Pentax K200D or Sony a300?

[NTB]

The original Pentax deal I was looking at disappeared before I could get in on it, and then I found out about the 'instant rebate' deals that Sony is running this month. So now I'm a bit stuck - If I bought the Pentax + Tamron 70-300 LD Di, the price (including tax) would be just about the same as the Sony; if I went with either a Sigma 70-300 APO or Pentax 55-300, the Sony becomes the cheaper of the two. On the other hand, to me at least, the Pentax seems like a better camera:

Pentax K200D
[*]stainless-steel frame (Sony is all plastic)
[*]weather sealing (Sony has none)
[*]larger viewfinder (96%/0.85x vs. 95%/0.74x for Sony)
[*]runs on ubiquitous AA's (Sony uses proprietary Infolithium)
[*]uses SD/SDHC cards (Sony uses CF)
[*]Seems like Pentax (K200D & K20D) work better at high ISOs than comparable Sonys. Take a look at the ISO tests @dpreview

Sony a300
[*]live view + tilt-out LCD screen (Pentax has no live view function)
[*]faster continous shooting (1.1fps RAW for Pentax vs. 3.0fps RAW for Sony)

EDIT: complete side-by-side specs

Both cameras also have built-in, sensor-shift image stabilization, so that's a tossup. Anybody have any oppinions one way or the other? If so, why?

Nathan

 

[randomlinh]

the larger viewfinder would win it for me. That and pentax has some nice pancake lenses I'd like to use w/ it =)

 

[GoSharks]

Have you handled either camera?

 

[NTB]

Originally posted by: GoSharks
Have you handled either camera?

Both - although admittedly, not for long. I plan on heading back to the local camera store tomorrow to take another look.

Nathan

 

[Zenmervolt]

- The Sony A300's body is plastic. The frame is metal, most likely Magnesium Alloy, same as the A100. The K200D's body is plastic, with a stainless steel frame underneath.

- Weather-sealing is a toss-up. I've never had a problem with my non-weather sealed bodies, but I also don't tend to go out shooting in rainstorms. Depending on one's habits, it can be a deal-breaker, or largely irrelevant. In general, if it's not a deal-breaker, it's probably irrelevant.

- Better viewfinder is definitely a plus. It's a necessary tradeoff for Sony's implementation of Live View though.

- I can get about 750 shots from my A100 on a single charge of the battery. That's 4GB of JPGs or about 14GB of RAW images. I haven't come across an instance where I've run out of power in the middle of an outing. You do have to plan ahead a little bit and make sure you put the batteries on the charger at night, but overall I find them to be more convenient than AA. Of course, this is personal preference.

- If you already have a lot of SD/SDHC cards, this is definitely an important consideration. If not, then it's largely a toss-up.

- IMO the noise issue is academic with properly processed RAW files, but Pentax does have an edge in terms of straight-from-the-camera JPGs.

- Live View is, IMO, not a killer feature. It definitely has some very specific areas where it's helpful, but I tend not to run into them. Your mileage may vary, but I wouldn't consider the Pentax's lack to be a deal-breaker.

- Faster continuous shooting is huge for me, but may not be for you. I'm not advocating a "spray and pray" approach to photography, but if you want to shoot anything with action, faster burst mode is incredibly helpful for getting that one shot you really like. For example, no matter how prepared I was, without a strong burst mode, I would have never gotten this shot. (Crop from an image taken with an A700 at 5 FPS, ISO 400, 1/8000 sec, f/2.8, 110mm, sitting in the back of the boat at about 34 mph.)

ZV

 

[jpeyton]

K200D

 

[NTB]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
- The Sony A300's body is plastic. The frame is metal, most likely Magnesium Alloy, same as the A100. The K200D's body is plastic, with a stainless steel frame underneath.

- Weather-sealing is a toss-up. I've never had a problem with my non-weather sealed bodies, but I also don't tend to go out shooting in rainstorms. Depending on one's habits, it can be a deal-breaker, or largely irrelevant. In general, if it's not a deal-breaker, it's probably irrelevant.

- Better viewfinder is definitely a plus. It's a necessary tradeoff for Sony's implementation of Live View though.

