550d fan looking for a good k-x-(plus)-accessories deal

[beniz]

Hi Brothers

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/pentaxkx/page29.asp
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/pentaxkx/page29.asp

The bottom section of the conclusion page rates various aspects of the camera.Tats where i saw 500d IQ rated better than the k-x's.Other than that k-x is better in a number of areas(fps and high ISO)

At low iso , most cams shoot good quality jpegs. The diff is not significant to our eyes . When shoot pics in high iso, that's where pentax cam like k-x shines. It can maintain the detail well even at high iso.

See the image side by side to compare, take the review or ratings as reference , trust your eyes .

 

[woefulwabbit]

So any Pentax Bro miss the features on the KX??? :dunno:

Or how how should I put it.... any bro find it "difficult or somwhat limiting" not having the visible AF point.... :dunno:

I 'downgraded' from the K10D which had the visible AF point to the K-x which doesn't. Found that I don't miss it at all since I use center point AF 99% of the time. I switch only to auto AF when I pass the K-x to another newbie to use. Newbie for sure also won't miss the AF point :bsmilie:

 

[afzp25]

I dunno about you but, if my heart is set on something that I've been eyeing for months I wouldn't settle for anything else!

And from the way you typed, in your opinion the 550D is way better than the K-x. (that's what I gather)
You are settling for second-best which is the K-x and not based on its performance but its popularity which I think is actually the wrong thing to decide on though. I mean if you say best-bang for buck then its a different story.!

My heart had been with 500d,tats true.....But now its with pentax.So nothing wrong for me to change my liking.Btw i m not settling for something less by buying pentax.The only bthing is tat i dont know much about pentax(other than k-x) therefore long for u guys' advice.Besides popularity ,of curse, k-x is the best bang for buck.

If i were you and proceeded with my purchase of the K-x, I would never love the camera because it's not what I wanted right from the start.
!

i would learn to love my pentax

I think you should save more and buy the 500D/550D instead.

Pardon me if I sounded harsh! But I'm just stating my point of view... Peace!

as i m a beginner, i don wanna spent too much for 550d

That's exactly what I want to tell the TS.:bsmilie: I agree with you. TS you should really consider carefully before you decide to buy something. If in your heart you think the 550D is the best then just get that camera. You only get the KX if you are sure it will satisfy your needs and wants.

K-x is the apt camera to satisfy my needs.

And my take on your situation. Since you are such a fan boy of 550D/500D, you should just get one of the canons. Stay happy with what you think is the best..

Hi
I think u r taking things a bit too personally.Nothing wrong to befanboy of eos and wanting to get a pentax.

You can always buy used. Yes... even for 550D. There are some people who use credit card installment to buy things and turn around and sell those things immediately in BnS. This is also known as "extending" their credit line.

I am not comfortable in buying a used set.

I do agree with the replies here, if your heart is set on 550D since u are a fan of it, you should go for it . Take your time to save , you might be able to get 550D later at lower price by waiting or 2nd hand with warranty ;p

No bro.k-x is my choice.I wanna a buy a new set.

i think people who spend their time caring too much about iq at the entry dslr level as a hobbyist are perhaps, better off not buying pentax.

that's just me, maybe. in the end, nothing beats the gear-whoreability of the bigger brands.

whipping out a pentax will only get you awkward stares and "what?!?!?!?!" looks from the people who use magnifying glasses to examine the lcd monitors of 100% crops of images they will never print large.

Btw i am not brand conscious.I am using a benq laptop.

Bro u seem to be generalsing a lot which tend to lead u to a slippery slope.

 

[felixcat8888]

My heart had been with 500d,tats true.....But now its with pentax.So nothing wrong for me to change my liking.Btw i m not settling for something less by buying pentax.The only bthing is tat i dont know much about pentax(other than k-x) therefore long for u guys' advice.Besides popularity ,of curse, k-x is the best bang for buck.


i would learn to love my pentax


as i m a beginner, i don wanna spent too much for 550d



K-x is the apt camera to satisfy my needs.


