Pentax K100D: specifications and reviews

In 2006, when Pentax introduced the K100D, the camera was advertised as an affordable, full-featured and convenient digital SLR camera. A year later, when the manufacturer announced the Pentax K100D Super, the device was similar. So what is the difference? If you look closely, the newer model has a dust removal system, and it has become compatible with SDM lenses that have fast and quiet autofocusing.

In addition to these two new additions, the Pentax K100D Super features the same compact size, ease of use, high ISO sensitivity and image stabilization mechanism to eliminate blurry images. Although the model was equipped with a 6-megapixel sensor, when the remaining DSLR-cameras were already released with a resolution of 10 megapixels, its low price of $ 519 and an impressive set of functionality was more than compensated.

Pentax K100D: overview of the design

Despite the relatively low cost, it is important to keep in mind that this is not a compact camera such as "pointed and removed". K100D is a digital SLR camera of the entry level, that is, it is aimed at people who want to get advanced control capabilities and want to have access to a wide selection of lenses. At the same time, Pentax is known as a manufacturer of user-friendly and functional devices that can be used by photographers who have only experience with compact cameras.

In addition to high performance, the device has other advantages. And the possibility to change optics, probably, is the biggest difference between SLR cameras and compact ones. K100D is equipped with Pentax 18-55mm f3.5 / 5.6 AL optics, but it is also sold without it, which allows using a wide range of offers. One of the biggest advantages of Pentax SLR cameras is that they are 100% compatible with all the lenses that have ever been created by it. Thanks to the KAF2 mount, everything from old optics with manual control to a new one with autofocus is suitable. No other manufacturer provides such backward compatibility.

Even more surprising is the fact that all optics simultaneously receives at their disposal an integrated system of shake compensation. Other manufacturers, such as Canon and Nikon, sell lenses with image stabilization much more expensive, while Pentax even has a 40-year-old optics that works better. As a result, the images look much clearer than before.

Pentax K100D: specifications

The camera specifications are as follows:

• Sensor: CCD 6.31 megapixels.
• The ISO range is 200-3200.
• Exposure time: 30-1 / 4000 sec.
• Focusing: 11-point AF.
• The dimensions of the camera: 129h93h70 mm.
• Weight: 570 g., With batteries installed, memory card - about 660 g.
• K100D captures still images in any of four quality levels: uncompressed RAW, high, normal or basic in JPEG format.
• The frame size can be selected from three options: 6 Mp (3008x2000), 4 Mp (2400x1600) and 1.5 Mp (1536x1024).
• The camera accepts SD and SDHC memory cards.
• The kit includes a DA 18-55 mm lens, a USB cable and video, a strap, a sync contact cover, an eyecup (already installed), a bayonet cover, a viewfinder cover, four AA alkaline batteries and a software CD. An optional power adapter for the Pentax K100D is also available.

Features and build

The camera body, finished with matte black polymer composite material, is made of a durable metal frame, which provides a small weight of the camera. Material, quality, fit and coating are excellent. According to users' reviews, the ergonomic K100D is the photographer's best friend - all controls are perfectly positioned. They like that the lens unlock button is on one side of the camera with the shutter button. This means you can use the little finger of your right hand. The balance of the photoappler with the installed set of lenses is quite pleasant. Thanks to its light weight and excellent traction with the handle, even heavier lenses can be operated easily. Owners who held the camera in their hands for 8 hours, note that it is not difficult to work with it, even with such massive optics as Sigma 24-70 mm f2.8.

Shooting

Auto Pict mode allows automatic shooting when the camera itself determines the necessary settings in accordance with external conditions. The camera leaves the photographer with the right to choose one of several flash options, frame size and quality, ISO sensitivity and focus method, but all other parameters are calculated by the device itself. Even with the default settings, an inexperienced amateur photographer can not worry about anything other than focusing and capturing images. The automatic shooting mode copes well with a wide range of objects, but the essence of a SLR camera is that it is completely different from a compact one. DSLR-cameras are designed for those who want to control their pictures themselves.

Instructions for choosing the best settings

Based on the illumination, distance and movement of the subject, automatic selection of the optimal settings for the Pentax K100D is possible. The procedure is as follows:

1. Set the mode dial to Auto Pict. In this case, the camera will select the best way to capture the image.
2. Set the focus mode switch to AF.
3. Use the viewfinder to aim the camera at the subject. With this optics you can change its apparent dimensions.
4. Position the subject within the frame and half-press the shutter release button. The AF system will start to work, the indicator of which will signal that the focus has been completed. If necessary, the built-in flash will be set to the working position.
5. Press the shutter button completely. The shooting is complete.
6. You can use the LCD screen to check the photo. After the picture is taken, it is displayed on the screen for 1 second. However, it can be deleted by clicking on the corresponding button on the rear panel.

Shooting modes

In addition to the Auto Pict Pentax, the K100D provides six pre-programmed image modes for specific scenes: portrait, landscape, macro, moving objects, night portrait and no flash. The camera optimizes the settings for different scenes and, like auto, the user has the option to set certain frame parameters depending on the selected scene. In addition, there are 8 additional modes for shooting at night, surfing and snow, text, sunset, children, pets, candles and the museum.

Variants of exposure and aperture setting

Finally, the camera can operate in Program Mode (P), Aperture Priority (Av), Shutter Priority (Tv) and Manual Exposure (M). These are standard functions of any DSLR camera. In addition to them, setting Bulb (B) allows you to manually control the duration of the opening of the shutter at very long exposures. The modes work as follows:

• P: The camera sets the shutter speed and aperture independently. The user has the ability to change its settings, including selecting the flash mode, adjust camera exposure and flash, exposure metering, autofocus, shooting, ISO sensitivity, white balance, image size and quality. The same parameters are available in Tv, Av, M and B.
• Tv: The shutter speed is set by the user, and the aperture is set by the camera.
• Av: the photographer adjusts the aperture, and the exposure is selected automatically.
• M: The shutter speed and aperture are set by the user.
• B: same as M, except that the shutter remains open while the shutter release button is pressed.

Exposure Compensation

This function allows you to change the exposure within ± 2 EV in 1/3 EV increments only in P, Tv and Av modes. The most effective for centrally-weighted or spot measurement. There is also an exposure bracketing function for taking multiple shots with different shutter speeds: underexposed, standard and overexposed.

Exponometer

By default, measurements in the K100D Super are performed using a 16-segment multi-zone system. Center-weighted and point variants are available. Multizone photometry generally works well, but at times misses bright areas in high contrast scenes, such as a bright sky or an ocean with the sun reflected in it. However, these shortcomings are also found in other digital cameras. High contrast scenes with more suitable levels of illumination lead to better results.

Focusing

The Pentax K100D uses an 11-point AF system, and the user can also select the focus area for automatic or manual focusing of the image. In addition to the switch located near the lens mount, the sharpening modes can be controlled using the camera menu. Two AF options are available: Single AF (AF) and Continuous (AF-C). The first is for fixed subjects and blocks the focus change when the shutter button is pressed halfway. The second one is used for shooting moving subjects and sharpens continuously at a half-lowered descent.

Unlike most SLR cameras with multi-zone AF, which use only one or two cross-type sensors, working both vertically and horizontally, the SAFOX VIII system includes 9 such sensors, which results in greater accuracy of its operation.

Focusing speed Pentax K100D Super user reviews are called quite fast and independent of the installed lens. The AF sensor also determines the correctness of the manual focus guide. Although this model is not the fastest in the Pentax family, it focuses almost as fast as the high-end camera K10D.

Monitor and viewfinder

The Pentax K100D is equipped with a 2.5 "LCD display with 210 thousand pixels and an adjustable level of brightness. The screen has a wide 140-degree viewing angle along the vertical and horizontal, so you can show pictures to several people at the same time. Also, 12-fold magnification of images is possible. The display does not work in the sighting mode - you can not arrange pictures with it. For this purpose, a bright and fairly large viewfinder with a 0.85-fold magnification and 96% coverage of the frame serves. This is better than most entry-level SLR cameras.

Flash

The built-in flash is pulled out from the top of the camera body by pressing the button located on the back panel of the Pentax K100D. Lamp characteristics allow you to photograph at a distance of 0.7-4 m from the subject, depending on the ISO settings and the aperture. There are 4 flash modes: automatic, manual and with red-eye reduction for each of them.

According to the owners, its only drawback is that the maximum synchronization speed is 1/180 s. This is suitable for shooting in low light, and its use by day as a fill flash often requires shutter speeds of 1/500 s or less. Therefore, it is necessary to install a diaphragm in f22 or more, which is not an ideal option.

Colour

There are two main image tones: bright and natural, with the first one set by default. According to user feedback, this setting actually leads to oversaturated colors, overexposure and granularity. For this reason, they recommend adjusting the camera to natural tones.

The Pentax K100D camera covers the Adobe RGB and sRGB color space. Although the first provides a wider color gamut, novice photographers are more suited to sRGB, since in this case the pictures look much brighter on the screen and when printed. The colors are saturated, especially in the red and green parts of the spectrum. To photos are not oversaturated, they should be slightly underexposed. To this end, users set exposure compensation values to -0.3 or -0.7 EV.

The camera menu system also allows you to adjust the saturation, sharpness and contrast of the image.

Photosensitivity

Auto ISO is used by default in automatic and scene modes of shooting and at its discretion sets ISO sensitivity from 200 to 3200. Also it is possible to limit the range of Auto ISO, for example, by values of 200-800. ISO 200 is defaulted in P, Tv, Av, and M modes if the ISO value was not previously selected. The sensitivity can be set manually by selecting one of the following values: 200, 400, 800, 1600 or 3200.

White balance

Auto white balance is set by default for all Pentax K100D shooting modes. Also, the user can select the settings for incandescent, fluorescent, direct sunlight, flash, clouds, shadows, or exposed to white or gray reference objects.

Battery life time

The company Pentax - one of the few manufacturers of SLR cameras, which allows you to install batteries type AA. The greatest benefit of this solution is the ability to use both batteries and standard batteries, which can be purchased everywhere, even in a small village in a foreign country. In addition, the K100D can be powered by lithium batteries with a long life of the CR-V3 type. The camera allows you to take 1480 pictures with auto focus, image stabilization, dust removal at each startup and periodic use of the built-in and external flash units.

Characteristics of optics

The supplied 18-55 mm lens is quite good. Optics show a slight vignetting (dark corners) at a wide angle (18 mm), but the sharpness is sufficient throughout the frame. The lens suffers a slight barrel distortion in a wide-angle position and a pillow-shaped telephoto. Despite the 6 megapixel resolution, images are detailed and clear even at 100% magnification. At the edges there are purple halos (on high contrast boundaries), but they are noticeable only at a double increase.

Reviews

Pentax K100D user reviews are more similar to their older brother K10D than other budget SLR cameras. The focusing speed of the camera is about the same. At a continuous shooting speed of 2.7 fps, the camera's performance is excellent, but a small buffer of 3 RAW or 5 JPEG images and a low sync speed of the built-in flash significantly limit the camera. As shown by the reviews, the quality of the images is one of the best that can be seen on devices with a 6-megapixel sensor, and ISO noise is limited precisely due to this. Full compatibility with all the lenses of the manufacturer means almost limitless possibilities of expansion and growth of photographic skills. The colors are rich even with the natural setting of the tonality of the image. The built-in stabilization and dust removal system means that this camera is surprisingly full-featured. Beginners who have just moved from compact cameras, with automatic and scene modes of shooting feel very confident with it.

Given the price, the K100D Super is an excellent entry-level offer.