Kx preview on DPR and IR

[David in Liverpool]

Is the upcoming mid range model really likely? Do you know if it is likely to take AA batteries? The Eneloops on my K100d give excellent battery life, especially with manual lenses, and I am reluctant to give them up for another set of batteries. I will be very dissapointed if there is no model with AA batteries and a top panel.

 

[DLBlack]

Is the upcoming mid range model really likely? Do you know if it is likely to take AA batteries? The Eneloops on my K100d give excellent battery life, especially with manual lenses, and I am reluctant to give them up for another set of batteries. I will be very dissapointed if there is no model with AA batteries and a top panel.

Upcoming mid-level camera is very likely by the end of the year or very early next year (PMA time frame). Other than that no details or even rumors/leaks are available. Just think how little we knew about the K-7 or now the K-x until a few days/weeks before their announcements.

Dave
--

 

[RBellavance]

I think it is a worse problem for those who don't manually select. Then you really have absolutely no idea where it focused.

In my mind, if you don't select the focus point yourself, it's because you trust the camera to focus in the right place (or you just don't care Either way, it does not matter if the camera shows you were it focused, only that it tells you it did focus.

Personally, I have never understood how one could take pictures in auto-AF-point mode with any camera. The lack of AF point confirmation in the VF would bug me with the K-x just as it does with the K-m. I suppose I'd get used to center-focus & recompose.

 

[areidjr]

I suppose I'd get used to center-focus & recompose.

That's what I had with my old *istDL. At this point I'm really not interested in going back.

--
Al

My Photo Gallery: http://photoweb.reid-home.com (Updated 9/8/2008)
Pentax Photo Gallery: http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/albertreid
My Blog: http://areidjr.blogspot.com/



WSSA Member #199PX

 

[tkbslc]

I think it is a worse problem for those who don't manually select. Then you really have absolutely no idea where it focused.

In my mind, if you don't select the focus point yourself, it's because you trust the camera to focus in the right place (or you just don't care Either way, it does not matter if the camera shows you were it focused, only that it tells you it did focus.

I suppose you have a point. My wife uses full auto AF on our Canon and I try to tell her to at least check the camera is picking the right subject, but it is evident from many of her images that she does not.

Personally, I have never understood how one could take pictures in auto-AF-point mode with any camera. The lack of AF point confirmation in the VF would bug me with the K-x just as it does with the K-m. I suppose I'd get used to center-focus & recompose.

I end up using the center point + recompose often already, TBH. But I think this is just a terrible move on Pentax's part. Once all the reviews make sure to point it out, even people that shouldn't care about it, will. Then why not just buy the Nikon D5000 or Canon T1i and not worry about.

 

[peppermonkey]

But but, what about the hot pink with green grip? Or the bright yellow with....

I suspect that they will be sold in the beginning with kit lens only. The different colors are intriguing, but I wonder how many will buy a red one. It looks like a monkey's rear end. LOL

It's not subtle is it! But hey, the white looks nice enough to me.

Somebody will love the idea of buying one to go with their Ferrari ;-)

--
Hubert

My cameras TZ3, recently broken Konica Auto S2, recently bought K1000



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

 

[parallaxproblem]

Pentax, don't let that unused inventory go to waste!

Why not take your left-over K-m internals (ie. sensors and electronics) and splice them with your left-over K20D viewfinders+focus-confirm modules (I don't care if only 5 of the AF points work!)... all you need to do is modify the K-m/K-x top pentaprism moulding a little to accomodate the larger VF components (perhaps make some new focus screens that match the K-m AF sensor layout) and then knock-out a limited production-run of a thousand or so. You can flog 'em at a premium to saddo's like me who are still waiting for an *ist DS upgrade...

No, I don't think for a nano-second it will happen but it feels good saying it!

 

[RedFox88]

12.4m X 1.5 (APS crop factor) = 18.6m, almost exactly the same as the full frame Leica M9 (18.5). This is going to be the resolution of the full frame Pentax digital SLR.

Too often I see people using the FOV crop factor as a means for all math alone calculating between aps-c and FF sensors.

A 5MP aps-c sensor is 13MP FF. Which is about 2.5 factor roughly. So 12.4*2.5=31MP which is roughly what Sheng wrong.

 

[matsuchung]

i guess i'm the only unlucky one then..cos i bought 8 Eneloop AA's and all of them died within 2 years.. by died I mean the battery is depleted moments after a full charge...

 

[Model Mike]

And AA batteries...i'm not sure either, i probably would prefer lith-ion instead cos virtually all my NiMh died after a year or so...Eneloop and Hybrid...any has the same experience with NiMh?

The secret is the cells (Eneloops or similar low self discharge cells only) and - very important - a decent charger. One hour chargers and faster are death. Get a charger with

• individual cell monitoring
• temp monitoring
• adjustable charge rate, or else a 1 Amp fixed charge rate.

