On May 17, 2006, at 8:38 PM, Stephen D'Andrea wrote:
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?
There is too much to try to answer there ... The D is no longer in
production, although new stocks are still for sale. It was targeted
to compete against the Canon 10D, Nikon D100 class cameras. The DS
and later bodies were designed to sell for less, with revised
ergonomics and a different feature mix. The DL was designed to be
even cheaper, with a pentamirror instead of pentaprism and some more
features removed to save money. The '2' versions are incremental
updates to both, with bigger LCDs and other minor differences.
As it turns out, Pentax did not skimp on the imaging quality of the
DS and DL so they perform about as well, overall, as the D on that
front, and they've got bigger buffers and faster IO.
A feature comparison at DPReview.com will give you more information.
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?
Nothing happens to the focal length of a lens. It remains the same.
The Pentax DSLR bodies have a sensor with format 16x24mm instead of
35mm film's 24x36mm. The effect is to narrow the field of view. If
you want to know "by how much", you can calculate the lens required
to give a particular focal length you're accustomed to in 35mm by a
factor.
EG: Let's say you're comfortable with a 35mm lens on your Pentax
K1000 and you'd like the same field of view for the DS. You multiply
35mm by 0.66x ... the lens that will provide the same field of view
is ~24mm focal length.
(You will normally see this posed the other way ... "what lens in
35mm film will this 50mm lens I've fitted seem to be?" The factor
there is 1.5x ... a 50mm lens on the *ist DS will give the field of
view of a 75mm lens on a film SLR. Personally, I find this less
useful and full of all kinds of ridiculous ambiguities.)
This schema should help: for the Pentax DSLRs
<16mm = ultrawide
24mm = wide
35mm = normal
50mm = portrait tele
>135mm = long telephoto
3. Can I use my AF400T flash with any of the Ds?
Yes. It will work with the D, DS, DS2.
4. What are the latest rumors about the next generation of Pentax
digital SLRs?
Fall time frame, a new top of the line body has been announced. It
will have 10Mpixel, built-in image stabilization, and controls/
feature set derivative of the *ist D.
Some time between now and then, a new 6Mpixel body is rumored to be
delivered as an update to the DS, with built in image stabilization.
Would someone patient be so kind to explain what the following
terms mean to the casual reader:
GESO
Gallery Every So Often
PESO
Picture Every So Often
PAW
Picture A Week
GFM
GrandFather Mountain
PEOW
No clue...
enjoy
Godfrey
