The K-m is aimed at the beginner to Single lens Reflex (SLR) photography, perhaps moving up from a bridge camera (where the wide zoom lens cannot be interchanged) to the Digital SLR with its interchangeable lenses. It is compact and its operation is simple.

The K200D is a very fine camera indeed that could satisfy more advanced photographers. Its 10.2MP sensor is very capable of making large, high quality prints.

The K20D increases the pixel count to 14.6MP, uses a more convenient battery pack instead of AA batteries and is suitable for high end amateur and professional photography. It is larger and heavier.

I would suggest you handle all three and select the one you like the feel of. All will produce very fine images. If you start off with the 18-55mm standard zoom, maybe adding the 50-200mm for very little extra money, you will have a very capable kit that should cover all your requirements.

Hope that helps!

That sounds like some sort of deep insult - "You're one pixel short of a perfect square!" I'll have to think about that one!

1 pixel...hmm, and I've let as many as 5 pixels slip by in the past.

One of the images is exceeding the 800 pixels limit in the rules - would the poster be kind enough to correct the image size? Thanks!

The speckly bit is probably a microprism collar round the dplit image.

The SMC Pentax-M 120mm f2.8 is indeed soft wide open, which they claimed was to make it suitable for portraiture at wide apertures. I never liked the lens, much preferring the SMC Pentax-M 100mm f2.8.

Thanks, we'll look forward to your conclusions!

It was more compact, fitted the hands better, had a more substantial AF/MF selector that didn't get knocked. The single control wheel did not bother me as a simple press of a button converted it to the alternative use.

On the other hand, the K10D has more resolution and better image quality, a more convenient battery pack rather than AA cells and the front control wheel can be set to exposure compensation when in Av mode. I'll suffer the handling issues I have with this version in exchange for the benefits.

The reviews I have seen of the Sigma 30mm f1.4 have been rather mixed, and certainly not universally complimentary.

At this time Pentax has various "standard lens" options available that will be far superior.

The *istDS is a terrific camera and in many ways I preferred it to my K10D....