Digital SLR

[oldblue]

Now this is a serious piece of glass!!!!!

I've been using my 18-200 VR lens for a year and a half now and it has been serving me very very well... Can take pics at 1/20 sec hand held with minimal blur. In fact, it has never left my D70s!!!

It's only problem is vignetting at full aperture which is most noticeable when taking under bright light but is easily overcome by coming down a f-stop or two...

This lens is sooo good there's still a waiting line to buy it in Adorama...

ang sarap gamitin sir no? the VR is also useful. I have pasmado hands. from time to time I experience blurry pics sa kit lens pero dito never hehehe

meron ka din prime lens? i also bought the 50mm f1.8d, ang sarap mag-thinker ng aperture photography although hirap lang adjust sa manual focus.

[jeff1101]

Hi guys! I just bought a K10D at KameraHaus. Will get it this Saturday.
Been sold on this model because of the very positive reviews on the net, plus the almost legendary reputation of Pentax (Asahi) lenses.

I will post feedback, on my experiences with it once I get my hands on it.
BTW, I just heard it uses the same battery as the Konica-Minolta DSLRs before so getting third party battery should be easy (?).

I got it for 50K (cash) with 18-55 mm Kit lens, camera bag and 1 Gb SD card.

My next purchase would be a flash unit, most certainly the Vivitar 285HV manual/automatic flash that I read works with this unit. (This thing is a monster, its as big as the camera body!) (Pentax P-TTL flashes are too expensive for me).

My background... Im a P&S user for 3 yrs now. This is my first serious camera with full manual controls. I want to get into the wedding/events photography business. I could actually use a P&S cam for this but then I think clients expect a DSLR for you to be taken seriously.

[GerardTagayty]

hey jeff1101! congratulamations on the purchase! happy shootin!

is it the camera house sa may park square? paragn 54 an price nila dati jan when i last asked (jan?) or was it the alpha? hhmm anyway happy shootin! :D

[BlueBimmer]

hey parang ok price na 50k for the k10D ah may SD card pa although mura na sobra SD card na generic....diba KameraHaus has branches in many malls? i thought mahal price ng mall shops...

[theveed]

Oh man, the K10D, if I were to purchase another body, this would definitely be it... As much as I love L lenses, IS + L simply costs too much for a non-pro (not earning from photography) to collect.

OK din yung package ng Sanly for the kit... Pentax's lens mount compatibility is second to none hehe.

[nicolodeon]

Nice camera Jeff. Congratulations. As for the battery, it won't be as easy to find as the Ni-MH or Lion AA batteries that a number of cameras use for power. Then again, the AA batteries has advantages and disadvantages. If you seriously are considering to be a wedding/events photographer, I'd recommend you get a much better lens than that kit lens of yours. I'm not saying that the kit lens sucks - it's pretty good but there are other lenses out there that are better. I'm not saying you get it now. You can build up your equipment over time but hey, if you got the moolah, why not? I'm no wedding photographer or events photographer but I think you would need a couple of prime lenses, a couple of wide/ultrwides, one medium telephoto, one telephoto/zoom perhaps and a nice macro lens.

[jeff1101]

Thnx for the replies. I first decided I liked it based on reading reviews from the net. When I first handled it (prior to purchase), I thought to myself, Wow! this thing is built like a tank! Although the body is made of plastic, it has serious heft and you really feel you're getting your moneys worth.

Handling wise, its bigger than the K100D (camera I was supposed to buy, since cheaper) has a bigger grip although I really like the handling and the shape of the grip of the K100D. The pointed thing that contours the grip of the K100D is unfortunately absent in the K10D. (Swak na swak sa kamay ko yun e) Unfortunately for the use I had i mind, (i.e. wedding) clients usually ask for a particular photo to be blown up to larger than A4 size which I feel 6 megapixel would be inadequate.

BTW, K10D unfortunately has no scene modes (so its not recommended for beginners????) unlike the K100D. Its got one auto-matic mode and lots and lots of flavours of manual mode.

