Sad to see people leaving

[longko]

Seriously, bro & sis who are considering getting a Pentax, please do some research. Also go test out other brands in shop before you settle for Pentax.

K100D is value for money, but it doesn't mean it'll suit you best. K10D won many awards this year, great handling & build, & great functions, but it doesn't mean it's for you.

Also consider the type of photography you are interested in, so you can better plan for the type of lenses & accessories you need. Some brands have better advantage over another. Don't rush to get a certain camera, just because you heard good things about them.

If you are in for test & sell, be prepared to sell at 15-25% discount of your purchased price. Pentax pool is very limited.

It doesn't dissappoint me if someone prefer other brands over Pentax. But I do get abit sad to see people wasting money & found out later Pentax doesn't work for them.

 

[fengwei]

Seriously, bro & sis who are considering getting a Pentax, please do some research. Also go test out other brands in shop before you settle for Pentax.

K100D is value for money, but it doesn't mean it'll suit you best. K10D won many awards this year, great handling & build, & great functions, but it doesn't mean it's for you.

Also consider the type of photography you are interested in, so you can better plan for the type of lenses & accessories you need. Some brands have better advantage over another. Don't rush to get a certain camera, just because you heard good things about them.

If you are in for test & sell, be prepared to sell at 15-25% discount of your purchased price. Pentax pool is very limited.

It doesn't dissappoint me if someone prefer other brands over Pentax. But I do get abit sad to see people wasting money & found out later Pentax doesn't work for them.

Well, I guess it's the same for other camera users too

Actually we've seen more other system owners changed to Pentax in the past 6 months than those who left Pentax

Cheers!

 

[the mac 13]

Seriously, bro & sis who are considering getting a Pentax, please do some research. Also go test out other brands in shop before you settle for Pentax.

K100D is value for money, but it doesn't mean it'll suit you best. K10D won many awards this year, great handling & build, & great functions, but it doesn't mean it's for you.

Also consider the type of photography you are interested in, so you can better plan for the type of lenses & accessories you need. Some brands have better advantage over another. Don't rush to get a certain camera, just because you heard good things about them.

If you are in for test & sell, be prepared to sell at 15-25% discount of your purchased price. Pentax pool is very limited.

It doesn't dissappoint me if someone prefer other brands over Pentax. But I do get abit sad to see people wasting money & found out later Pentax doesn't work for them.

Sometimes, I am tempted to switch back to Minolta/KM or Canon. But the design of the K100D makes me stay!

 

[longko]

Actually we've seen more other system owners changed to Pentax in the past 6 months than those who left Pentax

:bsmilie: That's because they had a hard time selling off that they decide to get suck with Pentax :bsmilie: (Just kidding)

 

[dnaxe]

I really wish that Pentax had reasonable lens availability is there, and prices which are more equivalent to those in the US... :|

 

[longko]

Sometimes, I am tempted to switch back to Minolta/KM or Canon. But the design of the K100D makes me stay!

I never really look back really. I mean I'm the guy who live and try make good with a faulty K10D for a couple of months, before sending it to repair :bsmilie:

 

[longko]

I really wish that Pentax had reasonable lens availability is there, and prices which are more equivalent to those in the US... :|

Think positive, if too many lenses available, more of us will kenna LBA. Then big big hole in pocket & more cheaper lenses in B&S (wait, that's a good thing :bsmilie: )

 

[alanswan]

Let's see... I started off with Pentax...
Oh.. Almost 20 years ago...
Change? I doubt so... Can't afford the other brands anyway...

 

[istDeS]

Nowsaday you see more joining pentax.

I started off with pentax, but first digital was actually Olympus. Joined Pentax again and had sold all the Olympus to get another Pentax DSLR.

 

[night86mare]

No what longko, more and more people using Pentax. And people are starting to ask: K10D versus (insert Canon/Nikon model here). =D

I don't know, I haven't touched a Nikon before, but I tried a 400D recently and was put off by the fact that everything was buried in menu. For my K100D I just need to hit a few buttons and everything's done with the Fn tool. Maybe it's habit, but frankly I don't think so.

 

[longko]

No what longko, more and more people using Pentax. And people are starting to ask: K10D versus (insert Canon/Nikon model here). =D

I don't know, I haven't touched a Nikon before, but I tried a 400D recently and was put off by the fact that everything was buried in menu. For my K100D I just need to hit a few buttons and everything's done with the Fn tool. Maybe it's habit, but frankly I don't think so.

I posted this mainly hope people will consider carefully before getting a Pentax. Many likes the handling of Pentax over other brand

 

[GriGri]

longko, thanks for the advice.

