k10D vs D80

[Rafael Gorenstein]

Hi,

Im not an experienced photgrapher, and will buy a new camera, am now between a Nikon D-80 and the Pentax K-10D.

How do you see the decision? K10 has some interesting features such as the shake reduction and the sealed body. Apart from these, what is more to the pentax than the nikon?

cheers
Rafa

 

[zygh]

If you can get the Pentax mount lenses you want (in your area, online) then go for the K10D. SR and weather sealing are truly something that can come to your aid if the situation calls for it.

In my opinion, the only (major) thing that the D80 has got going for itself is the fact that you can get lenses to fit it easier. At least where I live. But I guess that if you're from the US you should not have serious problems getting good lenses for the K10D.

--
http://www.flickr.com/photos/zygh/
http://zygh.deviantart.com

 

[jonska]

Both are excellent cameras. If you make a hundred grand a year, get both. If you make less, get the K10.

In the meantime, look at this thread for information:

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1036&message=22562838

 

[Bart Hickman]

That's what I did.

First I analyzed all of the stabilized lens options available. My thought process was as follows: I figured I wanted a fairly wide range zoom lens--something along the lines of 18-70mm. The best zoom lens in that range (for a sane price) is Sigma's 17-70mm. K10d, D80, and Xti can all use that lens, but the K10d is the only one that provides stabilization. Canon users can buy Canon's 18-85mm stabilized lens (I'm going from memory on the FL), but according to reviews it's pretty poor IQ--much worse than the sigma. So the K10d was the only way, at the moment, to use that excellent Sigma optic while getting stabilization.

The other thing the D80 had going for it was the 18-200 VR which is the best of the three 18-200 available (Tamron and Sigma also make this range.) However, IMO, that advantage just went out the window with Tamron's new 18-250 which appears, to me, like it's going to at least match the Nikon optically while having more range. Again, the K10d is the only way to get that range stabilized.

People say the D80 focuses faster (although I've seen head to head comparisons in two reviews and in good light the K10d was faster in both comparisons. The D80 is faster in low light)

I've seen nearly universal agreement that Nikon's flash system is better, so that's another consideration. The D80 also has (again IMO) sharper jpeg processing, but from what I've seen the D80 noise reduction at ISO1600 is too heavy-handed and everything looks smeared out.

The K10d will overwhelm the D80 with creature comfort features--RAW button, Sv mode, TAv mode, better continuous modes, fancier bracketing, better UI, more focus points, et al.

I strongly recommend you handle both cameras in a store if possible. Handling is a big part of the DSLR experience I think, and you can't get that from a review.

Bart
--
http://www.pbase.com/zumbari

 

[tapir]

How do you see the decision? K10 has some interesting features such
as the shake reduction and the sealed body. Apart from these, what
is more to the pentax than the nikon?

Nothing apart from SR and sealed body that you mentioned. SR is a very important feature for me. Otherwise D80 is a better choice - better and faster AF, better selection of lens, better imaging with JPEGs, more established company with a more clear future.

--
http://www.pbase.com/klopus

 

[roybin]

think about the lenses you plan to buy, compare the price and availability in your region.
Go to local store to try them in your hand.
Then make your decision.

 

[Tom__Brown]

As someone who passed on the K10D because of noise levels, I'm blown away by that ISO1600 comparison. The argument against the K10D has been that other cameras that use the same sensor don't have the same problems. Indeed they don't. They have the noise under control but it looks like they've done it at the cost of detail.

VPN could easily be an artifact of the sensor and not something Pentax has introduced into the equation.

I still love my K100D but I find myself warming to the K10D every time I look at the wonderful detail the K10D and a decent lens can produce.

--
Body: K100D
Lens inventory: DA 18-55, DA 40, DA 50-200
LBA when my local shop obtains more product: DA 21, DA 70
When available: DA * 16-50/2.8

 

[tycfung]

It depends on what you shoot, and what equipment you already have. If you already have Pentax lenses, go with the K10D. If you already have Nikon lenses, go with the D80.

K10D definitely has the edge on features. Pentax also has the coolest line wide-angle to short-telephoto prime lenses. If you're into prime lenses, then Pentax is the way to go.

However, where Pentax falls flat is in low-light shooting. The K10D tends to be significantly slower to lock focus in low light situations. The AF in the D80 is far more decisive and surefooted. If you take a lot of indoor action shots (e.g. Theatres, Dance routines, or a wedding reception), go with the D80.

Also, the choice of Pentax telephoto lenses (both zoom and prime lenses) is much smaller than those of Nikon. If you shoot a lot of sports or wildlife, Nikon or Canon may be better bets simply because of their lens lineups.

 

[dLight]

It's may be to get an somewhat OK price for a D80 when you at some point in the future want to sell it, because the Nikon market is larger.

The K10D seem to have slightly punchier, sharper RAW files.

The K10D has Digital Preview.

The D80 has dedicated buttons for WB and ISO.

The D80 has a dedicated Auto-focus assist lamp.

K10D has a RAW-button.

The K10D may be slightly more suitable for smaller hands.

The graphics on the LCD-menus of the D80 has a cleaner design.

The D80 RAW files use less space.

 

[nosnoop]

I've seen nearly universal agreement that Nikon's flash system is
better, so that's another consideration.

