Pentax 1stD - My Impression

misha said:

As it is, the Pentax may be more full featured, but the price
difference is too large (for me as an amateur without any SLR
lenses). The Pentax is about $800 more (compared to the body-only
300D) in the US - one can build a respectable collection of lenses
for the difference - and even $200 or more pricier than the 10D.
Still, it is a very nice camera.

--
Misha

Click to expand...

The price is very dependent. In Australia you can now obtain the *ist d, at the same price as the 10D.

As for the 300D, it is a cheaper price level, and you can buy lenses, that is where you have to make up your mind do you want the extra build quality and controls of the 10D or *ist

Yes Virginia, the Pentax 1stD can shoot stars.....

http://www.geocities.co.jp/Technopolis-Jupiter/2795/istD/istD_Sample.htm

ciao....Barry

Barry Carter said:

Ciao...Barry

mark weber said:

Barry Carter said:

Actually, I had hoped the Olympus E-1 would be at least similar to
what I want in a DSLR. It has the moxie; except for the noise.
The Pentax seems to have it all; except for the firewire (and USB
2.0). I like the light and compact size, as one tends to use a
smaller camera more IMO. I like the lens options (e.g. screw
mount, 645, 67,..); there are tons of these on Ebay The soft
focus is a non-issue, as I prefer off-camera sharpening anyway. As
for a Canon option, no its not. The Canon 10D is too big and
heavy, and the 300D is too ugly and cheap looking for my tastes.
Its not a rugged design for the long haul and use. Besides, I've
always preferred an all-black camera.

So will I get Pentax...maybe.
--
Ciao...Barry

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

--
Ciao...Barry

Click to expand...

--
Ciao...Barry

Barry Carter said:

Actually, I had hoped the Olympus E-1 would be at least similar to
what I want in a DSLR. It has the moxie; except for the noise.
The Pentax seems to have it all; except for the firewire (and USB
2.0).

Click to expand...

A $20 USB 2.0/CF adapter takes care of that problem. You might even be able to get your local camera shop to include one with the camera...

alex

I've posted these before here but so far I've found the ist D fine for bird photos.... I'm just looking foward to some better weather to get out and use it some more!

http://www.pbase.com/planarchist/root
--
Nic

Tomas Cermak said:

I own one 300D, it will be better to have black one but why call it
ugly? Basically if you hold it it doesn't feel like plastic. I was
suprised that my film old Canon is plastic too. I didn't knew it.
Because it's black. If I didn't have already Canon lenses and
Pentax would be cheaper, than it would be difficult decision.

Sorry for my English.

Click to expand...

I don't own a 300D but in the looks department I think it looks very stylish.

OH, man, you actually think that that pile of plastic junk produced by Canon looks and feels like a good camera!

Alright, well, my impression of it is that it's much too big and bulky. It's also too light for it's size.

I also find that it just looks cheap. Canon definitely cut corners to make the 300D. Oh, and don't even get me started on that Coke bottle of a lens that they package with it.

But to each is own I guess.

Andrew.

Barry Carter said:

Actually, I had hoped the Olympus E-1 would be at least similar to
what I want in a DSLR. It has the moxie; except for the noise.
The Pentax seems to have it all; except for the firewire (and USB
2.0). I like the light and compact size, as one tends to use a
smaller camera more IMO. I like the lens options (e.g. screw
mount, 645, 67,..); there are tons of these on Ebay The soft
focus is a non-issue, as I prefer off-camera sharpening anyway. As
for a Canon option, no its not. The Canon 10D is too big and
heavy, and the 300D is too ugly and cheap looking for my tastes.
Its not a rugged design for the long haul and use. Besides, I've
always preferred an all-black camera.

So will I get Pentax...maybe.
--
Ciao...Barry

Click to expand...

Hi,

So what about the Nikon D70 then. Goes for the price of the 300 but does far more... can anybody tell me the major advantages of the ist*d over the D70 as i am weighing them both up for a poss purchase soon.....thanks...Mark

mark stanley said:

Hi,
So what about the Nikon D70 then. Goes for the price of the 300
but does far more... can anybody tell me the major advantages of
the ist*d over the D70 as i am weighing them both up for a poss
purchase soon.....thanks...Mark

Click to expand...

