opinions on K200d?

Hey all,

Been thinking pretty seriously about getting a k200d and I was wondering if any owners could give me some of their personal opinions on this camera? I've read reviews, messed around with the camera at the local camera shop and done quite a bit of comparing it to other cameras, but I've love to hear some feedback from people that actually own and use it. Anything you've found that you really like or dislike? Favorite/least favorite feature or aspect of the camera? Overall opinion? Yeah, so just anything (both good and bad!) you think would be helpful to me in making this decision. Thanks!

great camera,
possibly one of the nicest Pentaxes at the moment,
great image quality, acceptable size.

Only small letdowns: autofocus a bit slow, viewfinder a bit dark.

Possibly the Km is just a bit more interesting, unless you really need the sealing.

Hi Nate!

Considering I have taken photos with this camera almost every day since almost the day it was released, I think I'll take a shot at this Keep in mind, though, the only other DSLR I've used at any length is the K100D.

It is pleasurable to use on a daily basis. It's a bit larger and a bit heftier than the K100D, but I wouldn't call it heavy; it just feels substantial. It's sturdy; I've dropped it exactly once and under the worst possible conditions you can imagine (fully-extended tripod; concrete ground; nothing to break the fall) and with no ill effects that I can find. The weather-sealing works: I have used this camera in tropical storms, snow storms, sand storms.

Many of the buttons are customizable, which I find useful. For instance, I'm likely to forget to change ISO, so when I look at the top LCD, I see the ISO and not the shots remaining - I have to hit the "OK" button on the back to see that. All of the other buttons seem intuitive and easy to use. The more advanced models have more buttons for individual functions, but I've never felt that "digging through the menu" makes me miss a shot.

The AF can leave something to be desired in low-light conditions; the newest models have addressed this. Still, in 90% of my shots, the AF does its job. The speed of the AF varies by lens. When I have to focus manually, the viewfinder is large enough and bright enough to do the job. I'm almost 95% sure I used manual-focus for this shot this morning (uncropped shot of a hoverfly with the D-FA 100 Macro):



http://www.flickr.com/photos/aravis121/3641163192/

It takes AA batteries, which was a HUGE plus for me. I travel to countries occasionally where reliable electricity isn't a given, and I'd rather buy 10 sets of regular AAs and get the shots I want than to have a proprietary system. That said, I have 2 sets of 4 Eneloops that have been responsible for something like 100,000 shots and I just now decided to get replace them. I have only ever had to resort to regular AAs twice, I think - but once was during a wedding! It's for this reason I've never desired the K10D or the K20D, although the KM is tempting. The K-7 might make me a believer in proprietary lithium, though...

The thing I like least about it is the lack of multiple exposures in-camera and its size, but these are minor quibbles given the advantages. I don't want to sound too much like a fangirl, but I really love this camera. I take it out every day and usually carry it in my hand the entire time, anywhere from an hour to eight hours. At this point it's more like an extension of my arm.

In terms of picture IQ, I could not be happier.

--
Keitha McCall

Pentaxian and Snapshot Shooter since April 2007
http://flickr.com/photos/aravis121/
http://www.ascenicworld.com

I've owned a K200 for 8 months now and taken about 15000 shots with it without a hiccup, I use the DA15 DA35macro and M100 2.8 and the M200 F4 on it to great effect.. It's an relatively small package, the weight does not bother me, I can walk around for hours with my three shorter primes on it without feeling burdened. With the M200 F4 it's starting to seem heavy though with that lens weighing in at around 450gr. The sensor is nice, very good at 100 iso reportedly better than the K20, the noise is pretty acceptable up to 800 iso on well exposed shots.. Main Drawbacks would be the viewfinder a little dark for lowlight work. and the buffer continous shooting speed is under powered in my opinion for a modern DSLR, but then again i shoot exclusively raw+ jpeg top quality 2mpx sized shots. Depending on your usage this may or may not be a deal breaker. I don't imagine the KM is better on that point, but the K20D definetly is and the K7 will blow it out of the water..