Only if you plan on having a 3, 4, 5 or more Nikon flashes set up for its multi-channel wireless flash. For one or two external wireless TTL flash, Pentax system works well.

 

[nosnoop]

However, where Pentax falls flat is in low-light shooting. The
K10D tends to be significantly slower to lock focus in low light
situations. The AF in the D80 is far more decisive and surefooted.
If you take a lot of indoor action shots (e.g. Theatres, Dance
routines, or a wedding reception), go with the D80.

I have used both in low light, and I disagree. K10D works just as well. In certain situations, Pentax does this final checking after the initial lock to get a more accurate focus. If you want speedier focus, just switch to AF-C continuous focus mode, and tirgger the shutter after the initial stop. This would be just as accurate as Nikon or Canon system which do not do this focus check after the initial lock.

 

[JP Lee]

Hi,
Im not an experienced photgrapher, and will buy a new camera, am
now between a Nikon D-80 and the Pentax K-10D.

You're not a experienced photographer but you're considering a K10 or a D80? Unless you've got a lot of $$$ either of these two cameras are overkill, no?

 

[Bart Hickman]

That's good input--thanks.

Bart
--
http://www.pbase.com/zumbari

 

[Edvinas]

It's may be to get an somewhat OK price for a D80 when you at some
point in the future want to sell it, because the Nikon market is
larger.

Sometimes larger market means that you'll sell for less

The D80 has dedicated buttons for WB and ISO.

K10D also has dedicated ISO button (starting with firmware version 1.10).

--
Edvinas

 

[Pete Dee]

It's may be to get an somewhat OK price for a D80 when you at some
point in the future want to sell it, because the Nikon market is
larger.

Sometimes larger market means that you'll sell for less

The D80 has dedicated buttons for WB and ISO.

K10D also has dedicated ISO button (starting with firmware version
1.10).

It does, I checked mine and there does not seem to be one on there!!

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

 

[James O'Neill]

It's may be to get an somewhat OK price for a D80 when you at some
point in the future want to sell it, because the Nikon market is
larger.

Sometimes larger market means that you'll sell for less

The D80 has dedicated buttons for WB and ISO.

K10D also has dedicated ISO button (starting with firmware version
1.10).

It does, I checked mine and there does not seem to be one on there!!

See http://www.dpreview.com/news/0701/07012301k10dfirm.asp

 

[James O'Neill]

That's what I did.

First I analyzed

Everyone does ...

I strongly recommend you handle both cameras in a store if
possible. Handling is a big part of the DSLR experience I think,
and you can't get that from a review.

YES. YES. YES.

Usability trumps technical excellence. Both the D80 and the K10D are great technically. A feature shoot out isn't totally one sided - and you have to work out the weight you give to different features - but most people would say the Pentax "wins" on features. However if it doesn't work in your hands and the Nikon does, buy the Nikon.

The process should be analyze -

(a) which cameras have the features I want ? and don't have things I want to avoid ?
(b) Should I be warned off any of them ?

then try those on the list for yourself. Any of the cameras on your list will do the job, you have to chose one of them for yourself.

 

[Bill Beckett]

This is a big quiestion and one that I delt with and worried about for a long time. The thing that made me decide on the K10D was the way it handeled. I finally got the two of them side by side in a camera store that wasn't in a hurry and did some test shots ... a lot of test shots. I shot in all different modes and kept setting things up differently via the menue system. The K10D just felt more like home. The store that I went to would only sell the camera with the kit lens which was not what I wanted. I ended up ordering the body only along with a Tamron 18-200mm lens. So far, I am happy with my decision. My biggest suggestion is to be very familiar with both cameras before you try the side by side comparison, so you don't have to waste a lot of time just trying to figure things out (some of that is inevitable). You can look at the owner's manuals on line, plust DP review has extensive reviews on both cameras.

Goo luck.

 

[Edvinas]

Press OK button and then turn front e-dial. If you want ISO set to Auto ISO, press OK and green button.

--
Edvinas

 

[Anastigmat]

If you can get the Pentax mount lenses you want (in your area,
online) then go for the K10D. SR and weather sealing are truly
something that can come to your aid if the situation calls for it.
In my opinion, the only (major) thing that the D80 has got going
for itself is the fact that you can get lenses to fit it easier. At
least where I live. But I guess that if you're from the US you
should not have serious problems getting good lenses for the K10D.

--
http://www.flickr.com/photos/zygh/
http://zygh.deviantart.com

Yes, that is the main reason to go with a D80. For example, there is little trouble getting a Tokina AT-X 28-70 f/2.8, 80-200mm f/2.8 or 400mm f/5.6 lens in Nikon mount. The same lenses appear only rarely for the Pentax mount. Some lenses are not even available in Pentax AF mount but can be easily found in Nikon AF Mount: e.g. Tokina AT-X 100-300mm f/4 AF, 24-40mm f/2.8 AF and 300mm f/2.8 AF. The last 3 are avilable in Pentax A mount only, no autofocus.

The Nikon AF 50mm f/1.8 lens is also much more readily available than the Pentax SMC-F AF 50mm f/1.7 lens.

However, the Pentax is usable with manual focus A mount lenses (K and screw mount lenses are more hassle) whereas the D80 will not work with any AI or AIS manual focus lenses.