[jeff1101]

BTW, I purchased it at Kamera Haus SM SouthMall branch, although yeah I think the one in Glorietta, tapat ng Park Square is the same.

I already went to Hidalgo when I was looking for a camera to buy, but honestly the place didnt really inspire confidence. I could probably buy the tripod and/or slave flashes there but I dont think I would bet a 50K plus purchase on that place, first of all I would need at least decent support and/or warranty.

As for the price It was 56K there when I asked. It took some serious haggling, threatening and begging before they agreed at 50K provided it was cash. I didnt have enough money then so I downed 10K on the spot with the promise I'll pay the balance this Saturday. (That was last Sunday).

Just a tip...

I also specifically asked them I wanted NIB (New In Box) and to be doubly sure they didnt swap theyre display unit I had them write down the serial number of the NIB unit they had in stock at the time. The serial number they wrote at the back of the reciept for the 10K so when I get back I can check this the one Im getting.

[theveed]

I've printed larger than A4 with my 10D (6.2MP) with no issues at all in resolution BTW.

The K10D has a lot of automatic modes as well, not scene modes nga lang for point and shooters.

6K discount is quite a bit for a mall dude, good job haggling.

[nicolodeon]

I already went to Hidalgo when I was looking for a camera to buy, but honestly the place didnt really inspire confidence. I could probably buy the tripod and/or slave flashes there but I dont think I would bet a 50K plus purchase on that place, first of all I would need at least decent support and/or warranty.

'Depends on which store you buy from, your particular need, how to look and on your familiarity with the place. Hidalgo is the granddaddy of all camera supply areas. That place has been famous since the 60s. Most of the noted/famous Filipino photographers are still referring Hidalgo as one of the places to visit, especially for camera buffs on a tight budget. The Nikon D40 kit is sold at the malls for round 28-35T pesos. Mayers I think sells it for "only" 24-25K. The Canon 400D is sold at the malls between 43-48T pesos. Henry's sells it at around 37-38 (same for Mayers I think...maybe even lower) - and one can still haggle for the price.

Hidalgo is also the place to go if one wants to purchase 2nd hand items. I got a nice, mint condition Canon Speedlite 420EZ at Hidalgo for only 3K and Canon 75-300mm lens for only 5K in pristine condition. The K10D (like the K100D) is compatible with almost all Pentax K-mount (bayonet) lenses manufactured from 1970 and there is a plethora of those at Hidalgo. Unfortunately, most of the store owners that sell these K-mount lenses jacked up their prices by at least 15-20% due to the success of the K100D and the K10D.

Hidalgo is also the place to go for film buffs (like me). Ilford B&W films are not available at any mall, as well as the Fujifilm Velvia. Medium format photographers still go to Hidalgo.

Need all sorts of filters? Hidalgo is the way to go. Lights for the studio? Again, Hidalgo. Need Manfrotto or Gitzo tripods at "low" prices? Again, Hidalgo. Sure, one can buy these things at Infomax but the price differences are noticeable. Infomax sells a 58mm circular polarizer for around P 800-900. I got mine at Hidalgo for only P 500. My UV filter cost me only P 200 at Hidalgo. I plan to go back there after this trip of mine to get a close-up glass lens.

There are a number of reputable camera shops in Hidalgo that do offer warranties e.g. Mayers, Henry's and Avenue. The DSLR cameras by Nikon and Canon being sold by Mayers now-a-days does have warranties. The warranty sticker by Columbia (for Nikon) and by Canon are visibly stuck on the boxes.

I know a number of people who have bought expensive equipment at Hidalgo and never flinched. KimPoy is one. The key to shopping in Quiapo is to be as inconspicuous as possible so as not to attract crooks.

I'm not disputing your statement, bro. You got a good purchase and I frankly am impressed that you were able to shave off 6K at the price. If you think that Hidalgo is not the place for you, I'd most probably second that because one man's shoe may not fit perfectly with another man's foot.