Maybe I'm just biased - maybe I'm just simply wrong (!) . but surely the D70 is little more than a 300D in 'sheeps clothing' ?? My view is that the big boys have conned us into good prosumers for a long time but technically it's not possible to go further. I've really honestly tried, but got so fed up with cameras being offered with so-called super specs but did not really perform as they would be expected...so at that point I just said shucks" - I'll spend my money on a PROPER camera....and for any of those, you simply have to be prepared to pay the price ...but you DO get that better quality. The 300D will do it most surely - if you put up with the very clear cut-down contruction quality ...seems to me the D70 LOOKS a lot better but I really doubt if it is. Pure economics again - you cannot put that quality into a low-price camera. If you're gong into dSLR , then for Heavens sake do it right - or just buy an 828, A1 or whatever you fancy ...and put up with it . Personally I just KNOW I've got to pay , but I KNOW I've got the right extra quality. It'as just a waste of time to fool yourself that for a few hundred £'s/$'s cheaper you can get the same thing it's just not on.

EJN

EJN said:

Member said:

Hi,
So what about the Nikon D70 then. Goes for the price of the 300
but does far more... can anybody tell me the major advantages of
the ist*d over the D70 as i am weighing them both up for a poss
purchase soon.....thanks...Mark

Click to expand...

Maybe I'm just biased - maybe I'm just simply wrong (!) . but
surely the D70 is little more than a 300D in 'sheeps clothing' ??
My view is that the big boys have conned us into good prosumers for
a long time but technically it's not possible to go further. I've
really honestly tried, but got so fed up with cameras being offered
with so-called super specs but did not really perform as they would
be expected...so at that point I just said shucks" - I'll spend my
money on a PROPER camera....and for any of those, you simply have
to be prepared to pay the price ...but you DO get that better
quality. The 300D will do it most surely - if you put up with the
very clear cut-down contruction quality ...seems to me the D70
LOOKS a lot better but I really doubt if it is. Pure economics
again - you cannot put that quality into a low-price camera. If
you're gong into dSLR , then for Heavens sake do it right - or
just buy an 828, A1 or whatever you fancy ...and put up with it .
Personally I just KNOW I've got to pay , but I KNOW I've got the
right extra quality. It'as just a waste of time to fool yourself
that for a few hundred £'s/$'s cheaper you can get the same thing
it's just not on.

EJN

Click to expand...

Thanks EJN,

Either you are a VERY satisfied IST* owner or you are on Pentax's payroll.......seriously though is the ist* that much better quality than the other two we are talking about, especially with the D70 comming into the market a little later and Nikon seeing what great sales can be had with te 300 and a bit of cute pricing...sales talk has it the more units you shift makes up for higher priced ,slower selling lines, its the old swings and roundabout syndrom....tanks.....Mark

There are over a thousand photos on PBase. Of course, you might consider none of them "decent". I've seen some photos I considered better than decent posted on this site.

http://www.pbase.com/cameras

mark stanley said:

Thanks EJN,
Either you are a VERY satisfied IST* owner or you are on Pentax's
payroll.......seriously though is the ist* that much better quality
than the other two we are talking about, especially with the D70
comming into the market a little later and Nikon seeing what great
sales can be had with te 300 and a bit of cute pricing...sales talk
has it the more units you shift makes up for higher priced ,slower
selling lines, its the old swings and roundabout
syndrom....tanks.....Mark

Click to expand...

mark -

I'm too old to be drawn wholly into that one now ! .. but when anybody says "is it so much better" it's a case of the big "IF" , isn't it. But I think you'll agree that the same argument still applies ...there ARE degrees of better or worse in whatever way..and it's still pure economics that says that a cheaper product just simply cannot these days be as good - well, not when you just have to account for what what is quite a few bucks difference in such as this. No - really I think it's more of a case of pure personal satisfacton...and as far as I'm concerned at least, THAT boils down to various things that I judgre by the experiences of many years - after that time you get that inner feeling as to what a thing does that is either 'right' or at least better than many - and as far as this *ist is concerned...believe you me , I doubt if there were many other with more indecision or lacking the courage to jump in finally. But by golly when I did so I realised virtually on Day 1 that I'd done right. For instance, the camera when set up as you wish (and that's no complication) is able to VERY well look after itself and it really becomes hardly more for a LOT of general use than a virtual point and shoot ..except that what it does it does with intelligence and such as exposures are just phenomenal ...it takes it ALL in its stride and YOU just form the pic..it really is like that. I really do not want to decry the 300D or maybe even this D70 ...but it has got to be based on cost and what can go into it for that cost. There is a LOT more in the *ist that you might give credit for. Yes, I'm unofficially on the Pentax pay-roll almost ...but unashamedly as in my books it is given a great deal less credit than it deserves...and it's no coincidence that this comes almost totally from NON-OWNERS !!! PLEASE, do give it a try ...I would always suggest you or anyone gets a hold of it first anyway...but I warn you ..if you do so , you may well not want to give it up ..!

