About K-x

[addicted]

based on the test results i see, iso performance is definitely 2 notches up, not just 1.

but some things to remember:

1) build quality , i haven't touched a k-x before, but most people seem happy with it, so i'd take their word for it that this is a nonissue, since many of the people happy with it have used the k20d before.

2) weather sealing - absent from k-x, no biggie unless you like shooting in the rain, i know i don't.

3) no af confirm red light, so you cannot see selection of af point.. for k-x.. i haven't tried it yet, don't know if it's an issue.

4) no iso100, big minus for me... when you like low shutter speeds.

5) single wheel versus double wheel, to be honest i like single wheel better still.

6) aa versus lithium ion, age old debate

7) lower megapixel lor, but like anyone cares these days, unless it's below 8.

some other things, but these are the main differences. i think it's not very fair to compare k20d to k-x, since k-x is probably following on from k100d --> k100d super --> k200d --> k-m --> k-x, the fairer thing to compare the k20d to would be the k7, in which case the k20d still gets trounced significantly.. but hey, it's good enough for me for now.

actually I wanna ask about these 2 cameras because of the price point. brand new k20d is just around 100 bucks more than K-x. I wanna get K20D but seeing k-x showing more shines each day, I re-think my choice.

 

[night86mare]

actually I wanna ask about these 2 cameras because of the price point. brand new k20d is just around 100 bucks more than K-x. I wanna get K20D but seeing k-x showing more shines each day, I re-think my choice.

well i'm a landscape shooter who likes long exposures, the k-x has no iso100, and that's the main reason why i upgraded from k100d (same thing, base iso 200).. so i'd choose the k20d still.

i think for most people, the k-x would be a better choice.

 

[sebianos]

actually I wanna ask about these 2 cameras because of the price point. brand new k20d is just around 100 bucks more than K-x. I wanna get K20D but seeing k-x showing more shines each day, I re-think my choice.

And k20d is not longer in production and no stock in sg. So i heard from the sales staff at Cathay Photo, Marina last weekend.

 

[elavan]

don't want to bother potential converts with too technical things :devil: few people can actually appreciate the beauty of the oldies tho :bsmilie:

just fyi for all the people interested in k-x, there's the other side of the community here at Pentax that are passionate film & manual focus lovers (myself), not necessarily only the newest and hottest will give you most enjoyment in this hobby..

 

[elavan]

is K-X really that good? How it compares with K20D?

never handled a K20D, but IMO to add on:

1) If you like the camera to feel good in your hands, K20D probably will be the one. solid build

2) base ISO performance

3) at 2nd hand prices, it's even better value for money than a new k-x

4) more feature-packed

5) has vertical grip

6) pentaprism viewfinder:heart: vs pentamirror:bheart:

minuses:

1) some say the WB not as fantastic?

2) some say the AF is slower?

3) not as clean at high ISO as k-x. more chroma noise than k7, but lesser luminance noise. k-x is the cleanest.

If you want to study the grain, k7 & k20d has high frequency fine grain, but as the k-x has "factory NR" that cannot be turned off, high ISO grain is coarse.

k-x has very loud mirror slap. K20D not sure, K7 is stealthy..

last of all, regarding high ISO performance, in front of the computer where all your images usually go through, the playing field is almost level. It's enough to close the gaps till ISO advantage gets really negligible..better to turn to other more critical specifications for consideration..

hope it helps by giving you comments on the other side of things

 

[cubicon]

4) no iso100, big minus for me... when you like low shutter speeds.

i read in some sites for the k-x it mention although the base is iso200 ... it can go to iso100 and over iso XXXX ?

sorry ... newbie here that is also looking into this dslr

 

[elavan]

ISO 100 and 12800 on k-x is it's extended range, not native. it's an extrapolated sensitivity that is not the true sensor minimum..

 

[spheredome]

Based iso is the lowest physical sensitivity of the sensor, meaning 200 in your case.

Anything outside (lower and upper) the electronic range is expanded/extended mode, meaning using in-processing control. Like any auto software processing, there is always cons to it like blown highlight etc.

i read in some sites for the k-x it mention although the base is iso200 ... it can go to iso100 and over iso XXXX ?

sorry ... newbie here that is also looking into this dslr

 

[Weerong]

OMGosh man, i seriously dunno which DSLR to get, 500D or k-x.

Was quoted $999 with only one free Memory card by MS color.

And like for 500D, it comes with many freebies.. at about the price of lesser than$1.2k..
So the different will be somehow like $200 to $250.


BUT for 500D, it comes with many freebies and it seems to be more better and worth?
2 memory cards, Bag, tripod, lens book and maybe extra battery .


i just dont want to regret buying the wrong one..
Both DSLR are good...
i like and i need the video function..

But i just cant make up my mind yet.. Well...

 

[night86mare]

ISO 100 and 12800 on k-x is it's extended range, not native. it's an extrapolated sensitivity that is not the true sensor minimum..

yes, same like how the canon 5d mark I and II do it..

not true iso100. meaning, you could use iso200, and then use raw to reduce exposure, etc.

 

[maverickh]

based on the test results i see, iso performance is definitely 2 notches up, not just 1.

but some things to remember:

1) build quality , i haven't touched a k-x before, but most people seem happy with it, so i'd take their word for it that this is a nonissue, since many of the people happy with it have used the k20d before.

