Travel Technology - any experience - Pentax *ist DL

Does anyone have any experience with the Pentax *ist DL Digital SLR? I'm sure the Nikon's are better, but I have a sizable investment in pre-digital K mount lenses. I know the auto focus won't work with the K mounts and am willing to accept that fact.

Does anyone else make a good digital SLR that accepts K mount lenses?

I really like my Pentax *ist DL Digital SLR. But are you more of a pro or a novice? I'm sort of in between so my Pentax gives me enough odds and ends to suffice my photography ventures.

I have a friend who's very much into photography and he recommends the Canon. A pretty comparable model is the Canon Rebel.

My dad and I are both in the "advanced amateur" category - he's got one of the *ist DSLRs - for him, part of the motivation was size - he didn't want something quite as big as a Nikon D70 or similar. I've got a D70s with the 18-200mm VR f/3.5-5.6 and love it.

I just did a little google searching, and it looks like there's a guy who makes an adapter to convert the Pentax K mount to a modern Canon system (like a Digital Rebel). $175. Can't use it with a full-frame sensor Canon like the 1DsMkII, but the smaller Rebels would work with it.

http://www.cameraquest.com/frames/4saleReos.htm

Also, I found a site with a table of registration distances (from the front of the mount on the body to the plane of the film/image sensor). It looks like within the realm of in-production bodies, adapting a K-mount to either Canon EOS, Sigma, or KonicaMinolta are the only viable options. Nikon wouldn't work, as the adapter would effectively be an extension tube, causing you to lose the ability to focus out to infinity.

http://www.graphics.cornell.edu/~westin/misc/mounts-by-register.html

Hi,

The istDL uses the same sensor as the Nikon, so there will not be much difference in image quality. Who has teh best quality images is a debatable question and even in the digital age it is more about what lens you put on the front of the camera than the camera itself.

That said, you may want to wait a little while before buying a new camera. Pentax is about to bring out a new range which will include a 6 Megapixel with in body shake reduction (K100D) that should retail at US$799. This would give you shake reduction with all autofocus lenses (not with manual focus lenses unfortunately). There is also a one without shake reduction (K110D) at US$699.

The new10 Megapixel camera (K10D) is due out about September and has shake reduction also.

I have an istD, the original Pentax SLR and it uses the same sensor as the DL (and the Nikon) and I have printed some very nice pictures up to A3 and know of people who have printed up to 20 x 30 inches with great results.

Hope this helps.

Leon

Thanks for all the very helpful information.

I'm going to buy the *ist DL. "Mr Falconea", I can't wait for the new models, although shake reduction would be nice for the wife, as I need this for an upcoming trip.

I've found *ist DL on buydig.com for $479 all in, including the 18-55mm AF lens. A good deal imo.