I don't believe Imaging-Resource's DR measurements any more than I do DPReview's calling the JPEG rendering unsatisfactory. Neither of these review sites does what I consider to be credible testing.
I've made something on the order of 4000 exposures with the K10D now, nearly all in RAW format, and compared them with the 30,000 + exposures I made with the *ist DS (same sensor as the K100D). There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that the K10D has about 1 to 1.5 stops more usable dynamic range compared to the older 6 Mpixel sensor in RAW format capture. One of these days I'll do the same DR testing that I did with the *ist DS (or do them both side by side since I still have the DS body and it would be more accurate to repeat the test with the exact same setup) and compare them explicitly for this. Beyond that, the K100D was not really an "upgrade" from the DS ... smaller buffer, same sensor, lesser viewfinder, etc, in exchange for image stabilization and recomputed exposure/image processing system ... and the K10D represents a substantial step up in almost every way (more resolution, better viewfinder, more responsive, more accurate metering, better image quality, better features, etc etc etc). The only things lost between the DS and K10D are the "who cares" old-style TTL flash metering (I never used it anyway) and the fact that the K10D is a bit larger. The K10D's battery is *identical* to a Minolta/Konica Minolta NP400 as used in several of their high-end prosumer cameras. It's a better battery than the CRV3 or AA set used in the DS and K100D, and is easily available for less than $20 from third party suppliers. I sold my second DS body for $330 on Ebay two weeks ago. I'll get a LOT of work done with the K10D before anything with significant advantage is delivered to replace it. ;-) Godfrey On Apr 19, 2007, at 1:33 PM, Russell Kerstetter wrote: > FWIW... on the l-ion batteries there are several on the list who > bought extras of a non-OEM brand that I beleive are intended for a > Minolta of some variety, I seem to recall the battery being prices > around $18 on B&H, if that helps with the decision. > > Otherwise... I also have a DL, and am frustrated with MF in any > lighting condition and my personal plan to solve this problem (at the > moment) is to aquire a DS/2, which also has the prism instead of > mirror. > > And finally... can you really get $250-300 for a DL on ebay? I > thought I has seen a DS new-in-box with warranty go for $325. I > figured the most for a used DL would be around $200, I could be very > wrong though. :) Good luck in your upcoming enablement. > > Russ > > On 4/19/07, AlexG <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >> Hi guys, >> >> I have been quite annoyed at all the low-light shots that I had to >> delete because of slight camera shake. While I'd love to have the use >> of a tripod, I A- Don't have one and B- wouldn't bring it with me >> if I >> did, so I've decided that shake reduction is a feature worth having. >> >> Also the JPEGs out of the DL are only satisfactory under very >> specific >> conditions. The k100d and k10d are both much better from what I've >> seen. >> >> I currently have an *ist DL, with 18-55 and 50-200 lenses. My M42 >> 50mm/1.4 is currently sitting on ebay, because I suck at focusing >> when >> the light is low. >> >> Anyway, I am in a bit of a pickle. I am hesitating between k100d and >> k10d, the former being about half the cost of the k10d makes it >> extremely attractive right now. >> >> Here are the advantages of each, as I see them. >> >> K100d: >> CHEAP!! >> Lower noise >> Up to iso3200 >> Better dynamic range than k10d (as measured in raw by Imaging- >> Resource) >> AA Batteries >> >> K10d: >> 10MP makes for an extra 800x600 of breathing room when cropping >> Pentaprism viewfinder >> SSD/SSM/USM in-lens focus compatibility (==future-proof) >> Excellent firmware (customizable white balance presets, mtf priority, >> adjustable autoiso range, hyperprogram, etc) >> >> Plan is to sell the DL, body-only for 250-300 on ebay, as it is >> almost >> new (2100 pics vs the 17000 that seems to be the norm here :) ) >> >> I will get the FA50/1.4 at the time of purchase. >> >> I have been concerned about the k10d's image quality, both from a >> noise and 'banding' perspective. Proprietary li-ion batteries piss me >> off because they cost so much to replace. >> >> But the pentaprism looks gooooooooooood. As do some of the pictures >> I've seen. And SSM seems to be the proper solution to the pentax SLR >> slow autofocus syndrome, though this has yet to be verified. The >> lenses (DA*) seem to be very nice, and quite fast compared to the >> current DA zooms so they'd be nice to upgrade to. >> >> If I get the k100d, i can get SR RIGHT NOW and worry about a >> super-high-end camera in a year's time when the k10d's successor >> comes >> out. -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List [email protected] http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