Hi
I think u r taking things a bit too personally.Nothing wrong to befanboy of eos and wanting to get a pentax.

I am not comfortable in buying a used set.



No bro.k-x is my choice.I wanna a buy a new set.



Btw i am not brand conscious.I am using a benq laptop.

Bro u seem to be generalsing a lot which tend to lead u to a slippery slope.

Then call up SLR Revo at Funan to check for stocks as their price for the K-x is $782 with 18-55mm kit lens and $899 for 18-55 and 50-200 lens

Cheers. . .

 

[afzp25]

Do you want to be in the minority?
Or from our perspective, be part of the elite?
Pentax is reserved for the select few who are spared the agony of finding that their consumer range cameras are superceded by another model within a year or so, making their current model... outdated.
Do you want to put all your money into a DSLR but got no money left for lenses? :think:
Pentax are for people who epitomize the "Be Interesting" slogan. Are your up to it? :sweat:

I want to be part of pentax.I have decided.The problem is i don't know pentax tat well and abt its asseccories(since $782 for k-x kit 1 comes with nothing).In canon,i didn't have to worry abt asseccories cos at IT show i would have got a tripod,memory card and bright lens(f 50mm f2.8 @ $89) ,all together.

Back when I was considering my first DSLR, I was a big fan of the Nikon D70S, but for some then-inexplicable reason I felt compelled to buy a K100D instead.

alas i found someone sharing my thoughts.

Now I know what the reason is: buying a Pentax was a subscription to a lifetime membership to the Pentax community/family in Singapore, which has only grown in size, enthusiasm and passion since. I've enjoyed the Pentax monthly outings far more than any other outings and I've learnt so much from the seniors. I'm not sure if you'll find this instant welcome into a community if you go with the other camera, since almost everyone's uncle and cousin has one of them Of course, you could always come for the Pentax outings regardless of the camera you use, but it's just different when you can't try out all the poison.

I too am eager to mingle into the community....but so far i only hear fellow pentaxians calling me to quit since i am fanboy of a rival clan.

Obviously you are biased towards the 550D already since the dpreview's preview says nothing of that sort that you start imagining things..

Its politically incorrect to say tat i am "imaging things".
In fact if you assume that the 550D is using the same sensor as the 7D, then the K-x have shown to be at least as good as the 7D sensor.

But agree with the others, maybe it's better to surrender to your prejudices than to settle for what you perceive is second best.[/QUOTE]

K-x is the ultimately better model for my requirements.Tats y i have already decided on it.Pls advse me on a cheap and gd tripod

 

[N-user]

I 'downgraded' from the K10D which had the visible AF point to the K-x which doesn't. Found that I don't miss it at all since I use center point AF 99% of the time. I switch only to auto AF when I pass the K-x to another newbie to use. Newbie for sure also won't miss the AF point :bsmilie:

Having come from N, I use the AF a fair bit... so just a bit "worried".... ... ya... Newbie wont't miss it, you expert dont need it... we Old Newbie dont know will miss/need it or not.... :sweat:

 

[afzp25]

anyways, i think doesn't matter what we say, if ts will get k-x, then sell it later on to get canon 550d, that is life, and his money.

I usually keep my gadgets for a very long time

If you are looking at the $1300 price point, I'd have to agree that the 550D might well be the winner for the moment (certainly 'new is better' in this case). That is of course higher MP, higher ISO and better high ISO NR is what you are looking for. All other features are comparable to cameras a generation older imo. Do not forget as well that MP entails more storage space and a faster PC to process. Better high ISO NR is of course good, but question how often you need it, and for what (shooting the "Private Life of Mammals II" ?)

IMHO, at the price point of $800 and under. The Kx is still unbeatable at the moment.