--
EJN

To me main differentiating features of *istD vs 300D and D70 are it's form factor, metal frame and pentaprism vs pentamirror. What else makes *istD really $300 better than D70?

Feature/speed/spec/price wise D70 beats *istD hands down, imo. At least on paper until there's real experience. 300D just seems to be in a different league than the other two.

EJN said:

mark stanley said:

Thanks EJN,
Either you are a VERY satisfied IST* owner or you are on Pentax's
payroll.......seriously though is the ist* that much better quality
than the other two we are talking about, especially with the D70
comming into the market a little later and Nikon seeing what great
sales can be had with te 300 and a bit of cute pricing...sales talk
has it the more units you shift makes up for higher priced ,slower
selling lines, its the old swings and roundabout
syndrom....tanks.....Mark

Click to expand...

mark -
I'm too old to be drawn wholly into that one now ! .. but when
anybody says "is it so much better" it's a case of the big "IF" ,
isn't it. But I think you'll agree that the same argument still
applies ...there ARE degrees of better or worse in whatever
way..and it's still pure economics that says that a cheaper product
just simply cannot these days be as good - well, not when you just
have to account for what what is quite a few bucks difference in
such as this. No - really I think it's more of a case of pure
personal satisfacton...and as far as I'm concerned at least, THAT
boils down to various things that I judgre by the experiences of
many years - after that time you get that inner feeling as to what
a thing does that is either 'right' or at least better than many -
and as far as this *ist is concerned...believe you me , I doubt if
there were many other with more indecision or lacking the courage
to jump in finally. But by golly when I did so I realised virtually
on Day 1 that I'd done right. For instance, the camera when set up
as you wish (and that's no complication) is able to VERY well look
after itself and it really becomes hardly more for a LOT of general
use than a virtual point and shoot ..except that what it does it
does with intelligence and such as exposures are just phenomenal
...it takes it ALL in its stride and YOU just form the pic..it
really is like that. I really do not want to decry the 300D or
maybe even this D70 ...but it has got to be based on cost and what
can go into it for that cost. There is a LOT more in the *ist that
you might give credit for. Yes, I'm unofficially on the Pentax
pay-roll almost ...but unashamedly as in my books it is given a
great deal less credit than it deserves...and it's no coincidence
that this comes almost totally from NON-OWNERS !!! PLEASE, do
give it a try ...I would always suggest you or anyone gets a hold
of it first anyway...but I warn you ..if you do so , you may well
not want to give it up ..!

--
EJN

Click to expand...

--
http://www.worldisround.com/articles/31908/index.html

tapir said:

To me main differentiating features of *istD vs 300D and D70 are
it's form factor, metal frame and pentaprism vs pentamirror. What
else makes *istD really $300 better than D70?

Feature/speed/spec/price wise D70 beats *istD hands down, imo. At
least on paper until there's real experience. 300D just seems to be
in a different league than the other two.

Click to expand...

I think we really just need to bide our time right now as none of us really know what the D70 wil be like until it's "in hand" - but I still think that with any common sense and in this commercial world , it is just not possible to produce a true full-capabiliy dSLR at the proposed D70 price , and it be the same as such as the *ist (or not be be too restricted) .. like a 10D or the others. It's what goes on inside that we don't see but most certainly can have a big influence on how a camera performs...and we have to pay for what we don't see ..equally we DON'T pay for what we don't see , even though we are told or just think it's there ..that I think represents a lot in price differences. Ler's see what time brings...but I AM still happy - AND meanwhile I'm getting pics !

EJN

...between Rebel and *istd bodies...the market place at work!

Stan

Daniel Clune said:

. . . I would have prefered a lithium ion battery but AA's i
guess are ok.

