Edit: **CONFIRMED**ist DL rebate report

[YEKCIM]

A post I ran across on the dpreview site states that Pentax will be offering a $100 rebate on the *ist DL dslr beginning 7/1/06, and ending 10/11/06. Combined with online pricing, that puts this camera in the sub-$400 price range, or in direct competition with high-end P&S's.

~YEKCIM

 

[jann1033]

wwhhee doggies, to bad i just bought a camera....I did have a kind of funny reaction in a camera store...i asked if they had the new one, they rolled their eyes and told me wait till the sony comes out(? ???)

 

[Tazicket]

Of course we just bought an ist*DL last week (body only - no kit lens) for $414... wonder if they would include the rebate on body only or not. Either way, too bad for us, I suppose. But at least we have it to play with now.

 

[Greg K.]

With the k100 and k110 about to be unleashed -- starting at around $600 -- they're trying to clear out the shelves.

The *ist was always a great deal. Now it's just become unbeatable! This should get more people to step up to the world of dSLR.

 

[YEKCIM]

This should get more people to step up to the world of dSLR.

...and into the Pentax camp, meaning lenses, flashes, and so on.

Again, I have not confirmed the veracity of this; it was a post on a photo forum. Picture ought to be very clear in a couple of days.

~YEKCIM

 

[Kelly Grannell]

there is no rebate here in Canada, but the kit dropped by $100 in price starting today. (I don't even know whether you can buy the body only in Canada)

 

[Kelly Grannell]

on that note, there is no more reason for people in the US to buy high-end P&S. Regardless of brand (well, except if you need/want the 12x zoom and the OIS)

 

[YEKCIM]

Just d/l from Pentax site. However, the rebate is for *ist DL **BODY ONLY**. Online pricing from reputable dealer now $411, less $100 rebate = $311, plus you gotta add a lens. Sigma or Tamron 18-200 going for $330-340, so total price would be around $650...still not a bad deal for a true dslr with wide range "walkaround" lens.

~YEKCIM

 

[Golf4food]

Dadgumit... of course they drop the body only by $100 one week after we spent $414 on ours. I could have splurged for macro extension tubes with the extra $100... grrr...

 

[Kelly Grannell]

Just d/l from Pentax site. However, the rebate is for *ist DL **BODY ONLY**. Online pricing from reputable dealer now $411, less $100 rebate = $311, plus you gotta add a lens. Sigma or Tamron 18-200 going for $330-340, so total price would be around $650...still not a bad deal for a true dslr with wide range "walkaround" lens.

~YEKCIM

Well, you don't really want the 18-200 either from Sigma or Tamron anyway. The most will be 18-125 which is only $230-ish. So all in all it's going to be $550 max.

At that price, there is no need for something like, for example, Sony H5.

 

[YEKCIM]

Well, you don't really want the 18-200 either from Sigma or Tamron anyway.

Kelly, How come? Are the two 18-200's dogs? One of the things I really like about my Fuji S5200 is the tele end of the zoom, which is 380mm-equivalent.

(It may all be academic anyway, as I have to convince Mrs. YEKCIM that I *need* a dslr)

~YEKCIM

 

[Kelly Grannell]

superzooms, by nature will create lots of distortion. The longer the zoom, the more the distortion. Especially when the wide is starting at 18mm.

I have long-term tested 18-200 from both manufacturers and I find the following.

1. tendency to misfocus beyond 135mm (this is somewhat easy to rectify, just keep pressing the AF lock button over and over and usually it'll end up with proper focus, but by doing so, sometimes the moment will pass by and you'll end up with no picture)

2. severe purple fringing and colour abberation in the 18-24 range.

Now I can't remember exactly about the S5200, but I clearly remember that the purple fringing and colour abberation of either 18-200 is about as bad as Fuji S9000 (which I almost buy as my secondary system)

Those two items above makes it impossible for me to use either for pro apps whereas the Sigma 18-125 have been used numerous times for my pro apps. I like it so much I have a back up copy (fully tested for sharpness and accuracy) of the Sigma 18-125. My teacher also own two 18-125, my boss own one, every colleague of mine (minus one person) own one or two 18-125. The one and only colleague who doesn't own 18-125, well... he own a couple of Canon 1Ds MKII that can't accept 18-125 (different mount) but he owns Canon 17-70 f/2.8-4.5

Now, if you've seen S9000 picture performance and no problem with it, then the 18-200 will not be a problem for you, but I personally won't use neither S9000 nor 18-200 even for my daily pics. I'm not saying my standard is 'mightier than thou', it's a matter of acceptability. If you can accept it, then go for it.

Unfortunately we can't have it all. You go for the length or you go for better quality but sacrifice the length.

Now I sacrificed length even further. I have both 18-125 (1 used, 1 back-up) sitting just in case I need the flexibility of wide and zoom, but most of the time I now use Canon 17-55 f/2.8 IS. This is another lens I love so much I have two of them (one of which is currently is in service due to backfocus... DOH! )

 

[YEKCIM]

Thanks, Kelly; really good, useful info. I'm probably...no, make that *certainly* not as demanding as you, but I sell printing for a living, not shoot pictures, so I don't have the same criteria. Like you, I looked at the Fuji S9000, but it was out of my price range at the time of S5200 purchase.

If I go dslr, and that is still very much an open question, I'd *like* to be able to mount one "do it all" lens and be done with it; that may not be the best option, from what you share above, however. The Pentax body, at $300 (or so) is very tempting, however, and with the 18-125, would make a versatile setup. I'd miss that 380mm equivalent focal length (S5200), though, for sure.

~YEKCIM

 

[YEKCIM]

Beach Camera has the *ist DL *with kit lens* for $367 shipped, after $100 rebate. DSLR at P&S Price. Get 'em while you can...


<fighting temptation...fighting temptation...>

~YEKCIM

 

[Charade]

Beach Camera has the *ist DL *with kit lens* for $367 shipped, after $100 rebate. DSLR at P&S Price. Get 'em while you can...


<fighting temptation...fighting temptation...>

~YEKCIM

I just saw that on another site.

I wonder what kind of software/PC interface/control you get with this. I'm looking for a camera that my dgf can use to take pics for Ebay. My D70 with Nikon Capture/Control works well but I don't want her wearing out my shutter taking Ebay pics.

 

[Kelly Grannell]

I don't understand. Take a pic with any camera, download pic to PC, resize accordingly using Photoshop.

 

[spoon2003]

I just saw that on another site.

I wonder what kind of software/PC interface/control you get with this. I'm looking for a camera that my dgf can use to take pics for Ebay. My D70 with Nikon Capture/Control works well but I don't want her wearing out my shutter taking Ebay pics.

Why not just get her a good pocket size P&S? and also use it as a backup to your D70. A DSLR seems to be an overkill for eBay pictures.

Sue

 

[Charade]

It's really easy (much easier than taking a pic, downloading etc) with the D70.

With Nikon Capture/Control, the images are sent right to the computer into the specified folder. With the folder set to thumbnails, it's easy to see how the pic looks. File management is easier too.

If I used a camera that didn't do that, she'd have to download the pics, check them for any problems, then retake the photo. She could preview them on the camera but like I said, it's easier to sit in a chair, at the PC, take the shot using the software (or cameras remote), replace the item with another (she's got the camera on a tripod and a table to place the items) and then shoot again.

She's got HUNDREDS and hundreds of items to put on Ebay so you can see that automation is essential.

 

[Kelly Grannell]

She's got HUNDREDS and hundreds of items to put on Ebay so you can see that automation is essential.

NOW you tell me! I was so confused before!