I must admit I didn't research on Pentax system carefully before making my decision, but some issues only came up after I made my purchases.

Other than the know issue of no supersonic motors yet, my K100D internal flash is not able to trigger other flashes wirelessly even when I set its flash to M mode. It can only be done when a infra-red trigger is attached to the hotshoe.

Also it is consuming battery power at a speed faster than I can imagine, 4 Duracell batteries used off for an afternoon convocation shot done by my girlfriend, without using the internal flash. Number of photos taken was way below 100 if I remember correctly.

There was problem previewing RAW format in Windows Explorer as there's no JPG file that came together with RAW file. Also the Windows plug-in only supports Canon and Nikon Raw format preview in Windows Explorer.

I should say there are many functions I like in K100D, such as vibration reduction and FOD preview, and its colour too. But after struggling for quite a while, I finally decide to let it go.

This is just my personal opinion and can be very subjective, feel free to discuss about the issues I mentioned, so to make sure new or yet-to-be Pentax users will make the correct decision.

 

[grantyale]

Other than the know issue of no supersonic motors yet, my K100D internal flash is not able to trigger other flashes wirelessly even when I set its flash to M mode.

Most other brands don't even allow manual override for the internal flash. You pop it, bomb! TTL.

4 Duracell batteries used off for an afternoon convocation shot done by my girlfriend, without using the internal flash. Number of photos taken is way below 100 if I remember correctly.

Use NiMH batteries. Alkalines are known for the poor ability to handle higher current. It should handle 300 shots 50% w/flash on a set of 2500s, while EOS 400D gives 370. Not too bad.

There was problem previewing RAW format in Windows Explorer as there's no JPG file that came together with RAW file. Also the Windows plug-in only supports Canon and Nikon Raw format preview in Windoes Explorer.

Use some proper software for this. The Windows plugin locked up my files and I had a difficult time deleting them.

 

[fengwei]

longko, thanks for the advice.

I must admit I didn't research on Pentax system carefully before making my decision, but some issues only came up after I made my purchases.

Other than the know issue of no supersonic motors yet, my K100D internal flash is not able to trigger other flashes wirelessly even when I set its flash to M mode. It can only be done when a infra-red trigger is attached to the hotshoe.

Also it is consuming battery power at a speed faster than I can imagine, 4 Duracell batteries used off for an afternoon convocation shot done by my girlfriend, without using the internal flash. Number of photos taken was way below 100 if I remember correctly.

There was problem previewing RAW format in Windows Explorer as there's no JPG file that came together with RAW file. Also the Windows plug-in only supports Canon and Nikon Raw format preview in Windows Explorer.

I should say there are many functions I like in K100D, such as vibration reduction and FOD preview, and its colour too. But after struggling for quite a while, I finally decide to let it go.

This is just my personal opinion and can be very subjective, feel free to discuss about the issues I mentioned, so to make sure new or yet-to-be Pentax users will make the correct decision.

Well, looks the K10D is what you want: SDM, wireless flash, Lion battery, RAW+jpg ...

Anyway, hope you like whatever you are getting. The K100D is a great camera, with some limits, but it's a very capable camera I'd say.

Cheers!

 

[longko]

longko, thanks for the advice.

I must admit I didn't research on Pentax system carefully before making my decision, but some issues only came up after I made my purchases.

Other than the know issue of no supersonic motors yet, my K100D internal flash is not able to trigger other flashes wirelessly even when I set its flash to M mode. It can only be done when a infra-red trigger is attached to the hotshoe.

Also it is consuming battery power at a speed faster than I can imagine, 4 Duracell batteries used off for an afternoon convocation shot done by my girlfriend, without using the internal flash. Number of photos taken was way below 100 if I remember correctly.

There was problem previewing RAW format in Windows Explorer as there's no JPG file that came together with RAW file. Also the Windows plug-in only supports Canon and Nikon Raw format preview in Windows Explorer.

I should say there are many functions I like in K100D, such as vibration reduction and FOD preview, and its colour too. But after struggling for quite a while, I finally decide to let it go.

This is just my personal opinion and can be very subjective, feel free to discuss about the issues I mentioned, so to make sure new or yet-to-be Pentax users will make the correct decision.

Bro, what you are really after is the K10D. It sounds like you need a K10D than a K100D

K10D support supersonic motors, wireless with build-in flash, takes about 250-300+ shots per charge, takes DNG + JPG raws and have all functions of K100D being improved.

Edit: Guys who are thinking of K100D should really considered what GriGri said. It's all the limitations of K100D summaried. And it also reflects how much Pentax improved from K100D to K10D.

