their own limitations, but the A series ones will have better functionality, working with all exposure modes.

You might well look at the kit lens, the 18-55mm, which should be a very low cost with the body and is well worth having. Then the new range of compact DA digital lenses should provide most things you will need.

Don't forget the effective focal length of your lenses should be multiplied 1.5x, so a 50mm acts like a 75mm. This is because of the CCD being much smaller than a 35mm frame.

Above all, take lots of pictures and have a great time with your new camera!

Try this thread:

https://www.pentaxuser.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1796

Stevo - I was just about to post the same link

my point (also want to buy a dslr) is also when te new one is coming out..

The ist-d is 'old' in terms of dslr with an 1.0 usb transfer, which is now 2.0(much faster) on the ist-ds(2).
i would like a 10Mb semi pro body just like the nikon d200 but than without problems

The same chip is used in all the Pentax DSLRs, so I'm surprised at the assertion that image quality would be better on later models than on the D. I do not believe there is any basis for that claim at all.

The D is a better-specc'd body than its successors, except for one thing - later bodies can write more quickly to the card, so if you need to be able to shoot continuously (perhaps for sports pictures), a later model might be a better bet.

Otherwise, the D is best for all practical purposes. Many of the differences are subtle, but, for example, the D relies less on menus to access different functions, and has continuous AF in all modes. I find that useful for shooting birds. It can operate a remote wireless flash, whilst the other bodies require two flash guns to do this.

But the differences are much less than those between high-end and low-end film bodies. All the DSLRs are pretty capable, and pretty well-made. If I were buying now, and couldn't get a D, I wouldn't be unhappy with one of the other models.

Despite all the hype about digitally-optimised lenses, any Pentax K lens will function fine on a DSLR. However, because of the crop factor, an image recorded on a digital sensor has to be magnified more than an image recorded on 35mm film. Thus any defects in a lens will also be magnified. A soft lens on film will be even softer on digital, and any chromatic aberration will be increased.

Against that is the fact that the edges of the image are discarded, so lenses with good centre performance, and poor edge performance, will appear to improve.

So good lenses will be OK. Your 50mm and 200mm will be fine. By buying either of the Pentax zooms which go to 18mm at the wide end, you will take care of the wide-angle situation.

G

George, I just want to point out that, with the latest firmware, the DS (I'm assuming the same goes for the DS2) has continuous AF in all modes.

The basis of the suggestion is that some reviewers have opined that there have been minor improvements to the image processing within the camera. It has been observed that the *istDL may be slightly better than the *istDS in this respect.

However, the statement needs some caution because we never know what the basis of a reviewer's opinions are, or indeed how skilled they are....

In time I would expect lower noise levels and possibly other improvements as a matter of course.

Although there could perhaps be a difference when shooting JPEGs, I can't see why the results would be any different shooting RAW.

Furthermore, I haven't heard any competent user suggest there is any difference, and I would rather trust the opinions of experienced users than the modern breed of reviewer. I haven't seen a proper camera review for a long time.

What passes for a review on DPReview is a joke. Just endless lists of specifications, and a few pictures of crayons, all shot with the cheapo zoom that came with the body.

G

Fernando,

Glad to hear about the continuous AF implementation. Some other things however will be impossible to alter.

G

WJ Bons,

USB is irrelevant to the vast majority of people who use card readers.

G

There are no really in depth tests these days. Remember when shutter speeds were measured? When resolution tests were done on lenses? When American magazines half dismantled cameras to see how well they were designed?

Not any more....

I find the picture captions quite irritating as well. They often bear no real relationship to what is being shown. I think it was AP who said in the text of the *istDS review something like "Noise is well controlled at lower ISO settings and it is well controlled up to 3200 ISO" and the picture caption said "There is a lot of noise at higher ISO settings", totally different in its emphasis.

I suppose I shouldn't knock reviews too much as I did one of the *istDS for Pentax User, but at least it had no pretensions of being a technical test, more of a user appraisal.

I have had my DS2 for a month - I bought it from Henry's at $949CDN and the 18-55mm for $185CDN, the 50-200mm for 299CDN. I picked up the new Sandisk Ultra 11 1GB SD Plus card - it opens up to become a USB card for quick downloading (also has lifetime warranty).

I have also used the DS2 with a Sigma 105 macro, 170-500mm zoom and a Pentax 80-320mm.

So far I have been very impressed particularly with the two new digital lenses. I find the 18-55 much, much better than some of the comments I have seen on various forums.

Although I have a 500FTZ flash I also picked up the 360FGZ and has produced superb flash results. I also use it with the Stofen diffuser and set at 45deg.

So far I am thrilled with my DS2.

Mike

Unfortunatelly for me, you are right: the extra buttons, knobs, the optional battery grip and the ability to trigger wireless flash units will not "grow up" in a next firmware...

That's the critical point. The D has the buttons and dials to avoid menu-diving. And menu-diving is not compatable with a professional workflow. Or an enthusiast workflow, for that matter.