The Pentax 18-55mm lens is considered the best kit lens out there. I don't know about the others...

Period..

For instance, your usual kit lens (read: not the longer kit lens included in the various Oly "two lens kit" variations) has nowhere near the length to make them useful for shooting wildlife or most sports. They're not wide enough to go for really wide landscapes and architectural interiors without stitching. They're usually ~f/3.5-5.6, not fast enough to excel at low-light shots with subject motion. And so forth..

The Olympus 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 is a pretty darn good lens that -was- used as a kit, but I believe they haven't offered it as a 'kit' lens with any recent model, and it's still not exactly a birding or a sporting lens (well, most sports; ring-side boxing, it might work)...

The Pentax 18-55mm kit lens is good for what it is, has a metal mount and even includes a hood. Of the Pentax DA18-55, Photozone.de recently wrote; "The build quality is good for a kit zoom and a level up from the rest of the gang such as the Canon EF 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 or Nikkor AF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 ED.".

Http://www.photozone.de/8Reviews/dslr/pentax_k10d/index.html.

If the site search feature is down - and it usually is - you can always do an advanced search on Google for results from domain http://forums.dpreview.com..

I've used a couple of copies of the Canon kit lens, 18-55mm, extensively and it's a very poor lens..

The Nikon 18-55mm is very good for what it is, especially if you shut it down to f8-11..

These where taken with the Nikon 18-55mm kit lens..

Http://www.flickr.com/photos/fototext/sets/72157594518343232/..

The nikon is rather decent, the pentax is a bit better even.Don't wait for the Nikon D-whatever, have fun now!http://www.flickr.com/photos/j_wijnands/..

Canon:http://www.photozone.de/8Reviews/lenses/canon_1855_3556/index.htm.

Nikon:http://www.photozone.de/8Reviews/lenses/nikkor_1855_3556_II/index.htm.

Pentax:http://www.photozone.de/8Reviews/lenses/pentax_1855_3556/index.htm.

BTW, you're putting K10D in the wrong basket here, it's higher level model and competes with Nikon D80 and Canon 30D..

For entry level Pentax has K100D..

Edvinas..

Edvinas wrote:.

BTW, you're putting K10D in the wrong basket here, it's higher levelmodel and competes with Nikon D80 and Canon 30D..

For entry level Pentax has K100D..

Edvinas.

That's not completely correct. If you can get the K10D for about the same price as the Canon or the Nikon, it might very well be in the right basket here..

Personally, if I had to choose between these three, I'd go for the K10D. Not because it's better than the Canon or the Nikon, I can't judge that since I've never used any of these..

But: the Pentax has the advantage that there is a vast world of second hand lenses in K-mount out there (not just Pentax brand, but literally dozens of others, too) that are priced very friendly and allow you to expand your set of lenses for very little money. No kit lens is really that good, but buying decent lenses for the EOS or the D40 will mean cleaning out your bank account and starve yourself on a regular basis, get the K10D and at least you will be able to get some bread on the table, too. Without butter or anything else, mind you, but still bread....

Good luck deciding,PeterThere's no problem so big that you can't run away from it!..

Peter raises a good point on the vast stock of second hand Pentax lenses, they made some nice glass and I've seen them under valued second hand...

Phototext wrote:.

Peter raises a good point on the vast stock of second hand Pentaxlenses, they made some nice glass and I've seen them under valuedsecond hand..

Of course the down-side of vast stock of undervalued lenses is that your NEW lens immediately looses value. This is not an issue if you never intend to sell your lenses, but some brands are known for retaining their value. This makes a good argument when you are trying to explain your purchase to SWMBO. (LOL)Warm regards,DOF..

I didn't read what others suggested but my advice would be to consider a good prime lens instead of the kit. I got my 10D years ago and used the kit lens for a while until I really got fed up with my ability. I was ready to give up on DSLR until I took a chance on the EF 50mm f/1.8 for about $80 US. I think the very first shots I took on a whim were vastly improved..

I will admit that I'm not very dedicated to this hobby. I tend to come back to it every so often so my knowledge could be better. But I think zoom lenses require more knowledge to use well than a prime lens so many beginners might do poorly with a zoom lens. I think this is compounded by a zoom lens that isn't very fast or sharp..

But the major problem with a prime lens is they are not flexible like a typical zoom. But I think you are more apt to get hooked if you get some great shots so it's more important to look at quality than it is quantity..

Good luck..

Misc equip : Canon 610, Canon 400D, Canon 10D (about to sell), EF 50mm f/1.8 II, EF 85mm f/1.8 USM..

I've used all three. The build of the pentax is well above the rest. The canon is not that good at all. The nikon is good but still just about 100% plastic. Your best bets are the nikon or the pentax..

BTW the olympus has some nice 2 lens kits out there. Haven't used them too much though..

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I know that everyone loves the camera that they use but frankly you should at least check the Oly E510. It is frankly superior to the three you listed, in the same price range (at least in the US) with a 2 lens kit..

MaddogOlympus E-500, Olympus E-510..

The Olympus superior to the Pentax K10D...hmmm, interesting opinion. Judging by most reviews the K10D might be considered one of the best D-SLR's currently around, if you leave the pro-models like the D2Xs and 1D out of the equasion..

