PipeTobacco

This lolls like a potentially hard question... but I am new here so please bare with me:

I am returning back to the hobby of photography after life circumstances took me away from the hobby about 5 years ago. I have a Pentax K20 DSLR that I had barely used prior to my hiatus. I wanted to read more about what folks had to say about this camera here but see nothing in the Forums.

So, is this camera so defunct that no one uses it anymore, or is Pentax so defunct that no one has them anymore, or am I just not looking in the right places here?

Any opinions or advice about this camera would help me out. I had just gotten the camera after I broke my prior Pentax istDS, so I have used Pentax before, but the K20 is still more than a bit foreign to me.

Again.... ideas, advice, discussion about this camera would help me out.

PipeTobacco

Riggson Loc: Tucson, Az

Try pentaxforums.com Very active Pentax community. I use a K-R & a K-70.

tjw47 Loc: Michigan

Probably won't see much on the forums about a 10 year old cameras...
For pentax K20specific information try https://www.pentaxforums.com/camerareviews/pentax-k20d.html

rjaywallace Loc: Wisconsin

Here is a link to a positive review of the Pentax K20D written by Richard Butler and published in 6/25/2008 by DPReview:

https://www.dpreview.com/reviews/pentaxk20d

Sorry to say, Amazon does not list any guides or other publications regarding the camera, but the technology of the K20D’s design is not that far out of date. I would encourage you to keep the camera and learn everything you can in a practical sense by using it often. There are some useful photography publications out there such as Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson (now in its 4th or 5th edition). Best wishes to you sir, from Ralph in Shawano, WI.

dave_roe Loc: Rome Italy

It might be 'old' in terms of time but it is still is a good camera.

I still use the one I have along with the K5.. K3 and the K1 ii.

Shoot a bunch and find out all it can do for your return to photography.

bedouin Loc: Big Bend area, Texas

I used the K20 for 15 years. And was tremendously pleased with the colors and quality it provided. I upgraded only to get more megapixels and then finally to the full frame K1. You will not go wrong with any Pentax camera, but if you are into action photography, they focus much more slowly then do other camera brands.

ctsteps5

I own one,,,,, I will always own one. Best Pentax DSLR. Get water proof lenses. any questions shoot me an email ctsteps5@yahoo.com

GENorkus Loc: Washington Twp, Michigan

PipeT with one exception, it is a great camera! That is the 10 year old ISO ability. It's very good at ISO 1600 or less.

As a freelance photographer, I use it, (loved it), and other Pentax cameras on a regular basis, that is until just last Friday.

For the first time in over 60 years of photography, I dropped my camera doing something stupid.

Was carrying the K20D by the lens for some reason, and my finger knuckle pushed the lens release button. The body only fell towards the floor. I quickly put my foot out to protect ot from the fall but caused it to roll about six feet.

Quickly picking it up, I found "Memory Card Error"!

Yes, I tried new cards, resetting everything, flicking the memory card door latches. Everything I could think of. Nothing helped.

I have, (did have), three Pentax cameras and that was my most favorite workhorse camera. It has been banged around on walls and tables, (on a shoulder strap), many times and it survived very well.

I'm still going to work on the fixing it but that probably won't help.

I'm probably going to just give it a well desirved burial as it's age doesn't warrent the price of having it fixed.

Stupid me!

Gonna miss it alot!

I've still got my K5 and K1 although
I'll consider buying another, the K20D is that good!

StanMac Loc: Tennessee

Pentax rocks!

Stan

Nosaj Loc: Sarasota, Florida

The K20 goes back to the early days of Pentax and other brands of DSLRs.
The best thing about it being a Pentax is that the K20 will accept all or most former and current Pentax lenses. If you can, try a few Pentax lenses of different measurement to determine if you need to replace the K20 with a more current model. If so, I would suggest the K3 or KP.

A10 Loc: Southern Indiana

I was very happy with my K-20 when I used it. I did upgrade to a K-5, then a K-3, and finally to a K-1. I have most of these cameras still because we use them when I take the grandkids out to take a photo walk. Use the K-20 until you want something faster or higher MP, it is a good solid camera.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

But a person can ask questions about the K20, about almost any Pentax camera, there and most likely someone there will know the answer.

GENorkus Loc: Washington Twp, Michigan

One other thing I have played around with on the K20D. Looking at my disk titled, "Pentax Software S-SW75" (Remote Assistant 3). See if you have it or can pick up a copy.

It has a factory supplyed tethering program. Even though it's basically over ten years old that was a nice feature that few other cameras atthat time offered. Also no other more modern Pentax cameras had it.

For some reason, that program was not continued to future cameras.

Nosaj Loc: Sarasota, Florida

Thank you - I like your comments.

Ched49 Loc: Pittsburgh, Pa.

Arguably the closest match in terms of specs to the K7 is the Nikon D300 and the Sony alpha a700, the Pentax beats both cameras on resolution and more importantly, on price. Most people on this forum hardly mention Pentax cameras, you mostly hear about Nikon, Canon or Sony. There's a lot to be said about Pentax cameras.