Buying A New Camera, I Have Some Questions.

[JTG1]

<p >Howdy!</p>

<p > </p>

<p >I am planning on buying a new camera (upgrading from a Kodak Z7590) and after looking at the top 4, I have ID the Pentax 4000 – Black; best for me (based on bells & whistles and price).</p>

<p > </p>

<p >However what Id like to know:</p>

<p > </p>

<ul type="disc">

<li >This camera supports the older lens but what about older flash?</li>

<li >Is the battery / memory door flimsy?</li>

<li >I shoot 60+ percent B&W, how’s the quality?</li>

<li >When I shoot color, I like saturation, does this camera meet that challenge or is that a PP issue?</li>

<li >I also enjoy low light photography, should be good?</li>

<li >Any one has some examples to point me too?</li>

</ul>

<p > </p>

<p >Now that Pentax just announced price reduction, longer warranty and extra lens, how could I lose?? Well finding the K200D with lens for the less money, so now what to do? Outside of the weather protection, are their any other benefits to upgrading?</p>

<p >My pockets are not deep, so I need to keep that in mind as well.</p>

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<p >The links I have found, are there better deals?</p>

<p > </p>

<p ><a href="http://www.broadwayphoto.com/cat/DigitalCameras/10097164/PENTAX_K2000_w18-55_55-200_LENS_K/">http://www.broadwayphoto.com/cat/DigitalCameras/10097164/PENTAX_K2000_w18-55_55-200_LENS_K/</a></p>

<p > </p>

<p ><a href="http://shopdigitaldirect.com/catalog/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=24&products_id=7092">http://shopdigitaldirect.com/catalog/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=24&products_id=7092</a></p>

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<p >I plan on going down to my local store in a few days to try one, if one’s available.</p>

<p > </p>

<p >Best Regards,</p>

<p >Jack</p>

<p > </p>

<p > </p>

[musings]

<p>Jack, I am not sure what the K4000 is, but I presume you meant the K2000? In that case, here are some of my opinions to the questions you asked:</p>

<li>This camera supports the older lens but what about older flash? -- Older flash meaning manual? If so, yes, but all cameras will. I would recommend you pair your K2000 with a P-TTL capable flash (AF-200, AF-360, AF-540).</li>

<li>Is the battery / memory door flimsy? -- Not that I know of...where was this reported?</li>

<li>I shoot 60+ percent B&W, how’s the quality? -- Shoot in color and then convert to B&W using a capable photo processing software program like Photoshop. You will have a lot more control of the output and you will like the results much, much better.</li>

<li>When I shoot color, I like saturation, does this camera meet that challenge or is that a PP issue? -- Saturation can be adjusted in the camera's menu system if you're shooting in JPEG. If you shoot in RAW (recommended), then saturation is adjusted in post processing.</li>

<li>I also enjoy low light photography, should be good? -- Good low light photography is a matter more of technique than camera body. Buy a high quality/fast lens, a decent tripod, lock the mirror up, and learn good post processing noise reduction techniques.</li>

<li>Any one has some examples to point me too? -- I don't own a K2000, but I am sure there are plenty of examples on Pentax websites and forums.</li>

[paul_noble]

<p>re: Older flash units with a digital slr. Be careful.</p>

<p>First of all, some older flash units have trigger voltages of more than 100 volts. A few are as high as 300 volts. This is enough to fry the electronics in a modern dslr. I was told that my K10D could handle up to about 25-30 volts. This can be checked with a digital voltmeter. Just charge the flash to full charge and measure the voltage across the hotshoe contacts.</p>

<p>A K2000, or any of the newer Pentax dslrs (K100, K200, K10, K20, K2000) will support SOME older flashes.</p>

<p>There are basically four generations of electronic flash. Manual, auto, TTL and P-TTL.</p>

<p>Manual flash is just what the term implies. The flash always fires at full power. The user must calculate the exposure (f-stop) by dividing the guide number by the distance to the subject. The aperture setting may very well change with every shot. Providing that the trigger voltage is safe, this flash can be used on a dslr.</p>

