Oh my...

[attack_donut]

I have a mint-in-box Nikon n4004 that I have been searching for some low-cost lenses here around town.

An acquaintance/friend who runs a local camera shop had a Tamron AF LD IF SP (and one other acronyms, I mean really, isn't that enough?) 17-35mm would should fit the bill for what I wanted to do.

He offered it to me to (according to eBay) 1/6 of the going rate. I jumped on it, but forgot to bring my Nikon to try it on.

"Here," he said, "try it on my Nikon D300"

Oh my, that Nikon is a *very* nice camera...

...very nice....

yes I know it's far in excess of the price I paid for my K100D Super, but oh my.....

..what does Pentax have that competes with the D300?

[El_Sid]

At the risk of brickbats flying from the Pentax crew I'd say nothing - but then I'm not sure that Canon, Sony or Oly have either. Currently Nikon do seem to be slightly ahead on points here....

[Done_rundleCams]

Hi A_D,

Do a little "side by side" spec comparison HERE and where the D300 is better, IMO and depending upon your needs, is:

1) faster "fps" and bigger "buffer"
2) higher pixel count in LCD

Where the Pentax K20D shines..

1) SR (shake reduction/stabilisation) built into the body ..
2) more MegaPixels
3) built in wireless flash (for using flash off camera w/o cables)
4) slightly lower price ... ( in our store it's D300 @ $1599 and K20D @ $969, albeit CDN $)
5) World Wide Warranty

Oh, FWIW, the Tamron 17-35 lens is a skookum lens and can be used on all formats -- Film, small
sensor digitals as well as Full-Frame sensors

Cheers,

Jack

[attack_donut]

Thanks for the side by side!
Most (heck, who am I kidding, ...all!) camera shops around here are Nikon/Canon with a dark and dusty corner for Pentax/Sony/Minolta/etc if I'm lucky.

So I've not been able to handle a K20D but I see it compares favourably!

BTW, pardon, but what is a "skookum lens"?

Cheers!
A_D

[ojb28]

I bought the K10D over the D200, and if I were buying a camera today, I'd still get the K20D over the D300. Although (incidentally) I prefer the spec of the K20D, the reason I bought the Pentax was because it FELT better. And considering the amount of time you'll spend holding it, this is no small matter. I really think Pentax hit the nail squarely on the head with the K10D/K20D design. Which YOU prefer is something only you can decide!

[Oggy]

A couple of thoughts AD -

1/. The D300 is about twice the price of the K20d, currently the so it is not really surprising it is better (unless of course it's a bit damp or dusty).

2/. Jumping on a lens is probably not a good idea.

[john_g]

K7D?

[Monobod]

I took my K20D to London yesterday and spent the early/late evening photographing along the South Bank from the Festival Hall down to the Millenium Bridge. It was a dream to use, the ability to change aperture with the rear weel and dial in compensation with the front, the ergonomics of the buttons, the function button to change ISO with just two two clicks.....I could go on.

Shots taken at ISO 400 with SR turned on have come out sharp as a pin, even in poor light at f/8 and 1/20th second. Just great image quality to boot. Who needs a D300? I'm sure I don't.

But then I'm biased, I love Pentax equipment, quality start to finish IMHO.

Oh, I almost forgot, I used my 20 year old (ish)70-210 f/4 one touch zoom, manual focus. Perfect control with the focus confirmation lighting up in the viewfinder. Can you do that on the D300?

[Done_rundleCams]

K7D?

Hi John,

Been having a peek around DPR, have ya Mind you, I'm not one to talk

Also, FWIW, when I was speaking to my Pentax rep he (rather casually) mentioned
that Pentax's next camera will not be between the K-m/K2000 and the K20D [img]/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

Cheers,

Jack

[john_g]

Seen talk of this in a few places Jack - most of it seems to have originated from the same couple of sources, although the headline specs still seem to be hotly disputed. I suspect that, for me, the biggest disappointment of the new model will be that I won't be able to afford it!

