Pentax K10D DSLR

[RayintheUK]

It's about time for me to make a move to a serious digital SLR. I've had a Pentax Z1 since it came out and it's been brilliant. The lenses I use with it will fit to and operate correctly on the K10D, which is due out over here in a couple of weeks. I'm fairly confident that my Metz hammerhead will work with it too, but I'm not sure about TTL mode. I'm being notified when one is available, but I'm not committed yet.

Does anyone out there know about the K10D from personal experience?

I don't even know if it's in the North American/Japanese/Australian shops yet. I've read all the reviews, but I'm interested to know if there's an actual user amongst us?

Ray.

[RodKirby]

Yup - here in Oz...

http://www.camera-warehouse.com.au/p...10D&src=Google

Way outside my league

[Tom Slick]

Just in case you haven't seen this site yet...
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/forum.asp?forum=1036

[HarmsWay]

Due for imminent release in Canada. I bought a K100D body-only for a good friend this summer. It's the 6 MP version. He's using all his older Pentax lenses and loves it. The K series is a partnership with Samsung for what that's worth (good or bad).

[RayintheUK]

He's using all his older Pentax lenses and loves it.

The reason I passed over the K100 (and the istD) series was because of my current KAF lenses. The K10D utilises all features of these lenses, including the power zoom.

If I'd gone for a K100 or K110, I'd have had to manually zoom the lens - holy crap! I'm retired, for goodness' sake - I don't want to make work for myself!

Ray.

[JR]

Nice looking camera, Ray. The Pentax web site says the K10D will be available this month at a list price of $899, body only. I've got a Pentax system looking for a shot in the arm...

Most of my lenses are compatible with my Olympus film cameras, but my Pentax ZX-50 with a 28-80mm AF is my go-to general purpose camera. Do I understand correctly that the focal length for a compatible film-camera lens should be ~doubled when used on a digital body? So this would make my 28-80 perform like 55-160, is that right?

JR

[dlminehart]

JR, the multiplier is usually more like 1.5 or 1.6, rather than 2. E.g., Nikon is 1.5, Canon 1.6. Your 28-80 would be like 40-120.

[JR]

Thanks, David.

JR

[HarmsWay]

If I'd gone for a K100 or K110, I'd have had to manually zoom the lens - holy crap! I'm retired, for goodness' sake - I don't want to make work for myself!

Fair enough. Looks like a few other improvements as well, although I prefer the 4xAA batteries to the Lithium Ion pack. Should be a nice camera. Let us know how it works out. I'll be in the market for one in a few months.

[HarmsWay]

Is this camera selling anywhere yet?

Bob

[RayintheUK]

Is this camera selling anywhere yet?

I was supposed to have got mine this week, but the date has now slipped for a month at least.

Ray.

[HarmsWay]

Bummer. Hopefully that means they want them perfect before they're released. I've read recently that the K100D's were well built with very few initial defects, which bodes well for the K10D's.

Bob

[RayintheUK]

Update

Well, at last, I picked up my K10D today. A simple phrase best describes it:

"Absolutely ^*"^*"g marvellous!"

I'm still only halfway through the massive manual - there are features of every description and tweaks of all types, but apart from that it's a really solid (metal chassis) piece of kit and so far the results outstrip anything I've ever seen, or taken, for sheer detail and quality.

Worth waiting for, without a doubt.

Ray.

[TheRic]

......I'm still only halfway through the massive manual - ......

Uh Ray, you do NOT have to read the manual in every language!!

[Ed62]

Congratulations, Ray. We ought to see a lot of pics now.

Ed