Hi Terry.

What would you recommend. The Pentax 16-45mm lens or the Sigma 17-70mm(macro)? Both of these are available with the K10D body for $1699 and I am veering towards the Sigma as it is considered a good lens that will cover a 26mm-105mm range in 35mm terms. I also like the macro function. I can see this lens sitting on the camera for 90% of the time (with the type of casual family function - group and portrait photos that I mostly take).

You have used both lenses and have called the 16-45mm pentax lens 'brilliant', so I would be interested in your opinion before I make the final splurge and buy the Camera

I do have a 50-200mm Pentax lens.

The only other lens I might invest in down the track is a 50mm f1.8 prime for natural light photos - I am not a fan of flash (although I recognise the frequent need for it).

Many Thanks

Joh

Joh: This is a hard question to answer.

Optically and mechanically the Pentax lens is better. By any standards it is an excellent lens. But as far as zoom range goes it is limited. It does better at the wideangle end than any other kit lens but it is limited at the long end to a focal length that is short of ideal for portraits.

The Sigma has the range and it is not a bad lens but not in the same class as the Pentax. However, as a kit lens it is better than the ones supplied by Canon, Sony and Nikon [on the D80 that is...the kit lens with the D40 is very good].

All things considered the Sigma might be the better choice for your purposes. It is sharp, pretty quick to focus, has a little distortion and is "warm", but it is so cheap that you might reasonably regard it as an interim lens until the new range of super dooper Pentax lenses arrives in the next month or so.

TL

You comments are much appreciated Terry.

They helped me firm up, in my mind, that the Sigma was the 'better' choice for me. I therefore took the plunge and ordered the camera and lens.

Cheers

Joh

Well done Joh. Now forget the gear and just take great photos. The K10D is a great camera and terrific value for money. And with the lens you have chosen will serve you well.

TL

Hi Terry
I've ordered a k10D and am looking at lenses, i was recommended the 18-200 sigma lens, have also been advised to buy the 18-55 pentax lens and the 70-300 sigma zoom, i am travelling to africa and was wondering what your advice would be on either of these combinations or other lens you recommend, I'm a point and shoot photographer but would like to make sure i make the most of the camera on my holiday,
many thanks

nick

Nick:

The Pentax lens is good. The Sigma 18-200 is a pretty average affair. The best Sigma zoom is the 70-200, but because it is so good it is also expensive.

My observation is that it is simply too difficult to make a good 18-200 and sell it at Sigma or Tamron prices. There are too many compromises.

It is hard to advise on lenses without knowing how much you are prepared to spend. There is a good lens comparison and assessment table at http://www.photozone.de/active/survey/querylenstxt.jsp?filter=%221=1%22

TL

Hi
Just found this URL after hunting through the forums and web sites.
I'm basically very very new at Photography and will be buying a camera i the next few months and the Pentax K10D is the camera I will be buying.
I myself was looking at the sigma 17-70 over the kit 18-55 only because it had Macro, and my wife loves to take photos of flowers and bugs, however I would rather stick to pentax gear.
My question is what would be the better option for a beginner learning photography 18-55 with kit with some close up filters for Macro, or Sigma 17-70 macro or the pentax 16-45 with some close up filters for Macro, not sure how well these close up filters will work.
Below is a price guide in AUS $$
Camera with Sigma 17-70 = $1,694.00
Camera with Sigma 18-55 kit $1,479.00
Camera with Pentax 16-45 = $1,70.00
Camera with both Pentax16-45 and Pentax 50-200 =$2000
any help would be much appresiated, Money is not really a concern as I would rather buy quility now, than be stuck with lenses I will never use in the future once I start to get better

JCB: The K10D with the two Pentax lenses would be a great starter kit. If, as you say, money is not a limiting factor then this is the way to go.

Of the Sigma lenses it would be best to go with the 18-55 plus a 105 micro [that is macro] lens if you can find one. The Sigma 17-70 is also OK but if you really like taking pictures of very small things then a fixed focal length micro lens is best. And the 105mm focal length is absolutely perfect for portraits.

