Pentax *istDL 6.1MP Digital SLR Camera with DA 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 AL Digital SLR Lens

The Pentax line has consistently offered the best 'bang-for-the-buck'. This machine feels much better built than comparative offerings from the other DSLR big guys, and has a feature set that's pretty well rounded. If you have any old Pentax SLR equipment around, this is a real bargain; Pentax is the only current DSLR manufacturer whose offerings can use any Pentax lens ever made. I've got an old Pentax 135mm f2.5 that I couldn't stand to give up; it clicks right on my *ist DL and takes beautiful pictures. The kit 18-55 is not bad at all. Just generally this camera is hard to beat for the money. If you have a few extra bucks, though, upgrade to the newer Pentax machines like the K200D (10 MPixel and shake reduction, along with a host of new features).

This is a great camera. It is a great buy: simple to use, takes great pictures, the speed is a little on the slow side (I have not had a digital camera that wasn't), and it has some heft to it.

Again a great all around camera for someone who wants to take great pictures of the family, vacations, and life in general.

This camera will give you clear crisp pictures with bright colours as well as capture sequential action shots. I have been using this camera for personal use and have won several local photo contests with my pictures. Would suggest that you invest in another telephoto lens (75mm - 300mm) which can be picked up for about $140 (on Amazon).

With the wide angle and the telephoto lens, you will have a camera that is a good as it gets.

I am a 35mm and Medium Format (6cm) film photographer converted to digital by this camera. I love this camera. I am used to Pentax LX, MX, ME, and K-1000 35mm cameras and (a huge collection of) M-series and A-series lenses, along with Rolleiflex medium format. Some tripod work, but mostly hand-held. I hike a lot (photos: landscapes of all sorts, natural details, sky drama) and also take candids of family and friends outdoors and indoors (the 50-200 zoom is great for candids.)

I had basically stopped doing any photos except business work and snapshots with a 2MP digital ELF (Canon Powershot 110). The ELF was fine for basic snapshots but has very little flexibility.

Since my wife gave me this camera a year ago, I've re-discovered the fun of making photos. I felt restricted by film costs (and environmental impact) and the limits of the ELF. Now, I have amazing creativity and flexibility at my fingertips. I am enjoying this camera more than any other, even the LX and Rollei. It does everything I ask of it, easily and well. The auto focus is really great and so are the auto-exposure modes (I was previously an ALL-MANUAL guy.)

Laundry list of things I like:
Manual or auto-focus
Manual or multiple auto exposure modes
Depth of field preview
Delay timer for tripod work without cable release (or remote control)
Uses all Pentax K-mount lenses including my old M-series and A-series lenses that I love
Wonderfully ergonomic -- all the buttons where you want them, great grip (for right-handers)
Fast continuous shooting mode
Easy to use and logical menus and functions (I've only rarely needed to consult the manual)
Display screen is wonderfully large, bright, and clear; and you can zoom (to 12X) and pan the images -- so you can really make a good judgment about deleting an image
Viewfinder is bright and clear, seems to be about 95% of final image
I love the 18-55 zoom and 50-200 zoom lenses (I still want the 14mm)
Download is fast and simple
Everything is small and lightweight
I put Li-I batteries into the camera last August and they still read as fully-charged (this is after ballpark 2000 photos, 20+ downloads, and hundreds of flashes -- amazing!)
I get all the flexibility I want AND my techno-phobic wife can easily use it (!!!)
The only feature I've even considered that it doesn't have is mirror lock-up.

No problems so far... I have had thsi item for about a year and I would not trade it for the world.