I'd be inclined to think that if we were comparing a K100D with Pentax kit lenses and a 510 with Zuiko kit lenses the packages would be largely equal. Throwing a Sigma kit type lens in the mix clouds the comparison...

Superzoom lenses are slow (very few are wider than f:5.6). This means that your camera will be light-starved. They also have other compromises (on sharpness, chromatic aberrations, contrast, etc). A superzoom lens is convenient, but it won't do justice to a DSLR..

Both Penax and Olympus are good systems. Each one has advantages. However, if you're planning to get just one superzoom lens, you might want to check out the fixed-lens digicams, like Panasonic FZ series. You'll get the convenience of an ultrazoom in a smaller package, and the end results will be pretty good..

In general, you can get great picture quality out of a DSLR - but it isn't automatic. DSLRs primarily give you control and flexibility. If you know enough about photography to get a good image from a DSLR, you'll be able to get a good image from a fixed-lens camera also..

Hope this helps!.

Boris.

3truck wrote:.

Hi~Looking to buy my first SLR camera and thought I'd get some opinionsfrom those in the know. I'm looking at buying a Pentax k100d with aSigma 18-200 lens or the Olympus E510 2 lens kit.Any suggestions? Both have built in shake reduction. I like the ideaof having one lens (18-200) but wonder if the olympus is a bettersystem.Any help would be great.thanksspencer..

I'm a newbie to DSLR, so my advice not be worth much. But having recently been through the selection process for my first DSLR, I can relate. One obvious difference between the two you have mentioned is the Pentax K100D is only 6.1mp versus 10mp Olympus. Not sure if the higher resolution is worth the trouble of switching lenses..

I strongly considered the Pentax K100D (6mp) and K10D (10mp), but settled on the Olympus because of the great price for the two-lens kit. I'm sure I'll want to upgrade the lenses in time, but for a beginner it seemed like a very good, complete set to get started with. So far (almost two weeks) it's really not a big deal changing lenses as needed. The built-in dust reduction system helps eliminate the concern about opening it up frequently..

As far as picture quality, I came to the conclusion that they're all pretty damn good, and the differences are basically imperceptible to someone like us (me, anyway). My priorities were high resolution and good value. I don't know how much that Sigma lens will cost, but personally I have a hard time spending more on a lens than on the body, right out of the gate. I figured the first year would be learning and getting familiar with basic photography skills. Then I might be ready to get some "serious glass"...

3truck wrote:.

Hi~Looking to buy my first SLR camera and thought I'd get some opinionsfrom those in the know. I'm looking at buying a Pentax k100d with aSigma 18-200 lens or the Olympus E510 2 lens kit.Any suggestions? Both have built in shake reduction. I like the ideaof having one lens (18-200) but wonder if the olympus is a bettersystem.Any help would be great.thanksspencer.

Hi.

The Pentax k100d is not really a direct comparison. It is more a comparison to the E410. Having said that it still compares well it just has a few less "goodies" at a cheaper price and I beleieve in low light it is one of the best cameras around.....a real suprise for an entry level camera.The E510 is not an entry level camera but more a k10d comparison..

The results will be similar from both the K100d and E510 so I guess it comes down to if you want more megapixels and the specs of the Oly or the Low light performance of the Pentax (which is still a very high spec camera)..

I have not tried the Oly but the Pentax down sides are small buffer (no problem for me) and awb needs to be changed indoors. sometimes underexposes a little as well..

Neil..

From what I've read, it's more properly a 18-180mm, and is essentially the same lens as the Olympus 18-180mm..

Http://www.olympusamerica.com/...ens/dea/products/lens/18-180_35-63/index.asphttp://www.sigmaphoto.com/...s/lenses_all_details.asp?id=3302&navigator=6.

The specifications and lens architecture are basically the same, AFAICT..

I might note that 'do it all' lenses tend to not be the sharpest, and to be on the slow side (ex. f/6.3). This may be acceptable if 'all' does not include low-light action photography or similar areas where a slow lens is problematic...

Some good advice so far, but there is a couple of comments that I'd like to add..

First, the Sigma 18-200 is a fine all purpose lens as long as you don't want to squeeze too much performance out of it. There are those who woud have you believe that aftermarket lenses are somehow incapable of performaing at the same level as the camera's brand. This is particularly true of Nikon and Canon, but I have seen it with Pentax, Oly and Sony(Minolta) as well. If it suits your needs, use it..

With the two you mention, the Oly would be the better simply from the lens / technology viewpoint. But consider it's cropping factor. If you are shooting birds, the 2x FOV crop is a real advangtage, but at the wide angle, you are hampered. I just had a hands on with the E510 a few days ago, just out of curiosity and it was pretty darn cool. Also, why I like the 18-200 lenses (I have a Tamron 18-200 for walk around purposes on my Nikon D200), the lens kit you speak of offers more flexibility and better performance..