<p>Auto flash units have a sensor somewhere on the flash unit itself. This sensor monitors the light being reflected from the subject. When enough light has been accumulated, the unit shuts off the flash. Therefore. the flash duration can vary from 1/1,000 second to 1/50,000 second, depending on the distance. You set a fixed aperture, based on ISO speed. The flash does the rest. An auto flash may or may not be dedicated to a particular camera brand. This flash can be used with a dslr.</p>

<p>TTL is very similar to auto flash, except that the sensor is built into the camera, usually in the mirror box. Returning light is measured during exposure. When enough light has been accumulated, a signal is sent by the camera to the flash to extinguish the light. A TTL flash is, by definition, dedicated to a particular camera family, since the camera and flash must be able to communicate more information than simply the flash trigger. Some of Pentax' early dslrs supported TTL flash, but the new ones do not. There is no sensor in the mirror box. A TTL flash can only be used in manual mode on a K2000.</p>

<p>P-TTL is Pentax' proprietary flash system. It is conceptually identical to Nikon and Canon's i-TTL and e-TTL. In this system, the flash fires a low-power pre-flash a split second before the real exposure, while the mirror in the camera is still down. The pre-flash is reflected through the mirror to the light sensors in the viewfinder. The camera then calculates the proper exposure, flips the mirror up, opens the shutter and fires the flash. Examples include the AF-200FGZ, AF-360FGZ and the AF-540FGZ. This is Pentax' current flash system and will, of course, work with a K2000.</p>

<p> Paul Noble</p>

[paul_noble]

<p>Another thing: stay away from both those sellers that you mentioned. Check them out at resellerratings.com</p>

<p><a href="http://www.resellerratings.com/store/Shop_Digital_Direct">http://www.resellerratings.com/store/Shop_Digital_Direct</a> they give them a 0.33 out of 10</p>

<p>Broadway Photo is only slightly better at 1.18/10</p>

<p><a href="http://www.resellerratings.com/store/Shop_Digital_Direct">http://www.resellerratings.com/store/Shop_Digital_Direct</a></p>

<p>These outfits typically advertised unbelieveable prices. Then when you order, you are given a high-pressure sales pitch to buy over-priced accessories. Some of them have even been know to charge extra for things that the manufacturer includes in the box, such as batteries or a charger. If you try to resist and insist on just the camera, it suddenly becomes "out of stock". Returns can be a nightmare. </p>

<p>If you're going to buy online, stay with the known sellers, such as B& H or Adorama. I have a friend who bought an Olympus E-510 from Broadway. After buying all their extras, he ended up paying more than he would have at B & H. These and other reputable stores will be more than happy to sell you only what you want, and their return policies are very reasonable.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.resellerratings.com/store/B_H_Photo_Video_Pro_Audio">http://www.resellerratings.com/store/B_H_Photo_Video_Pro_Audio</a> B & H gets a 9.68/10.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.resellerratings.com/store/Adorama">http://www.resellerratings.com/store/Adorama</a> Adorama gets a 9.15/10 </p>

<p>Paul Noble</p>

<p> </p>

[trw]

<p>Look up any web store at <a href="http://www.resellerratings.com">ResellerRatings</a> before you buy from them. Both of the stores you've listed have very poor reviews (read them yourself, the details of their modus operandi are well known).</p>

[andrewg_ny]

<p><strong>In favor of K200D:</strong> <br /> <br /> Weather sealing (probably overall build too), top-deck LCD, available battery grip (though the D-BG3 isn't as good as the D-BG2), more AF points, AF points illuminate in viewfinder and are individually selectable, optical depth-of-field preview, larger*</p>

<p><strong>In favor of K2000:</strong></p>

<p>ISO 3200 available though I expect output to be similar at matching ISO, Updated menus & rear LCD control, smaller/lighter*</p>

<p><em>*Handling both will give you a better idea of whether the size/ergonomics favor one over the other. I have K20D (bigger) and *ist DS2 (about the size of K2000) and often think something in-between like K200D might be an ideal size.</em></p>

