I'm not a pro in photography. Until recently I had several point-and-shoot cameras, but none of them made by Canon, Olympus, Nikon, Sony or Pentax. So when I finally decided to buy a DSLR, I didn't have any brand affiliations or knowledge. I did a lot of research about DSLRs, read reviews and looked at various models performances and features. Finally I chose the Pentax K200D and I'm satisfied with my decision. Here are some of the reasons I chose this model from Pentax over other's that I've read about:
1) It's the first camera in its class that is environmentally sealed
2) While some models can only save medium quality JPEG, the Pentax K200D allows high quality JPEG and RAW saving at the same time (RAW+).
3) Like a preview from Popular Photography read, this camera is the mixture of a SLR with a tank. It's very strong and firmly built, and I must admit that I did get the impression that some Canon and Nikon devices were a bit flimsy.
4) Even though some people consider that AA batteries are a downside, I believe this is an advantage. And good 2500mh AA batteries are very cheap and you can find them at every store around, so you don't have to worry about running out of juice.
5) The model supports any Pentax lens that was ever made.
6) In-body stabilization - it's a very neat feature. It translates to the lenses you buy and not once did it save my shots.
7) It is an APS-C sensor.
I have the camera for a few days now and I must say that I'm quite pleased by it. From what I've read on the Internet, its kit lens isn't as bad as those of other cameras and I've "played" with it for a few days. The autofocus system is pretty quick, though I did experience slight delays at low light.
The burst rate is of 4 RAWs or JPEG, but it's ok for the moment. When I'll have a memory card with a lot of memory I'll see if it's an inconvenience for me. I find the grip and handling very comfortable. Also the menu is pretty clear and easy to understand. The manual is huge and explains everything you need to know about the device's features.
I've tried using it in low-light situations, at night, and I got pretty good results. So, for now, I'm very pleased with my choice for my first DSLR.