- I can get about 750 shots from my A100 on a single charge of the battery. That's 4GB of JPGs or about 14GB of RAW images. I haven't come across an instance where I've run out of power in the middle of an outing. You do have to plan ahead a little bit and make sure you put the batteries on the charger at night, but overall I find them to be more convenient than AA. Of course, this is personal preference.

- If you already have a lot of SD/SDHC cards, this is definitely an important consideration. If not, then it's largely a toss-up.

- IMO the noise issue is academic with properly processed RAW files, but Pentax does have an edge in terms of straight-from-the-camera JPGs.

- Live View is, IMO, not a killer feature. It definitely has some very specific areas where it's helpful, but I tend not to run into them. Your mileage may vary, but I wouldn't consider the Pentax's lack to be a deal-breaker.

- Faster continuous shooting is huge for me, but may not be for you. I'm not advocating a "spray and pray" approach to photography, but if you want to shoot anything with action, faster burst mode is incredibly helpful for getting that one shot you really like. For example, no matter how prepared I was, without a strong burst mode, I would have never gotten this shot. (Crop from an image taken with an A700 at 5 FPS, ISO 400, 1/8000 sec, f/2.8, 110mm, sitting in the back of the boat at about 34 mph.)

ZV

I'm actually trying to help a friend pick a camera out; someone who will (most likely) be using the camera outdoors quite a bit, and does already have a p&s camera, which I'd assume takes SD cards. That said, I was curious about the two cameras as well, which is why I made this post.

-I've used several point & shoots, as well as a Rebel XT, outside in both light rain and just plain humid weather without any major issues.

-You can get quite a few NiMH AA's for the price of a single LiIon battery And yes, I know there are generics. That would be a little different.

-The continuous shooting might be a sticking point; I'll have to ask about that.

 

[randomlinh]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
I would have never gotten this shot. ....
ZV

pft, I can get that shot any day with my camera phone. I just have to mark it private

 

[NTB]

Originally posted by: randomlinh

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
I would have never gotten this shot. ....
ZV

pft, I can get that shot any day with my camera phone. I just have to mark it private

Yep, I noticed that too

Nathan

 

[magomago]

didn't sony just release a firmware to turn off NR? Or was that just for the A700? I would say check what feels better in your hand. I have a K100D and love it, mainly because it fits nicely in my hand

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: randomlinh

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
I would have never gotten this shot. ....
ZV

pft, I can get that shot any day with my camera phone. I just have to mark it private

The direct link isn't working? How about now? It's compressed a bit much for web, but you get the idea.

ZV

 

[ElFenix]

pentax has great ergonomics.


if live view isn't a deal breaker then the a200 is basically the same as the a300.

The frame is metal, most likely Magnesium Alloy, same as the A100. The K200D's body is plastic, with a stainless steel frame underneath.

i doubt it's magnesium. with it's AA batteries, steel chassis, and sealing, the K200D doesn't outweigh the A200 by much. AAs are a real big weight increase over regular rechargeable.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: ElFenix
pentax has great ergonomics.

if live view isn't a deal breaker then the a200 is basically the same as the a300.

The frame is metal, most likely Magnesium Alloy, same as the A100. The K200D's body is plastic, with a stainless steel frame underneath.

i doubt it's magnesium. with it's AA batteries, steel chassis, and sealing, the K200D doesn't outweigh the A200 by much. AAs are a real big weight increase over regular rechargeable.

I was extrapolating from the A100, which I know has a magnesium alloy chassis. It's possible that's different, but the point was that the A300 definitely is not "all plastic" as claimed in the OP.

Personally, I wouldn't recommend the A200 unless cost were a driving factor. The A200 is still hampered by the same viewfinder drawbacks as the A300 due to parts sharing, but the A200 lacks the live view option. Essentially, the A200 suffers all of the costs associated with live view, but none of the benefits. IMO, if you're going to have to deal with the viewfinder that is used in the A200/A300/A350, then you might as well get live view and at least have some benefit from it.

ZV

 

[NTB]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: randomlinh

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
I would have never gotten this shot. ....
ZV

pft, I can get that shot any day with my camera phone. I just have to mark it private

The direct link isn't working? How about now? It's compressed a bit much for web, but you get the idea.

