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rebel XT or K100D

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jor

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I've never owned a DSLR before, but plan to get one recently.

On a tight budget, I am wondering which of these has the better bang for the money?

The K100D kit cost about 580 (possibly 530 with rebate), the rebel XT costs about 670. is rebel xt worth the extra money?

What do you guys say? I read the reviews. rebel XT is quite good, but K100D has the IS. kind of fighting here. should I just get K100D? I have a panasonic Fz5 and like it a lot. but i just can't take picture in low light.
 
I'll probably be purchasing a K100D shortly (switching from Oly)...

For me... the Camera has to feel and handle well. I will not purchase a camera, regardless of what the reviews say that does not feel comfortable in my hands. Call me crazy but this is just as important as image quality.

I could never buy the canon because the shape/weight/size/ergonomics... just doesn't work for me (I believe I am not alone with this opinion).

The K100D is perhaps slightly less comfortable to hold/handle than my Oly E-500 but it does have a bigger/brighter viewfinder and I find the overall ergonomics excellent.

So run out and spend some time with each camera in your hands, take shots and work through all adjustments and menus. I would be shocked if you picked the Canon after doing this.
 
jor said:
....I have a panasonic Fz5 and like it a lot. but i just can't
take picture in low light.
Click to expand...
Get a tripod. :-)

No, i'm not joking. Get one - not one of those big ones, but just a $15, ten inch tripod. Get to learn how to take pictures with the shutter open for say, 2-3 seconds and while using the self timer (so that you don't shake the camera when you press the button).

You'll discover your Fz5 can do wonders in low light!
 
If you need SR on a budget, then there's really no other option but to go for the K100D. Bought one myself recently. No regrets, so far!

--
Regards,
LeeD
http://davidlee.smugmug.com/
 
to give you an honest answer, I'd have to know a little more about what your needs are. What do you mostly want to photograph? If you want to take pictures of sports, or birds, or far away wildlife, than I'd say go with the Rebel. Not that the K100D can't do these, it's just that Canon has many more far reaching telephoto lenses. If on the other hand you want to do street photography, portraits, and landscape/architecture, then I'd suggest the Pentax.

However the most important part of this equation is you. I would really really really suggest you go to a local camera store and try each. It's probably pretty likely that one or the other will "suit" you better. Which feels better? Which viewfinder do you like better? LCD screen? controls logical? etc etc. The camera you are more comfortable with is the camera you should get. Each camera is a very good picture taker. BUT since this is the Pentax forum I will mention 2 things: Price: for the price of the Canon kit you can get the Pentax kit and have enough money left over for more camera gear, or even almost another lens. The other thing is that the K100D has in body stabilization, that means that every lens you put on the camera is stabilized. The Canon, on the other hand, has individual lens stabilization. That means that you have to pay for stabilized lenses individually, and they can be pretty expensive.

east(try them both out, I'm sure you will probably like one more than the other)saltwater
 
I have the Rebel XT and several Pentaxes. I think the Pentax K100D is the hands down choice especially given the better price. The higher pixel count with the Canon is a non issue, but the poor focus consistency and greater incidence of blown highlights is.
--
Dave Lewis
 
FZ5 has a nice leica lens thats sharp. A tripod will go a long way

Also my friend has a XT while I have a measly DL. I definitely like my DL better and I have no bias for/against Pentax. I chose the P route due to the bang for the buck lenses. Get a cheap DS/DL body and a 50mm prime for the low lights and keep using the FZ5 for the long range
 
Thanks a lot!

Wow... I am so surprised by how many replies I get!

And I am so surprised that You guys are really giving out suggestion/information. I've been to some other forums (notebook forums,mainly), which are totally different.

I'll try in a local store first, as you guys suggested.

when I first saw the price of the K100D/K110D, I was shocked. but when I took another look, the rebel Xt isn't that expensive either. that's why I am kind of held back from jumping on the K100D/K110D.

do you think the 100D worth the extra 100$? I guess the answer is yes?

And, since there's a possibility to lose the rebate by buying the kit. do you guys think i can get the body and buy a lens for less than 100$ that's similar or better than the kit lens?

thanks.
 
great idea!

I tried 400ISO before. the picture isn't very nice.

The tripod maybe helpful :)

But I am thinking of giving this Fz5 to my parents, their kodak just died.
 
Dave Lewis said:
I have the Rebel XT and several Pentaxes. I think the Pentax K100D
is the hands down choice especially given the better price. The
higher pixel count with the Canon is a non issue, but the poor
focus consistency and greater incidence of blown highlights is.
--
Dave Lewis
Click to expand...
the focus problem and the 'blown highlights' are on Canon?

I used 350D once, it feels nice. but that's the only time I've touched a DSLR though.