So it depends on your budget. As the others have mentioned, since you are already impressed with the 550D specs, if you have the means, just go ahead and get it. That will give you better peace of mind. No point spending money and then get laughed at for using an 'unknown' brand.


Do take into considerations of future costs like lenses and accessories.

reyreina already pointed out the other queries.

good luck

5xxd still lacks some things which the k-x has.i am going for the k-x .
thankks for ur advise on "Private Life of Mammals II"

Hi TS , U share the same problem with my friend

He too …. Before he get his DSLR , his heart is already settle with Canon . But he keep telling me that “Kx really chaep hor . feel like buying , but it’s Pentax leh” (I was thinking ….so ?????) .

Anyway I leave the choice to him. My duty is to show him how wonderful Kx is. I can let him try , shoot , play around with my Kx but if he still prefer the Brand thingy I really can’t do anything (except maybe help him print a Canon sticker to paste on a KX if he really get one … lol).

Anyway with $1350 he settle with his 550D . He is happy with it but also broke with no extra cash to even buy Canon 50mm F1.8 @ $129 purchase with purchase.

For me …. I am very happy with my KX ($900 spend having 2 lenses) and maybe going for my third one the near future with all the money save.

Regards
Simon

Hi simon,
Thanks for sharing your friend's eos experience.I hope i too have a friend like u to have a feel and play with a pentax camera.

Regards
zola

TS, if your heart is with 500D then just get 550D, if heart is with KX then probably wait for 645D........too bad there isn't a 645X from Pentax ............hope that helps

............. it might be better to just go and try them out and then decide which is best

Can u share with me more info abt the 645d.
Whats the difference between 645x or a "d" in place of the "x"

When I first started to look at DSLR recently, I was fascinated by the bodies when I started my research jsut as what everyone will do. However, I settled in getting the kx not only because of the low price, but the range of lenses I can use on the system.

I have not done much research,Btw is there a cheap 50mm f 2.8 lens for pentax?

 

[detritus]

I want to be part of pentax.I have decided.The problem is i don't know pentax tat well and abt its asseccories(since $782 for k-x kit 1 comes with nothing).In canon,i didn't have to worry abt asseccories cos at IT show i would have got a tripod,memory card and bright lens(f 50mm f2.8 @ $89) ,all together.

I too am eager to mingle into the community....but so far i only hear fellow pentaxians calling me to quit since i am fanboy of a rival clan.

hee... but based on what u said, i also think that ur heart and mind is still on the other brand leh :bsmilie:

anyway, i'm just a newbie shopping for a new k-x so i'm totally agnostic about this inter-brand rivalry thing.

what i think is, if u need pple to convince u that pentax is better than canon, then u're better off getting the canon esp since u are already so familiar with their eco-system.

i researched several brands before deciding on pentax and from what little i've gathered, i am conscious of Pentax's strengths and limitations, but not being able to get pentax stuff from the IT show really didn't factor in my mind as a big deal at all... :dunno:

 

[elavan]

you can make a pentax output look like a canon, but not the other way round, at least to what i observe. it's down to the pixel characteristics of these 2 manufacturers; fine malleable grain vs creamy smooth out-of-cam..the former is "smoothable" in post processing, but the latter cannot recover lost details

 

[afzp25]

It is so funny to see people give Pentax user wierd looks. TS, Pentax has been making cameras 20 years before Canon started. Pentax is not some unknown brand. It has been around for a long time and has a loyal following. Just that they are slightly later in the game in the digital market.

