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  • Pentax K200D (worlds smallest, lightest weather sealed DSLR)

    Some people ask about my equipment, and I won't deny, I've been a Pentax fanboy since I started using my Dad's K1000 SLR in the early 1990's. Nothing special about that old brick, but I took it to college with me, and used it for photojournalism for the Arkansas Traveler my first year (before I got a "proper" camera for the mid 1990's). I figure anyone who is using a brand, should enjoy the camera, and it's accessories. If not spend the money on something else, lot's of good camera equipment out there.

    I've also owned and shot Nikon (N90s, D1H), still do, and I find the ergonomics and basic photographic setup of Pentax and Nikon quite similar. Although, I'm more of a Nikon apologists than a fanboy.

    Anyway, the point of prefacing with that was the K200D was announced today and while it's just an announcement, if like all previous Pentax models it's well built, offers good image quality, and a good value it might be a camera to look into for outdoors enthusiast.

    The reason, Pentax produced the only sub $1000 DSLR (K10D) with weather sealing (72 seals in all, same as the $8000 Canon 1D) and a 100,000 life shutter, and now it's produced the worlds SMALLEST DSLR with weather sealing the K200D.

    At first look it appears to be a dumbed down K10D and it does take on many of the features, but it's actually not, lots of differences including the ergonomics, and you probably can get a K10D for less money now (used or new), but it's the size and the battery type that's impressive and the reason why I'm passing it along.

    The K10D isn't big (only 3oz heavier than the K200D), but it just barely fits in my TLZ Mini with a little push, the older ist D is closer in size to the K200D (actually to be fair, probably halfway between the two), and I basically have room for 2 of them in the TLZ Mini with the DA* 21mm attached.

    One other thing...on 4 AA lithiums (not sure if it takes CR-V3 lithium rechargeable yet) it gets 1100 shots. I took my ist D this summer paddling because it's tiny and uses AA batteries (about 800 shots on 4 lithiums) and I could keep my batteries homogeneous. That is, I could use my AA lithiums for headlamps, flash, 2way radios, GPS, and pretty much anything else that I carried. AA Lithiums give equal performance all the way till -40F so they are somewhat superior in winter as well other Lithiums, and especially to NiMH. And while they cost more, they weight less for extended trips.

    That's the scoop, and a warning, while the preproduction models are out, and being used by Pentax pros, and the photo mags, don't expect it on shelves quickly. Pentax is notorious for releasing only after all the bugs are out, and they have a smaller production facility so building stock takes some time. No idea on the price, I'd guess $600.


    For those looking for a new camera info is here:

    Pentax K200 3.5Mb PDF (color) brochure


    And the standard website







    sigpic

    "As to every healthy boy with a taste for outdoor life, the northern forest -the Adirondacks- were to me a veritable land of enchantment." -Theodore Roosevelt

    Mountain Visions: The Wilderness Through My Eyes

  • #2
    I guess you can pre-order it on Amazon:


    "The way I see it, you're hooked.Trout have you. Another soul lost." Elias Wonder, The Earth is Enough by Harry Middleton

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    • #3
      pico,

      Do you know anything about Beach Camera.com? Are they reliable?

      Here's an add for the k10d at $609.
      "The way I see it, you're hooked.Trout have you. Another soul lost." Elias Wonder, The Earth is Enough by Harry Middleton

      Comment


      • #4
        Originally posted by marzrw View Post
        pico,

        Do you know anything about Beach Camera.com? Are they reliable?

        Here's an add for the k10d at $609.
        http://www.beachcamera.com/shop/sear...0&prevCti=2014

        Beach is reliable, just got my 21mm DA from them and I couldn't be happier. IMO, almost the perfect hiking lens (lacks weather sealing). Reminds me the rebate is due in 3 days (note to self).

        they say 7-10 day on the free shipping but it arrived on the second day (if you live in NY/NJ UPS generally ships overnight).

        If I didn't already have the original 2003 ist D I'd be pumped on the K200D, it's exactly the 1 missing thing from the original D (weather sealing), since it has the K10D sensor it should be a good camera, if not better.

        Haven't had a chance to get back on here, busy week, currently covering the AHL all-star game in binghamton...more fun than work of course!!! shoot for 2 hours party for 6, not a bad deal. tomorrow will be different though ...elbows will be thrown to jockey for "the shot" on the limited shooting area the photogs are given.

