New Digital SLR

[jdmidwest]

Alright everyone, any personal opinions on the Canon Rebel XTi or the Pentax K100D cameras? I have used a Canon D30 for years in our outdoor sports business but have not personally owned one. I have a Pentax 35 mm SLR and several lenses and filters of my own from before autofocus days. I am going to upgrade from my Minolta Z10 digital and looking for any advice. Both cameras are great and are backwards compatible with 35 mm lenses. Canon takes great pics but can be kinda finicky and requires costly trips back to home every once in a while. My Pentax has never been back and takes better pics than I am ususally capable of. Any suggestions???

[Gary Lange]

I have not seen or read any reviews on the Pentax but I have seen nothing but rave reviews on the Canon. Here is a site that reviews both choices so you can compare them.

http://dpreview.com/

[porter57]

i bought a k100d recently and am very pleased with it.

of course,already having several lenses had a lot to do with my decision. another factor was cost. the k100d is quite a bit cheaper and there is a rebate program going on. i think you can still buy it for $549 with a 18-55 lense from buydig.com. real nice to be able to use aa batteries but alkalines are nothing more than an emergency

stopgap. they wont last very long under normal use. im using nimh

rechargables with good success. you can get a charger with both 110 and car cords for around $30to $40. pretty solid camera but not dustproof or water resistant. for about double the money ,you can get the k10 which is.

[jdmidwest]

Thanks, bought an older Pentax ist DS on Ebay for a steal. Same features as the k100 without the shake reduction. Since they are trying to outlaw drinking on the Current and Jacks Fork, I won't need it any way! LOL Or maybe this drunken itdiot will, dam whiskey shakes. Did not know that the K10 was water and dust resistant, need to set the sights on Ebay for that one.

[porter57]

to tell ya the truth,ive kinda found ebays offerings to be overpriced versus searching online. course i never know what things actually sold for,just what they are asking.

yea they sure dont like us drunks on the rivers anymore.

cant we all get along?

[ecce38]

Jd, I've been a pentax user for a long time, all film. I've switched over to digital now with my purchase of the K10. Man, that is a great camera! It's pentax's semi-pro model that is backward compatible with any lens that fits older pentax cameras. The k100 too takes great shots, but for a few hundred more, the K10 is the way to go. On a side note, I've got a friend who shoots with a D5 Canon and he tells me that my K10 has far less noise at a higher ISO than his D5. Now, I'm no pro, but here are some sample shots of what I done with the K10: My nature photos. Good luck.

ecce out...

[techo]

After lurking on here for a while. I finally went and bought the Pentax K100D as well. Thanks for all of the info!

[ecce38]

Techo- Welcome to club Pentax! Now go to site below and join this forum. There are many helpful people who know lots and lots about your camera and can help you learn about it. I've learned a ton. Enjoy and share your shots.

Pentax Forums

[techo]

Thanks! Will DO.

[Thom]

Ecce38:

Great pictures

My second love of nature next to trout fishing is bird viewing. We go to Post Aransas Texas for a couple of months each year in the winter to view birds and fish the flats. I usually take lots of pics but mothing near the one in your home page.

I run into a guy there that shoots through a spotting scope with a pentax and really gets good pics. You are not allowed to get too close to the whoopers so the scope is necessary.