IQ is great in my opinion, the user interface is clean and simple, and WS is great to have.

Batteries, get a quality charger, and either eneloops of high capacity NIMH I have an Annsmann Charger and Annsmann 2840 milli ampere batterys and get plus 500 shots of them. Ive posted quite a few shots from the camera on the forum so search my threads if you need to see more examples...

Regards

Brent

Regards

Brent
--
Changing light gives me the possibility of seeing the world from a new
perspective.
For me photography is a tool for capturing these insights, for reflection and
sharing.

I don't think you can get a better recommendation that the one above, but I'll give it a shot. I've had my K200D for a month or so and I've loved every minute of it. It's my first DSLR, but I've used a Konica and a Nikon SLR, and a Canon XT DSLR before I convinced my brother to buy a K20D (because I couldn't afford one!) last year. After using his K20D extensively, I bought the K200D because I didn't think there were any features I'd really miss, and I put the extra $$$ towards some good glass. The AA batteries rule, I have some cheap GP rechargeables that have about 600 shots on the same charge (I have probably only used the flash a couple dozen times in that span, though).

In short, I love my new K200D, and I'm quite sure you'd be happy with one as well!

Stephen

Nate,

I can't really add to keitha's sentiments, she put down two of the three quibbles I have, all I would add is I would like to have a front dial for my index finger when I am using a non-A-Aperture ring lens.

I have had mine for a full year, with NO problems, none. AA's were also a big selling point for me. I have the BG-3 grip which stays on at all times unless I need the camera to be more compact. With the grip on and two sets of 4 eneloops, I can head out on a long trip and leave the charger behind ( I keep a pack of Lithium AA's as a back-up, they weigh almost nothing!) I also love the ergonomics with the grip (Some people pan this which is fine, personal choice being what it is, I feel it makes good ergonomics great) .

Anyway, don't hesitate to get the K200 if you want it, it is a great camera.

Lloyd

--

If it doesn't matter whether we win or lose, why do we keep score? --Worf Son of Mogh

http://lloydshell.blogspot.com/

The functional stuff's never really bothered me, I just learn how it works and build a "work flow" around it and let the capabilities and limitations be whatever they are so I'm not going to compare models.

Its the "feel" and balance that makes or breaks it for me and the K200D feels the best. I've got two of 'em. The *istDS is a pleasure to carry but like the M-bodies it's just a tad too compact for comfortable use. The K100's were an improvement but I valued the enhancements of the K200 enough to upgrade - I still have a DS and a K100DS though. There's a subtle difference in feel between the 100s and 200 as well.

Both the K10 and K20 just feel a little too large to me - I don't seem to be able to "find the edges" - although the second wheel and enhanced finder would be nice. I use a battery grip on a K200 when needed but prefer not to.

There's a Katzeye split image finder on one and the OEM finder on the other. I don't often NEED the split image finder but when I do, it's a real advantage.

AA batteries all the way!! Eneloops backed up by Lithium AAs haven't ever let me down although some brands of rechargeables don't seem to have the voltage level the K200 needs for reliable function.

Usually I research spec's to see if there's anything I can't live without or work around, then it comes down to the feel of the equipment in hand. The trend toward on-line shopping certainly affects that pattern for the worse. The only times I've been really uncomfortable with "tools" was when I ignored the "feel".

H2

--
http://www.pixelstatic.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pixelstatic/

Things I like: nice size and weight (similar to the K-7), weathersealing, top LCD, image quality (jpeg or RAW), AA batteries (eneloops for me), quality feel, lots of options to customise the setup of the camera, great value for money - if you can find one these days.

