Newbie - Is this the right camera for me? K-r vs T3i - Need help

boon4376 · Aug 13, 2011

So I have a Kodak Easyshare Z812IS... Not too shabby in its day (Especially considering the price), but its about time I get a camera that actually satisfies my photography cravings.

I have my eye on the Pentax K-r dual lense kit for 2 reasons. I have read it is a good feature packed beginners camera that beats out the Nikon D3100 in many aspects, the second reason is that it comes with 2 lenses (18-55mm and 50-200mm Zoom Lenses)

Anyways, is this a good camera for me to start out with, or is it something I'm going to want to throw away and upgrade after about 2 months?

The other camera I have been looking at is the Canon T3i, single lense, however I have read that this camera, when dropped in price, would trounce the pentax.

So the pentax dual lense kit is $679.00
The T3i is $729.00

What would you choose? Should I go with the Rebel? For some reason the Pentax brand has a hold on me, for nostalgic reasons.

oldmacman · Aug 13, 2011

The following web site let's you pick any two dSLRs and it breaks down their feature set, head-to-head. It can be tricky because you may weight some features more than others, but it sometimes highlights features I didn't even think about. It's a good starting point anyway. Click here for the comparison.

boon4376 · Aug 13, 2011

Thanks OldMacMan....

now that leads me to a few more questions

It says the T3i has 50% more detail in photos, however the K-r has higher image quality... Now I know a $100 15 MP camera still takes terrible pictures (thus MP's are not everything), is this suggesting that despite the MP difference, the K-r manages to take a better picture than the T3i (for a beginner at least)?

Also, would you say that these specs seem to lead the K-r as an easier camera for a newbie to get a decent shot out of with less work? (IS, faster shutter, more sensitivity range, 9 focus points, shoots faster, etc..)

That spec sheet has me leaning more towards the K-r again.

oldmacman · Aug 13, 2011

boon4376 said:
Thanks OldMacMan....

now that leads me to a few more questions

It says the T3i has 50% more detail in photos, however the K-r has higher image quality... Now I know a $100 15 MP camera still takes terrible pictures (thus MP's are not everything), is this suggesting that despite the MP difference, the K-r manages to take a better picture than the T3i (for a beginner at least)?

Also, would you say that these specs seem to lead the K-r as an easier camera for a newbie to get a decent shot out of with less work? (IS, faster shutter, more sensitivity range, 9 focus points, shoots faster, etc..)

That spec sheet has me leaning more towards the K-r again.

The image quality is likely due to the better colour depth and higher dynamic range of the Pentax camera. You are right, more pixels does not always mean better image. Pixel density can add noise in a image. The shutter speed is just maximum shutter. It would be a non-issue for me as I rarely shoot over 1/2000th anyway. That point would depend on your shooting habits. I don't know anything about the K-r, but we use the T2i at work and they do a great job for us. I would imagine the T3i would be a similar performer. In my experience if you want a point a shoot, or something simple, a dSLR is not the way to go. To truly take good quality images demands an understanding of exposure and how to capture light.

boon4376 · Aug 13, 2011

oldmacman said:
boon4376 said:

Thanks OldMacMan....

now that leads me to a few more questions

It says the T3i has 50% more detail in photos, however the K-r has higher image quality... Now I know a $100 15 MP camera still takes terrible pictures (thus MP's are not everything), is this suggesting that despite the MP difference, the K-r manages to take a better picture than the T3i (for a beginner at least)?

Also, would you say that these specs seem to lead the K-r as an easier camera for a newbie to get a decent shot out of with less work? (IS, faster shutter, more sensitivity range, 9 focus points, shoots faster, etc..)

That spec sheet has me leaning more towards the K-r again.

Click to expand...

The image quality is likely due to the better colour depth and higher dynamic range of the Pentax camera. You are right, more pixels does not always mean better image. Pixel density can add noise in a image. The shutter speed is just maximum shutter. It would be a non-issue for me as I rarely shoot over 1/2000th anyway. That point would depend on your shooting habits. I don't know anything about the K-r, but we use the T2i at work and they do a great job for us. I would imagine the T3i would be a similar performer. In my experience if you want a point a shoot, or something simple, a dSLR is not the way to go. To truly take good quality images demands an understanding of exposure and how to capture light.

