Pentax compared to other leading brands

[Don Geiss]

I have a choice for a new digital camera. A Pentax *ist SLR or a leading camera of any other comparable type. I have a 80-200 mm lens for a Pentax. Should that fact make my decision in favor of the Pentax? I am not hearing about that model of the Pentax as much as other brands. What I am aiming at is to get good cloeups of birds.

[speaklightly]

Don-

I think the Pentax 1stDS is a great dSLR. I use it quite sucessfully with wildlife with a Sigma 70-300mm lens.

Here is a sample photo.

Sarah Joyce

[TheObiJuan]

A lot of bird photogs use 400mm+ lenses, I don't know if Pentax offers an AF prime in that range.
The canon 350D is a great camera and the 400mm f/5.6L is a great lens for birding. A friend uses it on her 20D exclusively for it.

The 350D and 400L would be around $2700

[coldrain]

Another option would be the Sigma 135-400 zoom lens, it does not quite match the image quality of the Canon 400 f5.6 L one, but it will cost considerably less.
It might also be available for the Pentax *istDS, it is available for Canon (350D) and Nikon (d50).

[Rex914]

The 350D and 400L would be around $2700

Where'd you get that figure?

350D ($750)
400 L ($1050)

That adds to $1800...