Things I don't like as much: excellent viewfinder for a pentamirror but I'd really like a slightly bigger and brighter pentaprism, autofocus may be a bit slow in low light sometimes, but it has rarely bothered me

Things I dislike: none

--
Robert
rgmwa

Wonderful camera. It has a few idiosyncrasies but overall is easy to use, rugged and with excellent image quality. It meters very well with older, manual lenses and my K200D has a Katzeye focusing screen and the O-ME53 eyepiece installed. Between it and my film bodies, I don't see any compelling reason to upgrade for a while.
*************************
Tom in Delaware
Photoblog: http://homepage.mac.com/galoot_9/blog/momentary.html

Thanks a lot for your helpful advice and for sharing your experiences! Loved your picture as well, very vivid and eye catching. I ended up going with the k200, just ordered it today and am very much looking forward to taking it up with me on my first trip to Alaska next week. So thanks again and thanks also to everyone else who were kind enough to help me out. I'm sure I will bothering the forums again in the near future as I realize how much I don't know about photography, but learning is half the fun of it so that's not all bad

As an owner of a K20D and a K200D, I can say there is very little the K20D can do and the K200D can't.

If your shooting higher iso (concert stuff at 1600+ iso) than the K20D is the way to go. But if you want a high quality small camera, that is weather resistant, takes AA batteries, then the K200D is the way to go.

I can tell you that the camera that I have as my walk around DSLR is the K200D, it is a very well made and designed machine, you will not be disappointed in it.

BTW; I have the D-BG3 on at all times, and it is a joy to use.

wll

Good choice. Have fun on the trip and post a few images when you get back.
--
Robert
rgmwa

Wonderful camera. Body size w/o grip fits the hand like a glove (and will fit in a smaller bag as well). Compared to the K2000, top LCD & weather sealing are really nice to have.

I also have a K200d and have to agree with everyone above. However, I do have a story about my camera that makes it even more desirable.

Last weekend, we rented a wakeboard boat and took it out at Bartlett Lake in AZ. So, I brought my K200d and my Tamron 18-250mm lens so I could get some good shots. Well, I was also driving the boat as well. I was pulling my daughter and 2 friends on a tube and then they flew off ( I might've taken off too fast..lol.). I whipped the boat around to pick them up and then slowed down. When i slowed down I hit a big wave and flooded the whole boat. My camera got hit with water. But, I was more concerned with the Tamron lens because they aren't weather sealed. However, I dried it all off and worked the zoom on the lens and dried out all the water as best I could. I couldn't believe that no water got into the lens or the camera. I took another 100 pictures since then and they've all come out beautifully.

I love my camera and Pentax for its backward lens compatibility.

No one probably cares about this thread anymore, but I was able to take a few pictures up in Alaska and while working in Idaho with the new k200 (loving the camera by the way) and just thought I'd post the link to my flickr page in case anyone wanted to look at the pictures and maybe give me some feedback. Thanks for everyone's advice again!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/natebender/

Great job, and I hope you keep enjoying the camera!

--
Marc Sabatella
http://www.marcsabatella.com/
Blog: http://marcsabatella.blogspot.com/
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcsabatella/

Who cares about the thread? ME! Love your pics, I think you need to post on here more, you have some great shots. Doing the K200 proud!

Lloyd
--

You don't have to like me, you just have to do what I tell you to do. I'm a Physical Therapist!

http://lloydshell.blogspot.com/

Nate Bender said:

No one probably cares about this thread anymore

Click to expand...

Wrong.

Many good shots and well worth a browse. Looks like you had a fun trip too.
--
Shooting since '59 and still waiting for a keeper

Keitha,

I've long admired your pictures. I've got a K100d and I would like to upgrade it, but I've gotten too depressed about GordonbGood's comments on the lack of dynamic range on the K20d and K-7.

Other than the weather sealing, did you feel that the K200d was a real upgrade in image quality? Is the high iso noise a stop worse for the k200d?

I think that I've noted that you have a lot of fine lenses. Do they all focus fine on the K200d.

I like to take pictures at 1600 ISO like this shot in a very dark monastery kitchen in the Himalayas without much worry:



Thanks,

--
Brian

http://rivertext.smugmug.com/