Korean Job Discussion Forums

[djvink]

Looking to purchase my first DSLR. Want it for my travels to get quality shots. Have been checking out the Pentax K200D in particular as it has a weather sealed body and the price is reasonable.

It seems Nikon and Canon enjoy the majority of the market and was curious if it was simply brand recognition or are these truly superior camera's?

If any Pentax owners, of the K200D or K100 in particular, got any insight on these models or other DSLR models?

[Beeyee]

I just got myself a Nikon D60. I'm very pleased with it.

[swigs]

It depends on what you want. The only reason why Canon or Nikon might be better is if you want to spend 10,000,000 won on high quality gear. C and N are what the pros use, because they have the most high end equipment available. Canon and Nikon make the higher end equipment; but it becomes extremely expensive quick.

Pentax entry level / advanced amateur cameras are just as good, and cheaper, than Canon or Nikon.

Each system has its own strengths and weaknesses. If durability and weather sealing is something you want, Pentax is your only choice for under 1000. Pentax makes some quality lenses as well.

Olympus has some good models as well. The e-520 has built in stablization, and the e-420 (although no built in image stabilization) is the smallest DSLR and dirt cheap. The e-420 with the 14-42mm is a great starter kit. (dont get the 14-45mm as it s the older olympus lens) Another great Olympus lens for under 100,000 won is the 40-150mm. Olympus is on a unique sensor standard (called the 4/3); so to find its focal lenght equivalent (of 35mm film camera) you multiply by 2.

It all depends on what features your looking for.

Here is a quick break down of strengths in my opinion

Pentax: you can get weather sealing and built in image stabilization
Olympus: can be the smallest, built in image stabilization on the e-520, great kit lenses, some of the smallest and highest quality lenses (not all their lenses are small and light though)
Nikon: better high iso performance, easy to use LCD interface, large nikon community, larger selection of equipment ( that could be a pro or a con)
Canon: same pro's as nikon

Check out dpreview.com for advanced reviews. You can just check the 'conclusion' page of each review for the camera in a nutshell. Look for 'highly recommended' or 'just highly recommended'

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/pentaxk200d/page29.asp

You could always look for used models as well. Save a buck or two.

When it comes down to it though, its best not to get too into the all the detailed specs of the camera. Most hard core fans could not tell from what camera a picture came from in a blind test.

The most important thing is to just hold the camera.

[Sapa]

which brand is best to pick up in Korea? I know a lot of electronics can be more expensive here than in the UK or elsewhere. Any that are cheaper or roughly the same?

[swigs]

Super Dave has a lot of information about buying cameras in Seoul that is extremely helpful

Since all the main manufactures of DSLRs are from Japan its all about the same. (With the exchange rate right now, its probably a bit cheaper here at the moment)

I don't know much about grey markets in Korea, but if someone here does, please share.

The four companies I listed above all make pretty solid cameras.

[djvink]

I have heard that people have gone to Namdaemun market (Hoehyeon)station - blue line /4) and picked up used digital SLR equipment but not sure of the selection they have there. I have seen it on past threads so if anyone knows more about it or has a link, please share.

A quick question on Olympus as you have piqued my interest. Is the ISO performance better than Pentax? (I have heard its the noise reduction is not too great on a lot of pentax models at high ISO's)

Also, in general for those who have traveled with their SLR's, how important is the durability, I have never owned one and figured for two months of backpacking it would be pretty important. Let me know what you think.

Thanks

[swigs]

I would assume that Pentax would have better ISO performance.

The K200D and the Olympus cameras have different settings where you can change how much noise reduction you want the camera to use (at expense of resolution).

Olympus probably has the lowest high ISO performance, because it has a smaller sensor when compared to the rest of the DSLR gang (It's still better than any point and shoot of course). But compared to film days its ISO performance is still stellar. I can use 800 iso pretty comfortably. Even high ISO film had grain, so it doesn't really bother me too much. But Olympus does best at 100 and 200 ISO. And many test say it has some of the best DR in its range. Olympus is known for having some of the best in camera JPEGs (thats important if you don't shoot raw) But again, that's almost getting too techy...

Whats cool about the Olympus system is that all thier lenses are built specifically for the sensor size (the four third standard). So it is technically a 'full frame' camera because there is no 'crop factor'.

The K200D would be the toughest camera you can buy, a good deal. The Olympus would be the lightest kit you could get. And Olympus is known for building pretty strong cameras as well. All of their high end lenses are weather and dust proof. The e-410 or e-420 would be the smallest camera you could get. And the two best starter lenses to go with it would be the 14-42mm and the 40-150mm (equivalent to 80-300mm in 35mm film cameras) These are both really light weight and high quality lenses for the price. (from around 100,000w to 150,000 depending on where you buy) And the built in stabilization works good on the e 510 and e 520. Lets you shoot to as slow as 1/13 (and lower if you have steady hands)

And in buying used equipment, I would rather buy a used body than a used lens. But a good deal is a good deal.