[Monobod]

Perhaps Gordon Brown will give us a cash back to stimulate the economy, just as he is doing for old cars! My K20D really is a pollution hazard you know!

Oh, there goes another flying pig...............

[Done_rundleCams]

Seen talk of this in a few places Jack I suspect that, for me, the biggest disappointment of the new model will be that I won't be able to afford it!

Hi John,

I hear ya which combined with *These Numbers* makes me glad I bought my K200D's when I did and, especially, my DA 50-135

Cheers,

Jack

[Done_rundleCams]

Perhaps Gordon Brown will give us a cash back to stimulate the economy, just as he is doing for old cars! My K20D really is a pollution hazard you know!

Oh, there goes another flying pig...............

Hi David,

Imagine the Old Spotmatics with their "mercury batteries" and taking notes
with a paper and "lead pencil" ........ the environmentalists would be having
a field day

Cheers and see whhat happens in a few weeks

Jack

[welshwizard645]

I'm rather stuck with the Pentax system, due to my buying spree of lenses last year..

The FA 35, FA 50, FA Ltd 31, FA Ltd 77 and DA*16-50

As far as I can tell that for the price (and desirability of the limiteds) only the D700 and D3 will tempt me over to Nikon. So with Pentax I stay....the D200 and D300 do not offer me a significant advance to switch systems..

If I was buying a digital system from scratch today, I think I would be swayed by Nikon, just because of the lens support. If the K7D represents a jump from the cameras available today, with the promise of more to come, then I sincerely hope that some more of the FA* designs are resurrected.

[Done_rundleCams]

Hi W_W,

I was going to mention the DA 50-135/2.8 as a sweet lens but it appears that long(ish) lens isn't
your cup of tea and, if you get the opportunity, you might want to try the DA 55/1.4 which is an
amazingly sharp , albeit a tad expensive , lens.

As a kit, for starting over, I have to agree with you.... that the Nikon D300/D700/D3's backward lens
compatibility would be the drawing card, for me but that ain't going to happen

Cheers,

Jack

[Done_rundleCams]

BTW, pardon, but what is a "skookum lens"?

Cheers!
A_D

Hi A_D,

I think that the following link shall explain the "skookum" :

Cheers,

Jack

A "skookum" link

[El_Sid]

Oh, I almost forgot, I used my 20 year old (ish)70-210 f/4 one touch zoom, manual focus. Perfect control with the focus confirmation lighting up in the viewfinder. Can you do that on the D300?

Nope..........wrong mount.......

Being serious for a moment you can use older manual lenses on the D300 provided they have an AI mount. The D300 is equipped with the coupling lug that enables it to read the aperture ring of the AI type lens. There's a custom function in the menu that lets you tell the firmware details about the mounted lens (I think you can store several different lenses too). Once that's done away you go... This feature is also available on the D200, D700, the D# pro models and the Fuji S5. You can also mount AI lenses on any other D model but sadly there will be no metering. This is one area where Pentax have taken a much more sensible approach...

[Monobod]

The K20D will allow the user to input focal length info for a lens it does not recognise, so that the Imamge Stability function works properly.

All in all, I think the camera is better at photography than I am, so no point in upgrading until I improve my technique!

[Zou]

The K20D will allow the user to input focal length info for a lens it does not recognise, so that the Imamge Stability function works properly.

As does my K100D. I was doing some tests yesterday with my SMC-M 135mm f3.5, and I could get down to 1/6sec handheld, and still ultra stable and sharp. Considering it is basically 200mm equivalent, that's VERY useful! Pentax's SR is quite superb, that's for sure.

It doesn't affect me, but I assume you know about the recent firmware update for the K20D? It improves SR performance apparently, so perhaps the standard has been raised again.

[stephentaylor]

The '7D'. Is this a possible new top end DSLR model coming??

Steve