Thanks for sharing the info bro.I always agree that pentax too is a top running camera model.Couple of years back,a customer of mine in sim lim square, a professional photographer was always carrying a pentax slr

I'm also at that time contemplating on either to get the Canon 500D, reason, I was brand concious.Well, Canon is still popular. Look out when u saw everyone walking with a DSLR, mostly Canon if not, Nikon....Dont you feel special? its like very common.

but I actually click at the price guide for Pentax. heh heh. Then I saw this Kx model very cheap. So I then do reasearch on it. I also bought many photo magazine so I browse that to check on the review for both of this camera. Kx is better even w/o its AF thingy in the VF. But bought this bugger and till today still happy with it. Saving money or not, in the end I tell ya, you sure gonna be itchy finger and break your bank. Especially when you follow our gathering, u sure to get 1 lens. lol. Well, I did.
Now, when I walk around with my White Kx, people will look at me. Because I'm special :bsmilie:

Get a Pentax, Be Interesting.

Hi bro,
Your post is very invigorating and highly motivating for k-x-newbie like me.Great slogan too.

I guess TS already afraid of posting back for replies.

if you're still there, better get a hand on k-x or 550d. 550d not so difficult to try. you can only see during outings.

anyway, usual recommendation, get a dual lens kit (18-55, 50-200 or 55-300) cheap tripod, FA 50 f1.4, eneloop batteries. that's good enough to startup.

Your combie looks expensive.Is there a cheap 50mm f2.8 lens?

Isn't the Canon 50mm f/1.8 the cheap 'plastic fantastic' lens that sells for S$100+?

In fact, does Canon even have a 50mm f/2.8? :think:

Its a ef 50mm f2.8 which is selling at rr$159.It might be plastic,but cheap.Good enough for a newbie/learner like me.

Please understand one thing about the graphs in terms of the ratings. The ratings and scores are accurate only at that point in time. It is not an absolute scale. That means, at that particular point in time when the review is done, it is at that score. This is because at that point in time, who are the competitors? At that point in time, where was the industry technological level at? Please take a look at D70 reviews also. The review of the D70 give it very very high scores for everything. It it still so? If you compare the quality of D70 pics vs the D90, which one is better? Different generation. But the scores of the D70 is better than the D90. Because the scores were given at the time of the review.

Anyway this following statement from the dpreview sums it up the best:

Ok bro.I understand tats it not highly recommended to compare the graphs.
Thank you.

 

[banana0ne]

Your combie looks expensive.Is there a cheap 50mm f2.8 lens?

FA 50 F1.4 is much cheaper than the D-FA 50 F2.8 as it is Macro. and also I am not sure if it is still available here in singapore. you can check out the price list.

At any rate I applaud your decision as you broke the "Canon is the best" spell for newbies.
I will not congratulate you of the moment until you get a k-x, but goodluck for the hunting.

 

[afzp25]

At low iso , most cams shoot good quality jpegs. The diff is not significant to our eyes . When shoot pics in high iso, that's where pentax cam like k-x shines. It can maintain the detail well even at high iso.

See the image side by side to compare, take the review or ratings as reference , trust your eyes .

Agreed.Tats the selling point of the k-x.

Then call up SLR Revo at Funan to check for stocks as their price for the K-x is $782 with 18-55mm kit lens and $899 for 18-55 and 50-200 lens

Cheers. . .

Very soon i'll be breaking the bank.(had i formed the impression i have only created this thread to heat up some discussion)OMG

hee... but based on what u said, i also think that ur heart and mind is still on the other brand leh
anyway, i'm just a newbie shopping for a new k-x so i'm totally agnostic about this inter-brand rivalry thing.

what i think is, if u need pple to convince u that pentax is better than canon, then u're better off getting the canon esp since u are already so familiar with their eco-system.

i researched several brands before deciding on pentax and from what little i've gathered, i am conscious of Pentax's strengths and limitations, but not being able to get pentax stuff from the IT show really didn't factor in my mind as a big deal at all... :dunno:

haha.Its alright to have a liking for another model.(imho)

Btw it was some canon and nikkon bros who advised me to go for the k-x when i started a thread in the nikon page comparing the d90 and 500d.

http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/showthread.php?t=658331

I'll remember u detritus(pls post me on the details once u buy ur k-x)

you can make a pentax output look like a canon, but not the other way round, at least to what i observe. it's down to the pixel characteristics of these 2 manufacturers; fine malleable grain vs creamy smooth out-of-cam..the former is "smoothable" in post processing, but the latter cannot recover lost details

canon cannot recover lost details.I didn't know tat.

