New camera for beginner - good deal?

uberdude

uberdude

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Tony
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Hi chaps, been lurking here a while but need some input please!

After months of research and debate I have decided to opt for a Pentax K-R, however I'm wondering if a current deal is worth it PC world / currys are doing a K-r with std lens and a 50-200mm Pentax lens at £480, from what I can see this lens is about £150 on its own, so sounds like a bargain. Is it worth it, or should I just get the std K-r and buy a better tele lens further down the line.

Just sounds like a good deal at the mo?

http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/pentax-k-r-digital-slr-camera-with-18-55mm-lens-50-200mm-zoom-lens-08722500-pdt.html

Thank you!
 
Babybanana said:
Hello. visit http://www.camerapricebuster.co.uk/prod1663.html to help your decision on weather or not you should buy the camera. Currently that is a good deal as it's the cheapest around at the moment.
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Excellent website thanks, it just makes it look like the 50-200 mm lens is too cheap!

I will want a tele lens at some point, I just wonder if its worth having this one - and surely being a pentax lens it should be decent?
 
^Joe said:
I bought all of my gear second hand, (from this forum, or AV Forums) and have never had a problem.

Would you consider used gear?
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Not for a first DSLR to be honest, I'd rather have the guarantee that the camera is fine and not me just being stupid with it! I'd certainly buy other components second hand, but for now, I'm happy to keep the shops in business!

If DSLR's second hand were dirt cheap it could sway me, but most decent ones are still quite expensive - and I don't want to be buying 'out of my technical range' so to speak!

This K-r looks like the perfect one for me, having looked at equivalent Canon and Nikon equivalents. I've been getting to grips with most functions from the compact I have (Panasonic TZ20) but simply want better quality photos now.
 
You could always try buying the K-r new body only and then pick up lenses second hand.

I would've loved the K-r but ended up buying a K10D second hand with an 18-55mm kit lens, was far cheaper.

If you're after second hand pentax kit take at look at pentaxuser.co.uk

It doesn't say if its the DA or DA-L version of the lens, in a K-r kit i think it would be the DA-L which is cheaper, could be wrong though
 
hglossop said:
It doesn't say if its the DA or DA-L version of the lens, in a K-r kit i think it would be the DA-L which is cheaper, could be wrong though
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From the image and as a basic kit, it will be the DA-L, don't forget though - I'm only just starting out, it seems good enough and has to be a step on the ladder in the right direction!?
 
uberdude said:
Research only, is it that important to get a feel for it?
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It's very important, if the camera doesn't feel "right" you won't use it, it'll just lie in a drawer gathering dust. I nearly made that mistake when I bought my first dslr, checked the specs, read all the reviews and made up my mind that what I needed was a Nikon D40.

Except the D40, when I tried one, was far too small for me to use comfortably. I ended up with a D80, which although similar in specs (more mp and the ability to use older lenses being the only pluses I could determine from reading reviews/spec sheets) was a far easier camera for me to work with.

Had I done what I originally planned and bought a D40, unseen, via mail order, I'd probably have given up on the hobby after becoming frustrated by its limitations.
 
uberdude said:
Research only, is it that important to get a feel for it?
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Critical I'd say. Some cameras just feel wrong (whether it's the weight, balance, texture, button placement...) which you can only find out by holding it.
 
uberdude said:
Research only, is it that important to get a feel for it?
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IMO, not as important as some people make it out to be. Obviously things like 'can I physically use it?' are important - for example, I have ridiculously small hands, so some cameras are just too big for me to use. Some people with big hands have problems operating smaller cameras.

But 'does it feel weird?' - the answer is it's your first DSLR so yes, probably. 'Are the buttons in the right place?', 'Can I use the menu?'... You learn things like where certain buttons are and how the menu works. Have a hold, make sure you can get a comfortable grip on it and reach all of the buttons without have to take your hand away from 'shooting position'. If something inside you is screaming 'This is the not the right camera!', don't get it. Otherwise, and assuming you can hold it and reach all the buttons, don't obsess and just get out with it.

I bought a Canon 550D on the basis of my father has Canon gear so I could 'borrow' his lens, and I was assured it was smaller than his 40D which I could just about manage. :shrug:
 
Carousels Spin said:
IMO, not as important as some people make it out to be.<snip>

I bought a Canon 550D on the basis of my father has Canon gear so I could 'borrow' his lens, and I was assured it was smaller than his 40D which I could just about manage. :shrug:
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In your case though you'd used the 40D so you knew what to expect and what you needed (in this case a slightly smaller camera), the op has no such reference point to work from, just some pictures and reviews, sorry, but it's not the same.....
 
I do agree with Graham, the feel of the camera is very important, When I bought my first I had an open choice, New and Used, I ended up with a D60 Canon secondhand as it was what felt the best in my hands, But I have since spent a small fortune on upgrades since :).

Personally I like a bulky camera, and a collegue at work prefers a small camera, this has been the source of much amusement between the 2 of us, I use a brick (gripped 7D) and his is a toy Pentax K7. We both get similar resaults in the same conditions, which just goes to show we are all individuals and all modern DSLRs give good results.
 
