Canon owner contemplating Kx from the Dark Side

[bobt]

Hi Guys,

I am a Canon owner and shoot with a 40D which is fabulous BUT it is a tad large, heavy and obvious and I'm going overseas to places where I'd prefer something more discreet.

I think I'm rather keen on the Pentax Kx which is small, light but does HD movies and HDR and seems to be a great little camera for travelling.

I have a few questions ......

1) Does anyone have a Kx, and if so what's the image quality like with kit lenses? Is it capable of taking competition images or just ordinary snaps?

2) If this camera can take quality images, and I didn't go with the kit lenses, is there an affordable Pentax/Sigma walkabout lens that you'd recommend instead?

3) If anyone has a Kx do you have battery issues? The Kx is rumoured to eat them for breakfast.

I have a lot of money invested in Canon, but I'm prepared to lash out and buy a Kx if it can be a good, competent travel companion instead of a block of concrete around my neck!

[Tannin]

Errr .... nothing against Pentax - they are ine cameras - but if you want something smaller, wouldn't it make more sense to get a 500D? Then you don't have to buy new lenses and flash gear.

[bobt]

Originally Posted by Tannin

Errr .... nothing against Pentax - they are ine cameras - but if you want something smaller, wouldn't it make more sense to get a 500D? Then you don't have to buy new lenses and flash gear.

Yeah .... I admit that might end up being the way to go although it is a bit bigger than the Kx and lacks a couple of things. I'm not sure it's as good as the Kx on paper but I do concede it would make my other equipment more useful. Whatever I get is also going to end up as my wife's general use camera, and the Kx is more of a "ladies" size camera (which is what she prefers).

[MattC]

Have a look on the Pentax forums - lots of information (and some mis-information) there

[Kym]

The K-x (and its predecessor the K-m) are both very light and small.
Combined with a Pentax 'pancake' prime lens can fit in a large pocket.
They also use AA batteries which gives you more flexibility when travelling.

Side by side with the 500D http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/comp...s500d&show=all

The K-x is significantly lower in cost than the 500D, has video (which being on tour maybe useful).

That said the 500D is a good option as well.

[Speedway]

Hi Bob
The Pentax is actually heavier than the 500d by about 60g. AA batteries in my experience are variable in performance and when used in my 400D grip last no time at all and that was with kit lenses my 18-250 OS Sigma would flatten them in no time, most of the other specs are fairly close. I would be asking myself is it worth buying a whole new kit of lenses or maybe add a couple of new lenses to the kit you can both use.
Keith.

[bobt]

Originally Posted by Speedway

The Pentax is actually heavier than the 500d by about 60g. I would be asking myself is it worth buying a whole new kit of lenses or maybe add a couple of new lenses to the kit you can both use.
Keith.

Yeah ... I went out this morning and held both together and they are pretty similar in size. They had a white Kx there which was gross - dunno why but it isn't a colour that appeals, (not that colour impacts on what it does). Another thing I have found extremely odd with the Kx is that when you focus it doesn't give you the normal indication of where the focus point is - I cannot understand why they'd leave this off any camera - I've read about that as a downside, and it certainly seems that way.

So .... I'm leaning back towards staying in the family and sticking with canon. Now I'm also pondering whether to get one of those little notebooks to take instead of a laptop - that would save a huge amount of weight! It is Christmas after all - and I do need a present!

[Speedway]

Go ahead, spoil yourself, you know you deserve it.

[JM Tran]

some ppl here have forgotten about Pentax's pancake prime lenses

try finding that on Canon and Nikon!

a DA40 f2.8 pancake lens - amazing IQ to rival Canon L prime lenses - but the depth and thickness of 3 lens caps, or my Nokia N95 phone.

that and a Kx will literally fit into your jeans or jacket pocket

[bobt]

Originally Posted by Speedway

Go ahead, spoil yourself, you know you deserve it.

Yeah ... but my kids just think I'm silly.

They have this rather odd theory that one camera is enough, and several is just plain weird.

They also have this strange (but common) tendency to confuse the words "want" and "need".

[Prang]

As JM Tran said the pancake lenses for travel are the way to go and for lightness because the pentax uses sensor anti shake and not lens IS then smaller lenses are viable.

But the rear screen on the 500d is bigger and brighter and if you have Canon lenses and gear it might not pay to move.

1 point though if you have any old pentax lenses whether manual , Auto Aperture or AF including 42mm screw ons then the KX and these old lenses will make a great combo.

I brought a 50mm f/1.4 that is brilliant for $30, I have a 135mm f/2.8 for $45 they work great!

Good Luck

[bobt]

Originally Posted by Prang

But the rear screen on the 500d is bigger and brighter and if you have Canon lenses and gear it might not pay to move.

Yeah ... I really like the Kx, but at the end of the day it probably makes more sense to stay in the Canon range. It's a pity manufacturers don't settle on standardised connections, but we know that's not going to happen!

Of course sticking with the same brand also makes my learning curve less of a circle if I'm following the same basic controls - I only have so many memory cells to store all the operational knowledge!

[Prang]

- I only have so many memory cells to store all the operational knowledge!

Yeah I think I might have gone to that party.