However, for those of us who remember the Hidalgo of old and like real good bargains, that place would never loose its appeal.

[BlueBimmer]

i hope by november, the K10D or other nikon n canon dslrs would drop in price...thats my planned purchase month hehe

[kimpOy]

i love hidalgo (mabaho nga lang) was able to sell pa a non-working video8cam and a non-working yashieca cam for 2K...and people at henry's are mabait.. pati owners... kalog

will go there in the future for my DSLR purchase he..he

[theveed]

Damn, dapat ata dalin ko dun yung video8 and otehr old stuff ko hehe.

Bimbim: The only time when consumer electronics prices drop is when a newer, better model comes out. When that happens, chances are you'd feel slighted for choosing an "older" model and the cycle begins once again hehe.

[docgorio]

ang sarap gamitin sir no? the VR is also useful. I have pasmado hands. from time to time I experience blurry pics sa kit lens pero dito never hehehe

meron ka din prime lens? i also bought the 50mm f1.8d, ang sarap mag-thinker ng aperture photography although hirap lang adjust sa manual focus.

Gerard - I have the unfair advantage of working aboard a cruise ship so I got mine in the Caribbean. My D70s for $700, the 18-200VR for $750 and the SB800 for $300. Six weeks later the D80 came out :rant: ...

Oldblue - if you have a 50mm prime then you actually have an 80mm if you convert the 1.6x magnification factor. I'm now trying to look at a 35 or 28mm prime lens as my nex buy...

By the way, a friend of mine aboard the vessel has a 12-24mm Nikkor lens. I can't remember the lens opening though... Wonderful if you want panoramic shots but tends to get so distorted too...

[theveed]

1.5x crop ang Nikon diba?

Distortion can be easily fixed post-processing, so kung mura bilin mo na :D

Still torn as to saving up for a K10D kit or a 24-105 L IS hehe. Lente palang K10D body na

[docgorio]

Oo nga... 1.5x lang pala...

Sorry about that...

Theveed, he's not selling the 12-24... In fact he even declared to his wife it's mine and I'm lending it to him so he won't get bopped in the head for buying yet "another stupid lens"...

[GerardTagayty]

inggit ako sa vr nyo medyo pasmado kase ako e.... hehehe not that im disappointed with my kit lens, it did give me a ton of nice photos. pag extended na yun lens ko e medyo kita na yun pagkanginigin ng kamay ko... ahehehehe! and anyway la pa ako budget for that lens and a nice flash.... maybe 3rd qtr pag niswerte... hehehe oorrr a fish eye attachement... nyee... hehehe

[theveed]

Gerard: Well sanayin mag tripod hehe. Actually, most pros use a tripod/mono no matter what they shoot unless they have to run or have limited space to work with.

Wag na fisheye pre, pwede naman simulate sa post-processing hehehe.

[GerardTagayty]

oo nga sir e.. hindi ko na rin tinatanggal minsan yun thingie sa bottom para madali ikabit sa tripod. madalas lang talaga cant afford to extend pa my tripod. pagka extend ko wala na. walana pipicturan ko. hehehe

super intrigued kase ako on what i can do with the fish eye attachment.. hehehe. oh well dream on muna ako i cant even afford a decent flash e... hehehe! im gonna want din a compact. wwwaaaa! i have GAS... lol

[oldblue]

inggit ako sa vr nyo medyo pasmado kase ako e.... hehehe not that im disappointed with my kit lens, it did give me a ton of nice photos. pag extended na yun lens ko e medyo kita na yun pagkanginigin ng kamay ko... ahehehehe! and anyway la pa ako budget for that lens and a nice flash.... maybe 3rd qtr pag niswerte... hehehe oorrr a fish eye attachement... nyee... hehehe

meron daw bago labas ng VR ngaun 55-200mm mura lang daw compared sa 18-200VR, around 15k ata sa hidalgo. sayang nga eh di ko alam

bale karugtong ng kit lens mo.