 

[elavan]

sorry i think i wasn't clear enough..no camera can recover lost details, it's most of the time hard-coded into treatment of the captured signal unto the final output, then the key difference is how different manufacturers process their signals..

 

[darrrrrrrrrr]

Its a ef 50mm f2.8 which is selling at rr$159.It might be plastic,but cheap.Good enough for a newbie/learner like me.

I really really really think it's a EF 50mm f/1.8 that you're talking about, I cannot seem to find any 50mm f/2.8. But anyway it's not important, since you are getting a K-x.

Unfortunately Pentax doesn't have a cheap 50mm autofocus prime, but the good thing is that the 50mm f/1.4 prime lens is cheaper than equivalent from other brands, and you can also get manual focus prime lenses and use them easily with Pentax DSLRs.

Anyway to burst your 550D IT show bubble a bit, the freebies you get there will probably be junk. E.g. the free tripod they give you is going to be so wobbly that it borders on being unusable with a DSLR. So it's not like you're missing out on a good deal there..

 

[afzp25]

I really really really think it's a EF 50mm f/1.8 that you're talking about, I cannot seem to find any 50mm f/2.8. But anyway it's not important, since you are getting a K-x.

Unfortunately Pentax doesn't have a cheap 50mm autofocus prime, but the good thing is that the 50mm f/1.4 prime lens is cheaper than equivalent from other brands, and you can also get manual focus prime lenses and use them easily with Pentax DSLRs.

Anyway to burst your 550D IT show bubble a bit, the freebies you get there will probably be junk. E.g. the free tripod they give you is going to be so wobbly that it borders on being unusable with a DSLR. So it's not like you're missing out on a good deal there..

Yes,it is a EF 50mm f1.8.I apologise for tat.I really really really overlooked to correct my mistake at many occassions .
I hope there is a cheap copatible lens for pentax too.

Ok bro.Its not a good deal(i agree since many canon bro's did mention tat its going straight to the bin).But atleast something to start off with.Btw have u any idea how much would cheap and good tripod cost?1st hand or 2nd hand

 

[beniz]

Hi afzp25,

I notice that u are very hardworking, replied to every msg here ,lol .

If make up your mind, then try get kx soon and hopefully join us on next pentax outing

 

[watchthewaves]

I want to be part of pentax.I have decided.The problem is i don't know pentax tat well and abt its asseccories(since $782 for k-x kit 1 comes with nothing).In canon,i didn't have to worry abt asseccories cos at IT show i would have got a tripod,memory card and bright lens(f 50mm f2.8 @ $89) ,all together.

$782 gets you the 18-55 kit lens. "Comes with nothing" body only is $728.

alas i found someone sharing my thoughts.

I too am eager to mingle into the community....but so far i only hear fellow pentaxians calling me to quit since i am fanboy of a rival clan.....
But agree with the others, maybe it's better to surrender to your prejudices than to settle for what you perceive is second best.....
K-x is the ultimately better model for my requirements.Tats y i have already decided on it.Pls advse me on a cheap and gd tripod

Chill, ya, bro?

It's the internet, sometimes the typewritten words get interpreted wrongly.

I'll tell you how some may have seen your first posting:
(1) Heart set on 550d ....... read as - since he gave no solid reasons, sounds like he's sold on the Canon brand already.
(2) According to dpreview, 550d IQ much better than K-x ....... read as - if he comes to this conclusion just from a preview, read together with (1), yup confirm sold on the Canon brand.

So many tell you to go buy Canon. And the internet being the internet, some words come out nicely, some more direct.

