Vintage Digital Preview: Pentax K-x… The Least Expensive Pentax DSLR on KEH.
This is a first post of me trying to play blog post catch up. The usual pattern is some pictures, some blog posts, some pictures, some blog posts, etc. Recently this shifted to pictures, pictures, pictures, and so forth. While pictures have not slowed much, there has been enough of a lull where I can get back to it.
Background:
Motivation 1.
I really like a bunch of affordable Pentax AF lenses I picked up. So I wanted to get a digital sensor to put behind them also.
Motivation 2
Making a point related to a recent blog post.
As noted in that post I skipped past the full frame K-1 and more recent Pentax bodies. This will not only save me hundreds of dollars. It will also allow an excellent opportunity to consider whether photos have more to do with the camera or the photographer.
Welcome Pentax K-x.
The run down.
- Released in 2009.
- Excellent condition.
- Cost $118.
- Like all Pentax DSLRs it has SR.
- Pentax speak for IBIS.
- 12MP.
- Enough MP.
- Live View.
- Technically. I would not use it. Only brings contrast AF which is very slow.
- Video.
- Technically. I would not recommend using it.
- Fantastic controls layout.
- Pop up flash.
- Great ergonomics.
I could go on, but you get it. A standard issue early DSLR.
What I expected.
A bit of fun but expected to be somewhat hobbled but a very old camera.
What I got.
This camera is very good.
Here is one of the first pictures I took with it…
…using this lens.
Some more pics with this lens.
And then I ran out with another favorite lens.
And this is when lens scope creep kicked in.
Why?
I am glad I imagined that you asked.
As we all know a 50mm lens is a full frame equivalent of 75mm on APS-C. A bit tight for daily use. So I added a couple more lenses….
Pentax-FA 35mm f/2 (A proper 50mm equivalent.)
Pentax DA 16-45mm f/4 (24-67.5mm full frame equivalent.)
…and then another. I had been using an old AF 50mm f/1.7 prime, but I like this K-x and the film MZ-5 so much I felt like an upgrade was in order. So I picked up an also very affordable nifty fifty.
But more on these lenses in future posts.
I am going to go ahead and wrap this post up here.
A solid little camera.
Downsides?
I will give you a few.
- 2009 AF does not keep up with modern standards. But…
- It has AF. And to counter this you just need to take care, check/verify you hit after, and take more safety pics.
- No tilt/touch screen. So…
- You will need to crouch more.
- You will need to get the hang of the controls.
And for that I counter with…
- It costs $118.
- Good glass can be had for less than or little more than $100.
Welp.
That is a wrap for now. Some scenes seen posts with this camera will soon follow.
Happy capturing.
-ELW
Eric L. Woods 