That being said, I really like the Pentax. Great quality and they are being very aggressive in the market. They have always provided a great product at a fair price. It is also a very easy camera to use and would be an easier learn than the Oly. You are looking at two different classes of cameras here. Conisder buying it with the kit lens and add an aftermarket tele like a 55-200 or 70-300 and you will do quite well and probably better than with the 18-200.



There is a difference between the 6 and 10 MPs. Those who say there is not, are feeding you a line. But it is a mixed difference. First, the smaller sensor with more pixels equals more noise. How much of a problem that is, only you can judge. At the same time 10MP gives you more cropping real estate and can give you much better opportunity to retain detail on a crop.



Finally, try them out and buy the one you like! It will get more use if you enjoy holding it and using it..

Good luck!Rog..

Really good info here guys. FYI, my wife and I had our first child 6 weeks ago and is the main reason (justification) for getting a quick responding slr. That being said, a lot of pictures I will take will be in low light situations. I gather from the posts the 18-200 might not be the best for this? Also, those that have 2 lens kits, is it a 'hassle' to drag an extra lens around or not that big a deal? Do you use the 18-55 most of the time (or 14-40 in the oly case)?thanks again,spencer.

And the post title should be pentax OR olmpus, not 'of'.........

Looking across this post, I have to agree with those that are on the 'reject' side of the of the 18-200. Known as walkaround lenses because of their coverage, they are more successful in broad daylight because they are slower in exposure (F stop)..

If you can find an alternate lens group for the Pentax then add that to the mixwithout that I would tend toward the Olympus, whose kit lenses are quite good.

As to the lenses, I use wide angle more than any other, but it is handy to have both, so I would say if you wanted to work with 1 lens only, the 14-42 is for more common use.Riley.

I like to think the bs can never be higher than the ah..

You can't go wrong with either one, all I can say is that I'm very pleased with my Oly E410 so far..

It has not been a problem carrying the second lens around. Nice camera cases designed for SLRs have pockets for your extra lenses. And the Olympus lenses are not heavy at all. I use the 14-42 most often and the camera with the lens on is incredibly light. It feels solid and sturdy to me, but my wife loves how small it is for her hands. We use the 40-150 outdoors (which is quite often).

But the more samples I see in these forums, there are some beauitiful landscapes so I will probably begin to use the wide angle more often for scenery...

3truck wrote:.

Really good info here guys. FYI, my wife and I had our first child 6weeks ago and is the main reason (justification) for getting a quickresponding slr..

Congratulations! As long as your budget can take it  Yes, quick response is one thing that makes a DSLR shine..

That being said, a lot of pictures I will take willbe in low light situations. I gather from the posts the 18-200 mightnot be the best for this?.

No, it certainly isn't the best. If you want the best results, you'll need to look into higher-grade lenses (fast, sharp, with either a shorter zoom range or a fixed focal length). I don't know much about Pentax in that regard - but all todays systems are laid out similarly: Cheap "kit" lenses, affordable superzooms, more expensive high-quality optics, and some ultra-expensive ultra-high quality lenses for the hardcore pros with deep pockets. Pentax has a huge market of affordable used legacy lenses..

For low-light situations - first off, consider an external flash. If you bounce it off the ceiling, the results can be very good (don't point flash directly on the baby though - you'll get a horrible red-bluish skin color). Olympus system offers the relatively inexpensive FL-36 flash, I'm sure Pentax has something similar..

As far as lens choices go - people get very good results with fixed-focals (Olympus Digital Zuiko 50mm f:2.0 and Sigma 30mm f:1.4). If you're leaning towards a zoom, Olympus has three great mid-level choices: 11-22mm f:2.8-3.5, 14-54mm f:2.8-3.5, and 50-200 f:2.8-3.5. All three are very good optically. The second one comes closest to a single all-purpose zoom..

Also, those that have 2 lens kits, is it a'hassle' to drag an extra lens around or not that big a deal?.

Not if you organize right. My LowePro Photorunner camera bag lets me squeeze in a camera with two spare lenses, and have a small external flash in the outside pocket. The bag is an oversized fanny pack, it's not huge at all. Changing a lens is a matter of a few seconds, and I don't have to sit down (and don't need a table) to do it..

Also, the different lenses that you have are for different tasks (say, wide angle / portraits / telephoto), so you don't end up switching them all that often..

Hope this helps!.

Boris..

Hmm, new child and camera. Congratulations and don't forget to stock up on memory cards..

That being said, the Pentax has one very attractive feature over the Olympus. The K-mount has been around forever. You'd be able to choose from a wide array of used lenses (and quite frankly a regular 50mm lens will be perfect for your available light mom and child photos.)'Nice pen, bet you write good stories with it.'..