Your follow-up posts though now seem to show that you want to find out more and don't want to just jump on the Canon bandwagon. So, now you'll find your questions being answered rather than people telling you to go buy Canon.

OK, here's more help. For tripods, have you tried here: http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2870

Assuming you don't have top dollar to spend on Gitzos or Manfrottos, look at Sirui, Benro. Even cheaper, Velbon, Fancier (http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/showthread.php?t=663576&highlight=fancier+tripod). Need to decide on a head too -- 3way head or ballhead. Get the heads from the same brand if on a budget. If wanna spend on topend ballheads, common ones we hear on ClubSnap include Markins, Kangrinpoche, Really Right Stuff (RRS).

More lens? Common suggestion is to go with the kit lens(es) 1st, and as you take more photos, you'll realise what shortcomings you feel (focal length? need wider aperture?), then decide what additional lens to add to your collection. If you wanna go for 50mm, there's the FA50mm f1.4 at $500 (if you can find stock now). That's what the savings from going with Pentax can get you.

SD card? Many use Kingston with no problem. Seems like a batch recently had some problems (but complaints have died down already). If not comfortable, get SanDisk. 8Mb Class 4 seems to be the sweetest price point now. If you intend to shoot lots of video, dunno whether Class 6 better. As of now, I have heard no complaints about the speed of Class 4.

Filters and/or hoods for your lens? Do a search in our Pentax subforum. You'll see people using one or the other or both. Read up on the pros and cons and decide what's best for yourself. But if you get a UV filter, don't get the cheapo ones. Even a brand like Hoya has different levels/models. Get at least the mid-range ones (HMC?)

Maintenance? Get a blower (Giottos, AF Swiss are the better brands mentioned). For further cleaning, do a search again. Some use isopropyl alcohol and microfibre cloth. Some tell you don't. Use the special cleaning paper, lenspen. Whatever, go read and figure out for yourself. But I swear, sometimes, too much reading can get confusing!

Storage? Some say get dry cabinet immediately (small 36litre one just over $100), others say if you use equipment regularly, just leaving it in a well ventilated place like your bookshelf is fine. See who you believe and how kiasu you are.

Batteries? Pick up the Sanyo eneloops and charger. If you want a better charger, get the Maha branded ones. A longer charge time means a cooler battery and ultimately a battery that has a longer lifespan.

Bags? Go into the camera shops with lots of variety and choose one that you like lor.

I type too much liao. Happy hunting.

 

[afzp25]

Hi afzp25,

I notice that u are very hardworking, replied to every msg here ,lol .

If make up your mind, then try get kx soon and hopefully join us on next pentax outing

Hi beniz,

Its just my informal way of appreciating you guys for sharing some thoughts.

Thank you
enjoy

 

[detritus]

haha.Its alright to have a liking for another model.(imho)

Btw it was some canon and nikkon bros who advised me to go for the k-x when i started a thread in the nikon page comparing the d90 and 500d.

I'll remember u detritus(pls post me on the details once u buy ur k-x)

of course can like lah... i also like the Leica M9 :bsmilie: heard got gold plated limited edition some more :bigeyes: but i feel that it is about recognizing each brand, each model for its strengths and limitations rather than wanting to be convinced that one brand is superior to the other.

everything also got pros and cons mah... if got such thing as the ideal, perfect system then we won't need to have this conversation already whats important is what works for the individual.

i'll definitely update when i get my new toy :lovegrin:

 

[whiteshades]

Nope you didnt create the impression of heating up inter-brand rivalry.

It's just the way you phrased your conclusions and the "550D fan looking for a Kx" thread title is already ironic. haha I mean, It's like you supporting Manchester United but go to Anfield and sit together in the KOP and say Liverpool is my team while wearing Man U jersey. lol i think thats the best analogy i can give.

But anyway, besides that point hope to see you at a Pentax gathering. Similarly still hunting for a Kx. most likely will get around the same time as Detritus. Cheers!