        Downside is a weekend of photography and partying, and I'm missing the mountains...goes to show you where I really prefer to be.
        Attached Files
        sigpic

        "As to every healthy boy with a taste for outdoor life, the northern forest -the Adirondacks- were to me a veritable land of enchantment." -Theodore Roosevelt

        Mountain Visions: The Wilderness Through My Eyes

        Comment


        • #5
          Haven't had a chance to get back on here, busy week, currently covering the AHL all-star game in binghamton...more fun than work of course!!! shoot for 2 hours party for 6, not a bad deal. tomorrow will be different though ...elbows will be thrown to jockey for "the shot" on the limited shooting area the photogs are given

          We're supposed to feel sorry for you....


          Anyways, thanks for all of the tips. I read as many reviews about Beach Camera as I could, especially the ones on your site: photo.net. They were extremely helpful. Wow, there is a wealth of camera and photography info on the site that I am going to need and will take advantage of. Your K10D review was great. Everybody on the site seems to be so helpful and patient, especially to novices.

          So I ordered the K10D last night and received an email today that it has already been shipped. Awesome. I also ordered the DA 16-45. The 16-50 is a little out of range right now especially since I need additional lenses.

          I'm thinking about the Sigma 70-300 that I guess you and others have. And a mid zoom lens also, hopefully soon too.

          I ordered the 16-45 thru your website from Amazon to support photo.net and it was actually a couple of dollars cheaper than Beach and just in case I experienced a problem from them with the camera body.

          I hope everything goes well. Anxious to start shooting and learning. I also ordered a Transcend 150X 2gb. You are right, they ain't too cheap right now. I checked most of the sites and got one for $29.95 from Cameta thru Amazon. $6 shipping, sheesh. Know any places for cheaper Memory? I also ordered an extra battery for our trip out west this year. My Olympus has a similar battery and last year I rotated batteries everyday and charged one almost every night and never had a battery run down the whole two weeks.

          I may have some RAW shooting/processing questions at some point if you don't mind. I would definitely like to take advantage of the K10D's full potential. I'm sure it'll take me a few years.
          "The way I see it, you're hooked.Trout have you. Another soul lost." Elias Wonder, The Earth is Enough by Harry Middleton

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          • #6
            So did it arrive? And how is it working out?

            The transcend cards really spiked up but even at $30 they are reasonable, just not the deal they were when I got 3 for $18 each.

            Best Buy has a deal on 2GB Extreme IIIs for I think $40. The IIIs have a guaranteed 20MB/s write speed and come with a little pouch, and error recovery software. Before you ask, corrupt cards aren't common but occasionally the recovery software can be handy when you accidentally hit delete all. If you do that, lock the card and put it away. You will get back most of the files as long as you don't write over them.

            The pouch I was going to toss in the trash, then I realized it's perfect for carrying 2 cards with me on hikes. Much smaller than my other pouch and thinner. Hopefully not too light it blows away but the keychain clip could be tied to my camera pouch.
            sigpic

            "As to every healthy boy with a taste for outdoor life, the northern forest -the Adirondacks- were to me a veritable land of enchantment." -Theodore Roosevelt

            Mountain Visions: The Wilderness Through My Eyes

            Comment


            • #7
              Yes, it came last week. But jost received the 16-45mm lens the other day so haven't done much yet. But it is really nice and feels very sturdy. Hope to maybe get out somewhere this weekend to shoot some.

              Now have to decide between the Tamron 70-300 4-5.6 Di and the Sigma 70-300 for the trip out west. And at some point a 28-70 and maybe a pancake lens. Thanks for asking.
              "The way I see it, you're hooked.Trout have you. Another soul lost." Elias Wonder, The Earth is Enough by Harry Middleton

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              • #8
                BATTLEFIELD TESTED....

                Saratoga Battlefield that is. Was over to my brother WB's house for a flytying lesson Sat. AM so stopped at the Saratoga Battlefield with the my new K10D.

                Well, I have a lot to learn, but it's gonna be a fun kind of learning. Due to the weather and unfamiliarity, I stuck with Auto the whole time. I did shoot most shots in JPEG and RAW, just need to convert the files at some point.

                What a nice feel to the camera though. For a point and shoot, my Olympus C-5060 is heavier than most, so I am used to some heft. At first I thought the K10D was a bit heavy, especially with the 16-45mm mounted on it, but I hiked the 5 mile Wilkinson Trail with it around my neck under my gore tex shell. A bit bulky underneath my coat, but not that much of a problem.

                First time out and I tested the weather proof seals from the git-go. Was really wishing I had coughed up the extra bucks for the DA*16-50 weather sealed lens, but I think the 16-45 held up well in the wet snow and condensation build up under my coat.

                These shots are in JPEG and I thought pretty good. I guess I don't have the professional eye yet (like I will develop one,right). So I will have to compare them when I convert the RAW files.