 

[GriGri]

Most other brands don't even allow manual override for the internal flash. You pop it, bomb! TTL.

Use NiMH batteries. Alkalines are known for the poor ability to handle higher current. It should handle 300 shots 50% w/flash on a set of 2500s, while EOS 400D gives 370. Not too bad.

Use some proper software for this. The Windows plugin locked up my files and I had a difficult time deleting them.

At least some of the other brands I used befor was able to manually trigger external flash. K100D seems to TTL or pre-flash even when I set to M mode, and hence external flash is triggered before the shutter open.

I am using rechargable batteries, but because some other reasons I bought normal AA battery on that day. Maybe you are right, alkaline batteries doesn't work well with digital gadgets that well.

I can be quite fuzzy sometimes when you ask me to get another software just for previewing RAW files, and the software came with K100D doesn't display RAW pictures in the correct colour in thumbnails or preview, they became yellowish.

 

[GriGri]

Thank you fengwei and longko.

I did consider K10D but for now it is out of my budget. I'd prefer a smaller and cheaper body and save for the lenses.

I still think K100D + Kit Lens is a very suitable and value for money combination especially for people who are new to DSLR photography or want something simple. Hope I made the correct decision this time.

 

[night86mare]

I posted this mainly hope people will consider carefully before getting a Pentax. Many likes the handling of Pentax over other brand

Hahaha, yes.

Must do research also mar, if K100D received bad reviews I would have ran back to the popular brands or gotten an Alpha 100 due to the fact that I was using Sony before DSLRs came along in my life. It received excellent reviews across the board, and there were cons, but I'm not into indoor photography so the main issue which seemed to be mentioned here and there was not an issue for me.

Other than the know issue of no supersonic motors yet, my K100D internal flash is not able to trigger other flashes wirelessly even when I set its flash to M mode. It can only be done when a infra-red trigger is attached to the hotshoe.

Also it is consuming battery power at a speed faster than I can imagine, 4 Duracell batteries used off for an afternoon convocation shot done by my girlfriend, without using the internal flash. Number of photos taken was way below 100 if I remember correctly.

There was problem previewing RAW format in Windows Explorer as there's no JPG file that came together with RAW file. Also the Windows plug-in only supports Canon and Nikon Raw format preview in Windows Explorer.

I should say there are many functions I like in K100D, such as vibration reduction and FOD preview, and its colour too. But after struggling for quite a while, I finally decide to let it go.

This is just my personal opinion and can be very subjective, feel free to discuss about the issues I mentioned, so to make sure new or yet-to-be Pentax users will make the correct decision.

You mean there are flashes which can trigger other flashes wirelessly meh>? I went to studio before they also use the wireless thing. Hrm.

And hahaha, alkaline batteries across the board are horrible for any digital devices - they get drained fast. Even my Canon A540 eats up the expensive "high-powered" alkaline batteries in a jiffy. Lithium is better if you like disposables, if not just drop by EastGear and get rechargeables, get a good brand like Eneloop and/or Powerex and they should run in the region of 300 shots thereabouts, more if you don't even use the inbuilt flash and don't have a bad habit like me of checking every shot on the spot.

Agree with the RAW thing, but the utility that came along with the camera runs pretty fast, even on my 1.6 GhZ laptop so I don't really care about that. =D

I'd say for people shooting outdoor shots primarily, with little focus on indoor (and even then it can be corrected easily if you shoot RAW and use the correct built-in WB, tungsten usually works for me indoor).. The colour and everything about the K100D is what you need. And you get so much more for your buck, along with a rather intuitive interface. Spot metering, VR, good solid build, relatively ok (though not the best in the world in terms of lens) kit lens, blah blah blah.. All for sub $1K price? =)

 

[Snowywolf]

Thank you fengwei and longko.

I did consider K10D but for now it is out of my budget. I'd prefer a smaller and cheaper body and save for the lenses.

I still think K100D + Kit Lens is a very suitable and value for money combination especially for people who are new to DSLR photography or want something simple. Hope I made the correct decision this time.

i'm also just starting out with DSLR.. but i think if you want something for the long run.. go for K10D..
i bet my K10D will out last quite a number of others for the value that it's worth..

and since i bought it, i've never looked back..
well.. not lest Pentax decided to come out with the limited edition..
tt's worth the keep..

 

[GriGri]

The latest market price is sub $900.

The flash trigger flash is refering to when I attach a small flash detecter (is that how they call that?) to the external flash. It will trigger the external whenever a flash light is detected.

However the pre-flash of K100D always trigger the external flash before the 'real moment'. :think: