Oly E-510 VS Pentax K100D Super

I have been wanting to get an E-510 for a while now, but today I started considering the Pentax K100D Super. What do you guys think?

I would really miss being able to use those Zuikos. And in my opinion they beat Pentax lenses any day, live view id miss too though I believe the k100d super has a better viewfinder.

Pentax also has wonderful color, that top LCD....those nice limited lenses...and the 6.1mp is a non issue for my first DSLR, this camera has great IQ.

pretty much it comes down to the price spending say $700(US) as opposed to $1,000 is something to think about, is the 510 worth it??...even with the wonderful kit lenses. I am hoping that the 510's price drops a little in the coming months, id like the system just after xmas.

Are you actually using the top LCD as a selling point? I'm sorry but I don't care what you buy. At least have an educated question/ difference between cameras and for God's sake just go take some photos if your capable. I'll use the disclaimer that lately I'm a little frustrated with techno-geeks because of all the idiotic speculation on the E-3 but gimme a break. Go buy a Pentax, my Nikon F will make photos as good as it, but I may have to actually frame and expose them right instead of using a computer......................sorry to vent at you, Bob

Pallor_Mortis said:

I believe the k100d super has a better viewfinder.

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Best thing to do IMO is to go in a shop, and try both cameras viewfinder and handling one after another. I was kinda put off initially by those complaints on viewfinder size, but in practice, the difference wasn't significant to me (I shoot without glasses).

Pallor_Mortis said:

those nice limited lenses...and the 6.1mp is a non issue for my first DSLR,
this camera has great IQ.

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As for lenses, they'll only matter once you decide to "invest" into a system, and they'll quickly cost a bit more than the camera itself, so if it's your first DSLR, there is no need to be too focused on lenses just yet... especially if you don't have extra wads of cash to spend just yet.

Pallor_Mortis said:

pretty much it comes down to the price spending say $700(US) as
opposed to $1,000 is something to think about, is the 510 worth
it??

Click to expand...

For me the reasons to go with E-510 were (in order):

• weight and handling ( after comparing it in a shop to 400D & D40x), plus the weight specs of 4/3 lenses (including but not limited to kit lens). If the camera is too heavy, it'll stay at home more often, which ultimately means it is less useful.
• IS
• LiveView

IQ and the rest are fairly comparable across all entry-level DSLRs, so IMO, go with what you feel most comfortable with.

I vented at you and shouldn't have, nor should I vent at anyone. I really like coming in here and learning about photography and enjoy seeing other people's pics. The forum lately has been seemingly taken over by what I deem inane speculation about the new E-3. Don't get me wrong I am as curious about it as anyone. I just can't wrap my head around how a thread can have 75 posts speculating different things with none of them based in any sort of fact. That is my problem as I understand maybe some folks enjoy the banter. I need to chill out about it and accept it. This forum is about Olympus Dslr's and your post was certainly in tune with that. I do want to talk more about my images and other's images and maybe I need to find a new place to do that. I am truly sorry because you did not deserve my initial response. For what it's worth I love my E-510. It take beautiful photos and the kit lenses are a steal if purchased as a kit. I do have the 35mm macro which is one of the best bargains in photography IMO. I also have the 50-200mm which is considerably more money, but with it you get the idea of how important the glass is. Being an Olympus user I hope you choose the E-510 and I know you won't be disappointed, but whatever you choose don't look back and focus on creating art/photographs and have fun with it. I wish you the best of luck. Bob

I appreciate your apology kahuna20032000 , I have some pretty big fangs myself and never intended to use them when asking every one's opinion on a camera. I thought it was a decent comparison and I feel in some sense that the K100d S is in the E510's class.

I do have to try them both out yes, I suppose it is just the little things that I like about the K100D super, the top LCD only being one minute thing I mentioned, nothing comes before IQ but other things are a part of the photographic experience. If I wanted ONLY IQ id go for an xti, but this is not the case. I also like the SD use. It may very well come down to which feels better in my hand, but more or less what does everyone think of The k100D/k100D S image quality? I suppose now that I study the color I spoke about I can see that it is perhaps a bit more saturated/consumer friendly. A lot of people, photographers especially tend not to like that kind of color.

egrange,

I do believe that lenses and the selection of lenses is a huge reason for picking the DSLR you choose, why pick one if you hate the lens selection, The K100D body is $516 at amazon, and I plan to get the 40mm limited lens, completely skipping the 18-55mm to start out, so that fits about right into my "$700" range.

thank you for your sentiments thus far everyone.

I wish you well in your quest - it's always difficult!

The difficult issue in assisting you is that price is price and only you can tell what fit's your hand best! Equally without seeing (say) the result of your last 1000 shutter actuations it's difficult to understand what you shoot and how to possibly bring out nuances in lens range or camera function that might be relevant.

Personally I believe that the 510 2 lens kit delivers huge value against pretty much any other DSLR combination you want to put it up against. Add an FL36 and a good photographer will produce competent images within the boundarys set by the lens speed etc.

Add another 12,000$ of Zuiko digital glass and the 510 appears to remain a capable match but with that much investment most will clearly upgrade their body to the next level when it appears. However if price is THE factor on buying you should only really consider the consumer lens range in your equation. Even here though the Zuiko's would appear to have a significant edge on the equivilent from C/N/P and Sigma/Tamron (the 8-16 is an unknown but on paper great addition whilst the 70-300 due shortly is likely to be just a little better than the Sigma APO equivilent and well priced - if you believe everything your hear!)

A 510 is not going to guarantee you better pictures that a K100DS and vice versa

--

I think people make too much of the differnces between brands. Any of the best shooters on each brands forum could exchange brands and continue to make excellent images. I have been a Nikon/Fuji shooter and bought a E-510 twin lens kit as an inexpensive, light setup for use hiking(the IS is helpful for this) and Kayaking. In the 3 mos I have owned the camera, I have used it 95% of the time. did buy the 11-22mm which I like, but with it's weight it defeats the main advantage of the E-510.

The camera is not without issues. Dynamic range is somewhat limited (remember however I usually shoot an S3), but this has taught me to check the histogram on each exposure which is good discipline anyway. If exposed correctly, this little camera does pretty well.

With the fall photograghic season approaching I will no doubt drift back to more deliberate photography (with a release and a tripod) and my S3 and D2x will come back into use. But it is the Oly kit that stays with me must of the time.







Henry F. Smith Jr
Http: www.glensummitimage.com

Pallor_Mortis said:

I have been wanting to get an E-510 for a while now, but today I
started considering the Pentax K100D Super. What do you guys think?

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Hi,

I have owned the DS (still do btw), and also the K10D. I now use my E-510 only.

The K100D is a good camera, just as all current cameras are. There are two major differences between the E-510 you should consider in my opinion.

The Sony 6MP sensor is good and the strongest point is the noise figures when using the camera in the dark. Do you often shoot at ISO800 or more?

The E-510 has a Live View function making anything manual focused a dream when you have the time for it.

Then there is the rest of it and there the K100D can't compare at all with the modern and, when compared, fast responding Olympus.

The viewfinders are a bit different. For all normal shooting you'll do just fine with the E-510 viewfinder as it mainly is about framing and reading the info. When things get tricky the K100D is a small notch better (remember this is pentamirror and somewhat small viewfinder than inthe DS and K10D) but the LV beats anything including the Canon 5D.

System: check that the system you buy into offer what you need! Want to use a ring flash? Need a long fast tele lens? In love with the small primes?

And finally, check that the camera is working for you, that your hands finds the controls easy. The camera is a minor invenstment these days compared to future expenses in lenses and other stuff, and it will get replaced while a good lens stays and so on. Still, the main reason for me to sell the K10D was that I couldn't make good friends with it. It didn't fit my hands.

good luck,

--
Jonas

Hi Jonas,
I'm a Pentax-long-time-user myself - and now with a Oly dslr too.
BUT: Additionally!
Yes, the K10D is a liitle bit too big for mee too - I'm used to the DS.
I still have the K100D for it's SR is great.
I think the E-510 will do the same though...

I have a trunk full of Pentax-lenses and therefore will continue to use the K100D.

Before I bought the DS I had the Oly-E-20 and liked the ergonomics a lot. The E-1 was too expensive for me in those days...

I tried many different dslr, including Canons and Fujis (both with fine primes) but found that handling is the main reason to like or dislike a dslr.

Image quality is not that different... as far as my demands are concerned. They all produce great pics.
So that's my conclusion:
Try the dslr that you think you might want.
Let your hands decide....
--
Paul

Hi Paul,

My story is a bit similar: Minolta A2 -> DS (E-1 too expensive... yes) -> 5D (I had saved some money) -> K10D -> DS again -> E-510

The 5D and K10D were, toghether, a short story of less than 10 months and I had the DS all the time. Last autumn I was eagerly waiting for the K10D as I found the DS too slow and also featuring a very unreliable exposure meter. What I perceived as fast and instant coming from the Minolta had became a bit slow and simply getting in my way. Then the reports about the K10D made me upset with the problems with VPN (vertical pattern noise) and a better exposure meter (for new lenses) and a worse exposure meter (for M42 and old K and M lenses) and I hesitated.

Somehow I got the idea that the 5D should give me better resolution but the same or lower noise as the DS, and is only 10mm higher than the K10D and... well. I had a short affair with the 5D that I found super but beyond my needs, and more heavy than I had figured. So, I went back to Pentax and grabbed a K10D. Great feature set. But noisy and with a layout with knobs and wheels that didn't really fit my hands. It's not only about the size: The 5D front wheel is where my fingers think it shoud be, so not the K10D wheel, for example.

So, I have been struggling a bit the last year finally realizing that I don't need the weight and the sensor of the 5D (just as everybody in the Pentax forum had told me. For once they were right ).

What to do? My old feelings for Olympus awakened and I went to a store and tried the E-510. Good enough. Noisy of course (just as the K10D but horizontel rather than vertical) and not without other quirks but good for my hands and my back.

Maybe I have a learned a lesson. What I know is that I suddenly got more interested in using my camera again. I lost some money but not very much as I was lucky when buying and selling the 5D, I have offloaded some lenses but still got a bunch that really should go.

It has been a strange trip as I feel all the brand switching has slowed me down seriously, especially last spring and parts of the summer.

Oh well, it is what it is. I'm way more happy with the E-510 tahn with the K10D. Most of that is personal; my hands and mind in a combination. But it makes me feel good with the camera in the bag again.

regards,

--
Jonas

Jonas B said:

Then there is the rest of it and there the K100D can't compare at all
with the modern and, when compared, fast responding Olympus.

Click to expand...

Can you further elaborate on that? just for the sake of wondering your opinion, what is it the oly...in terms of being more "modern" does better? or rather so much better. Faster shutter rate, better processing? the K100D/super isn't all that far from modern.

And yes I do a lot of available light shooting, though I find that a lot of the time I do not need to increase the ISO too much for that. I was at a concert the other day with a Panasonic TZ3 more than 100 feet away from the stage and I found that ISO 200 did fine and gave me the best results. Of course any higher with the TZ3 and I got noise so, lol

I tend to make due and work around things like that.

Just a word of advice, you cannot come on a given forum like the Oly forum and obtain a comprehensive evaluation. Not to say one camera is better or worse than the other but please realize, almost every poster here is the proud owner of an Olympus camera and have a compulsion to justify their purchases.

Speaking for myself I own 8 cameras, Olympus included but have just ordered a K10D to supplement what I already have, Canon, Nikon, Olympus, Leica and soon a Pentax. I suggest you actually try the different cameras that you are considering, each has attributes and faults but I'm sure one will appeal to you more than another IRRESPETIVE of brand and brand loyalty, I have none.....I own a "dog from every town" so to speak so have no axe to grind.
--

' You don't have to have the best of everything to get the best out of what you do have'.

I have K100D (not super) and E-330. I like them both, and they complement each other for me.

You can't go wrong with either Oly or Pentax. Try them both and buy the one you like best.

The both have decent kit lens. Zuiko does not outshine Pentax. They handle differently but similar in quality. I like Pentax color rendition on the kit lenses better, though (for my eyes).

Where Pentax glass really shines is their limited primes. They are reason enough for me to never leave Pentax.

Zuiko high grades are supposed to be nice but I do not have any experience with them - yet. But it is coming .

Both cameras are fast. I haven't been constrained by either.

Oly has LiveView and that's what drawn me to it. But for that I prefer E-330 as it has both mode B (the same one E-510 has) and mode A, and that's what I love about it the most.

If this will be your first camera and you don't need IS, you should seriously consider E-330. The sale prices on these are so low, it's crazy .

I think we are all lucky to have that many choices available to us. And neither of the choices is bad.

Oh...and whatever camera you choose, don't blame the camera if you are not too happy with the photos .

--
Cheers,

Igelfeld

--
----------------
Zalllon
'If you knew you wouldn't fail, what would you try?' - someone

Bill Force said:

Just a word of advice, you cannot come on a given forum like the Oly
forum and obtain a comprehensive evaluation. Not to say one camera is
better or worse than the other but please realize, almost every
poster here is the proud owner of an Olympus camera and have a
compulsion to justify their purchases.
Speaking for myself I own 8 cameras, Olympus included but have just
ordered a K10D to supplement what I already have, Canon, Nikon,
Olympus, Leica and soon a Pentax. I suggest you actually try the
different cameras that you are considering, each has attributes and
faults but I'm sure one will appeal to you more than another
IRRESPETIVE of brand and brand loyalty, I have none.....I own a "dog
from every town" so to speak so have no axe to grind.
--
' You don't have to have the best of everything to get the best out
of what you do have'.

Click to expand...

Certainly, I only ask here because I have been looking at the oly forum for months now, before I ever became a member. And that is why I like it here; people are well rounded in their knowledge and seem very non bias. At least a LOT of people here, own different types of cameras and are willing to point out some of Olympus's downfalls. I just like the conversation aspect of talking about the two systems. I will figure out for myself which I purchase, advice is only one small aspect of the choosing of a system, though I am seeking it somewhat and do appreciate it greatly.

One thing also that is not so appealing about the k100d/super....no ISO 100, would the lack of this really put anyone else off as well? for this particular system or just in general its nice to have ISO 100......though as someone said before and I agree, Pentax has the noise problem under control pretty well. ISO 800 shots Ive seen are very very clean.

Pallor_Mortis: I think the K100Super now have 100 ISO. The K100 normal one, doesn't. I might be wrong - but please do check it out.

As for between E510 and K100, I personally would pick Olympus for it's skintone colours. Pentax produces great colours - don't get me wrong, just that I liked Olympus' better. I used a K10 before, thus I can't really say that everything will be the same with K100 Super.

Although, I did leave my K10 for an S3 - as skintone colours are extremely important to me.

But, the limited lens DA* thingy, is VERY Superb. I'd pick 'em over any Olympus lens, just because they're so good (IMHO).

But the rest of the lens are just so - so. The SMC Pentax Coating is very famous for something one or another though.
--
Pictures are memories frozen in time~

Pallor_Mortis said:

I do believe that lenses and the selection of lenses is a huge reason
for picking the DSLR you choose, why pick one if you hate the lens
selection, The K100D body is $516 at amazon, and I plan to get the
40mm limited lens, completely skipping the 18-55mm to start out, so
that fits about right into my "$700" range.

Click to expand...

I can see your point of view if there is one particular lens you're after for a particular usage scenario

However my point was that overall, the lens selection is fairly comparable (Zuiko's being kind of the exception however), with a wide variety of high-quality high-cost and normal-quality low-cost lenses available for each camera (more lenses than you can afford, and often more lenses than you could find uses for)

paul1307 said:

Let your hands decide....

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Couldn't agree more on this one

Pallor_Mortis said:

One thing also that is not so appealing about the k100d/super....no
ISO 100, would the lack of this really put anyone else off as well?
for this particular system or just in general its nice to have ISO
100......though as someone said before and I agree, Pentax has the
noise problem under control pretty well. ISO 800 shots Ive seen are
very very clean.

Click to expand...

Different sensors, different base sensitivities. IOW, do not worry, it does not matter.

For noise, it is much more important to get the exposure right than anything else. Pentax is very good at high ISOs but if you under-expose and will try to bring up exposure in PP, watch out for that noise. On my Oly I have the slow kit lens so, most of the time, I shoot at ISO 400 and it is just fine.

--
Cheers,

Igelfeld

Pallor_Mortis said:

Jonas B said:

Then there is the rest of it and there the K100D can't compare at all
with the modern and, when compared, fast responding Olympus.

Click to expand...

Can you further elaborate on that? just for the sake of wondering
your opinion, what is it the oly...in terms of being more "modern"
does better? or rather so much better. Faster shutter rate, better
processing? the K100D/super isn't all that far from modern.

Click to expand...

I think we all feel, like and perceive different things differently. For me the K10D was a big step forward compared to the DS thinking of response time, processing and metering. Going from the K10D to the E-510 I don't miss anything in these areas. That's all I can say.

The best thing for you to do is probably to check them out in person getting your own feeling about this. I hope you have some retailers where you live making this possible.

--
Jonas