There is also the new Canon sx 10 is. Which is a hybrid between a point and shoot and DSLR. You cant change the lens, but the lens for a point and shoot is pretty good. With this camera you sacrifice image quality for features; but it's still pretty cool.

And Olympus offers a point and shoot at a reasonable price that is water proof (up to 30 feet), shock proof, and freeze proof.

[SeoulnPepe]

A bit more info:

Pentax: you can use lenses from the 50's through today.
Nikon: ditto.
Canon: nah. Only EF lenses. FD will require some serious surgery to get them to mount (or you can use a cheapo adapter that acts as a TC)
Oly: you can mount older lenses, but the adapters are expensive and the sensor is smaller.
Sony: you can use minolta lenses from yesteryear/plus modern sony ones

[moosehead]

if you want a pro's advice:

buy an Olympus SP-510 UZ

I paid maybe 350 US for it in HK; maybe a later model is available, I bought mine in 2006. not an SLR, but has a 63 mm 1:28-37 lens which zooms 10x; 7.2 Mgpixels

very sturdy, small and lightweight; uses 4 rechargeables and the batteries last about 200 photos (hi rez).

I'll never own another Nikon; I have one now, a film 35 slr - it broke down on me while I was on the back of a scooter going up a mtn in the Sapa region of N Vietnam, pix of a lifetime awaiting - jees it was all I could do not to trample that piece of sh*t for buzzing out on me there.

I wound up buying a $100 Konica point and shoot in Da Nang and finishing the docu I was doing; I still got excellent photos and had an exhibition here in K of pix from both cameras; believe it when people say it's not the camera it's the photog - ok?

too many megapixels (over 10) doesn't give the same amount of sharpness so watch out for that - find a model you want and then go to B&H photo's website and find the camera, then read the spec sheets on the site which will give you good info and quote the best price so you'll know what to expect.

I like Pentax also but my little Olympus has taken great shots from Africa, to Egypt, ME, back in the U.S., I'm sold on it and my next camera will be an Olympus also.

Canon, I like their printers and other products but their cameras, no, too commercial, arrogant and self-serving. Stick with them if you want a point and shoot.

as for buying one here - check the box and make sure where it's made - some of them are made in Thailand, Philli, etc., not all in Jpn.

personally I wouldn't buy a camera here a lot of the brands are dated. HK or Jpn is better.

[crossmr]

As soon as I can afford it, I'm going to get a 200D, I've had my eye on it for awhile now. The price is starting to come down on them, around 630,000W online and I think that includes a lens.

[wesharris]

I just bought a Sony Alpha 350 it's great. Two lenses, got it for about 700 with exchange rate figured in. 1 million won flat pretty much.
-=-
Wes

[djvink]

Saw a posting for a Nikon d80 with the kit lens, a UV filter and an 8 Gb card...all for 700,000. Talked to seller and seems he takes could care of his equipment and is real careful when changing his lenses. Pictures look great too. If all goes well it will be in my hands by the afternoon!

[superdave]

thanks again swigs

the guide is here: http://www.davidsmeaton.com/index.php/2007/09/super-daves-korean-camera-buying-guide

personally, i'd stay away from olympus. while they make good point and shoot cameras, i think they're moving in the wrong direction for dslr.

rather than moving to full frame, they're going four thirds, and investing in it heavily. this is going to have serious consequences for olympus in the future. they're going to reach limits with sensor size and are going to realise that they've just put themselves out of competition with everyone else.

if the camera manufacturer isn't going to go full frame (or isn't already) then they're not worth following.

many people go with nikon or canon because they're bigger brands ... but there's another benefit of the 'big 2' ... and that's usability. nikon and canon have more bodies, more lenses, more choices.

whilst i like pentax and olympus, i think they're losing competitiveness with their decisions in terms of marketing. olympus used to be the serious professionals' brand. now, many pros are moving away from olympus ... it's becoming a niche hobbyists brand.

if you're not serious about getting a dslr and investing in lenses, then get yourself a nice bridge camera ... these offer the best of both worlds: single lens, auto options, but with the choice of manual overrides ... i've seen a lot of good images come out of these cameras.

if you're going to invest, then go with a company that will move in the right direction ... otherwise you're left holding on to a lot of expensive equipment that can become useless in the future.

hands down, olympus have the best lenses on the market. but they're way behind in their bodies and format. unless they go full frame (which i don't see happening) then they're in big trouble.

[suadente]

[wesharris]

New Sony Cams are Minolta lense compatible..Saves on money for lenses.

Wes