Flash In The Pan said:
In your case though you'd used the 40D so you knew what to expect and what you needed (in this case a slightly smaller camera), the op has no such reference point to work from, just some pictures and reviews, sorry, but it's not the same.....
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No, it's not the same and I'm not recommending buying a first camera completely blind (I even said 'have a hold...'), just giving my opinion that too much emphasis can be put on the feel of the camera - expecting it to feel completely natural is a bit ambitious and sets people up for failure.
 
Carousels Spin said:
No, it's not the same and I'm not recommending buying a first camera completely blind (I even said 'have a hold...'), just giving my opinion that too much emphasis can be put on the feel of the camera - expecting it to feel completely natural is a bit ambitious and sets people up for failure.
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We'll need to agree to disagree then - I, for example, can hold/use a Canon DSLR, but they've never felt "right" to me, whereas the D80 just felt right from the get-go. I'm sure some Canon owners will have the opposite tale to tell...
 
I'd agree with Graham here, I think far too much emphasis is put on technical specification and not enough is put on PHOTOGRAPHY, the art of taking photos. The more connected someone is to their camera the easier it becomes so take great photos.

For what it's worth, I'd decided a Canon 450D was the one for me but then I went to have a play and ended up with a Nikon D60 even though I knew the specs weren't as good. A D90 and now a D700 (and a few film cameras) later I have no regrets at all as they have all been totally intuitive to use.
 
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Nawty said:
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For what it's worth, I'd decided a Canon 450D was the one for me but then I went to have a play and ended up with a Nikon D60 even though I knew the specs weren't as good. A D90 and now a D700 (and a few film cameras) later I have no regrets at all as they have all been totally intuitive to use.
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Whereas I started off with a Nikon D60 & couldn't get on with it at all, bought a Canon 500D & everything made so much more sense & I've just moved up to the 5D2.

Op, can you get to a store & have a play with one? Call in advance to check if they have it in stock, or just be sure of the returns policy if you buy online
 
Will chuck my two pennyworth in here and say sometimes it's about compromise

Yes it's ideal if the camera feels spot on in handling and use, but also comes down to hard cash as well. We all have to adapt especially in these harsh economic times and if the camera you can afford isn't exactly right it's a lot better than nothing

What happens if none of them suit, not as though any modern camera is unusable and haven't found one yet that would put me off going out on a lovely day like this to take some photos
 
Thanks for all the input chaps, I will be handling a few cameras to see how they feel for sure now, I'm not rushing into this, as it is not an impulse purchase at all! My hands are far from huge and operating my tiny TZ-20 is easy enough for me. I've used a few bridge cameras which seem fine too, and from my understanding, this K-r is slightly smaller (or at least lighter?) than a few of its rivals. I simply don't want a huge bulky camera, so my initial assumption is that it should be ok, however I will 'play' with a few first just to be sure.

Although none of this was actually relevant to my original question of the extra lens being any good! :lol:
 
Although none of this was actually relevant to my original question of the extra lens being any good!
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Save your cash and get the Pentax 55-300mm, it's a much nicer lens
 
i have a k-r tein lens kit its my first dslr and love it fits well in hand and easy to use i did try a few before but as soon as i held it it felt right so i had it simple
 
Have a look at SRS Mircosystems site.

http://www.srsmicrosystems.co.uk/

They are selling the same K-r setup as Currys for £499. Yes, about £20 more than the deal you have seen but SRS are camera dealers not a high street shop and have an excellent reputation.

Dave
 
Tringa said:
Have a look at SRS Mircosystems site.

http://www.srsmicrosystems.co.uk/

They are selling the same K-r setup as Currys for £499. Yes, about £20 more than the deal you have seen but SRS are camera dealers not a high street shop and have an excellent reputation.

Dave
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Conversely, it's much better to buy local if you can (IMO), especially with somewhere like Currys where the returns policy is more or less no quibbles.
 
Tringa said:
Have a look at SRS Mircosystems site.

http://www.srsmicrosystems.co.uk/

They are selling the same K-r setup as Currys for £499. Yes, about £20 more than the deal you have seen but SRS are camera dealers not a high street shop and have an excellent reputation.

Dave
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I'd doubt Curry's would nick the oem battery from the camera and stick an Ebay one in though, SRS would though.....
 
Flash In The Pan said:
I'd doubt Curry's would nick the oem battery from the camera and stick an Ebay one in though, SRS would though.....
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Really?

I wouldn't want to buy form currys to be honest, I've not had the best of luck when buying stuff from there but it gives me bartering power with other shops at least.
 
55-300mm pentax lens = £192 (SLR hut). Surely a few more quid would get an even better one? The Tamron ones can't be that far out for £119 surely?
 
The cheap Tamron 70-300 is pretty crap to be honest, the more expensive VC version is very good though, costs a bit more too...
 
uberdude said:
Although none of this was actually relevant to my original question of the extra lens being any good! :lol:
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It is relevant though, as your back to buying a camera body that may not be suitable for you based on whether the lens that's being bundled with it is any good....
 
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