Pentax K100D vs Canon 350D (but with a twist :-)

Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM

02/16/2007 01:42:12 PM · #1

Hi all!

Yet another X vs Y question :-)

I narrowed my search for my first DSLR to these two cameras. The pros, as I see it, are:

K100D: image stabilization, larger LCD and viewfinder
350D: better sensor and processor

What do you value most?

At B&H, the prices are the same.

I'm not a photographer of a particular kind. I do most travel and indoors photography.

Could you kind DPCers give some advice?

Thank you very much!

Edit: I forgot to mention: according to many comments and reviews, the K100D kit lens is better than 350D one. True?

Message edited by author 2007-02-16 13:59:16.

Tuckersmom

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ1

02/16/2007 01:54:33 PM · #2

I'd go with the image stabilization of the Pentax. I tried out the camera about a month ago and really did like it a lot. It uses AA batteries which was my only negative but that's not a deal breaker. Here's a quick shot with it taken on factory setting, available light indoors, no flash, only PS work was convert to black and white. Looked pretty good to me.

SteveJ

Canon EOS-7D

02/16/2007 01:59:15 PM · #3

Well, it is the usual battle, but with a twist...I had a 300D and it was a good camera. I had a 30D and it was good camera. I now have the Pentax K100D and it seems like a good camera, still sorting it out.

All modern DSLRs are good capable cameras. It is more a case of go to a camera shop, hold them, look at their shapes and stay within your budget. Whether the Canon sensor is better is something I am not aware of? The reviews for the K100D rate it highly, producing sharp 6.1mp photos in RAW or JPEG...the Canon 350D I believe is 8mp.

Both are reasonably priced, lenses are quite easy to get hold of and both are a similar size. So, it is down to how you feel about each and which fits your hands.

Best of luck choosing and enjoy it.

fotomann_forever

02/16/2007 02:00:03 PM · #4

From a bit of research I've done on the net, I've seen statements that in-camera IS doesn't function as well as lens based IS. And I can understand that having the gyros in the lens would be more effective. Again, this is just from what I've read and by no means to be taken as pure fact.

Personally, I'd want the better sensor, since IS can be added (via IS lenses).

option

Nikon D200

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.4D

02/16/2007 02:45:19 PM · #5

A few points.

Don't count out the K100Ds sensor. It has noise levels comparable to the 350D and in RAW, delivers better dynamic range than pretty well any camera out there.

I'm not thrilled with the kit lens, but I have read that it is better than other brands basic lens'. It should be fine on the K100D. Theres a 17-70 on the Pentax roadmap, hopefully we'll know more at PMA. Above any other Pentax lens, I recommend the DA 50 1.4. It's cheap (200-250US) and is one of the best fast fifties ever made. You might not think so now, but if you have a good fast fifty you'll use it all the time...

Fotoman, lens based stabilization is better, but not by a significant amount. You've seen what I can handhold with my K10D. Plus, Canon IS costs an arm and a leg, and is only available on some lenses. No wide to short tele primes have IS. Wides in general dont get IS. Less expensive lenses dont get IS.

So, in conclusion, the sensor is better than you think, the kit lens is still meh, and lens based IS is too expensive. Go Pentax. :-)

sir_bazz

Pentax K-5

Pentax FA 50mm f/1.4 AF

02/16/2007 04:58:28 PM · #6

Off topic but....

I've only heard of one side-by-side test of stabilisation methods and the results were inconclusive. It was done by a German photo magazine with each camera using a similar focal length lens.

The most consistent was Nikons VR followed by inbody stabilisation of Sony and Pentax and Canon's IS being the least effective method.

None of the systems managed more than 2 stops of performance gain.

Its funny that Canon are currently the ones spending the most money on advertising the "superior" performance of in-lens stabilisation. One more thing to keep in mind is that the Pentax in-body stabilisation is the only method that claims to corrects for pitch, yaw and roll. All other design only correct for the two axis.

bazz.

02/16/2007 08:30:50 PM · #7

Thanks for the replies so far.

It seems I'll be another (happy, I hope!) Pentax owner (not so) soon :-)

Unfortunately, I can't go to a shop to try any of them. It's sad, but there is no shop here where I could do it. I'll have to buy at B&H site, blind.

Until then, I hope I can improve my S1 IS photos :-)

Thanks!

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.4D

02/17/2007 02:47:55 PM · #8

What about a lens other than the kit lens? I'm thinking about Pentax 50-200 or Sigma 70-300 APO. According to reviews, both are good. Sigma has more reach, but I'm afraid I'll miss the 50-70 gap... Also, maybe 50-200 is a better walk around, because of the wider end.

option

Nikon D200

02/17/2007 03:03:54 PM · #9

The 50-200 is my walk around lens. I figure that if I need telephoto, its going to be on the fly. Wide angle for landscapes n such... they'll still be there in the 10 seconds it takes me to change lenses.

I really like the 50-200, but it is soft in the corners so I try to stop down whenever possible. For a lens that compact though, it performs remarkably well. The ED glass makes a big difference.

SteveJ

Canon EOS-7D

Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM

02/17/2007 03:04:08 PM · #10

Originally posted by flavioalima:

Despite what is said, the kit lens is adequate to start with, it functions pretty well. As for the longer lens, get the Sigma 70-300 APO DG model, this is the better one the plain DG model.

option

Nikon D200

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.4D

02/17/2007 07:29:07 PM · #11

For what its worth, Popphoto has review up of the Samsung versions of the 18-55 and 50-200.

Apparently, the 50-200 is one of the best kit lenses they've ever tested, with quality comparable to pro glass. Cool.

dmadden

Canon EOS-40D

Sigma 24-35mm f/2.0 DG HSM A

02/19/2007 12:57:45 AM · #12

Originally posted by option:

I really had a tussle trying to decide on the sigma 70-300 or the da50-200. Do u think i missed out on quality with the ED glass on the DA???