All Forum Comments
Comment by BODYHEAT posted on K20D status now end of life at 18/08/2009 - 11:25
neill wrote:
In my humbl opinion, The K7 is such an improvement on the K20D that it is almost now embarrassing to keep the K20D in the product line-up.
The press rightly criticized both the K10 and K20 for metering and hit and miss focusing. THe K7 has corrected the under-exposure bias and the focusing is now much better. The menu layout is much improved and the 3" screen is now just right for the over 50's. Live view comes into its own for the low or overhead shots and the video facility was essential in selling it to the wife!
In the quest for product development, there is little room for nostalgia!
At risk of stirring up a hornets nest, I bet that those who are using the K7 would not go back to the K20D such is the improvement in metering and ease of menu use etc.
Neil
A voice of reason. You are spot on. In my humbl opinion, The K7 is such an improvement on the K20D that it is almost now embarrassing to keep the K20D in the product line-up.
The press rightly criticized both the K10 and K20 for metering and hit and miss focusing. THe K7 has corrected the under-exposure bias and the focusing is now much better. The menu layout is much improved and the 3" screen is now just right for the over 50's. Live view comes into its own for the low or overhead shots and the video facility was essential in selling it to the wife!
In the quest for product development, there is little room for nostalgia!
At risk of stirring up a hornets nest, I bet that those who are using the K7 would not go back to the K20D such is the improvement in metering and ease of menu use etc.
Neil
You'll probably get shot down for saying it as there are a lot of apologists for the K10/K20 but those cameras are simply not cutting it in today's market.
The K7 is designed for today but the only thing IMO they misjudged here was the price. The K7 should have been pitched sub-£1000. You can get a Canon 500D for a little half the price of a K7 right now, and on the surface it appeals to the same market, small form factor, HD video etc etc. Once the market for the Pentax enthusiasts has dried up you have to appeal to the wider public and the same sort of buyer will be looking at both and come to the conclusion that one is overpriced.
If they had pitched it at this price level I would never have looked around at another brand as I would have been blissfully content with a K7 not even bothering to compare what else was out there as I have loved Pentax for 28 years. As it is their pricing strategy triggered me to look around at what else I might get for £1100-1200 and I ended up liking something else more.
Comment by BODYHEAT posted on K20D status now end of life at 18/08/2009 - 09:06
Now SOLD thank you
Comment by BODYHEAT posted on Pentax DA*16-50mm F2.8ED AL (IF) SDM at old price at 16/08/2009 - 22:48
no takers at the old price? hmm, must be the credit crunch
How about £450 for a quick sale?, otherwise I will simply trade it in with our favourite supplier and get a nice swap
How about £450 for a quick sale?, otherwise I will simply trade it in with our favourite supplier and get a nice swap
Comment by BODYHEAT posted on Pentax DA*16-50mm F2.8ED AL (IF) SDM at old price at 14/08/2009 - 09:55
lemmy wrote:
If Pentax can't market their cameras properly that's down to them. It's not any magazine's job to do it for them.
Incidentally, a friend of mine, a Nikon user is quite convinced that magazines give Nikkor lenses a harder time than they do other makers.
I personally interpret this as meaning that the tests don't reflect his own enthusiasm for Nikkor lenses and his perception that they are always better than everyone else's. Thus, he thinks they are biased and I think they are objective!
I checked out some Nikon fora and surprise surprise the same kind of discussions take place such as "Who needs video in their DSLR?" "I won't be upgrading [to the D300s] just to get video" "It's not worth and extra £500" and so on...with the same kind of paranoia and victim mentality believing the magazines are slanted towards Canon. It's quite funnmy really...these insecurities are not reserved for Pentax usersIf Pentax can't market their cameras properly that's down to them. It's not any magazine's job to do it for them.
Incidentally, a friend of mine, a Nikon user is quite convinced that magazines give Nikkor lenses a harder time than they do other makers.
I personally interpret this as meaning that the tests don't reflect his own enthusiasm for Nikkor lenses and his perception that they are always better than everyone else's. Thus, he thinks they are biased and I think they are objective!
Comment by BODYHEAT posted on AP K-7 Review at 14/08/2009 - 00:42
Greytop wrote:
Still it was a very positive review and I think most people who buy AP and are keen photographers will generally read most articles, reviews and previews so I don't think it's a great loss for Pentax. I still think they should have supplied AP with a better lens though
The point is this: thye should have supplied them with a better lens and bought a huge double page spread, and probably offered a free K7 to be won! This is the way the world worksGeorge Lazarette wrote:
I wonder if anybody knows of a truly objective camera review publication, whether ink or Internet. The problem with the AP review (from what I read here) is not that the review itself is particularly unfair, or even not unfair at all, but that the cover treatment seems to marginalise the camera, and thereby imply that it is not worthy of serious consideration.
G
Yes it's a tricky one. I think only a few people will know why the K-7 wasn't given a little more coverage on the front cover. The reasons behind it might be really quite benign and I doubt whether anyone here or anywhere else will get to find out if the reasoning was otherwise I wonder if anybody knows of a truly objective camera review publication, whether ink or Internet. The problem with the AP review (from what I read here) is not that the review itself is particularly unfair, or even not unfair at all, but that the cover treatment seems to marginalise the camera, and thereby imply that it is not worthy of serious consideration.
