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Top Pentax K100D Camera Reviews
DC Resource wrote a review of the
Pentax K100D
and said: "Photo quality was excellent in most cases. The K100D
took well-exposed photos with vivid colors and pleasing
sharpness -- this camera is clearly aimed toward the consumer
set. Noise levels are nice and low through ISO 800, and ISO 1600
is still usable, with ISO 3200 only for desperate situations.
Purple fringing and redeye were not a problem. The 18 - 55 mm
kit lens isn't the greatest, with noticeable vignetting in
several of my real world photos. Remember: when it comes to
lenses, you get what you pay for."
Pentax K100D News Release Summary:
GOLDEN, CO (May 22, 2006)…PENTAX Imaging Company announced today
the PENTAX K100D, which combines 6.1 effective megapixels with a
host of advanced technologies including a Shake Reduction (SR)
system to deliver high-quality digital SLR photography and
user-friendly operation to all levels of photographers.
The PENTAX-developed Shake Reduction (SR) system in the K100D
effectively offers a two-stop advantage for sharp, blur-free
images even under difficult shooting conditions, such as using a
telephoto lens or shooting in low light without a flash.
The SR mechanism is designed to minimize camera shake by
oscillating the CCD image sensor vertically and horizontally at
high speed using magnetic force, while adjusting the speed of
oscillation in proportion to the amount of camera shake detected
by a built-in sensor. As a result, the system does not require
special anti-shake lenses and can be used with almost all
existing PENTAX interchangeable lenses.*
“The ease-of-use, advanced features and attractive price make
the PENTAX K100D digital SLR a perfect choice for users moving
up from a point-and-shoot camera,” said Ned Bunnell, director of
marketing, PENTAX Imaging Company.
Also announced today is the PENTAX K110D, an entry-level digital
SLR camera, which has all of the features of the K100D with the
exception of Shake Reduction. Both models reflect a new digital
SLR naming system that references the reverse compatibility that
each body has with the legacy of PENTAX K-mount lenses. The
PENTAX K100D will ship along with the smc 18-55mm lens in July
2006 for $699.95 US, while the PENTAX K110D will ship along with
the smc 18-55mm lens in August 2006 for $599.95 US.
Along with the two new SLR models, PENTAX announced the smc
PENTAX DA 21mm F3.2 AL Limited interchangeable wide-angle lens.
Previewed at PMA 2006 in Orlando, the lens features a versatile
angle of view and an ultra-thin, pancake design that offers
go-anywhere portability that is ideal for casual, day-to-day
photography. The latest lens inherits all the attributes of the
acclaimed PENTAX Limited lens series including high-quality
image reproduction, distinctive visual description, and
high-grade lens-barrel finish. The smc PENTAX DA 21mm F3.2 AL
Limited lens will ship in July 2006 for $549.95.
* Lenses compatible with this mechanism are: PENTAX K-, KA-, KAF-
and KAF2-mount lenses; screw-mount lenses (with an adapter); and
645- are 67-system lenses (with an adapter). Certain lenses may
lose part of their functions.
Additional product information is available at:
www.pentaxslr.com while an image gallery is available at:
http://www.pentaxtech.com/Press/pressfiles.html
PENTAX Imaging Company is an innovative leader in the production
of digital cameras, lenses, scopes, eyepieces, binoculars,
mobile and laser printers, scanners and Internet cameras. For
more than 80 years, PENTAX technology has developed durable,
reliable products that meet the needs of consumers and
businesses. With headquarters in Golden, Colorado, PENTAX
Imaging Company is a division of PENTAX of America, Inc.
PENTAX K100D Digital SLR
FACT SHEET
PENTAX-original Shake Reduction mechanism for sharp, blur-free
images
The K100D features a PENTAX-developed Shake Reduction (SR)
system, which effectively reduces camera shake for sharp,
blur-free images even under difficult shooting conditions, such
as using a telephoto lens, shooting in low light conditions
without a supplementary flash illumination. The K100D SR
mechanism is designed to minimize camera shake by oscillating
the CCD image sensor vertically and horizontally at high speed
using magnetic force, while adjusting the speed of oscillation
in proportion to the amount of camera shake detected by a
built-in sensor. This system does not require special anti-shake
lenses and may be used with almost all existing PENTAX
interchangeable lenses.*
* Lenses compatible with this mechanism are: PENTAX K-, KA-, KAF-
and KAF2-mount lenses; screw-mount lenses (with an adapter); and
645- and 67-system lenses (with an adapter). Certain camera
and/or lens functions may be disabled.
11-point wide-frame AF to capture off-center subjects in
crisp focus
The sophisticated K100D SAFOX VIII autofocus system features 11
sensor points (with nine cross-type sensors) to automatically
focus on the subject with utmost precision, even when it is
positioned off center. The in-focus sensor point is
automatically superimposed in red in the viewfinder for
at-a-glance confirmation. This high-precision AF system offers a
choice of two AF modes: the conventional single AF, and the
continuous AF,** which maintains focus on the moving subject as
long as the shutter release button is pressed halfway down.
** The continuous AF mode is selectable by the user only when P,
Tv, Av, M or B is selected as a shooting mode on the mode dial.
