Noob Q's, re: IST and LDA

[MrMyrasDad]

Hi, all. Digital noob here, unless you count the family's point-and-shoot. This has taught me everything I DON'T like about digital, namely, shutter release lag and menus.

I've been a semi-serious SLR user for years, mostly Minolta X700 & SRT and a nice ME Super that was stolen years ago. Digital just makes more sense to me - most of my shooting ends up on the web or in e-mails to the grandparents. Nikon's splashy D80 ad campaing got me interested in DSLR's, and the reviews of the K10D (and the fact that we have a Pentax AF film SLR lying around the house convinced me I wanted a Pentax.

But now my practical side has butted in. I'm not sure I NEED a camera as serious as the K10D. 6 MP is probably enough for me, and anti-shake? Dunno... my SRT-102 doesn't have it, do I need it?

Given that monney is always tight when you have four kids, I'm wondering if I couldn't get by with a close-out or lightly-used *ist. How do they compare, and which ones are the recommended models?

One thing I really like about the K10D (according to the reviews) is its many pushbutton controls, as opposed to screen menus. How do the *ist's stack up in ease-of use?

Finally - can someone tell a poor noob what LDA stands for, since I apparently have it? In guitar-playing circles we have GAS - gear acquisition syndrome, as in, "I have GAS for that new custom shop Strat", or "I'm gassin' for a vintage Fender Deluxe." I'm sure LDA is the same thing, but can't figure out what the letters stand for.

Thanks in advance - I really like this forum already.
--

• Rich Stevens

 

[steephill]

Lens Buying Addition or Lens Buyers Anonymus (after AA) if you prefer.

The K100D might be just what you are looking for. SR seems to be a very worthwhile feature.

If you want a similar control layout to the K10D a second hand *istD is a fine tool but is getting old fast - that's digital for you. All the *ist series and the K100/110D use the same sensor.

--
Steve

http://www.pbase.com/steephill

 

[eastsaltwater]

Hi Rich, welcome to the pentax forum.

I own a ist DS and love it. Yes, it has it's quirks; slow AF in low light, over the top colors in jpeg bright mode only one dial to control both shutter speed and apeture, tends to slightly underexpose. However most of these have work arounds, manually focus in low light, use natural instead of bright mode when shooting jpeg, learn to use the ev button to switch between shutter and apeture etc. And to be truthful I'd rather have a camera that underexposes a bit than one that overexposes. And it's easily fixed in post processing. I rarely use the menu, only when I'm changing metering modes. I do change ISO via the fn button but I don't find it to be a terrible big bother. I do love the fact that I can use virtually any 35mm lens ever made for the Pentax mount, including even the old screw mount lenses with an adaptor. If you can find a DS for significantly less than a K100D go for it. BUT I really really really wish I had SR. not enough to try to sell the DS and buy a K100D, but I am saving up for the K10D. I think that you would like the SR, it really does work. For a good creative working test check out this thread:
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1036&message=19647176

If you can see your way to afford the K100D, I'd recommend it, I don't think you'd be disappointed.

As for LDA, well, you mistyped it. It's LBA and stands for either Lens Buying Addiction or Lens Buyers Anonyomous...take your pick. And yes, as an ex-professional musician, I can testify that it is the photographic equivalent of GAS. Except that I have LBA waaaayyyyy worse than I ever had GAS tho I have to admit as a wind player there is not as much gear to be had as if you were a guitar or keyboard player.

east(hope this helps)saltwater

 

[GossCTP]

And yes, as an ex-professional musician, I can testify that it is
the photographic equivalent of GAS. Except that I have LBA
waaaayyyyy worse than I ever had GAS tho I have to admit as a wind
player there is not as much gear to be had as if you were a guitar
or keyboard player.

Well, not a professional here, ex or current, but my guitar GAS has been stagnate for years and still my photography expenses haven't topped it. Of course I've worn my gear down so much that GAS may come back. G&L guitars and Gibson amps keep calling me. Anybody know what I can get for the $2000 worth of PA cr!p in my closet?

--

Verbage is not a word, but a mangling of verbiage - differing in both print and meaning. It replaces more cumbersome words such as copy and text.

 

[dakotapix]

The K100D is a fine camera and one I'd recommend from what I know about it, but if you don't like menus, your main choices in Pentax gear are the *ist D and the K10D. I have a DS and think the menus are easy to cope with, but it is definitely button and wheel challenged compared to the D and the K10D.

It'll be hard to go wrong whatever you do, though.

Tim