View Full Version : Pentax K100 -vs- Canon 350D Rebel XT - MEGAPIXEL WISE
krzkrzkrz
06-23-2006, 05:00 AM
Hello,
I've read that the Pentax K100 (Yet to be released) will have a 6.0 megapixel specification, while the Canon 350d Rebel XT is set to 8.0 megapixels.
Both cameras have their benefits. All I am concerned about is, will the 6.0 MP (on the K100) make a difference compared to the 8.0 MP (on the XT)?
I read some reviews on the Rebel XT, and have found it to be a good camera. There isn't any real reviews out there yet for the Pentax K100.
Do you guys think that the megapixel difference in these cameras will affect the quality of the camera greatly? Perhaps just as a small difference or not at all?
Regards,
Chris
Don't get so hung up on megapixels. 6 megapixels is fine for 99% of applications.
If you print at 150dpi (the human eye really can't see 150dpi as individual dots without a magnifying glass) then your 2000 x 3000 pixels will give you a print of 13 inches by 20. That's pretty darned big, I'm sure you'll agree. I'm also pretty sure your printer won't handle paper that big!
I have the XT and would love to have the AA compatibility of the Pentax.
pixel count does matter, but 6mp vs 8mp really isn't a big increase. if you plan to crop and/or regularly print big then get as many pixels as you can afford.
If I had been able to test a Pentax dSLR, who knows, I might have bought Pentax rather than Canon.
some guy
06-23-2006, 11:51 AM
I have the XT and would love to have the AA compatibility of the Pentax.
AA batteries ain't a big deal. Li-Ion batteries are cheap in ebay. Not to mention save on weight!
coldrain
06-23-2006, 12:39 PM
AA batteries ain't a big deal. Li-Ion batteries are cheap in ebay. Not to mention save on weight!
Don't bother/try... Rhys has this thing about AAs. He likes the added weight and lesser performance, and it's the only battery he remembers to charge before trips. Because he stores all other chargers away except the AA one.
My 350D's battery holds charge for weeks... Rhys seems to be a lot less fortunate.
We have been through this lots of times... it is a reoccurring theme.
AA batteries ain't a big deal. Li-Ion batteries are cheap in ebay. Not to mention save on weight!
When you're on holiday and your funky battery craps out then you can still rely upon AAs. Oops the camera that takes the funky battery won't run off AAs.
some guy
06-23-2006, 02:06 PM
For the same weight of say 4 AA batteries, I can have 2 Li-Ions which are smaller and doesn't roll around. The XT's batteries can be found for cheap in ebay. Alot of XT-ers have bought and used it. No story of explosions yet. :) And Li-Ion has no memory issues.
<Back to the regular scheduled topic>
When you're on holiday and your funky battery craps out then you can still rely upon AAs. Oops the camera that takes the funky battery won't run off AAs.
George Riehm
06-23-2006, 02:08 PM
Another option (Megapixel wise):
Sony a100. 10MP, Built in IS, dust buster, pretty fast, lots of lenses.
BUT... about $300 more.
Just a thought.;)
For the same weight of say 4 AA batteries, I can have 2 Li-Ions which are smaller and doesn't roll around. The XT's batteries can be found for cheap in ebay. Alot of XT-ers have bought and used it. No story of explosions yet. :) And Li-Ion has no memory issues.
<Back to the regular scheduled topic>
Sure... Lions have advantages until you find they're flat and you really need to go to take photos!
Don't all the grips have AA's? Also; I went to Costco and got a charger with 8 L-Ion AAs for $25. That does beat the $70 or so for a spare propietary battery. As Rhys pointed out, they were for my flash. Dual purpose would be nice.
I think Rhys' point is that, in a real pinch, you can go get some AA alkaline batteries at any corner store around the world. Fully knowing they have about 1/5th the life of L-Ions, you would still get 200 or so photos from them.
I think AA has the added advantage of being readily available (the L-Ion version) at reasonable prices. Also an option if you forgot your charger on a trip. Or, Heaven forbid, you weren't adequately prepared for an actual shoot - then Alkalines are at least some way out!
That said; I have 2 propietary batteries and regularly swap the one in the charger. After almost 30,000 shots on my 20D, I've had a battery problem once, and that was after shooting about 800 shots that day and I forgot my 2nd battery. Oh, and once I left my charger at my mother's house in Arizona.