                Thanks for your advice. It was a big help. Glad I chose the Pentax K10D, especially at $609 and an additional $100 rebate = $509, that is if I get it. Guess some people on photo.net are having some issues. Even at $609 it is still a bargain.

                Do you have any strong opinions on the Tamron 70-300 vs Sigma 70-300? And if you like the Sigma better,APO vs non APO? The reviews I have read are like 50-50 depending on whose opinion you read. A prime 300 would probably be the best choice, but I still think I'm gonna go with one of the above zooms.

                Well thanks again. And hey, you knew your answer before you even posted your question on photo.net. You know you're taking the K10D on your backpack trip. Right?
                Attached Files
                Last edited by marzrw; 02-11-2008, 09:51 PM.
                "The way I see it, you're hooked.Trout have you. Another soul lost." Elias Wonder, The Earth is Enough by Harry Middleton

                Comment


                • #9
                  What a great way to test the weather proofing.

                  The 16-50 would have been a "better choice" in a perfect world where money grows on trees, and elves do all our work, but while I have never even held the 16-45 f/4, I'm sure it's smaller and the IQ is top notch. Actually some say it's optically on par or better than the 2.8. If the tolerances are tight, if you are careful (as in limit it's exposure and use a cloth to dry it off when you out it away) I think it will be fine for many years. Plus, it's half the cost so if you do kill it's less of an issue. My 28-70 f/4 hasn't bit the dust yet, and I've been gentily using it in the rain/mist, and snow since I got it in 1998. I'd venture to say it's not as well built as the 16-45 but still ticking and taking very nice images.

                  I like the second photo the best...Although I'd crop it square, cropping out the right tree. I've noticed I'm sort of partial to square compostions. It's hard to shoot with that much snow coming down. I've never had much luck but you might try using the flash to accentuate the snow falling.

                  I got back all my previous rebates, but my 21m $50 rebate hasn't even shown up when I checked the site. I'm a bit worried myself based on recent complaints. Hopefully they are just swamped.

                  Just a word of advice on keeping the camera in your Goretex. I'd personally avoid it. I think the vapor condensation from sweat is probably more hurtful than liquid. And once vapor gets in the lens, it's probably done for the trip till you can dry it out.

                  I think you said you had a case logic holster case? Maybe someone else? Nevermind, it was Winterwarlock. But anyway, if you hook it to your chest straps or buy a harness for it, it's just as accessable as if it was in your jacket (in good weather you can even put the camera strap around you neck and leave the top of the holster opened halfway). I really like the Lowepros myself but if the build is good enough on any of the brands (Caselogic, Mountainsmith, Tamrac, Lowepro) then all should work equally well. The AW series on the Lowepro has a pack cover that you can simply pull out in bad weather. Of course the AW's start at $60, but the non AWs are priced pretty nicely at about $16-40 depending on the size.

                  As far as the Sigma v Tamron 70-300 it's been a dead heat based on user experiences. Everyone seems equally happy with their model so I'm guessing this is just an easy focal length zoom to create and not to demanding. I've also seen nice things about the Pentax 55-200 and the size is appealing but that extra 100mm is worth a few ounces IMO.

                  I've got the 70-300 DL Macro Super. Non APO. I like it, but I only paid $70 for it so I'll often say it was the best $70 lens I ever bought. I've only seen 1 head to head test but the non APO was sharper. Don't know if the APO was a bad copy or not. So from that I made the choice to save $30 and got non APO. Sigma's had a bad rep for quality control (mostly from it's early days where it cut corners to sell lenses on the cheap), but I've owned 2 used, and 2 new Sigma's and only 1 (an older 300mm f/4) had a problem. I figured this out the first day, and sent it back. The other 3 have been great lenses. I've never owned a Tamron, but I hear good things about them so flip a coin and go with either, I'm sure you'll be pretty happy.

                  And for the 2 upcoming backpacking trips I'm 90% leaning K10D. It's just funny holding the ist D and the K10D, the ist is significantly smaller and lighter so I keep gravitating towards it knowing my friends are in better shape than me and photography WILL NOT be a priority. As a matter of fact they are the type that consider the camera completely useless, and cringe when it comes out.
                  sigpic

                  "As to every healthy boy with a taste for outdoor life, the northern forest -the Adirondacks- were to me a veritable land of enchantment." -Theodore Roosevelt

                  Mountain Visions: The Wilderness Through My Eyes

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                  • #10
                    As usual, thanks for the comments, observations, suggestions, and critiques. Don't ever worry about critiquing my work. I appreciate constructive criticism. (ie: I cropped the tree out of the pic. I did notice the snow/water drop on the lens in the pic, but thought it was one of the best pics also. i also liked the shadow cast underneath the tree even though the sun wasn't out and wanted to see how the K10D would resolve the shadow. It did.) Will have to remember to try the flash next time. I was wondering how I could attempt to capture the snowfall better. I also took a shot with an overhanging branch and a nice tree with roots and thought about using the flash to depict the tree trunk better. Was thinking how you painted the tree with the moon in the background. That was very cool.

