Should I buy a decent camera?

[g8ina]

I would add *third party lenses* into that mix. Much more available for Ca/Nikon.

[GeorgeStorm]

Yeah I saw the snapsort link, hence why I'm now unsure what to go for.

And g8ina, I presumed that would have been one of the major reasons they haven't been recommended (same as panny/sony) was because they were a less common brand, getting other bits and pieces for them, mainly lenses would be more difficult with less choice etc.

Someone recommended I just get a Fujifilm FinePix S2950 rather than a DSLR at all, but I don't like the idea of getting a stopgap camera, since if I get into it, I'll end up buying a DSLR anyway :/

Reasons for going for a DSLR would be because it would be better for stuff like low light, fast moving shots.

[kalniel]

And g8ina, I presumed that would have been one of the major reasons they haven't been recommended (same as panny/sony) was because they were a less common brand, getting other bits and pieces for them, mainly lenses would be more difficult with less choice etc.

If you're talking about Pentax then don't worry. There's more than enough lenses available to satisfy your needs from what you've described. If you're shooting professionally, then maybe a different story, depending what kind of shooting you are doing. But otherwise you are worrying about a problem someone else might encounter, not you

Same for 4/3rds and micro 4/3rds based systems. But I wouldn't recommend the cheap ones for low-light (I only go up to ISO 1250), so haven't.

The main reason I'd recommend a canon/nikon is simply that you're looking second hand, and they're the most popular so there's more choice (and older models are more quickly obsoleted by this years colours etc.)

[TheAnimus]

I would add *third party lenses* into that mix. Much more available for Ca/Nikon.

Really? I've not found that to be the case at all.

In fact I'd say its FIRST party lenses which the Pentax falls shorter on.

The only thing I've found is tamron / sigma sometimes not bringing IS lenses out on pentax. That is mostly because the in lens IS isn't worth the premium when people compare it against body, normally, under plenty of circumstances. Image Stabalisation is very subjective so YMMV, but I would strongly urge you to play with it and see what in body can give, then remember it gives you the option with every lens.

With 3rd party lenses I'd also say never be affraid to use an old one. I've picked up a really good Ziess lens before now for £20, made a great birthday pressie, and if you've got in body IS, then it makes a loverly old fast 35mm prime (very close to 50mm on a APC-S) a great weapon.

A downside worth noting, if your the kind of person who needs a class to get going, you will need to make sure you know your way round the camera settings, because a CaNikon have much more market dominence and plenty of teachers wouldn't know their Tv from the Av in pentax.

[j.o.s.h.1408]

I would add *third party lenses* into that mix. Much more available for Ca/Nikon.

+1. more affordable and some are equally as good as the can/nikon equivalent

[peterb]

I love my DSLR, best thing I've bought in the last 5 years. I've carried it all over the UK, and to many places in the world. I even carry it to the office most days.

This! I have been interested in photography for years with Olympus OM1 and 2 being in my bag at various times. Eventually went digital with various low quality (but expensive at the time) compact/point and shoot, the best was an Olympus C50 (partly because I could get a 40 metre housing fir it)

But last year I bought a used Canon 5D and a couple of lenses. Great purchase and when I take a bad photo, I can only blame myself and not the equipment!

[TheAnimus]

+1. more affordable and some are equally as good as the can/nikon equivalent

Josh, I don't think you know what your talking about in relation to the availability of the 3rd party glass.

This isn't a case of Sigma glass is a great alternative....

[j.o.s.h.1408]

Josh, I don't think you know what your talking about in relation to the availability of the 3rd party glass.

This isn't a case of Sigma glass is a great alternative....

well for canon i can walk into most jessops shops and buy a tamron lens. Amazon i can buy sigma or tamron.

Can you please educate me on what your point is?

[TheAnimus]

well for canon i can walk into most jessops shops and buy a tamron lens. Amazon i can buy sigma or tamron.

Can you please educate me on what your point is?

Erm the point was g8ina, said that there are many more 3rd party lenses available for cannon / nikon than pentax.

This is not true.

If you were saying that you think there are some great 3rd party lenses available for canikon, then yup, your right.

But as a pentax owner, whos budget outstrips his photographic prowes (joys of long work!) I've never seen a Sigma or Tamron which hasn't been in pentax fit.

So you see why I had to slap you down for +1'ing g8ina!

Yes there are some stonking 3rd party lenses avialable, but they are on Pentax and normally Sony too!

[g8ina]

Yeah, fairy nuff Ani.... It has been a while since I really looked at this.

[TheAnimus]

I feel like I might have over-reacted, but I didn't want OP to make his decision based on flawed statements!

OP: As I said before, try them out, find the one that feels better in your hands! There is really little between them, thou myself I'd go for the Pentax for the in body IS.

[GeorgeStorm]

Fair enough, so I guess the K-r is the most direct competitor at the price I'm looking at.
Seems to be 500/550D, D3100, K-r are the best choices at the price point (£350ish) Although those canons tend to be a little more.

A D3100 with kit lens has just come up at my local LCE for £265... That seems too good to be true!

[Saracen]

....

But as a pentax owner, whos budget outstrips his photographic prowes (joys of long work!) I've never seen a Sigma or Tamron which hasn't been in pentax fit.

....

I have, but it usually corrects over time. It is often the case, though, that new models come out in Canon, or Canon and Nikon fits, simply due to size of the market. And Pentax then gets added some time later. It can be quite a while.

I do agree, very much, with the "try them in your hands" idea, though. I wouldn't buy, especially when you're not so much buying a camera as buying into a system, without that.

[TheAnimus]

A D3100 with kit lens has just come up at my local LCE for £265... That seems too good to be true!

That certainly sounds like a good price, but I'd also want to have a good feel of it, check it over for abuse / defects. Will they let you leave a deposit and try it out for 15 min up and down the street?

[TheAnimus]

I have, but it usually corrects over time. It is often the case, though, that new models come out in Canon, or Canon and Nikon fits, simply due to size of the market. And Pentax then gets added some time later. It can be quite a while.

The only time I've seen that was in a Tamron 18-250mm with IS, they really delayed bringing it out on Pentax. I've also sometimes found supply issues, differen't pricing on the differen't system.

But I would say that Pentax is disadvantaged by this, its all swings and roundabouts, my 150-500mm Sigma was cheaper on Pentax due to a promotion by SRS Microsystems... So I'd say its a very mixed bag, and a very poor reason for choosing a camera system.

[g8ina]

I do agree, very much, with the "try them in your hands" idea, though. I wouldn't buy, especially when you're not so much buying a camera as buying into a system, without that.

This, can't emphasise it enough.