I don't know what Canon does to the propietary L-Ion batteries to justify double the price, besides shaping it to fit their propietary holder that is. However battery life keeps getting longer and if that is indeed due to battery improvement, then I'm all for sticking with the propietary route.
To the OP: 6mp, 8mp, not a noticable difference unless you're making posters. In truth, 6mp cameras tend to have bigger pixel sizes due to the extra space, a big factor in IQ. Not saying this Pentax has better IQ then the Rebel (probably not), but if the Pentax were also 8MP, the Pentax sensor may suffer in some way due to the more cramped space (probably poorer high ISO performance).
In this case, Pentax (I'm assuming) uses a CCD sensor. The Rebel uses a CMOS sensor.
I gather it's a gift and you have a choice.
I'd get the Rebel, forego the kit lens for the Canon 28-105 f3.5 - 4.5, and know I'm running with the pack. Canon's not in the lead for nothing!
Don't all the grips have AA's? Also; I went to Costco and got a charger with 8 L-Ion AAs for $25. That does beat the $70 or so for a spare propietary battery. As Rhys pointed out, they were for my flash. Dual purpose would be nice.
I think Rhys' point is that, in a real pinch, you can go get some AA alkaline batteries at any corner store around the world. Fully knowing they have about 1/5th the life of L-Ions, you would still get 200 or so photos from them.
I think AA has the added advantage of being readily available (the L-Ion version) at reasonable prices. Also an option if you forgot your charger on a trip. Or, Heaven forbid, you weren't adequately prepared for an actual shoot - then Alkalines are at least some way out!
The beauty of AAs is that with a correctly configured battery compartment you can use AAs or 2CRs if you wish. As my flash takes AA batteries, I'm rather tempted to go down the single battery type route.
jeisner
06-23-2006, 06:17 PM
People get hung up on MP, more must be better, right? There is a lot more to a camera/sensor than the number of pixels..
ISO performance is a much bigger issue for a many people I know.. In the 6-8 MP this still isn't an issue but look at the ISO performance of the 10mp in the D200 and A100, it is a step backwards from the previous Sony CCD.. I know many people who for the new K10d (high end) from pentax would prefer to keep the same 6mp sensor than give up any ISO performance just to have 10mp..
We all have different priorities of course but don't assume just because the MP number is bigger its necessarily going to be a better buy for you. Its obviously very marketable though ;-)
Hobbit
06-24-2006, 01:05 AM
Well I believe that XT/20D/30D lead in "low noise at high ISO" category. This is after more than year from release of these cameras. In the fast moving technology world such stability means a lot. Actually even DRebel is not going to become obsolete anytime soon...
My opinion is that from D50/XT/Pentax (tried all) XT wins in terms of electronics/features, D50 in terms of built quality and Pentax is good due to a lens compatibility. I have choosen XT and the only problem I have right now is saving money for more expensive lenses (someone said 28-105..?). Still even with kit lens you can squeeze a lot from the body.
So for me XT wins.
BTW does anyone how many shots you can make before XT/D50/Pentax "breaks" according to the manufacturer?
BTW does anyone how many shots you can make before XT/D50/Pentax "breaks" according to the manufacturer?
100,000 for the XT/20/30.
BW, the 5D takes the high ISO award, IMO. ISO 1600 is reportedly usable. But then, it's $3200
jeisner
06-24-2006, 01:51 AM
BTW does anyone how many shots you can make before XT/D50/Pentax "breaks" according to the manufacturer?
The shutter on the DS is rated to 100,000 shots... I only know one person who killed the shutter, at 130,000 shots...
I've used many compacts and rarely have taken more than 2,500 photos on them before I upgraded.
I'm on 1,500 on my XT so far and already I'm thinking of upgrading :p
astro
06-24-2006, 08:57 PM
For the same weight of say 4 AA batteries, I can have 2 Li-Ions which are smaller and doesn't roll around. The XT's batteries can be found for cheap in ebay. Alot of XT-ers have bought and used it. No story of explosions yet. :) And Li-Ion has no memory issues.
<Back to the regular scheduled topic>
Really good AA batteries with a good charger(important!), can hold easily be comparable with your Li-ions. If you're so bothered by your batteries "rolling around", you can put them in cases. Good AA batteries usually come in cases of 4.