I would be interested to hear what you decide and why.

TL

Hi. I have a Pentax MZ50 and a couple of Sigma lenses (28-80 and 100-300) for it. I am considering purchasing the K10D and was wondering if these lenses would function on it?

Steve: I think they will work. It is easy enough to try -- just take one of the lenses into a camera shop and ask to try it on the K10D body. TL

I am looking at buying a Pentax D10k and was under the impression my Pentax 35mm lenses will work the same with this camera. I was told by a camera store today that the wide angle lense will not work the same. Is this correct? Do I need to buy a new wide angle for the digital SLR or can I use my sigma lense from the film camera?

Andrew: Some, but not all, Pentax film camera lenses will work with the K10D. There is a lens compatibility chart at
http://www.pentaximaging.com/products/cameras/lenses/compatability_chart.jsp

You should take your wide angle lens to the shop and try it on the K10D. Some lenses will fit but won't have autofocus function.

Hi,
I have just purchased a K100 D Super with the Sigma 18-50mm lense. I will be using an old smc Pentax-M 80-200mm zoom from my old 35mm Pentax (it's heavy).

How does its quality compare to a modern digital Penatx zoom? Any comments on a suitable zoom lense that does not break the bank? I do some report work with indoor and outdoor pics up to A4 size.

Thanks,

Garry

Garry: The best place to get an idea of the value for money of any lens is to go to www.photozone.de/active/survey/querylenstxt.jsp?filter=%221=1%22
and look at the user ratings for Pentax, Sigma, Tamron and Tokina lenses.

Some old Pentax lenses work with the K100D and some don't. There is a compatibility chart at
www.pentaximaging.com/products/cameras/lenses/compatability_chart.jsp

Pentax lenses have varied in quality over the years from superb to ordinary. You might be lucky enough to have a superb one.

TL

Pentax K10 is my choice in near future
Crop factor is confusing as I am going Pentax lenses only.
Question are focal lengths quoted on the web site
http://www.pentaxslr.com/lenses
actual including crop factor allowance ie is the
DA 16-50 actually that in use and is the 50 f1.4 actually 50mm

Thanks for help

John: Lens focal lengths are always expressed in 35mm film terms. So a 16-50mm lens on a K10D is in fact a 24-75mm lens. TL

Thanks Terry, the crop factor is 1.5 as I found out by doing a Google.
Thanks for reply and enjoy your GG column

John

hello terry,

i am debating between k10d and k100d super, i will be initialing using mostly in auto mode and hopefully my wife will be getting used to it. we have 2 kids and looking forward to take great pictures for them, any suggestions

Sam: The K10D is obviously the better camera. If the price difference is not an issue then go for that one. On the other hand the K100D is also a very good camera. You can take great photos with either but the K10D has a bit better sensor and more features that you might come to appreciate.

Do not leave the camera set on Auto. Disaster! Set the mode dial to P. If you leave it on Auto you might as well dust off your old Box Brownie.

And whichever of the two you buy one of the first things you should do is to turn down the default Saturation setting. Look in the instruction book. The default colours are absurdly over-saturated.

You might also experiment with turning down Contrast and Sharpness a notch.

TL

hey
i was just wondering i am studying photography and im getting pretty serious about it and im in the market to get a digital SLR and i was wondering would u recommend a pentax, nikon or a canon?
thanks

Melissa: It depends on how much you intend to spend. Under $1000 the choice is between a Pentax K100D or a Nikon D40. They are both fine cameras.

Between $1000 and $1500 I would suggest you look at the Pentax K10D or the Canon 400D. Between $1500 and $2000 the best camera is the Nikon D80. Over $2000 you have a choice between a number of cameras from Nikon, Canon and Sony and they are all excellent.

TL

Terry,

In advising on camera choices in various price ranges above, I'm surprised the Pentax K10D is not included in the more expensive brackets also. Of course it's cost is lower, but I believe from experience the K10D's image quality and ease of operation makes it competitive with the likes of the Nikon D200.

