Contemplating new camera and are refurbs ok?

<p>I have a k100 that I have had for almost 2 years. I am an occasional user, but am considering upgrading to at least 10 megapixels. I just need the body. I have plenty of lenses, so I am going to buy just a body. What would you get? The k2000 looks pretty good, or do I take the 14 megapixel jump? (I cannot get the K7.</p>

<p>Also, has anyone risk a refurbished camera? I have seen a bunch at Bestbuy.com. My only concern is the 90 day warranty.</p>

<p>Thanks for the input,</p>

<p>Oscar</p>

<p>A significant downside with the k2000 is that the focus point is not selectable... you can only choose "centre" or "auto". If you choose auto there is no indication as to which focus point the camera has chosen when it locks focus! Just thought I'd point that out in case you were not aware already.</p>

<p>The focus point thing was a deal breaker for me (and many others) for the k2000. Otherwise I would have bought one.</p>

<p>check the bay there was a model meyham photographer with a k10d for sale yesterday for $400 it might still be there most of the goodies of k2o 4 less megapixels but the only thing missing to me is the pc port overall a great camera check the thread and see the coments.</p>

<p>I've never bought a refurbished DSLR, but I've bought a lot of other refurbished things and they've always been fine. It's a good way to save money and is certainly safer than buying used from a private seller. Those refurbished Pentaxes on bestbuy.com look like pretty good deals. I wish I could grab one of those K20s!</p>

<p>If you already have a K100, I would skip the K2000 and go straight to the K20. The K2000 is nice, but aside from megapixels, it's not much of an upgrade over the K100. (In some ways it's a step backwards from the K100.)</p>

<p>@ R.T.: Can you comment on whether the k20 autofocus is much better than the k100? Specifically with heavier lenses. I think the motor on the k100 may be a bit measly, as it seems to do ok for speed on my kit lens but struggles with heavier, better built lenses. Also, is there much difference on the ability to lock focus in low light or is it pretty similar? Thanks!</p>

<p>I am certainly hoping that the factory refurbished K20D from Best Buy is a good idea. I ordered one a few days ago, so it should arrive soon. I will post a comment on the camera after I have had a chance to try it out.<br>

I had already pre-ordered a K7, but chickened out on spending that much money and canceled my order.<br>

Here's to a fine upgrade, the K20D!</p>

<p>If you get it from best buy, get a protection plan (if offered on a refurb). These are usually pretty generous, for instance my phone is a slider with physical keyboard (prone to breakage), and Palm admits if it breaks it's done (meaning no repairs, only replacement). since the phone is brand new, and not found used or on ebay for less than $500 without a contract, I figured the plan was a good deal for now (i can cancel it). the best buy service plan covers everything, including if I get mad at the results of the game, and toss my phone against the wall, if I forget it's in my pocket and go for a swim, if I want to test the case strength and put it under the tire on my car.</p>

<p>I love the freedom of it, the other day I dropped it at the baseball game, my sisters face turned white and expected me to flip out, I picked it up, smiled and said, "still working, case didn't even get scratched." Even better, I am running a battery Palm recommends against using (although like the NP400 and DLI50 it's the same battery, just not officially "approved"), I figure if by some chance it does fry my phone, I'm out nothing...the battery in question is the $6.99 OEM Centro battery vs. the $40 OEM Pre battery.</p>

<p>No deductible, no limits, and for my model phone it's replacement only (no refurbs either, new in box phone). Reminds me of the upper end Ritz protection plan. As long as the camera was identifiable, it would be replaced with a new camera. I'd say with the money you save on a refurbed camera the Pro Plan would be a good investment.</p>

<p>That said, I usually don't take the protection plan, it's a waste MOST OF THE TIME. But with our dog we take it on vacuum cleaners and usually swap the vacuum out 1-2X during the pro plan, we also ALWAYS take it on inkjets which at best seem to just last beyond the warranty (although the PIXMA we have was a replacement and it's now 2 years old, the previous PIXMA died 2x in 18 months). Never take it on TVs, computers, stereo equipment, etc.</p>

<p>@ S Brown,</p>

<p>The K10/20D motor is the most powerful put in a Pentax camera, more powerful than the ist D motor which was very good, and NOT the same small motor put in the ist 35mm but perhaps the MZ-S motor or a completely new high powered motor.</p>

<p>THe K20D motor will definitely blow the K100 away (I haven't used a K100 but I am basing it on the fact the ist D had a better motor than the K100 and the K10/K20 was faster than the ist D).</p>

<p>Also, I am betting you ran the K100 on NiMH batteries and not lithiums? If you ran the K100 on Lithiums it would have been a bit snappier but the K10/20D battery is designed for the camera (or the other way around maybe) so it doesn't underpower the AF motor like the ist/K100 series did on NiMH (5volts and downward vs. 6 volts constant).</p>

<p>"Also, I am betting you ran the K100 on NiMH batteries and not lithiums?"</p>

<p>Thanks Justin. Yes I'm using rechargeables (eneloops). I realise that lithiums would give better performance, and are lighter as well, but I don't like using batteries and then throwing them away (even if they last 1000 shots). Sounds like the k10/20 would be better from this point of view, as well as the stronger motor. It would be nice to jump straight up to the k7 and get the focus assist light, but I'm going to have to wait a year or so for prices to come down.</p>

<p>Thanks for the info!</p>

<p>I feel that the K20 AF's faster than the K10 (having used both). So it's not all in the motor, assuming they have the same motor.</p>

<p>I never thought the K20D was faster, but others have reported it so I could be wrong. Maybe a bad copy, or perhaps as some noted with the grip and 4FPS the AF improved with the grip (over volting perhaps)</p>