                    I know you are adamant about shooting RAW. I did download the pics into the Penatx photo software and can view both the JPEG and RAW images. The bottom pic is RAW. Can you see the difference?

                    The camera and lens were getting a bit steamy and in addition to the million other things I need, a case like the Lowepro was on my list.

                    After I posted, I found the thread Tamron vs Sigma vs Sigma 70-300 on photo.net. I thought as much that both were about equal for the price. $70 is pretty sweet. Never seem to get that lucky myself. Some comments were that the Sigma can be a bit noisy and the macro switch has a tendency to stick or something and the Tamron has a purple fringe / CA issue near 300. So as you suggest it is a tossup.
                    Last edited by marzrw; 02-11-2008, 10:46 PM.
                    "The way I see it, you're hooked.Trout have you. Another soul lost." Elias Wonder, The Earth is Enough by Harry Middleton

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Yeah, the water drop can't really be fixed it's a factor of actually being outside...oh well!!!

                      But I do like the square crop, looks great. Nice tonal range and the shadows to show up nicely. Not bad for a test day in less than great conditions.

                      Your whites look a bit whiter in the RAW and it seems a bit more contrasty beyond that truthfully your won't see much difference on a screen size JPEG.

                      Really you'll see it when you start printing. Also, you'll see it in more contrasty images. With the snow and clouds the light was very diffuse, like a giant softbox so there wasn't a tremendous dynamic range in the scenes you shot. The more DR in the images the more RAW will reveal itself.

                      Basically RAW to TIFF gives a higher dynamic range image especially 16 bit files for post processing. Places that I've noticed it was on white snow in daylight and in white uniforms under the lights. JPEG will lose those highlights and RAW either keeps them outright or allows you to recover them. It's probably equivalent to adding 1-1.5 stop of range.

                      The real advantages are an untouched file, no in camera sharpening, and the ability to forget about white balance, or creatively change it (sort of like putting a colored filter on the lens). And of course your originals are sort of archival because they remain untouched.
                      sigpic

                      "As to every healthy boy with a taste for outdoor life, the northern forest -the Adirondacks- were to me a veritable land of enchantment." -Theodore Roosevelt

                      Mountain Visions: The Wilderness Through My Eyes

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        And then there's the whole issue of using Photoshop to adjust/tweak those RAW images. I just bought "Photoshop for Dummies" and am beginning to slog through it, one item at a time - steep learning curve for me, but I'll get there!
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                        • #13
                          Yikes...pico's created a bunch of monsters...Pretty soon everyone will be shooting RAW. Course now I need to upgrade my computer or buy a laptop.The Pentax software isn't too bad. May have to look into PS or something else also. I feel the same as you Edelweiss. But I'm sure I don't have to tell you, it's always best to keep learning new things, improving, innovating, etc.
                          "The way I see it, you're hooked.Trout have you. Another soul lost." Elias Wonder, The Earth is Enough by Harry Middleton

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                          • #14
                            i think if you are a control freak RAW really appeals to you.

                            a lot of people comment on the extra time involved shooting in RAW, which I really think is not all that much when you consider most of it is stuff you do to JPEGs but destructively to the pixels, and it makes me think of this quote since the RAW file is considered a "digital negative":

                            "The negative is the equivalent of the composer's score, and the print the performance." -Ansel Adams


                            As far as an editor though, the PPL software/Silky Pix won't do everything you need. I definitely wouldn't sharpen in Silypix...for that open it up in photoshop (or whatever equivalent you find more affordable/useful). and use the unsharp mask and/or high pass filter. The sharpening is dependent upon output size so it's important to do all the croping and resizing and sharpen last.

                            Some people like to do an initial sharpening of 280-300/.3/2-4 to "preserve" the digital data, I've flipped back and forth on this although I understand the idea behind it, I'm not 100% sure it's proper to do.

                            But 90% of your image can be completed in most RAW editors including PPL.
                            sigpic

                            "As to every healthy boy with a taste for outdoor life, the northern forest -the Adirondacks- were to me a veritable land of enchantment." -Theodore Roosevelt

                            Mountain Visions: The Wilderness Through My Eyes

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                            • #15
                              Just an FYI, I received my Pentax K10 rebate last week. I purchased the camera in October.

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