Depends on what you want. The K100D handles better than either, has ISO3200 (which the D50 lacks), has in-body IS, AF's with all pentax AF lenses (D40 lacks this), a half-decent viewfinder (D40 matches, D50 is outclassed) and has better AF than either. The D50 has FAR better battery life and the D40 is notably smaller. The D50 also has a slightly larger buffer, while the D40's is triple that of the K100D. Also the Nikons have much smaller RAW files (~5.5MB vs 10MB) due to the use of compression, the Nikons also offer much higher flash sync (1/500 with dedicated flashes, 1/4000 with non-dedicated). Oh, and the D40 is far smaller than either the D50 or the k100D.
-Adam Who's owned both the K100D and the D50. Liked the K100D better for the most part, missed the D50's larger buffer though. P. J. Alling wrote: > Oh yes the question how does the K100D compare to the D40 or D50? > Favorably. > > Glen Tortorella wrote: >> What a timely post, Larry! >> >> While I have been resistant to digital for quite some time, I find >> this article interesting. The idea of getting a good "budget" DSLR >> has crossed my mind, but I know so little about working within the >> DSLR format that I cannot get motivated to buy one. I tend to like >> prints. Thus, I ask the supremely elementary question: how does one >> turn the zeros and ones stored in the DSLR's memory into prints? >> Would a computer and/or scanner be necessary (I do not have a >> scanner, but I do have an iMac), or can a camera shop or photo lab >> supply the means to do this if one does not have a scanner? And, >> finally, how does the K100D compare to the Nikon...the D40 or D50, I >> gather? >> >> I welcome any and all advice or commentary :-) >> >> Thanks, >> Glen >> >> >> On Sep 25, 2007, at 6:33 PM, Larry Levy wrote: >> >> >>> Chris Roberts, in his Digital SLR Guide News has selected the K100D >>> as "best >>> begommer budget DSLR" >>> >>> >>> Question: What's the best beginner budget SLR? >>> >>> Answer >>> You've been longing to improve the quality of the photos you take and >>> capture moments that just aren't possible with a compact point-and- >>> shoot, >>> but you find the price of digital SLR cameras extreme. >>> I'm not surprised - back in the heyday of the film SLR, it often >>> seemed >>> silly to spend $300 on a camera when you could get a simple compact >>> camera >>> for less than $100. Now that the minimum price for a digital SLR is >>> right >>> around $500, it makes them pretty expensive investments. >>> >>> I firmly believe that the additional cost is justified when you >>> take into >>> account the fact that digital SLRs are able to capture a wider >>> variety of >>> shots than compact cameras. It's why the SLR has been the choice of >>> professional photographers for years. >>> >>> Why tell you this? It will put my answer to the question above into >>> some >>> perspective. >>> >>> >>> Right now, I think that the best digital SLR camera for a beginner >>> on a >>> budget is the Pentax K100D. Recently replaced by the K100D Super, the >>> original K100D has benefitted from a price drop that makes it >>> significantly >>> more affordable. >>> >>> The Pentax K100D is the least expensive camera you can buy that also >>> includes built-in image stabilization. This feature oscillates the >>> camera's >>> sensor to counteract the effect of camera motion on your photos. >>> While you >>> can't really see camera motion when you're using fast shutter >>> speeds with >>> plenty of light, dim lighting and slow shutter speeds can lead to a >>> lot of >>> blurry shots. >>> >>> Since the image stabilization is built into the camera itself, it >>> works with >>> every Pentax lens that's compatible with the K100D. >>> >>> >>> In addition to image stabilization, the 6 megapixel sensor offers >>> plenty for >>> anyone who doesn't want to print at sizes larger than 11x14 inches. >>> The >>> compact frame can be made even more so if you can get your hands on >>> one of >>> the specialized Pentax "pancake" lenses. These lenses don't stick >>> out far >>> from the camera, making the K100D a portable option for those who >>> like to >>> travel. >>> >>> Finally, the K100D runs on regular old AA batteries, which works >>> well if >>> you're one of those types who always forgets to re-charge batteries >>> before a >>> photo outing (many other cameras use special Lithium Ion rechargeable >>> batteries that take about 2-3 hours to reach a full charge). >>> >>> You can pick up a K100D for less than $500 with a lens, and for >>> less than >>> $400 without a lens. >>> >>> This second option works well if you already have some Pentax >>> lenses from a >>> film SLR camera, or know of a local camera swap where you can pick >>> up some >>> used Pentax lenses without paying full price. >>> >>> >>> >>> Larry in Dallas >>> >>> >>> -- >>> PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List >>> [email protected] >>> http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net >>> >> >> > > -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List [email protected] http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