This mode is automatically activated by the camera when the Auto
Picture Program, or one of the Picture or Scene modes, is
selected.
Auto sensitivity control up to ISO equivalent 3200
The K100D features an auto sensitivity control function, which
automatically sets the optimum standard output sensitivity — up
to equivalent ISO of 3200, which is the highest automatic
setting in its class — based on such data as the subject's
brightness level and the lens focal length. Since this function
allows the use of higher shutter speeds in poor lighting
situations (such as indoor sports events and night scenes), it
helps photographers reduce camera shake and prevent blurred
images.
Auto Picture Mode for effortless point-and-shoot SLR
photography
The K100D offers the exclusive PENTAX Auto Picture Mode, which
automatically and instantly selects one of the four Picture
modes — including Portrait, Landscape and Macro — by calculating
various photographic factors to assure optimum results. Since
this advanced shooting mode takes away all the concerns about
aperture, shutter-speed, white-balance, saturation, contrast and
sharpness settings, the photographer can concentrate on image
composition and shutter opportunity.
Large LCD monitor to facilitate image viewing and menu
setting
The K100D incorporates a large 2.5 inch color LCD monitor on its
back panel that offers a wide-view design that allows views from
over 140 degrees vertically and horizontally, ensuring
effortless image viewing even from a diagonal position. With a
total of approximately 210,000 pixels, the monitor offers
digital zooming of playback images up to 12 times for easy
confirmation of the image's focusing status and details. The
large monitor size allows for large letters, digits and icons on
the menu screens to facilitate menu confirmation and camera
operations. In addition, the color scheme between the menu
listings and the background is optimized for each menu screen to
assure at-a-glance confirmation, even under varying shooting
conditions.
True-to-life, rich-gradation images assured by 6.1 effective
megapixels
The K100D features a large, high-performance 23.5mm x 15.7mm CCD
as its image sensor, assuring the faithful reproduction of the
desired photographic intention in the resulting images — from
images with beautiful out-of-focus backgrounds to those with
edge-to-edge sharpness. Combining 6.1 effective megapixels with
a high-performance imaging engine and advanced image-processing
technologies, the K100D is designed to produce beautiful,
true-to-life images that are rich in gradation. What's more, it
offers a choice of two finishing touches of “Natural” or
“Bright” to create a distinctive atmosphere.
Super-compact, ultra-lightweight body, with outstanding
rigidity
While the K100D is designed to be compact and lightweight to
enhance operability and portability, it also incorporates a
newly developed stainless-steel chassis and a fiber-reinforced
engineering plastic housing to reinforce its overall rigidity
and durability.
Bright, clear viewfinder
The K100D features a lightweight penta-mirror viewfinder, which
combines PENTAX finder optics and a Natural-Bright-Matte II
focusing screen to deliver bright, clear subject image with a
0.85X magnification and a 96 percent field of view.
Top shutter speed of 1/4000 second
The K100D offers a top shutter speed of 1/4000 second to freeze
fast-moving subjects and capture decisive moments and features a
flash synchronization speed of 1/180 second and a bulb setting
(B) for extended exposures.
Continuous shooting at approximately 2.8 images per second
To trace the movement of an active subject or capture a sequence
of the subject's expressions, the K100D offers a continuous
shooting mode that allows the photographer to capture multiple
images (up to five images at “Best” image quality in JPEG
format) at a maximum speed of approximately 2.8 images per
second.
Upgraded standard software package
The K100D's standard software package consists of the PENTAX
PHOTO Laboratory 3 that features the reliable SILKYPIX
image-processing engine (developed by ICHIKAWA SOFT LABORATORY)
for RAW data processing, and the PENTAX PHOTO Browser 3 that
offers faster data processing speed and better operability than
the previous version, and can convert RAW images to the DNG
format. DNG is a public, archival format for digital camera raw
data.
Save-by-day Storage Capability on an SD memory card
Images may be stored in a standard format where all files are
located in one folder, or the images can be stored in folders
for each day of shooting automatically on an SD memory card.
Additional features
•19 custom functions to personalize camera operations
•SD memory card compatibility
•Eight distinctive Scene modes to accommodate specific
subjects/applications
•Choice of two depth-of-field preview functions
(digital/optical)
•Choice of 16-segment multi-pattern metering, center-weighted
metering and spot metering to accommodate various photographic
applications
•Noise reduction mechanism to reduce digital noise during
extended exposures
•Dual power source (two CR-V3 lithium batteries, or four AA-size
batteries)
•USB 2.0 (HI-SPEED) compatibility for speedy data transfer to PC
•Choice of image format between JPEG (Best, Better or Good) and
RAW
•Five digital filters (Black-and-white, Sepia, Slim, Soft and
Brightness) for easy editing of recorded images
•PictBridge compatibility
SD Logo is a trademark
PENTAX, K100D and smc PENTAX are trademarks of PENTAX
Corporation
PENTAX PHOTO Browser and PENTAX PHOTO Laboratory are trademarks
of PENTAX Corporation
All other brands or product names are trademarks or registered
trademarks of their respective companies.
Design and Specifications are subject to change without notice
Pentax
K100D Best Price:
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