Kit upgrade advice
Discussion
Hi All,
Due a bit a of a treat to myself, and I'm considering upgrading some of my camera kit, so open to some thoughts please.
Before we start, I'm no pro, and don't manage to do it as much as I'd like so this is a consideration on budget etc. I'd mainly like to try and shoot wildlife, or motorsport a bit, family stuff is covered fine by the kit lens + a nice 50mm lens.
Currently have a Pentax K200d, I'd like to stick with pentax as I have a couple of lenses I'm keeping and like to be different!
Considering...
a) replace my 50-200 (my largest zoom) with a 50-300 SMC lens - cost about £200 if I'm patient to find a good used one.
b) Replace the K200D with a K5, its 16MP vs 10, more importantly is a step up from my entry level DSLR. About £300-350
c) Replace the K200D with a K3, its 24MP? and seems to get good reviews, about £700 though.
So what do you guys think... I should perhaps say that I would probably be happy to spend C+A, but not at the same time...and I'd probably really question if it was value for money compared the use it would get, and I'd be disappointed if I didn't start to take some pretty good photos - however I'm aware talent and practice is also required for that.
I guess the shortcoming I'm aware of with my current setup, is that it is too slow to focus / track birds in flight. So its very much luck to get something good. I think probably the lens (its the standard entry level pentax 50-200 WR lens) and camera are equally to blame for this. Also I'm finding that the limited focal length is hindering my choices of shot, especially chances to get wildlife shots nearby - the hides etc are normally a reasonably distance from photo ops, other than ducks. I don't currently have the MP count to get away with heavy crops.
Over to you - I guess I'm maybe leaning towards combined A+B as a good refresh after 5 years, without spending £1k banking that I'll spend more time taking photos...
Due a bit a of a treat to myself, and I'm considering upgrading some of my camera kit, so open to some thoughts please.
Before we start, I'm no pro, and don't manage to do it as much as I'd like so this is a consideration on budget etc. I'd mainly like to try and shoot wildlife, or motorsport a bit, family stuff is covered fine by the kit lens + a nice 50mm lens.
Currently have a Pentax K200d, I'd like to stick with pentax as I have a couple of lenses I'm keeping and like to be different!
Considering...
a) replace my 50-200 (my largest zoom) with a 50-300 SMC lens - cost about £200 if I'm patient to find a good used one.
b) Replace the K200D with a K5, its 16MP vs 10, more importantly is a step up from my entry level DSLR. About £300-350
c) Replace the K200D with a K3, its 24MP? and seems to get good reviews, about £700 though.
So what do you guys think... I should perhaps say that I would probably be happy to spend C+A, but not at the same time...and I'd probably really question if it was value for money compared the use it would get, and I'd be disappointed if I didn't start to take some pretty good photos - however I'm aware talent and practice is also required for that.
I guess the shortcoming I'm aware of with my current setup, is that it is too slow to focus / track birds in flight. So its very much luck to get something good. I think probably the lens (its the standard entry level pentax 50-200 WR lens) and camera are equally to blame for this. Also I'm finding that the limited focal length is hindering my choices of shot, especially chances to get wildlife shots nearby - the hides etc are normally a reasonably distance from photo ops, other than ducks. I don't currently have the MP count to get away with heavy crops.
Over to you - I guess I'm maybe leaning towards combined A+B as a good refresh after 5 years, without spending £1k banking that I'll spend more time taking photos...
I reckon it's always best to invest in glass although I wouldn't personally go for the extra zoom... Although it contradicts what I said before you should be able to crop in with the higher resolution body and get the same results as having the longer zoom but you'd have the added advantage of higher res when not cropping...
Thanks!
I've done a bit of reading up, and it would seem that there is no improvement on the AF with the 55-300mm lens (and other manufacturers for pentax fit also). It seems that what I'm experiencing is common with many non pro cameras and non pro lenses. The pro quality zoom lens is more than I'm prepared to pay, at least until I can improve my technique + regularly spend time taking photos.
I'm now really torn between a used K5 that is up for sale (£315), or stumping up £630 for a K3. the K5 ii's are so expensive to buy you might as well buy the K3!
Thank's I think I'm probably now inclined to upgrade the body, and then practice a bit more and then re-evaluate the lenses I have.
I've done a bit of reading up, and it would seem that there is no improvement on the AF with the 55-300mm lens (and other manufacturers for pentax fit also). It seems that what I'm experiencing is common with many non pro cameras and non pro lenses. The pro quality zoom lens is more than I'm prepared to pay, at least until I can improve my technique + regularly spend time taking photos.
I'm now really torn between a used K5 that is up for sale (£315), or stumping up £630 for a K3. the K5 ii's are so expensive to buy you might as well buy the K3!
Thank's I think I'm probably now inclined to upgrade the body, and then practice a bit more and then re-evaluate the lenses I have.
i would be tempted by the K3 but wait until the K3ii comes out (which is very soon) so it is even cheaper, the zoom lens you are looking at is considered better than your current one but i suspect from what people have said on the Pentax forums is that K200>K3 is the best upgrade out of your options
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