New Pentax K-x entry level DSLR

[ukcatfan]

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0909/09091703pentaxkx.asp

Looks pretty impressive for entry level and considering the price it could help boost Pentax. I really like the white and red versions as well! I think they are missing the boat not offering a red, white, and blue version in the USA though.

 

[Groucho]

Holy ugly colors, Batman! I kind of liked the Stormtrooper white/black K2000 but egads!

New 12mp sensor that goes up to 12,800? Hmmmmmm.......... if it had better high-ISO capabilities, that might be preferable to the K-7's. Too bad about the video mode only being 24fps - that's really a handicap IMHO (sorry Nikon.)

I don't see any mention of weathersealing - that's disappointing, I thought it would be standard on all their future DSLRs. I loooooooooooooooooooove weathersealing.

I'm glad they've got something new, the K2000 and especially the K200D are getting a bit old. We've been talking about what to do with my wife's DSLR after I get a K-7 - keep the K20D and sell the K100D, or sell the K20D and replace the K100D with something newer? We have been leaning towards the latter, maybe even grabbing one of the Stormtrooper white K2000s. Maybe a K-x will be in the future... it sounds like it's specced pretty well, but I'd trade the 1/6000 sync and 4.7fps for weathersealing, 30fps 720p, and a 3" 640x480 LCD (in order of preference.)

 

[VVFF]

They could have at least picked a classier red. But I suppose this is targeted at the Japanese market anyway(colors). Look at the shutter release, it looks like a toy surrounded by a red jog dial.

I agree I kinda liked stormtrooper white. It was different but not so much that it glowed in your hands.

However, the camera itself looks solid. I certainly wouldn't mind shooting with one

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I know you love all those colorful new cameras, Groucho.

Score another for the little guys!

 

[RBennett]

Wow! I like it! It's amazing that it goes up to a higher ISO than even the K-7; I wonder how the pictures it produces will be? And the fact that it has the largest sensor of the Pentax line doesn't hurt either! Actually, other than the weathersealing (which is a big draw,) a few less megapixels (not that big of an issue,) and the movie clips (which I will probably never use) this may actually give the K-7 some competition. Did I overlook anything? *I know I did.*

 

[Todd_H]

Holy ugly colors, Batman! I kind of liked the Stormtrooper white/black K2000 but egads!

I agree I kinda liked stormtrooper white. It was different but not so much that it glowed in your hands.

I have honestly never seen the white camera bodies. I just assumed all camera bodies were black to absorb light and be less reflective

They could have at least picked a classier red.

That's NC State Wolfpack red! GO PACK!

At any rate, this looks like a great entry-level model for Pentax.

 

[VVFF]

I have honestly never seen the white camera bodies. I just assumed all camera bodies were black to absorb light and be less reflective



That's NC State Wolfpack red! GO PACK!

At any rate, this looks like a great entry-level model for Pentax.

http://www.everyjoe.com/gadgenista/files/2008/12/pentax-k2000-white.jpg

 

[Todd_H]

http://www.everyjoe.com/gadgenista/files/2008/12/pentax-k2000-white.jpg

"Stormtrooper" is a good way to describe that look.

I like it too... it's kinda different.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Did you see all the colors on the Pentax Japense website?!?!?!? DISer's can get a lime green!

http://www.camera-pentax.jp/k-x/#

 

[MICKEY88]

Sony has 2 years to come out with colors, or I switch to Pentax...

I want a purple camera..

or red body, yellow grip, black lens.... a Mickey camera....

 

[RBennett]

Sony has 2 years to come out with colors, or I switch to Pentax...

I want a purple camera..

or red body, yellow grip, black lens.... a Mickey camera....

Come on over!!! Our Kool-Aid is MUCH better!! We have FLAVORS!!!!!

 

[MarkBarbieri]

I have honestly never seen the white camera bodies. I just assumed all camera bodies were black to absorb light and be less reflective

If the camera bodies I bought came in white, that would have been my choice. It gets hot down here. I drive white cars. I'd paint my roof white if I could (HOA would hold lynching before the paint was dry). Red, on the other hand, um, well, to each his own.

 

[bob100]

sorry, I still prefer basic black but it does look impressive - HD video, good FPS, ISO performance, at - - $650 including the kit lens? that is good if true!

 

[ukcatfan]

or red body, yellow grip, black lens.... a Mickey camera....

That was my thought exactly!

 

[MICKEY88]

Come on over!!! Our Kool-Aid is MUCH better!! We have FLAVORS!!!!!

Kool Aid scares me,, maybe I can just spray paint my Sonys

 

[MICKEY88]

That was my thought exactly!

Pentax just replaced nikon as the camera of choice for disney's photopass photographers...LOL

how wild would that be to see them using the red,black,and yellow combination...

 

[WVDisGeek]

Not quite sure about the colors (although the "Mickey Combo" of Black, Yellow and Red could have some appeal!) but the specs look pretty good. I am with Groucho in wondering where the weathersealing is.

The higher ISO than the K-7 is also a surprise.

The only other downside I see is that as of today, both B&H and Adorama both show the K20 as discontinued....

 

[Pooh_Girl]

My problem is that the K-7 looks great with a couple of the aspects (mainly the weather sealing) but I'm trying to figure out which is better: K-7 at $1,200 or the K-x at $650.

 

[Groucho]

VWDisGeek: I think that officially, the K-7 replaced the K20D, which is why it's been selling for bargain-basement prices. (Just over $600 for a camera like that is absolutely astonishing!) There's still questions about if there will be a K30D but it sounds unlikely. I wouldn't be surprised to see a model between the K-x and the K-7 - some have said that the K-x replaced the K200D but I think it's more like the K-m/K2000. The K200D was weathersealed and they have new cheap weathersealed kit lenses, so I'd expect a midlevel model with weathersealing, focus spots showing on the viewfinder, 30fps 720p video, and some more advanced features.

I wonder who's making the sensor... it sounds like it's probably not a Samsung. Samsung didn't make their own version of the K-7 so there are rumors that they're not as cozy with Pentax as they used to be, before Hoya bought Pentax. As long as they stick with the K-mount, this is not necessarily bad news:

There have been rumors of an all-new Samsung GX30 (the GX20 was their clone of the K20D), with a larger body than the K-7, a proprietary autofocus system, and features to match or beat the K-7, including Samsung's usual OLED screen with higher resolution than the usual 3" 640x480 screens. There's also suspicious that Samsung has their own line of potentially brand-new lenses coming out (including an 85mm F1.4 - be still my heart!) and maybe even a full-frame DSLR. Oh, yeah, and their mirrorless "EVIL" design they're working on, with probably the same sensor as the K-7.

Interesting times... it's funny that they have these crazy candy colors coming out at about the same time as the long-delayed medium-format 645D, which should finally see the light of day before the end of the year.

Oh yeah, if you want to see the color combinations, there's a page to try them out here:
http://www.camera-pentax.jp/k-x/#/simulator/080101

I actually kind of like the yellow and lime green ones. There's a place that will import them here but it's a little more pricey at about $872, and who knows about warranty coverage.