<p>If it is faster, it's marginal, and nope, it's not all the motor. Improved algorithms and hardware (faster processor etc) will definitely improve focus, but the core of the K20D system was still SAFOX VII. But no matter how good the other stuff is, you still need a good motor to turn the glass, bearing in mind that ist 35mm AF was fairly poor (accurate but slow with big glass) considering it had the same AF array that the ist D and K10D/K20D had.</p>

 

<p>Oscar: given your budget constraints (I'm assuming you're looking at the K2000 for that reason), it should be fine. You might want to get the K200D ($350?) for weather sealing or a used K10D ($400). A used K20D will still be around $550-600 at this point.</p>

 

<p>I did not think Best Buy carried Pentax DSLR's..well they don't in SW Florida. There is -0- wrong with refurbs. Refubs are thoroughly checked out and usually have a full warranty. I buy refurbed computers and *love* the price.<br>

Bought a Canon G-10 from Best Buy with their 4 year warranty. It was a lemon . They replaced it and I have a great copy now. I got to keep the extra charger and battery. Their warranty is very good. The camera is covered even if I drop it in water. If it dies and there is a new version, a G-XX, you get that.</p>

<p>Les, Best Buy carries the Pentax DSLRs online only through their warehouse. You wouldn't be likely to find them in any store. This <em>exact</em> place on BBs website is where I plan to purchase the *istDL when I get the money. I'll use the money saved (versus a k20d) on a 40mm LTD.</p>

<p>I will note to everyone else thinking about this that I'm not sure how much stock they have in the refurbs at any one time. I had previously looked at the *istDL through the site and they were out of stock. I'm glad they're back in.</p>

<p>I highly recommend the K20D. A great camera. Great JPEGs or RAW. Fabulous controls, layout, and image quality. Having such a fine camera actually inspires more use! The K100D still makes a fine compact alternate and backup. The prices for the K20D are now very low for such a camera. Buying new, Pentax USA is offering an extension of the warranty to 3 years, which must be applied for, if purchased by the end of July. I got a great deal on mine. Check B&H, Adorama, and Amazon.</p>

<p>I just recieved my "refurb" from BB a few days ago.<br>

I'm not sure what they do to refurbish these cameras but I could not tell it from new if my life depended on it. There is not a scratch, nick, smudge or fingerprint to be found, and everything including the box looks new. I had a BB gift card burning a hole in my pocket ($228 left from $250 for a card I recieved from a reward program from my AmEx CC), so after the taxes and shipping my K20 cost me $310.<br>

I'd say go for the refurb!</p>

<p>Ray</p>

<p>Not long ago, a new K100D sold for near $500. Despite the 10mp, I do not consider the K2000 to be an update from the K100D, which is made better and has more advanced features. Even moreso a K100DS. A K20D, on the other hand, represents advancement in virtually every way, while the K100D still holds its own in a superior way for a compact model. </p>

<p>If you can't go the K20D, another possibility is a K200D. 10mp, you get the weather sealed body- superb build quality, very crisp JPEGS out of camera and excellent RAW performance, larger LCD screen, RAW button, Higher ISO noise reduction control, HDR control, SDM lens drive, more advanced SR, an anti-dust sensor system, a program shift system in P mode, and a green button. Still compact, but very good features and fine build. A far better camera than a K2000.</p>

<p>Having a K100DS, I did upgrade buying the K200D a year ago and got a great deal with a rebate. Now the same price is available without rebate. In terms of taking a compact model to fit into a smaller pack for easy carrying, it is my advanced model. I do love the K200D as well!!</p>

<p>I have a refurb K10D purchased several years ago. It's been around the world with no problems.</p>

<p>Just as an update, I checked last night (and again this morning) and the *ist is sold out again on the website. Next up is the Refurb K100d for $280. Although that's still a steal, I am still hoping to use less of my budget. Especially since "for only $100 more" you get the k100d, and "for only $100 more" you get they k200d; $400 for the k10d, $500 for the k20d. It's insane that I can talk myself into spending "only a little more" for each upgrade.</p>

<p>Not insane at all, Jeremiah! You do indeed get something for each "little more", which consitutes an upgrade. $280 for a factory refurb K100D is a steal, and it is hard to imagine doing much better for such a nice camera. Especially if a factory warranty of at least 90 days is included. $380 for a perfect K200D is also a great deal, as is $500 for a K20D.</p>

<p>But the prices of new stock now are amazing for such fine equipment. About $500 for a K200D and $640 for a K20D, which has a 3 year Pentax USA warranty available through the end of July (but you have to apply for the extra time). We're talking half price for the K20D and a $300 drop for the K20D. Near the end of product run is when real bargains can be had. </p>

<p>If you intend to keep and use your camera for quite a long time, the "little more" is money well spent for long-term satisfaction, and that extra money spread over some years is a very small expenditure. If you goal is to sell it and buy the next model, or the one after, at the end of its product run, you'll not lose much that way either. </p>

<p>Yow. Refurb bodies look pretty good. But <a href="http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9353503&type=product&id=1218090333132">$379</a> for a FA50/1.4?</p>

<p>I meant a $300 price drop for the K200D, and a $660 price drop for the K20D, original prices.</p>

<p>So now the *ist has been removed from the site. Either they're not going to get any for a while and didn't want to keep it up there (newegg does that sometimes) OR more than likely they really aren't going to get any more at all. How sad for me!</p>

<p>Let the step up to the K200d or the K10d begin!</p>

<p>I've been tracking the refurbs @ best buy, and just saw that walmart is selling the k20d for 600. This leads me to two questions- First, can you apply for the 3 year warranty with the refurb? (I'm guessing you cant, but just want to check). How much is the warranty worth? A 20% increase in camera price isnt insignificant, but neither is a 3 year warranty. Thoughts?<br>

Thanks</p>