Click to expand...

Why not try the lithium-ion rechargeable CR-V3's??

EJN,

Even though I have some "left-over" Nikon glass, I may be following you here from the Minolta forum. Although the D70 and 18-70 combination may be better from a street camera and lens combination than the Pentax with the 16-45, I like the ability to shoot TIFF, RAW, or JPEG just like I did with the Minolta D7Hi. Given that the packages are $50 apart when you factor in the $200 USA rebate, In your estimate, is there anything you would like to see other than a better RAW conversion software program from Pentax? I've been reading the forum and it appears that this is the only thing people are unhappy about on a regular basis.

Thank you in advance for your reply.

Howard

EJN said:

tapir said:

To me main differentiating features of *istD vs 300D and D70 are
it's form factor, metal frame and pentaprism vs pentamirror. What
else makes *istD really $300 better than D70?

Feature/speed/spec/price wise D70 beats *istD hands down, imo. At
least on paper until there's real experience. 300D just seems to be
in a different league than the other two.

Click to expand...

I think we really just need to bide our time right now as none of
us really know what the D70 wil be like until it's "in hand" - but
I still think that with any common sense and in this commercial
world , it is just not possible to produce a true full-capabiliy
dSLR at the proposed D70 price , and it be the same as such as the
*ist (or not be be too restricted) .. like a 10D or the others.
It's what goes on inside that we don't see but most certainly can
have a big influence on how a camera performs...and we have to pay
for what we don't see ..equally we DON'T pay for what we don't see
, even though we are told or just think it's there ..that I think
represents a lot in price differences. Ler's see what time
brings...but I AM still happy - AND meanwhile I'm getting pics !

EJN

Click to expand...

tapir said:

To me main differentiating features of *istD vs 300D and D70 are
it's form factor, metal frame and pentaprism vs pentamirror. What
else makes *istD really $300 better than D70?

Feature/speed/spec/price wise D70 beats *istD hands down, imo. At
least on paper until there's real experience. 300D just seems to be
in a different league than the other two.

Click to expand...

Wait till the D70 comes out, then hold both the Nikon and the Pentax, look in the viewfinder, and then tell me the difference!...

--

Someday we'll look back at this, laugh nervously, and then change the subject.

http://www.pbase.com/parham

RAW software and lack of compressed RAW images to save space are my only serious gripes. Other niggles include the lack of a highlight indicator in playback, though to be honest its barely more useful than a histogram, lack of IS or VR lenses and a small buffer (though I dont shoot much sport).

Biggest plusses in my book are size (I travel a lot and both the body and lenses are a fraction of the size of the equivalent canon), use of CRV3s (again when I travel I hate taking a charger, and the cam will shoot forever on one set of these - and theyre easy to find as well), a very well made solid body and easily the best, largest, brightest viewfinder of the lot. Its a breeze to get accurate manual focus with this camera (though I wish it had a grid overlay like the D100). I do a lot of manual focus shooting in low light and for macro and this camera is just superb.

Anyone comparing spec sheets and prices will miss the point about the *istD. Its a shooters camera and its a joy to use, the pics are comparable with any other camera with very good - slide like - colour density. As soon as you pick it up you either feel right at home or you dont, so its just down to whether it grabs you or not. I looked at the Canon 10D with the Sigma 15-30 beside the *istD with the 18-35 (same range on the camera) and the size difference was a joke - the Canon/Sigma combo was gigantic, the *istD barely bigger than my DImage D7i.

Theres really nothing wrong with any of the others - they all have their good points and the D70 looks like great value - just dont expect the same build quality at that price - and if you like small, portable cameras there is only one game in town.

Steve

Howard said:

Even though I have some "left-over" Nikon glass, I may be following
you here from the Minolta forum. Although the D70 and 18-70
combination may be better from a street camera and lens combination
than the Pentax with the 16-45, I like the ability to shoot TIFF,
RAW, or JPEG just like I did with the Minolta D7Hi. Given that the
packages are $50 apart when you factor in the $200 USA rebate, In
your estimate, is there anything you would like to see other than a
better RAW conversion software program from Pentax? I've been
reading the forum and it appears that this is the only thing people
are unhappy about on a regular basis.

Thank you in advance for your reply.

