Pentax 14.6-megapixel dSLR leapfrogs competitors
Pentax K20D
(Credit: Pentax Corp.)You've gotta admire feisty little Pentax. Undeterred by a dSLR market dominated by Canon and Nikon, plus the deep-pocketed relative newcomer Sony and tireless veteran Olympus, Pentax continues to refine and innovate its offerings rather than just trying to sell cheap models built from off-the-shelf parts. This year sees the first tangible result of the company's alliance with Samsung, a 14.6-megapixel CMOS sensor, which makes its way into Pentax's new midrange model, the $1,300 K20D (body only). Pentax's other new model, the entry-level $799 K200D (a kit with the new smc PENTAX DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL II lens), looks more like the typical budget package.
According to Pentax, the new sensor requires less space for the ancillary circuitry, allowing for photodiodes with the same area as those of a 10-megapixel sensor. In theory, this should allow for higher-resolution images with noise equivalent to that of the lower-resolution ones; we won't know until we test it. In other respects, the body and much of the technology of the K20D carries over from its predecessor, the K10D. Pentax claims improved sensitivity for the image stabilization, and a slightly larger LCD with improved off-angle viewing.
At its price point, it competes directly with the Canon EOS 40D, though like the K10D it offers many features, including the dust- and weatherproof body, sensor-shift image stabilization and wireless flash controller, that you'll see in pricier models like the Sony Alpha DSLR-A700 or Olympus E-3.
Selected specs:
| Pentax K10D | Pentax K20D | Canon 40D | |
| Sensor | 10.2-megapixel CCD 23.6 x 15.8mm |
14.6-megapixel CMOS 23.4 x 15.6mm |
10.1-megapixel CMOS 22.2 x 14.8mm |
| In-body image stabilization | Sensor shift | Sensor shift | None |
| Sensitivity range | ISO 100 - ISO 1600 | ISO 100 - ISO 6400 | ISO 100 - ISO 3200 |
| Focal-length multiplier | 1.5X | 1.5X | 1.6X |
| Continuous shooting | 3 fps unlimited JPEG/12 raw |
3 fps 38 JPEG/16 raw |
6.5fps 75 JPEG/17 raw |
| Viewfinder | 95% coverage 0.95X magnification n/a fixed matte focusing screen |
95% coverage 0.95X magnification n/a fixed matte focusing screen |
95% coverage 0.95X magnification 22mm eye point interchangeable matte focusing screen. 2 optional focusing screens $45 each: grid, Super-Precision Matte |
| Autofocus | 11-pt AF n/a |
11-pt AF 9 cross-type |
9-pt AF all cross-type to f/5.6 |
| Live View | No | Yes | No |
| LCD size | 2.5 inches/140-degree view | 2.7 inches/160-degree view | 3.0 inches/not available |
| Built-in wireless flash controller | Yes | Yes | No |
Pentax K200D
(Credit: Pentax Corp.)At $799, the K200D kit enters a more crowded field, one currently dominated by the Nikon D40x and Canon EOS Rebel XTi, both of which seem ripe for replacement. (Pentax will offer a body-only version of the K200D for $719.) It jumps to a 10-megapixel CCD from its predecessors'--the K100D, K100D Super, and K110D--6 megapixels, uses a pentamirror viewfinder rather than a pentaprism, for a lighter body, and increases to a 2.7-inch LCD. Unlike the older models, it also takes 4 AA-sized batteries (Pentax claims 1,100 shots off 4 disposable lithium cells). Like the K200D, it uses sensor-shift image stabilization and implements an enhanced dynamic range mode, which theoretically provides enhanced highlight detail.
Pentax expects to ship the K20D in April, while the D200D should be around by the beginning of March.
On Sale Now:
$473.37
- $799.00
View the latest prices for Pentax K200D (Body only)
On Sale Now:
$558.88
- $852.62
View the latest prices for Pentax K200D (with 18-55mm lens)
Senior Editor Lori Grunin has been covering digital imaging for two decades, but her memory's kind of sketchy on the details. You can hear about it every week on Indecent Exposure, the podcast she co-hosts with Matt Fitzgerald.
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But it is, as usual from Asahi, a breath of fresh air so needed in the market, at an affordable price. This meaning that there is no need to pay up to 3000 euros for a pro level good camera. Olympus and Pentax have proved it, yet again the market seems not to be aware of it.
hardly believe was sold for $400. And there was a 200mm 2.5 that was also a
killer. These coated lens pioneers could catch the nap on a cashmere overcoat
at 100 feet... and the image was soooo cool, with just the right
shadow/highlight ratio and lots of other good stuff. Nikkor 85 1.4 is maybe a
little better at @$1000 but i like the underdog. Glad to see there's another
devotee out there.
I think you should do a little more in-depth look at the K200D. Compare it to the other cameras in the price range (Canon XT and XTi, and Nikon D60).
You'll find:
? a more professional stainless steel frame body (doesn't feel like a cheap piece of plastic)
? shake reduction built into the body (meaning you get it for any lens you put on the body and save $$$ over needing to buy expensive IS lenses)
? a kit lens you can actually use (universally lauded as far better than the Canon and Nikon kit lenses). It now ships with a new version of that lens, which is called "even better than before".
? the ability to use regular alkaline AA batteries (uses lithium and NiMH AAs but nice to know in an emergency you could get batteries at the local store)
* you can put any Pentax lens on it (losing some functionality, obviously) but the ability to put even K-mount lenses on your camera
? a new ISO-priority program mode
Currently available with a $100 rebate, this camera can be had for a street price of $650 ($550 after rebate) making it an unbelievable deal.