You will need to carry AA batteries for an external flash, along with any other devices you may have anyways. So I see this as the main advantage of AA batteries. These batteries work for all your devices, so you don't need to fiddle with several chargers and different kinds of batteries. One size fits all.
Really good AA batteries with a good charger(important!), can hold easily be comparable with your Li-ions. If you're so bothered by your batteries "rolling around", you can put them in cases.
NiMH still self discharges and IMO doesn't hold a charge anywhere near as long as Li-ion when not in use. this happens to me a lot with the spare set of AA's for my flash. two weeks of non-use and the charge drops quite noticably
jeisner
06-25-2006, 03:41 AM
NiMH still self discharges and IMO doesn't hold a charge anywhere near as long as Li-ion when not in use. this happens to me a lot with the spare set of AA's for my flash. two weeks of non-use and the charge drops quite noticably
This is true for NIMH, some people use rechargable CRV3s to get around that as they are lithium... Also Sanyo has released new SUPERLATTICE ALLOY TECHNOLOGY NIMH that don't discharge like previous NIMHs...
NiMH still self discharges and IMO doesn't hold a charge anywhere near as long as Li-ion when not in use. this happens to me a lot with the spare set of AA's for my flash. two weeks of non-use and the charge drops quite noticably
I'm happy to live with that. My mobile phone has an NiMh battery and needs to be charged every week. I'd rather have a ton of AAs than specialist batteries on the bases that:
1. I can swop batteries out of my flash into my camera in an emergency.
2. I can pick up AA batteries anywhere.
3. If I forget my charger then I can nip into any shop and buy an AA charger - try that with Canon's charger! Even better, try to get a Nikon EN-EL1 charger!
jeisner
06-25-2006, 08:30 PM
3. If I forget my charger then I can nip into any shop and buy an AA charger - try that with Canon's charger! Even better, try to get a Nikon EN-EL1 charger!
A friend of mine just lost his Canon charger on the weekend, not a happy man ATM... LOL...
krzkrzkrz
06-25-2006, 10:46 PM
BTW does anyone how many shots you can make before XT/D50/Pentax "breaks" according to the manufacturer?
What do you mean by 'breaks' ?
Does this mean that after 100,000 shots the camera becomes unusable?
What do you mean by 'breaks' ?
Does this mean that after 100,000 shots the camera becomes unusable?
That's the MTBF (Mean Time Between Failure) for the shutter I believe. So you have to spend $300 or so to have that replaced (don't know the cost) making it debatable if it's worth that or replacing with something newer. Disposable thinking, I know.
This is true for NIMH, some people use rechargable CRV3s to get around that as they are lithium... Also Sanyo has released new SUPERLATTICE ALLOY TECHNOLOGY NIMH that don't discharge like previous NIMHs...
guess i'm behind in the AA battery department, thanks for the info. i'm still in the regular nimh phase
does anyone know if CRV3's can fit into anything that takes AA's? my memory is hazy on this particular aspect but i believe there are a few devices that have their AA compartments designed where the CRV3's don't fit.
rechargeable Li-ion AA's, now that's something that could phase out proprietary Li-ion batteries and NiMH AA at the same time
That's the MTBF (Mean Time Between Failure) for the shutter I believe. So you have to spend $300 or so to have that replaced (don't know the cost) making it debatable if it's worth that or replacing with something newer. Disposable thinking, I know.
if you happen to shoot enough to break the moving parts in the warranty period like i did then you could get it fixed for free :D . until the technology AND costs reach a plateau then i see dslr body purchases to be 1-2 year temporary investments, 3 years at most.
krzkrzkrz
07-03-2006, 11:47 PM
So. In conclusion.
Does the 6.0 megapixel in the Pentax K100D make a big difference quality wise against the 8.0 megapixel in the Canon Rebel XT 350D ?
The article at image-acquire.com (http://www.image-acquire.com/pentax/pentax_k100d_dslr_review.html) suggests that it may be of a concern. Don't know how serious the concern is. But, it may mean significant.
What do you guys think?
I have a 6mp 10D and haven't really seen a need to upgrade. 6mp is plenty for most applications. There is no substitute for lens length and massive cropping will usually yield an inferior image to one taken with a lens of proper length for the subject. 6mp will work fine for most photography and printing. That being said, a 6mp camera being released now is a little strange, most DSLRs released now are at least 8mp. If you are worried about it, get the XT: great lens selection, 8mp, proven camera, with IS lenses available.
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