Nikon D50 or Pentax K100D Digital SLR camera?

Question

I'm a photography student buying a digital SLR for the first time. I need a affordable camera that's good.

Answer 1

Strongly recommend you Nikon, since in it's new D generation the features are amazing and speed + light = sharp...
Nevertheless, try to put together just a little more of money and go for a D70s, which I consider incredible and it's autofocus is truly impressive...
This D70s, will preform as real pro with a not very expensive Tokina Lens AT-X 840 Af II ( Af 80 - 400 f4.5 - 5.6 ).
This mix: D70s + AT-X 840 Af II, will be amazingly rewarded and updated by simply adding a teleconverter ( 2x ok )... and even sometimes is difficult to recognize photos from this mix and a 600mm f4!!! with just a fraction of the 600 mm price!
Go out there and enjoy with this nice equipment which is good enough even for a very hard task as bird photography is...
Good luck!

Answer 2

With the K100D, you're paying $150 over the K110D for built-in image stabilization. Even so, the K100 is only $50 more expensive than the D50.
With Nikon, if you want image stabilization, you'll have to get it in the lenses and that can easily run $150 extra per lens. And since the K100 and the D50 are both entry level 6MP cameras, on the face of it the Pentax is a much better deal.
But I must recommend the Nikon.
If you look up reviews for both models at dpreview.com or Steve's Digicams, you'll find that the D50 is a better all-around camera. Secondly, more importantly, Nikon offers a better upgrade path.
In all likelyhood you're on the verge of buying into a system that will cost you thousands of dollars over the next few decades. With Nikon, you have a phenomenal selection of lenses, from used Nikons, to third party lenses, to brand new professional lenses - macro, super wide angle, insane telephoto... Nikon gives you opportunities that you won't have with Pentax. And with Nikon you can build up that collection of lenses secure in the knowledge that when you're ready for a new body in 5 years, Nikon will have something stellar waiting for you and those lenses. With Pentax that's a risk.
Get the D50. And get the Nikon 18-70mm as your starter lens. It has better image quality than the 18-55mm kit lens and it gives you a bit more range. Then throw in a 2GB SanDisk Extreme lll. The whole package should come to $1000.
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The best price I could find at a reliable shop for the Pentax models was at Beach Camera. For the D50, see B&H or Ritz.

Answer 3

Absolutely agree with Registration001. I have a few Pentax film camera and like the brand, but Nikon gives you a lot more "upward mobility" (I like that term, Reg.) than Pentax once you enter the digital world. We have a D50 and love it.

Answer 4

OK I have to chime in. Comparing D50 to K100D.

-D50 Street price $699 (internet maybe less)
-18-55 kit lens (Peice of sh*t) plastic lens mount that will wear or break
-ENEL3a battery (400-600 shot per charge) decent but battery recall due to melting batteries
http://www.dpreview.com/news/0511/05110802nikonbattrecall.asp
http://www.dpreview.com/news/0512/05120604nikon_battalert.asp
-ability to use any Nikon AF lenses and no meter with MF lenses
-Overall user rating 4.72/5
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/read_opinions.asp?prodkey=nikon_d50
- Sony 6 meg CCD sensor (same sensor as K100D)

K100D street price $699 (same as Nikon D50)
- METAL mount kit lens with patented SMC glass (Supermulti-coated, gives similar look to polarizing filter)
- AA batteries (100 shot with alkeline, 400+ shot with Lithium or NiHM, 1000+ shots with CRV3 - twice as long as any rechargable)
- ability to use over 45yrs of Pentax glass to include full centerweighted metering and spot metering on old K-mount lenses and with a <$25 adapter ability to use (and meter) old M42 Screw mount lenses giving you the most versital digital body hands down.
- 6 meg Sony CCD sensor (same as Nikon)
- overall user rating of 4.78
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/read_opinions.asp?prodkey=pentax_k100d

So Pentax rates better, metal mount lens, longer battery, more versital lens choices.....

Oh yea.... Shake reduction which works on ANY lens, and not haveing to pay a premium price (+50% or more) for a VR lens