Hi Terry
I still have got my 32 year old Pentax ME Super and I went to a photoshop to try my old lenses on a K 100 D (that was the only one) now I jumped on the computer and found the K 100 is old and a better one K 10 d with more megapixel is out now and my lenses fit...
Now ..can I use my lenses I have got a Pentax A Zoom lens 1:3.5-4.5 , 28 mm - 80 mm and a Tamron Zoom and Macro Lens 1:3.8-4.5 f80mm-250 mm.
Now them old lenses are heavy and the big one faily long. I like your opinion about the quality or rather stick to the 2 lenses what come with the camera.
Also...I have been reading that Jpg Files are Soft or not so good with that camera and there is another File R.?..cant remember.
What does it mean...I thought there is only Jpg Files with Photos.
Thank you
Romy

Romy: The Pentax K10D has just been replaced with the K20D, so that is what you should be looking for. The K10D is a good camera, but if a salesman tries to sell it to you as a current model, don't be fooled.

Your existing Pentax lenses should work with the new digital models -- take them to the shop and try them.

JPEGs from the Pentax are excellent -- they are not soft at all. But for better quality you should always use RAW, which Pentax records as DNG files. This is Adobe's open digital negative format and works well with Photoshop.

TL

Glad I found this site. I am about to give up my Pentax 35mm SLR for a Pentax DSLR. Lense compatability is an issue as I have a number of quality Pentax 35mm SLR lenses that I wish to use on a new Pentax DSLR, considering the K20D.

Hi Terry,

given the K10D has now been discontinued and other cameras have been released, could you advise what you currently see as the best cameras in the sub $1000, 1000 to 1500, etc. categories as you listed back in November?

I was looking at the k10d myself but many stores no longer have it and i'm wondering if there is now a better option in that price range.

thanks, Jake

Hi Jake,

I purchased a k10d once the prices fell after the introduction of the two new Pentax models.

I'm very happy with the k10d, and as I paid under $800 for the body and kit 18-55 lens, I'm happier still.

If you can get one sub $1k in Aus, it would have to be one of the best if not the best sub $1k cameras.

Cheers
Dale

I must agree with the image quality comments of the K10d. I still have mine, but also recently bought a second hand Canon 30d due to its increased fps rate as I shoot alot of athletics action of my wife sprinting. i had my k10d for the state titles and then my 30d arrived just in time for the nationals. Using a $250 tamron 70 - 300 on the k10d and a $700 L 70-200 f4 white lens on the 30d I was amazed to find the images with my k10d were far more pleasing as far as sharpness and clarity than the canon. Only early days so far with the canon but the difference was really noticeable and i know its 10 v 8 megs but we're talking startling color and crisp sharpness with the k10d.
Of course, the 5 fps was wonderful to use and really helped in shooting the jump events etc so i was happy with my purchase plus Im still learning the canon way, but if Pentax ever get their act together with the k30d and increase its burst rate, then they'll have one happy snapper here....

Thanks Kipstra,
you just sold me on the Tamron! I was toying with something to get me out to 200 - 300mm, and the Tamron AF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di looks very good indeed for the money.

Err for reference it may well be the case you can get more than 5fps on the k20d, just at lower res. See the claim re 21fps here:
www.pentaxlife.com/john-carlson-talks-about-k20d-645d-and-the-latest-pentax-announcements

Heya Dale,

Yes great point about the k20d with its 21fps at 1.2 megs . If it had a middle range like a 6-8fps at 6 megs it would have been sold!!! but 1.2 is too low for me. On paper it looks like 2 extremes i.e. 3fps at 14meg and then a hi-speed mode of 21fps at 1.2meg. Somewhere in the middle would have been ideal. This was a bit of a discussion point on the Pentax forums and it was hoped that maybe a firmware update might include this middle setting, but now its looks highly unlikely.
Thats why I went the Canon for now. I'll just leave the white lens on it and bring it out just for sports.

Maybe they'll bring out a Centax or Panon model ???