ZV

lol What happened? The boat just yanked the rope right out of their hands?

 

[NTB]

Well, I found the 2-lens Pentax deal again, and decided to snag one before it disappeared a second time For anybody that's curious: Pentax K200D + 18-55 & 55-200 dual lens kit: $799. And I got a discount on that to boot I'll try it out, and let my friend do the same - worse comes to worse and neither one of us like it, I can always return it to a Wal-mart store, then go and get the Sony.

Nathan

 

[Heidfirst]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
Personally, I wouldn't recommend the A200 unless cost were a driving factor. The A200 is still hampered by the same viewfinder drawbacks as the A300 due to parts sharing, but the A200 lacks the live view option. Essentially, the A200 suffers all of the costs associated with live view, but none of the benefits. IMO, if you're going to have to deal with the viewfinder that is used in the A200/A300/A350, then you might as well get live view and at least have some benefit from it.

That's wrong, the A200 viewfinder is noticeably better than the A300/A350 @ x0.83 rather than x0.74.

NTB, really you have to decide what's important for you.
If you think that you really, really need the weatherproofing then that probably swings it the Pentax way.
If you think that the tilting LCD or LiveView are important that swings it towards the Sony, if you don't then you should compare the A200 against the K200 rather than the A300.

Both Pentax & Sony use the same CCD sensor so IQ in RAW should be pretty much identical (& going by the A700 experience I wouldn't put it past Sony to release an updated firmware improving high ISO performance for A200/A300/A350).

Both Pentax & Sony have good reputations for handling but 1 may naturally suit you more than the other so handle them again.

The Sony will have the better AF performance by a touch & the stabilisation again is probably a tiny bit better.
With the Sony the storage medium & battery are consistent throughout the range from top to bottom (so if you upgrade you don't need to replace accessories again) - you might be surprised how often that isn't the case.
I don't have a problem with the battery as it's no dearer than equiv. genuine ones from Canon, Nikon etc., it's a great battery with excellent performance so I require fewer & compared to the cost of lenses etc. the cost for an extra 1 is insignificant.

As for the system, both have a few items that the other doesn't have so again if you have a specific need that may swing it but Sony are now the clear no.3 in the market with something like 3x market share of Pentax (both of course are way behind Canon & Nikon in market share).

to recap:
proritise what features you need in the body - how do they compare (also in handling)?
prioritise what you need in the system - is it available in either, 1 only or both?

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: NTB

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: randomlinh

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
I would have never gotten this shot. ....
ZV

pft, I can get that shot any day with my camera phone. I just have to mark it private

The direct link isn't working? How about now? It's compressed a bit much for web, but you get the idea.

ZV

lol What happened? The boat just yanked the rope right out of their hands?

Slalom skiing, she had a nice cut that she wrong-handed, almost saved it, then went down.

The first 4 shots in my Flickr stream have the sequence. Link.

To Heidfirst: Interesting. I didn't realise that the A200 used a different viewfinder. In that case, it's definitely worth considering. I apologize for the mis-information.

ZV

 

[Flipped Gazelle]

Disclaimer: I'm a Pentax shooter on a shoestring.

To me, one of the best arguments atm for going Pentax in the Pentax 55-300mm lens. According to virtually everything I've read about it, it is far better than a $300-$350 telephoto has a right to be, sharp even wide open at full telephoto. No other mfgr has this. I have the Tamron 70-300, and it's pretty nice for what it is (fairly sharp, a bit muddy, TONS of PF), but the Penatx 55-300 blows it away.

Peccadillo: Pentax generally underexposes by 1/3 Ev or so, so if you are not shooting in bright sunshine, you may want to account for this.

I'm not a person who suffers from lens buying addiction, so I don't ever really anticipate having more than a handful of lenses. I enjoy casual wildlife shooting, but not enough to spend thousands of $$ on it. Heck, I won't even spend a grand on a Bigma. So, the Pentax system works for me. If you have larger aspiration, check to see if the system you are buying into will be able to fulfill your photographic desires.

PS - the sensor-shift image stabilization is very useful. I've been able to get sharp low-light photos @ 300mm with a 1/15s shutter.