I would recommend the Pentax K100D. You can get it for less than $500 with a lens these days, and I think it's a better camera than the D40. The D40 limits you to lenses with built-in AF motors (AF-S in Nikon speak, HSM in Sigma speak). That means you cannot use any Nikon or third party lens except for the aforementioned AF-S and HSM lenses. The Pentax, OTOH, lets you use any K-mount lens ever made. The killer differentiator, IMO, is the built-in shake reduction. It turns any lens into an image-stabilized lens, so no need to buy expensive IS/VR/OS lenses, though arguably in body is not as good as in lens stabilization (but so what, this camera is $400 for the body).
I also prefer the Pentax interface, it's straightforward, and despite the fact that it's not a two-dial camera (e.g. a dial on top/front and back like it's big brother, the K10D, the Nikon D80, Canon 30D, etc.), the essential controls are within easy reach and not buried in a menu. The D40 seems to be aimed at the more fire-and-forget crowd, though both cameras have both fire-and-forget modes and settings, and manual settings.
Finally, I like Pentax's selection of Limited (name, not availability) primes (fixed focal length lenses).
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Mike @ Jun 28th 2007 6:03AM
I would recommend the Pentax K100D. You can get it for less than $500 with a lens these days, and I think it's a better camera than the D40. The D40 limits you to lenses with built-in AF motors (AF-S in Nikon speak, HSM in Sigma speak). That means you cannot use any Nikon or third party lens except for the aforementioned AF-S and HSM lenses. The Pentax, OTOH, lets you use any K-mount lens ever made. The killer differentiator, IMO, is the built-in shake reduction. It turns any lens into an image-stabilized lens, so no need to buy expensive IS/VR/OS lenses, though arguably in body is not as good as in lens stabilization (but so what, this camera is $400 for the body).
I also prefer the Pentax interface, it's straightforward, and despite the fact that it's not a two-dial camera (e.g. a dial on top/front and back like it's big brother, the K10D, the Nikon D80, Canon 30D, etc.), the essential controls are within easy reach and not buried in a menu. The D40 seems to be aimed at the more fire-and-forget crowd, though both cameras have both fire-and-forget modes and settings, and manual settings.
Finally, I like Pentax's selection of Limited (name, not availability) primes (fixed focal length lenses).