Pentax K20D, K200D Official

[jpeyton]

K20D

It doesn't look like the perfect camera; there are advantages and disadvantages compared to the 40D and D300.

At least they have the resolution battle won; 14.6MP (or even 15.1MP if they use the raw pixel count) will be a nice bullet point to grab consumer attention.

K200D

Stripped the guts from the K10D, stuck it in a smaller package, added a new image processor.

 

[ElFenix]

interesting strategy with no live view on the K200D. that could be ok or it could bite them against the 450D. i guess the A200 doesn't have it either.

for some reason the K20D looks like a really wide camera. maybe it's just the perspective of dpreview's image combined with the short proportions of the pentax 50/1.4


so, to compare the new sub $1000 cameras:

A200:
10.2 MP CCD
30 - 1/4000 shutter speed
9 area AF (center cross type)
ISO 3200
dynamic range optimization
2.7" 320x240 LCD
3 fps jpeg unlimited, 3 fps raw for 6 frames
proprietary battery
battery grip available
.83 95% viewfinder(294 mm sq)
CCD shake dust reduction
CCD shift stabilization
CF cards
5.2x3.7x2.8 inches
1.2 lbs without battery
$700 with 18-70 kit lens

K200:
10.2 MP CCD (same sensor probably)
30-1/4000 shutter speed
11 point AF
ISO 1600 max (available in 1, 1/2, and 1/3 stops)
compressed raw and dng formats
2.7" 320x240 LCD
2.8 fps jpeg and raw, 4 frames, 1.1 unlimited jpeg
AA batteries
battery grip available
.85 96% viewfinder (301 mm sq)
CCD shake dust reduction and dust alert function
CCD shift stabilization
SD cards
5.2x3.7x2.9 inches
1.4 lbs without battery
$800 with 18-55 kit lens


Rebel XSi/450D:
12.2 MP CMOS
30-1/4000 shutter speed
9 point AF with f/2.8 center cross type
ISO 1600 max (highlight tone priority available)
4% spot meter
14 bit raw
3" 320x240 LCD
live view with both phase and contrast detect AF
3.5 fps for 53 jpeg or 6 raw
bigger battery than 400D
.87 95% viewfinder (271 mm sq, old was 249)
low pass filter vibration
SD cards
5.1x3.9x2.4 inches
1 lb without battery
"improved grip"
$799 body/$899 with 18-55IS

between the A200 and the K200, the A200 will sell better. they're basically the same camera. more people have probably heard of sony these days. the pentax costs $100 more. and you know the sony will have ISO 3200 labeled prominently ("so does that mean i can take pictures in the dark with my f/3.5 lens?"). i'll bet the pentax is built better.




well things just got interesting. canon stays a step ahead with a couple more MP (probably not worth much, but joe shmoe doesn't know that). canon also adds in live view with both phase detect and the contrast detect they left out of the 40D. much as certain people around here pooh-pooh live view, i think it is a killer feature for the person making decisions at best buy, circuit city, fry's, wherever. they're going to look at the other compact SLRs cameras and think "well, that one can't even show the image on the back LCD like all those little pocket cameras, why would i spend three to four times the price and not get it?" if they were all the same price, the XSi is the one to get (assuming the grip actually has improved). for $200 more, i think the added couple of MP and live view will sway a lot of regular joes.

now to see what nikon has in store with an updated D40x (er, D60) and a D80s/D90. i'll bet sony's 12,2 MP CMOS doesn't show up in the D60, though it might make an appearance in a D80 successor.

 

[soydios]

I really don't WANT increased resolution. What I want for my uses is better high-ISO noise performance.

 

[jpeyton]

I'm curious if they improved the dust-removal for either the K20D or the K200D; the dust-removal for the last generation of Pentax cameras was found to be largely ineffective.

