Depends on your budget, but bear in mind the cost differences between the systems too. The E3 is about twice the price of the K20D, and a lens like the Olympus 7-14mm f4 is £1259 from Warehouse Express, whereas the Pentax 12-24 f4 (nearest equivalent) is £484.

There are unique lenses in the Oly line up, wide apertures being a main feature (the 35-100 f2 being a case in point), but then there are unique ones in the Pentax line-up too.

The E3 has a higher frame rate, and I would expect a better Live view implementation. No idea what the viewfinder's like. Although the magnification of it is higher than the K20D, the focusing screens smaller in the first place. 'Only' 10Mp too, but that does me fine with my K10D.

Of course, who knows what the K30D will be like.

Sorry to be throwing in random things like this, but I think they're all things to be considered when choosing. Good luck with your choice.

Dan

2. ISO

I have the K10D, but regarding ISO change, this aspect is the same on the K20D.

If you're in Av or Tv mode, you can have one of the command dials set up to adjust ISO. So, like me, while you might be using the rear dial to adjust aperture, the front dial controls ISO (or vice versa). Dials can also be set to adjust exposure compensation if you'd prefer. Pressing the Green button resets the ISO to Auto (within whatever range you've set it to).

Excellent, simple and very fast - not even any buttons to press.

Obviously there's Sv (sensitivity priority mode), where you set the ISO (again with one of the dials) and the camera picks the correct aperture/shutter combination, depending on the program line you've set.

In manual or Program mode, if you press the 'OK' button, you then adjust the ISO using the front command dial. So no different from having a dedicated ISO button.

You can also adjust ISO by pressing the Function button, then the right arrow on the 4-way controller. Bit more long-winded that way.

So in answer to "I believe it is menu driven on the K20D, whereas most DSLR's have a simple & fast button", the K20D is even faster in some modes, or the same in others.

Hope that helps!

Dan

There are many listed under 'Links', in the 'News' menu option at the top of the page.

https://www.pentaxuser.com/links

I'm sure the PU team would add any others you might have.

Dan

Ned Bunnell explains his reasons on another post. I have to agree with him.

And if we're into car metaphors, it's not like a Landrover CEO buying a Nissan Patrol, because they're competing models. Ned quite rightly points out that there's nothing in the Pentax range that competes with the Leica. So a Landrover CEO buying a Fiat 500 perhaps...

And if he'd been spotted out and about using it, without having made people aware that he'd bought the thing, wouldn't that look worse?

It's getting plenty of good comments, take a look at some of the comments on both posts, as well as 'backtracked' links.

Anyway, when Womble got his large format stuff, did we moan at him for saying so on the 'net?

Dan

After all the hooha about the white Pentax K-m (of which there are apparently only 200 in the country), I heard about a jewel encrusted one for sale in Harrods for about £2000.

Have googled and come up with this, but not sure if it's the one... : Before you all say "What's the point of that?!?", read the comment at the bottom of the page.

Dan

As far as Capture One v3.7 is concerned, it doesn't support the K20D's PEF files, but it does work (very nicely) with the K10D. You should be able to upgrade to v4 of the software, which does support the K20D, but that version has a very different feel, and I prefered the 3.7, so have stuck with that. Fine with my K10D, obviously not with your K20D.

Welcome, by the way.

Dan

Some handheld 300mm shots on this thread, from when I first got my DA*300mm (only the damselfly and Pheasant where taken with a tripod).

Handholding a 300mm lens is fine if you've got the light to keep the shutter speed high enough (aim for faster than 1/300s), or if you're using antishake you might expect that to reduce that speed to 1/45s or something around that mark, but it does depend on how steady you are.

The Robin shot on that link was taken at 1/20s, and I think it's acceptably sharp, but the other shots are much better.

Dan

Well, we don't actually know that until we try it.

Dan

How about expanding the canvas of your photo so that it has white space top and bottom (or even a second panoramic - two prints for the price of one! ), sized so that it fits Snapfish's paper, and just upload that?

Dan

Cheers Chris.

I'm interested in the 55mm mostly, but fancy another look at the 35mm Macro. I'm perfectly happy to wait, but it would have been nice to have had the chance to see the new lenses and bits, and talk to the Pentax guys (and get some free stuff! :twisted.

Never mind!

Dan