I'm sure the Olympus is no bad camera, but for me the body of the K10D is a couple of classes better.There's no problem so big that you can't run away from it!..

Hi,Have you read this thread from a Canon user going over to Olympus?.

Http://forums.dpreview.com/...forums/read.asp?forum=1022&message=23950058.

Regards, David..

Used prices on the more desireable lenses have been rising. New prices have been low in comparison to equal and lower quality lenses from other companies. I really doubt if the Zeiss 35/2 in PK mount will be less than twice the cost of the DA35/2...

As I understand it the K10D has a weather sealed tough body. The E510 does not. That's a pretty big plus..

Which you prefer is a matter for the individual, but to suggest the E510 is superior to the K10D is well wide of the mark..

StephenG.

Fuji S9600Fuji S5200Fuji F30Fuji E900Canon A710ISPCLinuxOS..

Ringwraith69 wrote:.

The Olympus superior to the Pentax K10D...hmmm, interesting opinion.Judging by most reviews the K10D might be considered one of the bestD-SLR's currently around, if you leave the pro-models like the D2Xsand 1D out of the equasion..

I'm sure the Olympus is no bad camera, but for me the body of theK10D is a couple of classes better.There's no problem so big that you can't run away from it!.

The K10D is indeed a better body..

But with the kit lens not being weather proofed it somewhat limits the advantage of a weatherproofed body.It's heavy comared to the 510......really heavy.The 510 dust removal system actually works..

The kit 510 with dual lens offers a much wider focal length range for about the same price..

But you are right they are not, nor should be, directly comparable.A member of the rabble in good standing...

I am not suggesting that the oly body is superior to the K10 or to the D200. It is not. However the K10 is heavyer by 300 grams. The oly has live view which is very helpful for macro or long shots with manual lenses, the oly has a functioning dust cleaning system and it comes with 2 lenses for the same price as the K10D does with one. Its exposure comensation is both finer and wider. The K10 has 11 focus points while the oly has 3.



Other features if you do the compare side by side.

Http://www.dpreview.com/...de&cameras=oly_e510%2Cpentax_k10d&show=all.

Are almost identical. I am not saying that the K10D is not a great camera. It is!! However IMHO the Olympus is a better value. While the 510 has not been rated by DPreview it has gotten rave reviews in other sites which rate it superior then it's direct competition. The K10D got a Highly Recommended rating on DPreview but the 510s little brother also got a Highly Recommended..

Like I said in my first post we all push the cameras that we use or are most familiiar with. However Oly often gets forgotten by beginners because of their truly horrible marketing and new users often don't consider it at all. In the final examination if the features are pretty much the same find some friends or a camera club, ask questions, play with as many as you can and pick the one you like.Olympus E-500, Olympus E-510..

Maddogmd11 wrote:The K10 has 11.

Focus points while the oly has 3. That means IMO that the K10 has 10more then necessary and Oly has 2 more than necessary ..

Uh ok. I'd prefer to have as many focus points as possible.It gives you more flexibility..

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Thats true but I have found that they also cause more problems..

There was a wonderful example in one of the forums about a guy taking a picture at the beach of his wife on thier 25th aniversary. He had centered his wife in the shot but then a beach bunny in a black and white bikini ran by. The wife was wearing a simple 1 piece suit that would be exceptable for her age, body type, and the elders at her church. The camera picked up on the high contrast and focused on the nymphet and her husband was not really paying attention..

When the wife ran over and wanted to see the shot her loving husband took on their 25th.....

This could happen to you.

Maddog.

Olympus E-500, Olympus E-510..

K1000Photographer wrote:.

Used prices on the more desireable lenses have been rising. Newprices have been low in comparison to equal and lower quality lensesfrom other companies. I really doubt if the Zeiss 35/2 in PK mountwill be less than twice the cost of the DA35/2..

You're absolutely right. However, since the OP mentioned that his budget was rather limited and he would not be able to get much more than a kit lens, the fact that you could get very decent (though not top of the range, that's clear) used lenses in PK mount for less than Canon or Nikon could be an advantage of the K10D over the two others.There's no problem so big that you can't run away from it!..

I've been using Sigma SD9's and SD10's for some years now. These models only have one focusing point and I've lost many a good shot because the camera just couldn't manage to focus properly on that one, single, only point. When I got a Nikon D1 (and later a D1x and a Fuji S3 pro) I soon appreciated the fact that these cameras give you 5 focus points, each of one you can manually select, too..

If I'd ever have to chose between 1 or more focus points, the latter option would win hands down!There's no problem so big that you can't run away from it!..

Maddogmd11 wrote:.

Thats true but I have found that they also cause more problems..

There was a wonderful example in one of the forums about a guy takinga picture at the beach of his wife on thier 25th aniversary. He hadcentered his wife in the shot but then a beach bunny in a black andwhite bikini ran by. The wife was wearing a simple 1 piece suit thatwould be exceptable for her age, body type, and the elders at herchurch. The camera picked up on the high contrast and focused on thenymphet and her husband was not really paying attention..

When the wife ran over and wanted to see the shot her loving husbandtook on their 25th.....

This could happen to you.

I manually set my focus point 99% of the time.....

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Used are still cheap but the FA35/2 is $299, brand spanking new. The FA50/1.4 is a little over $200 new, after rebates. ..