Which USED Pentax Digital SLR body?

[gailgrant]

I've got three lenses with for my old Pentax KM(the lens that came with it, a wide angle, and a telephoto) and want to get a used digital body that will allow me to use them. The question is which one?

I called a reputable camera shop nearby and they said that I had to stay with Pentax to use the lenses, hence I'm asking my questions here.

What I need:

I've been limping along for years in the digital realm with a little Canon PowerShot S110 (2.1Megapixel) from 2000 and generally been happy with it for photos for posting to my web site (www.glgc.com) and snapshots, but I miss my lenses and I personally hate autofocus in most situations.

As to the types of pictures I take: generally, nature shots; I'll probably stick with the Canon for pics of my kids programs and for web sites.

Add to the mix that I don't have much money.

I think 6 Megapixel is the most I would need and I have to go with a used one and only need the body only (unless a lens comes with for not much more than the body alone)....

So:

WHICH Pentax body?

WHERE is the best place to get it that will give me the best honest deal? I want cheap, but do want it to work.... I'm open to either buying it on-line or anywhere in the SF Bay area.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

Gail

[mattdm]

WHICH Pentax body?


Depends where your price cutoff is. Personally, I really appreciate the shake reduction of the K100D and newer. And I'd suggest going for the K10D if you can find one for a good price — it's got a very solid build and many, many nice touches I'd have a hard time living without. (Two control dials, P-shift mode, remote wireless P-TTL flash, a "user" mode for separate saved settings, and more.)


WHERE is the best place to get it that will give me the best honest deal? I want cheap, but do want it to work.... I'm open to either buying it on-line or anywhere in the SF Bay area.

Craigslist, maybe.

But first, I'd try: http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/photographers-marketplace/

[mattdm]

Or, there's this, which I just now saw in a dpreview thread:

http://www.ritzcamera.com/product/CLR541614400.htm

$269 with the kit lens is a pretty good deal, even if it is missing the niceties I mentioned above. In fact, I'm tempted myself....

[gailgrant]

Depends where your price cutoff is. Personally, I really appreciate the shake reduction of the K100D and newer. And I'd suggest going for the K10D if you can find one for a good price


Sounds like the K100D may be what I'm looking for; shake reduction is critical when shooting in deep shade while hiking; I tend to push the envelope on low light shooting.

Don't know if I can afford the K10D, although some of the features sound interesting.... Price-wise, absolute tops would be around $400-$500 and I'd only spend that for something that had killer features I just had to have (like shake reduction). I'd be more comfortable under $300.

[mattdm]

Sounds like the K100D may be what I'm looking for; shake reduction is critical when shooting in deep shade while hiking; I tend to push the envelope on low light shooting.


The K100D is also cleaner at high ISO than the K10D (the former has an ISO range of 200–3200, the latter 100–1600, and as normal with digital cameras you really don't want to use the top of the range except in emergencies).

[TheWengler]

K100D is a good choice. Keep in mind the crop factor you'll have on a digital body.

[domozitolk]

I'm pretty happy with my K100D. My only complaint is that it's limited to 3-shot bursts where as the more expensive K10D and K20D cameras shoot until the buffer fills. Other than that I love my camera.