[andrewg_ny]

<p>One other thing--the the DA-L lenses included in the K2000 kits are cheaper versions of the standard DA kit lenses. I expect that the DA-L 18-55 is probably an optical twin to the original DA 18-55 (possibly not the 18-55 II), but on the DA-L mechanically they have removed the quick-shift manual focusing, which allows touch-up after autofocus without turning off autofocus. They also don't paint the focus distance indicators on the DA-L focusing rings.</p>

[jaophotography]

<p>I bought a camera from broadwayphoto, and after I got done, it was about $25 cheaper than buying from B&H. I think I should have paid the $25 for good service at B&H.<br>

About the cameras; one thing to remember. The k2000 doesn't have a top LCD so the LCD on the back of the camera will be turning on telling you the information. If you're doing low light photography, there is nothing more distracting (to me) than having the LCD turn on when you're about to take a picture. Not to mention that the bright light basically blinds the eyes for a while. There might be a setting to turn off the LCD, but then you have to look through the viewfinder all the time.<br>

If you decide on the k200d, get the battery grip. It's worth it. The batteries in my camera used to last about a week. Now, they last 2-3 weeks depending on how much I shoot. I also use 2500mHa rechargeable AA so, they last longer anyway.<br>

If you do any outdoor shooting, it will be a lot more resting to know that your camera can get dew and frost all over it and not harm it.<br>

Good Luck!</p>

<p>-Jon</p>

[JTG1]

<p >Thanks for the input! Yes the K4000 was a typo; I guess I should turn the lights on so I can see the keyboard and not rely on the glow from the monitor! </p>

<p > </p>

<p >Reason for the flash question, as stated, my pockets are not deep, I can’t afford to have multi new camera systems just because I want, I need to make sure every dime is spent well, thus one of the reasons for the Pentax, backward compatibility with the lens’s! The flash for the K2000 is $300, just thought if I could get away with something not so shinny it would work just as well, but I see the flash will be a later purchase, I’ve gone this long with out one, what’s another year or two!</p>

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<p >The two links offered was the best deals found, but I will listen and not purchase from them, before I did, I would have contacted Pentax and seen if they were authorized dealers anyway, I don’t want any grey market items either, not worth that much of savings!</p>

<p > </p>

<p >I have called Pentax to find out about their K2000 deal with the two lenses (black not white!), customer support and her supervisor were not sure how to get that deal, they will research it and get back to me in a few days. I also emailed the gal that wrote the media announcement, no reply at the time of this writing.</p>

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<p >So far what I have seen, as much as I hate to purchase from them…Wal-Mart has the best deal for the kit, of $549. I’m not a fan of Wal-Mart and would rather shop elsewhere however they are cheapest and returns would be no issue. I’d rather purchase from Pentax if I could.</p>

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<p >Again, thanks for your assistance.</p>

<p > </p>

<p >Jack</p>

[paul_noble]

<p>B & H has the Pentax AF-200FG, which is a P-TTL flash, for $104.95</p>

<p><a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/517783-REG/Pentax_30465_AF_200FG_P_TTL_Shoe_Mount.html">http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/517783-REG/Pentax_30465_AF_200FG_P_TTL_Shoe_Mount.html</a></p>

<p>They also have the K2000D + AF-200FG + 18-55mm lens kit for $566.95</p>

<p><a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/585958-REG/Pentax_17314_K2000D_SLR_Digital_Camera.html">http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/585958-REG/Pentax_17314_K2000D_SLR_Digital_Camera.html</a></p>

<p>If you decide to go with an older technology flash, many people swear by the Vivitar 285HV, which is known to be safe. It is a powerful auto-flash with a zoom reflector and a tilt head. B & H sells it, brand new, for $89.95.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/61441-REG/Vivitar_233965_285HV_Auto_Flash.html">http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/61441-REG/Vivitar_233965_285HV_Auto_Flash.html</a></p>

<p>Hope this helps.</p>

<p>Paul Noble</p>