G
Still it was a very positive review and I think most people who buy AP and are keen photographers will generally read most articles, reviews and previews so I don't think it's a great loss for Pentax. I still think they should have supplied AP with a better lens though
Comment by BODYHEAT posted on AP K-7 Review at 14/08/2009 - 00:16
George Lazarette wrote:
Ah, Tooks. He uses a Nikon, and loves to come on here and "contribute" whenever he sees Nikon mentioned.
This is his first post on here in over a fortnight. It seems a shame that he and one or two others cannot find a congenial forum which is not devoted to Pentax. After all, a splendid new forum opened recently, full of lovely people. Are Tooks and Co. not welcome there?
Some Nikon users also think it is appropriate to post Nikon pictures in the gallery.
You can see why they would miss the pleasant and civilised ways of this forum, but it is sad that they cannot refrain from continually abusing the hospitality they find here.
Bodyheat manages to post here without trying to create Pentax/Nikon discord. Is it too much to ask of the others that they attempt to do likewise?
G
And thank you for your nice comments, George. I like to think we are all photography lovers and Pentax lovers even if we have differences over certain issues and there is no reason NOT to be civil and courteous to one another. Life is too short to create unneccessary stress and shorten it further, as it surely does. I try to live as stress-free an existence as possible.Ah, Tooks. He uses a Nikon, and loves to come on here and "contribute" whenever he sees Nikon mentioned.
This is his first post on here in over a fortnight. It seems a shame that he and one or two others cannot find a congenial forum which is not devoted to Pentax. After all, a splendid new forum opened recently, full of lovely people. Are Tooks and Co. not welcome there?
Some Nikon users also think it is appropriate to post Nikon pictures in the gallery.
You can see why they would miss the pleasant and civilised ways of this forum, but it is sad that they cannot refrain from continually abusing the hospitality they find here.
Bodyheat manages to post here without trying to create Pentax/Nikon discord. Is it too much to ask of the others that they attempt to do likewise?
G
Comment by BODYHEAT posted on AP K-7 Review at 13/08/2009 - 21:58
stevejcoe wrote:
PeteL wrote
Steve
This is misleading as the kit lens is not worth just £20. It is a deliberate pricing strategy by Pentax to make it appear as though if you buy the kit lenses with the body you are getting a much better deal than if you buy the body only. Anyone who seriously thinks the 18-55mm WR is only a £20 lens doesn't understand marketing.Mike-P wrote:
I am sure that Nikon paid handsomely on both counts.Greytop wrote:
As others have remarked it is a shame that the D300s takes centre stage in a big way on the front cover and that the K-7 is squeezed into the top 20mm.
I also quite like the ruddy great full page advert for the D300s placed right next to the final conclusion page.As others have remarked it is a shame that the D300s takes centre stage in a big way on the front cover and that the K-7 is squeezed into the top 20mm.
PeteL wrote
Quote:
I was surprised that Pentax offer the 18-55 zoom, As it does the Camera few favours when in comparison tests with top of the range Cameras. Far better to have a higher spec lens paired with it. After all i`m sure that a kit lens which costs only £20 more than the body only price is not going to impress anyone!
I agree, surely a better match would be the DA 17-70?I was surprised that Pentax offer the 18-55 zoom, As it does the Camera few favours when in comparison tests with top of the range Cameras. Far better to have a higher spec lens paired with it. After all i`m sure that a kit lens which costs only £20 more than the body only price is not going to impress anyone!
Steve
However, I personally think this is a flawed strategy as it alienates existing Pentax owners who don't need a new lens and therefore would need to pay a premium just to acquire the body on its own
Comment by BODYHEAT posted on AP K-7 Review at 13/08/2009 - 21:55
George Lazarette wrote:
What is needed is standardised batteries for cameras. in AAA, AA, C, D, sizes.
But it won't happen.
G
The least that should happen IMHO is that a given manufacturer should use the same battery (shape or format, even if the power output increases) in all their models.What is needed is standardised batteries for cameras. in AAA, AA, C, D, sizes.
But it won't happen.
G
Comment by BODYHEAT posted on flash batteries at 13/08/2009 - 21:44
Anvh wrote:
Couldn't you use any battery as long as the flash support the voltage?
You have I believe Li-ion cells the size of AA bateries so they will fit your flash but if the voltage is correct?
Stefan, the point I was trying to make was more about format than type of battery. It would make sense if the batteries used in both flash and camera were the same - just like they are in the grip....so you could buy three batteries which were identical if you liked - one for the body, one for the grip, and one for the flash, knowing the same battery was interchangeableCouldn't you use any battery as long as the flash support the voltage?
You have I believe Li-ion cells the size of AA bateries so they will fit your flash but if the voltage is correct?
Comment by BODYHEAT posted on flash batteries at 13/08/2009 - 20:00
It is not about whether the K20d is a good camera or not. We all agree it is a good camera, but is it current? Is it up there with newer camera models? Is it hitting the right note with the marketplace?
This is not about my opinion or anyone's here, it's about market forces, and the market is not sentimental. Pentax needs to stay in the game and that means modernising their product offering and staying current or at least appearing to stay current and up to date. It's that simple.