Pentax K10D Review

The Pentax K10D exudes High quality and performance in all aspects of its design. Made to match the intense requirements of a digital SLR, the Pentax K10D carries a 10.2 megapixel ccd sensor with 10.75 million total pixels and a 2-channel read-out 22 bit Analog to Digital converter. This makes it possible for more detailed and sharp images. It is also equipped with a CCD-shift based Shake Reduction or a moving sensor which allows you to stabilize any lens and eliminate camera vibrations. It also acts as a Dust Removal system where the sensor can be shaken manually or automatically during start-up.

Adding to this feature is its 2.5-inch LCD display with 210,000 pixels and a wide 140 degree viewing angle. The LCD is mostly used for navigating through the menus and for viewing the image after the shot has been taken. You can use the Pentax K10D’s optical viewfinder for shooting and composing. The optical viewfinder has a 0.95x magnification and shows 95% of the frame.

The Pentax k10D comes with a Pentax 18-55 mm lens with a field view of 27-82.5 mm and an aperture of F3.5-5.6. It can also use a Pentax KAF2, KAF, or KA lens.

The Pentax K10D does not have an internal memory, but it supports Secure Digital (SD), MultiMediaCard (MMC), and High Capacity secure Digital (SDHC) cards. It is powered by a Li-ion rechargeable battery that lets you take 480 shots in a single charge.

The Pentax K10d is housed in a sturdy plastic and metal body. It is made dust proof and weather resistant with seals located along seam lines and control points. It has a slightly smaller body than other digital SLR’s with its dimensions of 5.6 in (W) x 4 in (H) x 2.8 in (D). It has a middle range weight of 710 grams, making it quite comfortable to carry around.

The controls in the Pentax K10D are well-placed for easy operation. Located in front of the camera are the lens mount and the lens release button. Moving on to the back, you will find the LCD with the optical viewfinder placed above. To the left of the optical viewfinder is the Auto Exposure button. Below it are the Menu, Delete Photo, Information, and Playback Mode buttons. Onto the right side of the LCD you will find one of the Pentax K10D’s Command Dials, which are used for adjusting manual settings. Below it is the Exposure Compensation button, AF button, and the 4-Way Controller used for navigation through menu options or images. It is surrounded by a Focus Mode Dial which selects the focus mode from automatic, center, or manual focus point. The Function Button comes below it, with the Shake Reduction On/Off switch sitting beside it.

On top of the Pentax K10D you will find a second Mode Dial that lets you navigate through different exposure modes. Below it is the Metering switch. Located to the right is the LCD info display, which shows info such as aperture and shutter speed. Above this is Green button with the Shutter Release button and the Power button sitting next to it. On this side you will also find the I/O ports, Auto/Manual Focus switch, and the RAW button.

One of the best features of the Pentax K10D is its exposure modes. Rather than carrying pre-programmed scene modes, the Pentax K10D has a set of exposure modes that allocate freedom and control to the photographer. First of these modes is the Green mode which sets everything automatically and locks most of the menu options. The Hyper-Program (P) mode is still automatic but it lets you choose through a set of aperture and shutter speed combinations. The Sensitivity Priority (SV) mode allows you to choose the ISO level while the camera sets the aperture and shutter speed. Choosing the Shutter Priority (TV) mode lets you set the shutter speed and the camera sets the aperture. The Aperture Priority (AV) mode lets you do the opposite. The Shutter and Aperture Priority (TAV) mode lets the camera adjusts the ISO for the aperture and shutter speed that you have selected. The Hyper-Manual (M) mode, on the other hand, lets you do the same without adjusting the ISO. The Bulb mode lets you keep the shutter open while pressing down on the Shutter Release button. The Flash X-sync mode keeps the shutter speed locked at 1/180 sec and finally, the User Settings mode Gives you the freedom to set your own camera settings.

On the other hand, the Pentax K10D features a special effects option. With it, you can convert your images to black and white or sepia, slim a person down to a few pounds, soften filters, or change the brightness.

Captured images can be saved in JPEG or RAW format, which can be either PEF or DNG. RAW images can be edited and converted directly in the camera. This feature lets you resize the image and change the quality, ISO, white balance, saturation, tone, and sharpness before converting it into JPEG format. RAW images may also be imported to the computer and converted into JPEG format with the use of Pentax’s Photo Laboratory software. It allows you to edit your RAW images and adjusts the saturation, contrast, or exposure. You may also import and edit the RAW images to PhotoShop with the use of a camera RAW plug-in.

Summary of Pentax K10d features:

• Resolution: 10.2 megapixels
• LCD: 2.5-inch TFT active matrix (210,000 pixels)
• Sensitivity: Auto, ISO 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600
• Digital Zoom: n/a
• Optical Zoom: 3x
• Focal Length: 18 mm - 55 mm (equivalent to 35mm camera)
• Focus: Auto and Manual
• Aperture: F/3.5-5.6
• Shutter Speed: 1/4000 sec (max); 30 sec (min)
• Continuous Shooting Speed: 3fps
• Flash: built-in & external hot shoe
• Exposure Compensation: -3EV - +3EV with 1/2 or 1/3EV steps
• Still Image Format: JPEG, RAW
• Memory: no internal memory
• Supported Media: MultiMediaCard, SD Memory Card
• Dimension: 5.6 in (W) x 4 in (H) x 2.8 in (D)
• Weight: 710g.
• Power Source: Li-ion rechargeable battery

PROS: One of Pentax K10D’s best features is its ability to save images in two formats. Saving images in RAW format greatly extends storage capacity without sacrificing image quality. distinctive Its sensitivity (Sv) and shutter/aperture priority (TAv) modes adds great compliment to its manual controls.

CONS: Images captured in the JPEG format in default settings with the Pentax K10D is not as superior as the RAW images.

The Pentax K10D is certainly a camera for the serious photographer. With its sturdy design, range of comprehensive features, and high quality outputs, the Pentax K10D will no doubt be a match to any serious photographer’s expectations.

Attached Images

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