What's the difference?

Hi everyone - I'm looking for some advice!

I recently fell in ...er...a rock pool. whilst holding my K100D. oops. Luckily I had insurance and I've heard the other day that they they can't fix it so will pay for it.

SO I've been looking at options and I was just wondering what the actual differences would be between a K200D and a K10D? (I think I'd be able to afford either a new K200D body or a second hand K10D)

Is image quality much improved? what are the differences between an entry-level SLR and one of the mid-range ones? I'm obviously very keen on photography and was thinking this might be an opportunity to step up the ladder with my equipment, though to do this I'd be getting a second hand camera. so is the increase in quality worth sacrificing getting a brand new camera?

bit of a vague question I know, but any help would be appreciated.

cheers

Nick

the k10 and k200d will pritty much be identical in image quality, but i believe the noise control is better on the k200d, but the k10d does have lots of extra features and the better battery, and it will be a big step up with either one,

Most of your answers will be answered here,
https://www.pentaxuser.com/forum/topic/K200D-or-K10D-9122/p-0

Both have their advantages - even the battery issue is a case of swings and roundabouts (AA's are quite handy if you travel abroard or take it camping!) Both are weather sealed, so have a better chance of surviving a dunk in a rockpool than your K100D...

The enhanced kit lens on the K200D swung it for me. The menu based controls are a faff compared to the K10D, but coming from an *istDL2, I am quite rapid with the fn button and four way controls!

Wholeheartedly agree on the battery score. Took my K200D around the world - laptop, USB AA battery charger, K200D plus battery grip and some lenses was all I needed. Cut down on adaptors etc., if that's relevant.
Adding the grip probably precludes and size advantages of the K200 though..

Thanks for all your advice - looks like there's little to choose between the two. I guess a K10 second hand would be cheaper than a K200 new...but surely there's advantage to buying a new camera rather than second hand in terms of guarantee etc?

Looks like I'm in the market for a new camera then - although I very nearly was forced towards a Nikon or a Canon - the insurance was going to pay me in Jessops vouchers

after being bounced between four or five people in Jessops ranging from moderately helpful to utterly useless I spoke to a VERY helpful lady who understood exactly my problem. She got in touch with th insurers and they are paying cash.
I know people slate Jessops but if they sill sold Pentax and it was at the right price I wouldn't hesitate to use them again.

Yes, but also there are advantages to a K10D (mentioned earlier). Depends whether you want them. I would.

I have a K10D, my Dad has a K200D.

the K200D has HDR mode, which is a nice advantage, also the AA battery compatibility is nice in a tight spot although you do loose a little bit on single charge battery life.

the K10D has twin control wheels and (it seems to me) faster and more sensitive auto focus. It also has a larger buffer if continuous drive/bracketing is your thing.

If I had to make the choice, I'd take the K10D, but both are superb cameras and you wont be disapointed with either.

Ok - i'll take the bait, what is "HDR mode" - first saw this in a camera mag today and now on here......

Thanks

HDR = High Dynamic Range.

A number of exposures are taken of the same scene at 0.5 to 1.0 stop apart, then blended together using special software (Photomatix, Artizen, Photoshop) to recreate the scene with detail from the shadows and highlights that would otherwise be lost.

In some cameras, the K200D and K20D, this effect is achieved in-camera.

So the K20D and K200D really do make 3 or more photos and merge them into one.
I always though it only worked with JPG were it recovers the highlights and the darks, atleast that was my understanding but I'm glad to be proven wrong on this.

My understanding was that there was an extended dynamic range function, which just boosted shadow or highlight detail captured by the sensor. Not sure whether this works at the capture stage or the processing of the RAW image.

There is an 'HDR filter' as well but this seems to be just a visual effect of dubious value.

However I have seen articles claiming the K200D can take 3 shots in succession then combine them for an automated HDR shot.

These seem to be three different things! None of the mainstream reviews mention the real in-camera HDR though so I am sceptical. And it would only be slightly more effort to simply bracket exposure and then combine the shots in HDR software or Photoshop - in which case you'd have more control.

When I get my K200D I'll do a report!

Yes, I did write that this effect is achieved in camera. The camera doesn't actually make separate exposures and then blend them.

For true HDR you would need separate exposures.

Muliple Exposure and Expanded Dynamic Range work with RAW as well as JPEG.

EDR preserves slightly more detail in the highlights at the expense of greater noise in the dark areas. You can achieve a similar result by under exposing then pushing in post processing.

I tried this Effect when I first bought the K20 but found it quite useless and have never used it again.
There is one effect that I use now and again and that is the soft focus, it's always handy to see what an image would like before mucking around in PS. It saves it as a copy so the original is safe.



Paul