[choka]

I have a Tamron 90/2.8. When I first bought it I had very little success with macro photos because I was relying on autofocus. It never focuses correctly on where exactly I want. After having some experience with macro I abandoned AF and always just go for MF. Works like a charm. It is even easy on moving subjects. My experience is, a longer focal length lens is usually easier to focus than a shorter focal length one. 90mm is easy to MF. Go to any photo forum and ask any experienced macro shooter.

When it comes to budget, 50mm reverse mounted is hard to beat.

 

[LordofDoom]

Just bought a Pentax K-7. I got the stock 18-55mm lens and the telephoto 50-200mm lens too. Stuff should arrive tomorrow, and of course, I will have pics and try to get some sample shots (from my N1). Anyone have any experience with this specific model? I read the K-x borrows quite a bit from it.

 

[revolink24]

I used it for a few hours on a project and it's an amazing camera. It feels absolutely staggeringly solid in your hands and took great pictures with little effort. Congratulations on your purchase.

 

[LordofDoom]

Quote:

Originally Posted by revolink24 /img/forum/go_quote.gif I used it for a few hours on a project and it's an amazing camera. It feels absolutely staggeringly solid in your hands and took great pictures with little effort. Congratulations on your purchase.

Thanks! Yeah, it arrived really quickly, and I'm charging it right now (took a few test shots early on and they look good). I've still got to figure most of the stuff out though.

Yes, it feels incredibly solid. It's a magnesium alloy body, much better feeling than my Rebel XT.

 

[mookowz13]

The K-x shares a couple of features with the K-7, namely the processing engine and AF system. I love my K-x, its a great starter camera that's feature packed for the price. Pentax's kit lens isn't too bad either compared to the kit lens on my dad's Nikon.

 

[LordofDoom]

As promised,

Cheers!

 

[jpelg]

The K-7 uses SD cards? Unusual for a TOTL DSLR.

 

[Audio Jester]

Pentax k7 here.
Polarising Filter would be a good idea.

 

[revolink24]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpelg /img/forum/go_quote.gif The K-7 uses SD cards? Unusual for a TOTL DSLR.

Not so much anymore, the general market trend is towards all SD.

Plus, it is well under the price of the other high-end SLRs at $1000 as a kit.

I actually prefer compactflash, but SD seems to be where the market is headed, and I did snag a Class 6 8gb SDHC card for <$20.

 

[mookowz13]

It wouldn't surprise me if Pentax adopted the Compafactflash/SD option that the other companies are offering in their higher end SLRs now for the successor to the K-7.

Also good call on grabbing the WR versions, you'll be able to take that setup almost anywhere without any concerns now.

 

[revolink24]

Can anyone think of a good medium-ish focal length daily carry pentax mount lens for about $300 (+/- ~$50 or so)? Prime or Zoom.

 

[Planar_head]

How do you people feel about the K-x? In terms of batteries (life, expense) in particular, and build quality.
 
It would be great if you used a K10 or K20 before and went to a K-x, for comparison.
 
 
EDIT: Scratch that. No one has to answer this question.

 

[Baines93]

I considered a K-x... I'm now thinking Canon T2i now. Arghhh, time to look at Pentax again. K-7 is out of my budget though - T2i is pushing it!

 

[revolink24]

Quote:

How do you people feel about the K-x? In terms of batteries (life, expense) in particular, and build quality.
 
It would be great if you used a K10 or K20 before and went to a K-x, for comparison.
 
 
EDIT: Scratch that. No one has to answer this question.

Eh, I'll answer it anyway.
 
I actually like having the AA batteries. I have 8 eneloops that cycle in and out of my camera, 4 at a time. It makes a full day of shooting easy, unless I have 4 in my shoe flash. And you can always borrow batteries from whatever you have laying around if you need to. It is definitely good value compared to Nikon and Canon models, with the one drawback of fewer (albeit still very good) lenses. I have used a K10, and I can say that the Kx has comparable image quality and is more compact, but the plastic body doesn't feel quite as nice as the absolutely amazing K10 body (but still better than other brands, IMHO). Its especially good for smaller hands. Image quality is really very similar between the two. I wish you luck in whatever you decide/have decided.

 

[bastogne]

Hey, cool to see a thread on this.  I JUST got my Pentax k-x (white).  It is my first dslr and I'm pretty darn excited.  I'm still learning how to use it though.
 
Would any of you who owns one of these recommend something.  I keep hearing people say I should get some type of filter to protect the lens?  yes/no?  also, I'm looking for a prime lens with good depth of field, but not too expensive.  I don't realy like the lens at all that came with the k-x, it just doesnt capture images how i want.  Any advice?