I'll definitely try both before I buy one. Thanks for the info.
 
jor said:
And, since there's a possibility to lose the rebate by buying the
kit. do you guys think i can get the body and buy a lens for less
than 100$ that's similar or better than the kit lens?
Click to expand...
AFAIK you don't lose the rebate when buying a kit, just need to get the UPC from the K100D box inside.
 
it's 'he' :)

Yeah, I thought K100D is cheaper. but it's just by less than 100$.

do you think K110D is a better buy for someone on budget like me?
 
thanks.

if so, I guess I'll just get the kit. the kit lens is worth more than 60$, right?
 
I'd definitely check them both out before buying, on thing that really turns me off with the XT (I've used a XT but not the XTi) is the ergonomics and especially the grip, to me it's a uncomfortable camera to use.

On the plus side to the XTi; it is 10mp (that can matter), it has a much bigger buffer than the K100D, it doesn't affect the way I shoot, it may make a difference if you want to take sports shots.

The pluses on the K100D are the much superior ergonomics (again my opinion), and most importantly the SR function, frankly the SR by itself would sway me over to the K100D, but then I'm a K100D owner, so take everything I say with a grain of salt.
jor said:
I've never owned a DSLR before, but plan to get one recently.

On a tight budget, I am wondering which of these has the better
bang for the money?

The K100D kit cost about 580 (possibly 530 with rebate), the rebel
XT costs about 670. is rebel xt worth the extra money?

What do you guys say? I read the reviews. rebel XT is quite good,
but K100D has the IS. kind of fighting here. should I just get
K100D? I have a panasonic Fz5 and like it a lot. but i just can't
take picture in low light.
Click to expand...
--



Kristian Farren
http://kf3.net
 
For sure, it has a better kit lens, if you don't plan on buying any new lenses for a while.
jor said:
it's 'he' :)

Yeah, I thought K100D is cheaper. but it's just by less than 100$.

do you think K110D is a better buy for someone on budget like me?
Click to expand...
--



Kristian Farren
http://kf3.net
 
eastsaltwater said:
to give you an honest answer, I'd have to know a little more about
what your needs are. What do you mostly want to photograph? If you
want to take pictures of sports, or birds, or far away wildlife,
than I'd say go with the Rebel. Not that the K100D can't do these,
it's just that Canon has many more far reaching telephoto lenses.
If on the other hand you want to do street photography, portraits,
and landscape/architecture, then I'd suggest the Pentax.
However the most important part of this equation is you. I would
really really really suggest you go to a local camera store and try
each. It's probably pretty likely that one or the other will "suit"
you better. Which feels better? Which viewfinder do you like
better? LCD screen? controls logical? etc etc. The camera you are
more comfortable with is the camera you should get. Each camera is
a very good picture taker. BUT since this is the Pentax forum I
will mention 2 things: Price: for the price of the Canon kit you
can get the Pentax kit and have enough money left over for more
camera gear, or even almost another lens. The other thing is that
the K100D has in body stabilization, that means that every lens you
put on the camera is stabilized. The Canon, on the other hand, has
individual lens stabilization. That means that you have to pay for
stabilized lenses individually, and they can be pretty expensive.

east(try them both out, I'm sure you will probably like one more
than the other)saltwater
Click to expand...
I appreciate your input.

actually, my Fz5 has been serving me well for a year. I took it to Porto Rico and it did a good job down there. But, my parents' camera just broke and I am thinking of giving them the FZ5. I was look at FZ30/fZ50, but those will cost about 500$. it's quite near the price for the K110D kit.
Then I notice for 100 more, I can get K100D or Rebel XT...

that's why I am think of jump onto DSLR.

But I really don't want to spend much money on this.

I like to take pictures of landscape, some natural views, plants/flowers, animals (my cat), people, and 'rebate forms' :) not really a pro, just casual shooting.

I love the superzoom on FZ5.

will the kit lens be capable for Macro also? can I cover pretty much everything with the K100D kit + one other lens, and keep the cost below 700$?

see, I don't really know what I want. and want to try it out. but, it's so much money for a student like me.
 
yeah, I guess next step for me is to go to the store and try it out!
snow4ever said:
jor said:
I've never owned a DSLR before, but plan to get one recently.

On a tight budget, I am wondering which of these has the better
bang for the money?

The K100D kit cost about 580 (possibly 530 with rebate), the rebel
XT costs about 670. is rebel xt worth the extra money?

What do you guys say? I read the reviews. rebel XT is quite good,
but K100D has the IS. kind of fighting here. should I just get
K100D? I have a panasonic Fz5 and like it a lot. but i just can't
take picture in low light.
Click to expand...
--



Kristian Farren
http://kf3.net
Click to expand...
 
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