 

[kalster]

seems like a good upgrade, although should have really increased the shooting rate to 5fps, the lenses announced , 300/2.8 400/4 , 35/2.8 limited are IMO more exciting

 

[randomlinh]

Originally posted by: jpeyton
I'm curious if they improved the dust-removal for either the K20D or the K200D; the dust-removal for the last generation of Pentax cameras was found to be largely ineffective.

weren't the all fairly ineffective?

Originally posted by: kalster
seems like a good upgrade, although should have really increased the shooting rate to 5fps, the lenses announced , 300/2.8 400/4 , 35/2.8 limited are IMO more exciting

A little I guess, nothing that piques my interest though.

K20D sounds promising, can't wait to see what it can do.

 

[jpeyton]

Originally posted by: randomlinh
weren't the all fairly ineffective?

Olympus did ok.

 

[Deadtrees]

"At least they have the resolution battle won"

Only true if Pentax managed to 'fix' their JPEG processing algorithm (or, it might be due to using too much JPEG compression);

 

[Heidfirst]

apparently they haven't fixed the AF from the K10D either & that supposedly isn't too good.

 

[dug777]

Originally posted by: ElFenix


well things just got interesting. canon stays a step ahead with a couple more MP (probably not worth much, but joe shmoe doesn't know that). canon also adds in live view with both phase detect and the contrast detect they left out of the 40D. much as certain people around here pooh-pooh live view, i think it is a killer feature for the person making decisions at best buy, circuit city, fry's, wherever. they're going to look at the other compact SLRs cameras and think "well, that one can't even show the image on the back LCD like all those little pocket cameras, why would i spend three to four times the price and not get it?" if they were all the same price, the XSi is the one to get (assuming the grip actually has improved). for $200 more, i think the added couple of MP and live view will sway a lot of regular joes.

now to see what nikon has in store with an updated D40x (er, D60) and a D80s/D90. i'll bet sony's 12,2 MP CMOS doesn't show up in the D60, though it might make an appearance in a D80 successor.

Having posted a similar prediction about live view in an argument last year, I'm sad to say that it increasingly looks like an accurate prediction

When they start skimping on viewfinders and justify it bay saying 'lol zomg it has hooj live view instead lol' is when I break down and cry

Ah well, bring on the D80s/D90

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: dug777

When they start skimping on viewfinders and justify it bay saying 'lol zomg it has hooj live view instead lol' is when I break down and cry

maybe, but that hasn't happened yet. the 40D has an improved viewfinder over the 30D, the xsi has an improved viewfinder over the xti, and the K20D has the same excellent .95 95% viewfinder that the K10D had.

for the 40D and K20D (and A700 as well, iirc), which don't have 100% viewfinders, live view is important for those precisely framed, carefully set up tripod shots. and even for cameras with 100% finders, the ability to superimpose gridlines can still help.

Ah well, bring on the D80s/D90

yeah i'm interested to see what nikon will be doing with that camera. perhaps photokina.

 

[magomago]

Nice improvement on the K20D. Glad they moved to a CMOS sensor - although their prices are mos def increasing at this point :x Glad I got a 6 mp on my APS-C sized sensor.

I'm actually kind of disappointed with the K200D. Basically an increased price on the K10D in a smaller package. I guess people will gobble it up? But the K10D did have some issues (although most K10D owners were never bothered by it...) and I would hope those were resolved.

Anyways glad to see pentax is in the game and their samsung relationship is bearing fruit (ie: new sensor for them to use)

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: magomago
I'm actually kind of disappointed with the K200D. Basically an increased price on the K10D in a smaller package.

i didn't think about it that way, but i suppose that is exactly what it is. same shutter, same AF, same sensor, more steps to the ISO, crappier continuous, slightly better LCD, no rechargeable battery, no weather seals, improved processing, only 1 control wheel. K10D with lens, $745 before $100 rebate at adorama. i suppose dumping the battery and weather sealing will allow pentax to cut the price further, at least.

 

[Heidfirst]

I thought that the K200D was getting weather seals?

 

[corkyg]

Originally posted by: soydios
What I want for my uses is better high-ISO noise performance.

The best way for that is a larger sensor all other things being equal.