Howard

EJN said:

tapir said:

To me main differentiating features of *istD vs 300D and D70 are
it's form factor, metal frame and pentaprism vs pentamirror. What
else makes *istD really $300 better than D70?

Feature/speed/spec/price wise D70 beats *istD hands down, imo. At
least on paper until there's real experience. 300D just seems to be
in a different league than the other two.

Click to expand...

I think we really just need to bide our time right now as none of
us really know what the D70 wil be like until it's "in hand" - but
I still think that with any common sense and in this commercial
world , it is just not possible to produce a true full-capabiliy
dSLR at the proposed D70 price , and it be the same as such as the
*ist (or not be be too restricted) .. like a 10D or the others.
It's what goes on inside that we don't see but most certainly can
have a big influence on how a camera performs...and we have to pay
for what we don't see ..equally we DON'T pay for what we don't see
, even though we are told or just think it's there ..that I think
represents a lot in price differences. Ler's see what time
brings...but I AM still happy - AND meanwhile I'm getting pics !

EJN

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Howard said:

EJN,

Even though I have some "left-over" Nikon glass, I may be following
you here from the Minolta forum. Although the D70 and 18-70
combination may be better from a street camera and lens combination
than the Pentax with the 16-45, I like the ability to shoot TIFF,
RAW, or JPEG just like I did with the Minolta D7Hi. Given that the
packages are $50 apart when you factor in the $200 USA rebate, In
your estimate, is there anything you would like to see other than a
better RAW conversion software program from Pentax? I've been
reading the forum and it appears that this is the only thing people
are unhappy about on a regular basis.

Thank you in advance for your reply.

Howard

Click to expand...

Howard -

If that's so - then I guess we're following on a good pattern eh Ha-ha ! In between my 7Hi days (in which I have to say I had great depression that a gorgeous handling camera did not (ever) come up to my visual expections...noise etc .. I've been on Sony meanwhile with the really superb 717 (alas somewhat 'inconvenient' to cart around but really excellent,. Wanted a change...found NOTHING in the prosumer things ...they're all pushing the pixels too much and doing little with the CCD's .. so I just decided after VERY much consideration to go dSLR ...and it was the *ist which swayed me..in spite of almost virtually having cash in my hand to hand over to a local pro (running a shop) who kindly let me handle his Fuji S2. Just something I did not like - unlike the *ist where I just picked it up and KNEW !

But as to RAW - well, the last I was into that was way back when I was on the Canon G for a time. But OH DEAR - what a game that was, and in my late years I just now want a super camera that is capable of giving me what I want (good enough to do it that is) , please me, let me take it easy or twiddle as I wish.. but so far I've been astonished to find how exceptionally well this *ist copes with near anything...and it means I just grab-shoot as I can and not a bit of fuss. I put a couple on here just as day or two ago and in the shocking conditions , one surprised me no end...it had pushed up to 1600 ISO to give it to me !! . and that's the second time in a week or so that it's hasppened. So I'm just a ver happy shooter right now, the easy way !!! and delighted . Maybe this very nice Pentax 24-90 lens has helped more than I ever anticipated ... it IS very nice .. and I'm having a job to find a second-string as that range really suits me well , and I don't want to duplicate it but don't do enough short range stuff .. so it might be such as a Sigma 28-135 to give a bit more at the top without spending a lot. The Sigma top EX type are supposed to be quite good although a decent price ... and I think I can get one on trial at the local shop

EJN

begin ignorance

Are you saying that one can essentially convert the *ist D's slow USB 1.1 to the 400Mbs USB 2.0? I assume such a thing requires a hardware change within the camera.
end

With regard to this ensuing debate, my only reason for considering the purchase of a *ist D is my current lens assortment (which is not even that great). I am worried, however, that the lens won't perform very well with a digital. Moreover, I have become more reluctant to purchase in light of the reactions from the PMA. I.e. Pentax's apparent lack of innovation in the dSLR area, esp. with lenses.

alex wetmore said:

Barry Carter said:

Actually, I had hoped the Olympus E-1 would be at least similar to
what I want in a DSLR. It has the moxie; except for the noise.
The Pentax seems to have it all; except for the firewire (and USB
2.0).

Click to expand...

A $20 USB 2.0/CF adapter takes care of that problem. You might
even be able to get your local camera shop to include one with the
camera...

alex

Click to expand...