That Tamron lens is really really nice and an adsolute bargain. Add the in-camera stabilisation you get with the Pentax body and its even more impressive. I have no idea what I'm doing but I point it in the general direction of the action and let it do its thing! Things turn out sharp,clear and crisp.
Best wishes with it
Kipsta

Hi Terry, my Nikon F60 has died, so I'm thinking of going digital. Your review of the K10D caught my eye (although I suppose I should be thinking of the K20D now?)
Anyhow, my dilemma is that while the F60 is dead, I've got 2 AF Nikon lenses - a 24-50 and a 70-300 (ED I think). I assume that these are incompatible with the Pentax. Would you recommend sticking with a Nikon body, or switch to the Pentax and look at getting another lens kit.
I’m an amateur that likes to shoot architecture and portraits, but I’m interested in playing with processing images using Photomatrix Pro… I suppose I’d like to stick to a budget of between $1000 and $1500, but can always be talked into spending more for a bargain, or to get a rip snorter!

Cheers, Geoff

Geoff: Stick with Nikon. Look closely at the D80. It is near the end of its model life -- we assume that there is a D90 just around the corner -- so you should be able to twist an arm and get a good price. It's a great camera -- I have one -- and it will take your existing lenses. Why waste them? TL

Hi Terry, thanks for the advise, you've confirmed what I've come to think after spending yesterday researching of the net...

But, on the D80, having regard for my predilection for a bargain, I can get a parallel imported D300 with an extended warranty for about $2k (I've yet to hit the camera shops to test my not inconsiderable haggling skills...) I suspect that I could pick up an imported d80 for about $1000 (I want that extended warranty..) or a locally supplied one for about $1200. So, what do you think - the D300 certainly has my heart rate up!

Geoff: The D300 is the prince of cameras for the serious amateur. The only thing to watch with parallel imports is that the warranty sometimes obliges the customer to send the camera to HK or Singapore for repair. Apart from that, if you can stretch the budget to the 300 you are a lucky man and I am grinding my teeth in envy! TL

That's the sealer! Thanks Terry. By the time I claim the gst back (I'm going OS in June)I'll be paying about $1700 for the D300 - I just have to wait till May before I can buy it :-(

I'll certainly inquire about where the camera would be serviced, if need be. Cheers, Geoff

Hi Terry, I thought I'd let you and your readers know I've changed my mind! I went an had a close look at the D300 and the D80 yesterday and found the D300 just that little bit too heavy to be absolutely comfortable, and I don't want to have to take a tripod with me every where... So, retuning to your earlier recommendation I'm going to get the D80. I'm also going to get the Tokina ATX 124 to deal with the wide angle hole left by my Nikon 24-50 lens no longer being able to do what it was designed for...
All up, I should be able to get the camera and lens for about $1400.

Cheers, Geoff

Hi,
I have a canon SLR camera with canon lenses and am about to purchase a digital slr camera. Will my previous lenses be compatible to the new canon 450D? I have also been advised by sales reps that the Pentax K200D with pentax 18-250mm lens is a good purchase for a travelling person. I am a keen photograper of landscapes, architecture etc but will also use the camera to take many family or people shots. Any advice will be appreciated.
Athina

Athina: Unless your film SLR is very very old your existing lenses will certainly fit on a Canon 450D. Just to be sure you can take one of your lenses into a camera shop and try it.

The Pentax is indeed a fine camera, but if you already have Canon lenses then that is the sensible path to follow. TL

Terry / Dale,

Just to let you know I ended up going with the K10D, picked it up today, very exciting! and confusing never having used a digital slr before. I bought it with the Sigma 17-70 and I'm really happy so far. I just need to spend a few hours in the instructional manual - try to get improvements on my, so far, blurry photos. I'm sure they're purely operator errors!
thanks for the advice.
Jake

Hi there Jake,

Good to hear. I too ended up with the Sigma 17-70. It is a good lens. I've learned heaps both through here, and over at www.pentaxforums.com. My user name is the same there. Drop by and say hi.

I should say a special thanks to Terry, it was your reviews here, and additional advice that led me down the Pentax DSLR path. I'm enjoying my photography just so much more.