Charge your Eneloops at 1 Amp (= 'C/2' i.e. two hours for a full charge).

I have a Maha charger and am very pleased with it.

Mike

 

[AndyHWC]

Sorry, what is AF (autofocus) on VF (viewfinder)?

think pentax left out the AF on VF for a reason.

 

[Aristophanes]

$850 for a dual lens kit with the awesome 55-300, 720p, 11 AF points, 5fps, in camera HDR and they they go and kill it with a stupid cost saving measure.....

Not the same 55-300 lens. This one has a plastic mount, is lighter and cheaper.

I was all ready to put in my pre-order and trade in my Canon Rebel XS until I read about the lack of AF point indicators. MAJOR deal breaker.

Add a pentaprism and AF confirmation, charge me an extra $150 and I'll be happy...

Deal breaker here too.

It's a $4 part, maybe 2x that per unit to implement.

As for the prism, can do without. At this point, it's unaffordable.

 

[sung nee]

12.4mX1.5^2=27.9M is correct one.

Yes, that is the correct one. My mistake. I was just too excited. But the possibility is still there.

 

[sung nee]

I was thinking putting the 15mm on the Kx, set it to F/5.6 or so, at 1/250sec, and just go out onto the streets and shoot from the hip! The depth of field is so immense that everything from about 3ft should be sharp. And it will be light, and small.

No money!

 

[photogerald]

Oh, I thought the K-x was the K200 "replacement" just as the K-7 was the K20 "replacement".

Still, where has the "small, rugged outdoor oriented cameras" strategy gone? I thought that was a very smart positioning from Pentax and I am puzzled that they didn't follow through with the K-x.

Well, the K-x is based on the same body design as the K-m, which isn't weather-resistant either. To add weather sealing to this body would require a lot of re-engineering and probably didn't fit in with their time/cost plan for the K-x release.

To many this would appear to be an apparent step back from their nature/outdoors strategy given how much they pushed the weather and cold-resistant abilities of the K-7, as well as the weather-sealed kit lenses that were introduced along with it. But considering the financial environment we have seen in this past year, as well as the uncertainties that Hoya management had regarding where to take Pentax, I don't think we could expect them to introduce a new line of weather-sealed bodies in this time. So given this, I think the fact that the K-x is not weather-sealed is understandable, though obviously it's not desireable nor ideal.

That said, the K-x is a very pleasant surprise to me, and I suspect it's taken more than a few others by surprise too. Could this be the "make it or break it" for Pentax? Anyways, its success will bode well for Pentax (and us) for the next few years, and hopefully we'll see a more complete line of weather-sealed bodies and lenses in the near future.

And I should add the timing of the release is good as well - this should sell well over the US Thanksgiving holiday.

 

[GordonBGood]

think pentax left out the AF on VF for a reason.

Andy, normally DSLR's show have a flashy bright light in the optical VF which illuminates for a time to show which of the AF points was selected and locked the AF. The K-m does not.

Regards, GordonBGood

 

[Brian Thomas]

maybe the problem is your charger. Mine have been fine. I use the popular MAHA c204w charger.

--
Brian

http://rivertext.smugmug.com/

 

[MelbourneMatt]

I don't see this as a camera aimed at Pentaxians at all - more at the market of Point and Shoot users upgrading to a DSLR. Creating a unique cover with the features beginners to intermediate photographers need at a competitive price is an idea that deserves success. Liveview, Full HD, Auto modes and in-camera filters are clearly aimed at this market. If producing a camera that is desirable for many new users will allow Pentax to create a proper upgrade path within its range for the rest of us, then I say huzzah and jolly good show.

I see this camera as ideal for my wife - she's keen to move to the next step, but doesn't want to get bogged down in technical learning progressions, unnecessary complexities and features she has no idea she needs as yet. Couple this with the ability to share lenses and all of a sudden, I see my ability to expand my lens collection improving. AF confirmation in a VF - she couldn't care less and she is in the target market IMHO. At least Pentax is demonstrating it is trying to expand market share rather than solely improving profitability within its existing share.

So in summary - this camera is not for you. It is for my wife and those like her. The missing features mean nothing to these people, yet the colour of a case does. If Pentax/Hoya grows profitably, then it grows safely - this is beneficial for us all.

So let's shout about this camera from the rooftops, point and gasp at it in store windows with drool on our chins and sell it to the unwashed masses. Except my wife. She's not an unwashed mass.

 

[AndyHWC]

does it beep or flash? Or it feel like using MF?

 

[matsuchung]

thanks for the advice.. i've started to doubt my Energizer charger as well...I should look for Maha charger as some of you suggested

if i can get all my low self discharge AAs back to life, then I can use them on the Kx

hopefully the lack of AF indicators and top panel LCD won't be too much of a handicapp...
the price tag and 4.7fps are hard to resist honestly