Topic Title

I just purchased a new camera for our office, seeing as the old Sony Mavica (Floppy Disk Camera ) is only 1mp & getting Flaky.

My Criteria: External Strobe Capable, < 20mm wide angle, standard (non-proprietary) batteries, 3+MP.

Here’s the ONLY one to comply: Pentax *ist DS… the “Digital K1000”

What it's got: Synched Hotshoe; Downward compatible with almost all Pentax lenses (my body came with an 18-55mm); uses 4-AA (or 2CRV-3) batteries; 6.1, 4 or 1.5MP jpg or RAW, SD card storage (not included - I use a 512).

Some Links:

http://www.digitalcamera-hq.com/pentax-istds-reviews.html

http://www.megapixel.net/cgi-bin/fs_loader.pl?p=http%3A//www.megapixel.net/reviews/pentax-istds/pentaxistds-review.html

http://www.steves-digicams.com/2004_reviews/istds.html

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0502/05021306pentax_istdssilver.asp

I like this one - a reviewer with a sense of history:
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/columns/sm-jan-05.shtml

I got mine with 18-55mm lens for less than $850 US from Amazon.com, taxes & shipping included.

It functions in "totally automatic" OR "totally manual" and any combination thereof. PLUS I get to use all my old K1000 lenses.

User selectable ASA settings from 200 to 3200 (darn near takes useable pictures, hand held, in moonless starlight ambient (Bulb setting on a tripod if you want)). Also allows "through lens" aperature checking and +/- manual F adjustment even in auto mode.

I get 163 6.1MP shots in “low compression” JPG out of a 512mb SD card. It also shoots in 6.1MP RAW if necessary/desired.

Smaller than the Nikon or Canon too.

As an ex-news photog, I’m in love. It’s my bulletproof K1000 all over again. All the functions are easy, easy, easy to find & reach.

About the only thing it doesn’t do is movies/sound… but that’s what my 4MP pocket Canon S410 is for.

Hello Bryan:

Hey -- thank you so much for posting this! It look to be an awesome camera. Here's an online store selling it with the lens for $750!!

http://www2.butterflyphoto.com/shop/pro ... WLENS&dp=1

Other than the odd name (Star-ist DS?), and the SD storage, this camera is a winner. It is 1/3 smaller than the Nikon D70, and smaller than the Canon Digital Rebel -- those are BIG cameras! And with four high-capacity NiMH AA batteries, it can take 550 pictures *with* 100% flash, or 750 or so without any flash. Whew.

Thanks again, Bryan.

Hello Bryan:

Hey -- thank you so much for posting this! It look to be an awesome camera. Here's an online store selling with the lens for $750!!

http://www2.butterflyphoto.com/shop/pro ... WLENS&dp=1

Other than the odd name (Star-ist DS?), and the SD storage, this camera is a winner. It is 1/3 smaller than the Cannon Digital Rebel and the Nikon D70 -- those are BIG cameras! And with four high-capacity NiMH AA batteries, it can take 550 pictures *with* 100% flash, or 750 or so without any flash. Whew.

Thanks again, Bryan.

Why didn't I see that one... Oh well. What's $100 ? (except most of another lens, or external flash, or 1gb SD card... sigh.)

Hello Bryan:

Any nice pics you care to share? I'm curious to see some "real" shots. TIA

Any nice pics you care to share? I'm curious to see some "real" shots. TIA

Not yet. I got it as a gift and have to sneak around with it so the intended recepient doesn't see it.

OTOH, my avatar comes from a 4mp shot from my Canon S410... it blows up nicely to 24x36...

I'll post some when we go out and shoot a church for a design competition coming up.

Greetings,

Kodak P880 8MP with EVF (electronic viewfinder): http://www.dcresource.com/news/newsitem.php?id=3110
Ships "in September" MSRP~ $600 (nice)

Nikon D50 6.1MP dSLR (digital SLR): http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/nikon/d50-review/index.shtml
available now(?) for MSRP~ $900 w/ lens

Sony DSC-R1 10MP with EVF: http://www.dpreview.com/articles/sonydscr1/
http://www.dcresource.com/news/newsitem.php?id=3156
Ships in "mid-November" MSRP~ $1,000