2) weather sealing - absent from k-x, no biggie unless you like shooting in the rain, i know i don't.

3) no af confirm red light, so you cannot see selection of af point.. for k-x.. i haven't tried it yet, don't know if it's an issue.

4) no iso100, big minus for me... when you like low shutter speeds.

5) single wheel versus double wheel, to be honest i like single wheel better still.

6) aa versus lithium ion, age old debate

7) lower megapixel lor, but like anyone cares these days, unless it's below 8.

some other things, but these are the main differences. i think it's not very fair to compare k20d to k-x, since k-x is probably following on from k100d --> k100d super --> k200d --> k-m --> k-x, the fairer thing to compare the k20d to would be the k7, in which case the k20d still gets trounced significantly.. but hey, it's good enough for me for now.

Hi night86mare,

The ISO default setting for K-X is 200. However it can be adjusted to 100, when you expand the sensitivity .

 

[addicted]

never handled a K20D, but IMO to add on:

1) If you like the camera to feel good in your hands, K20D probably will be the one. solid build

2) base ISO performance

3) at 2nd hand prices, it's even better value for money than a new k-x

4) more feature-packed

5) has vertical grip

6) pentaprism viewfinder:heart: vs pentamirror:bheart:

minuses:

1) some say the WB not as fantastic?

2) some say the AF is slower?

3) not as clean at high ISO as k-x. more chroma noise than k7, but lesser luminance noise. k-x is the cleanest.

If you want to study the grain, k7 & k20d has high frequency fine grain, but as the k-x has "factory NR" that cannot be turned off, high ISO grain is coarse.

k-x has very loud mirror slap. K20D not sure, K7 is stealthy..

last of all, regarding high ISO performance, in front of the computer where all your images usually go through, the playing field is almost level. It's enough to close the gaps till ISO advantage gets really negligible..better to turn to other more critical specifications for consideration..

hope it helps by giving you comments on the other side of things

thanks . Maybe I'll just stick to K20D. Good feel in hand is important for me.

 

[addicted]

And k20d is not longer in production and no stock in sg. So i heard from the sales staff at Cathay Photo, Marina last weekend.

whoopss...for real? I thought it's still quite abundant in sg.

 

[night86mare]

Hi night86mare,

The ISO default setting for K-X is 200. However it can be adjusted to 100, when you expand the sensitivity .

yeah, elavan said that already. now, to have that option on the k-7.. for iso50.. :devil:

 

[night86mare]

actually, i'm wondering if anyone with both k20d and k-x has tested the DR of k-x.

k20d much improved over k100d, i must say.. dxo says it's about 11.1 stops of DR.

the only mention i have seen about k7 DR says it's 10+ stops.

and k-x is touted to be 13+ stops.. now, that's cool :heart:

 

[elavan]

I guess look around 2nd hand shops or check BnS section for K20D then..

the bad thing is Pentax doesn't come bundled with any freebies in SG.

yup high DR for people who frequently blows their shots and need recovery :bsmilie: otherwise, intangible..

 

[night86mare]

otherwise, intangible..

?

landscape photography needs dr like mad. ;p

especially when you can only afford a 2 stop tian ya filter.

 

[woefulwabbit]

OMGosh man, i seriously dunno which DSLR to get, 500D or k-x.

Was quoted $999 with only one free Memory card by MS color.

And like for 500D, it comes with many freebies.. at about the price of lesser than$1.2k..
So the different will be somehow like $200 to $250.


BUT for 500D, it comes with many freebies and it seems to be more better and worth?
2 memory cards, Bag, tripod, lens book and maybe extra battery .


i just dont want to regret buying the wrong one..
Both DSLR are good...
i like and i need the video function..

But i just cant make up my mind yet.. Well...

MS Color doesn't look like the best go-to place for Pentax stuff anymore, being significantly more expensive than the other shops. Pity, I used to like that place.

You got an offer of less than $1200 for a 500D kit1? You should probably check if that includes GST. The price for the kit1 is ~$1250 at most places (see http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/showthread.php?t=518391 ) unless there has been a recent price drop by Canon.

 

[snowydust]

so it is likely to say that new k20d are rare in sg le? cos i was also considering kx and k20d, but i guess i would have like the k20d feel better

 

[elavan]

?

landscape photography needs dr like mad. ;p

especially when you can only afford a 2 stop tian ya filter.

http://falklumo.blogspot.com/2009/10/lumolabs-pentax-k-x-vs-k-7-sensor-and.html

there's mention of K-x's DR here. according to him the higher DR is in the shadows range, not apparently advantageous unless the shadows are push processed.

From what I see from sample images OOC, the shadows rendering are very lean on the k-x, which corresponds to the point he made that shadows from the k-x need to be push-processed to look their best. it seems the flip side is that it can be pushed without too much compromise.

Individual sensor breakdown:
http://falklumo.blogspot.com/2009/10/lumolabs-pentax-k-7-sensor-quality.html
http://falklumo.blogspot.com/2009/10/lumolabs-pentax-k-x-sensor-quality.html

He further affirms the fact that base ISO performance still belongs to the "oldies" :bsmilie: