Stephen, With respect to Question #1: All the cameras have the same sensor and basic electrical components. D was the first - uses CF cards, capable of taking a battery pack/vertical grip. DS was the second - uses SD cards, slightly different controls & instruction set. (capabilities are identical to the D, bigger LCD for chimping?) No vertical grip. DL cheaper alternative but uses porro mirror for viewfinder, not penta prism. (capabilities are identical to the Ds) No vertical grip. DS2, DL2 - introduced with bigger LDC on the back of the camera and a software upgrade (at least in the DS2). (Software upgrade is available on the Pentax USA site so you can update your DS if you have one - 5 minutes with a high speed internet connection - Thanks Pentax!)
Bottom line is these are all a family of cameras based on the same electronics and capable of delivering the same digital results. The first of the series, the *ist D, has the usual Pentax prototyping issues. The DS drops some of those initial features and gets to a great camera with everything you need. The DL cuts some corners (viewfinder) to drop the price for the mass market. Regards, Bob S. On 5/17/06, Stephen D'Andrea <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Greetings all, After a couple years absence I've returned to the list. My passion for Pentax never waned during my time away, but my leisure to keep up with the list did. In the intervening years I've been drawn closer to going digital, so the time has come to ask the right questions of the people in the know. 1. Can someone give me a brief explanation (or confirmation) of the differences in the istD, DL, and DS (plus the "2" versions). I've read what I can about them but just when I think I'm getting the general idea of them in comparison I still feel like something eludes me. For example, I know the "plain" D is the oldest of the three, and the most expensive, but I find myself asking, "Why is this camera still being made?" I get the general sense that the D is aimed at a higher level user than the DL or DS, though they all have many of the same features, and the LCD screens are bigger on the more recent models, but I still don't feel like I have a clear idea of what the D can do that the DS or DL can't. What makes the D cost twice as much as a camera that's several years newer? 2. I'm attracted to the Ds for the Pentax experience I've had for the last 27 years and the option to use my existing A series lenses. Can someone clarify what happens to the focal length when an older lens is put on the newer body? 3. Can I use my AF400T flash with any of the Ds? 4. What are the latest rumors about the next generation of Pentax digital SLRs? I know one of the inevitable questions about dispensing advice will be "What kind of photographer are you?" The easiest answer is "somewhere in that vague area that defines people who have a bachelor's degree in photography, do some freelance commercial work when they have to, but generally do their own personal photo projects." After 18 years with an MX I bought in college (with money I earned using my dad's Spotmatic), I've used an LX for the past eight or nine years. And, boy, you go away from the list for a few months and a whole new set of acronyms pops up. You certainly can't tell the players if you don't have a scorecard. Would someone patient be so kind to explain what the following terms mean to the casual reader: GESO PESO PAW GFM PEOW anything else that comes to mind Thanks. I did miss reading the messages and am glad to be tuned in again. -Stephen