Its not that I am expecting the camera to do 100% of the work, I know better than that, I just dont know if you get to a point in expensive cameras where everything is so manual, you literally cant just pull it out, point and shoot, and get something without "setting up a shot"... To me it appeared the K-r may be friendlier in the "I'm not even trying" situations.

oldmacman · Aug 13, 2011

All camera's will have an auto mode. Yes, a higher dynamic range and higher colour depth should make the images more pleasing from the K-r. Have you checked any reviews on the cameras? I like Steve's Digicams. He is very thorough in analysis and provides fairly standard sample shots. If you're lucky, he will have used the M&M still life with both cameras and you can see which produces the more pleasing image on the same exposure.

MissCream · Aug 14, 2011

Pentax for sure....

I love Pentax!

c.cloudwalker · Aug 14, 2011

Be aware that kit lenses are never the best lenses. They are cheap for a reason. Those lenses rarely get bought on their own by people who have done the slightest bit of information gathering. Putting them in a kit just makes the kit attractive: lots of stuff, small price. And what few newbies understand is that glass is more important than the body...

tyler_h · Aug 14, 2011

If you are considering the T3i why not the T2i? The inclusion of the Pentax shows the flippy screen is not a draw card and getting the T2i (same sensor (7D, 60D, T2i and T3i all have the same sensor but some other variation that explain the small differences you see in image quality scores from various sites)) might be the difference for it to be the right price.

Consider beyond the specific camera performance to whether locking into a brand would cause issues for lenses and other accessory availability, and if service/warranty will be easy in your area with that brand. Trumping all though, is ergonomics really; if it's not comfortable to use it will just sit on the shelf making the rest meaningless.

oldmacman · Aug 14, 2011

c.cloudwalker said:
Be aware that kit lenses are never the best lenses. They are cheap for a reason. Those lenses rarely get bought on their own by people who have done the slightest bit of information gathering. Putting them in a kit just makes the kit attractive: lots of stuff, small price. And what few newbies understand is that glass is more important than the body...

Wouldn't it be better to just be aware of what kit lens you are getting. "Kit" just refers to the lens that is bundled with the camera. When I Bought a 5D a couple years ago, the kit lens was the 24-105 4L. That is one awesome lens. Sorry, don't mean to be nit picking. On the other end, when someone is just starting out with a dSLR, it's nice to have a couple lenses to play with. It's unlikely that "good glass" will make a huge difference in IQ.

MattK0138 · Aug 14, 2011

Once you figure out what you want out of a camera. Look at lens availability and pricing as well as other accessories. I guarantee you will want to upgrade or buy different lenses. Pentax does not have as many available but if you are happy with what is available and pricing go for it. Mega pixels to me doesn't mean to much I am happy with my 12 mp. I have a xt that is 8 mp and produces quality photos I just cant blow my pictures up to poster size without it becoming visible. Personally if I started over I would buy a 40d. I am building lenses and accessories right now then I will upgrade my body. You can get the t2i cheaper and it's the same as t3i without flip out screen and with the money you save another lens. Your call.

Ron Evers · Aug 14, 2011

The flip-out screen is a very attractive feature. I use mine when on a tripod or when shooting down low.

boon4376 · Aug 14, 2011

Well I placed an order for the Pentax Kit.
Pentax K-r Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm and 50-200mm 14650

Plus a UV filter to protect it / play with. I was mostly concerned with being able to zoom at all right away. I cannot afford to go buy a $600 lense to throw on it, my friend has a D3100 and said she was dissapointed with what she could do with the 15-50mm zoom lense that her camera came with and it wasnt until she bought an extra 50-300 that she really started having fun, and that even when her subject is ~15 feet away in the same room, she finds the extra zoom very advantageous.

The pentax does have a good aftermarket available for lenses, not quite a cannon or nikon, but still a pretty good amount.

I'd say for the price I payed, I got one heck of a starter pack. I doubt very much if I'll be taking good enough photos in my first year to notice the "Quality of glass" difference, but I'll be having fun with the extra zoomability of the 50-200mm.

Plus theres just something about the pentax brand that I like, that I cant quite put my finger on. Perhaps its because my father always had really nice pentax cameras growing up. I know canon make great cameras, but for some reason, I just dont like them. I feel like they are robotic, sterile, lack the aesthetics.