Pentax K-x

The $650 Pentax K-x is the lowest-cost video-enabled SLR on the market by a substantial margin — the nearest price rival is the Nikon D5000, which runs $200 more. The cost-cutting mentality takes its toll in several areas, including the use of AA batteries instead of a Lithium ion rechargeable (not a deal-breaker, in our opinion) and the inability to play back video from the camera to a high-def TV. There is neither HDMI nor component video output, a substantial failing. Not even the cable required to play back standard def video is included, an annoying nickel-and-dime decision when the same component is provided with the company’s inexpensive point-and-shoots.

This is not a camera for image-quality sticklers. In our lab testing for both stills and video, it came in behind the competition in most areas, with a wide dynamic range and relatively fast 4.2 shot-per-second burst rate notable exceptions. At the same time, there was nothing in our testing that was awful. We expect the consumer-oriented target audience will be satisfied in this area. And when features could be provided with software rather than upgraded hardware, Pentax didn’t skimp, with a wide array of shooting and image editing options, customizable filters, a nice range of playback displays, and a well-designed quick menu system that makes nearly every shooting setting available on a single screen. There’s even in-camera high dynamic range shooting, which produced impressive exposures in difficult settings, albeit with sharpness impaired by camera shake.

The bottom line is precisely that: a price-performance judgment call. If good-enough image and video quality is good enough for you, the Pentax K-x is a fun and flexible camera.

Performance

The camera’s strong suits are a 4.22 shot per second burst rate that’s impressive for cameras in this class, and a wide dynamic range that handles high-contrast situations nicely. Color accuracy isn’t great, image noise levels are relatively high, and white balance performance is substandard, though none of these problems is likely bad enough to bother the snapshot shooter. Resolution is pretty good at most settings, and the in-camera image stabilization system effectively minimizes blur caused by vertical camera shake.

Video

The Pentax K-x wasn’t too impressive as a video recording device. Its manual controls were limited, its button design and handling were faulty, and its low light performance was mediocre. The camera’s only shining moment came in our video sharpness test where it slightly outperformed the other DSLRs that record 720p video. Video mode on the K-x is essentially an afterthought or bonus feature, and if you view it that way then you shouldn’t be disappointed—but don’t buy the K-x if you’re looking to get high-end video performance from your DSLR, as there are many better options out there.

Hardware

The LCD is an adequate but unimpressive 2.7-inch 230,000-dot display, and the pop-up flash is small and suffers from a bright central hot spot. Camera construction, though, feels solid, with none of the cheap plastic feel we’ve found on some pricier models. The use of AA batteries instead of the more typical Lithium ion rechargeables for an SLR is a minor hiccup; spend $30 on a set of rechargeable nickel metal hydride AAs and you’ll have both economical power with adequate battery life and the option to buy off-the-shelf disposable AAs to power your camera in a pinch. The lack of high-def video output on a camera that shoots high-def video, on the other hand, is a substantial annoyance.

Controls

All the basic are covered here, including a scene recognition-based full automatic mode that worked well in our testing. Depth of field preview is frequently omitted from inexpensive cameras, but it’s provided here, allowing you to judge how much of the photo will be in focus before shooting, a valuable capability. You get a wide array of image capture customization options, including finely adjustable picture modes and filters, along with extensive in-camera editing capabilities. There’s also an unusual image adjustment feature that lets you alter the white balance and custom image settings immediately after taking a JPEG shot, using the uncompressed RAW data stored in the camera buffer to avoid any loss of image quality. Unfortunately, this feature is poorly documented in the manual.

Sample Photos

In the following sample images, clicking on the larger image will download the full resolution original. Each photo is accompanied by four actual-size crops.

Landscape Sample
				Focal length: 18mm Aperture: f/14 Shutter: 1/250 ISO:400 This shot was taken in aperture priority mode, with multisegment metering and spot autofocus, using the Landscape custom image setting. At the lens’ widest angle and a middling aperture setting, we see a reasonable level of sharpness, no problem with chromatic aberration and an attractive color rendition.

Building Sample
				Focal length: 31mm Aperture: f/7.1 Shutter: 1/320 ISO:200 Taken using multisegment metering in program mode, using the Bright custom image setting, this shot of a richly textured building reveals very good detail retention in both the bright and shadowed areas.

Low Light Samples
	Focal length: 50mm Aperture: f/7.1 Shutter: 1/2 ISO:3200 This scrimshaw knife was shot in low light with the Bright custom image setting (which uses a modest amount of sharpening) in shutter priority mode, using each of the high ISO noise reduction settings. after taking a manual white balance reading. The good news: ramping up the level of noise reduction processing doesn’t hurt image detail much. The bad news: there’s still a fairly high level of noise even at the highest setting.

High Dynamic Range Sample
	Focal length: 37mm Aperture: f/4.5 Shutter: 1/125 ISO:400 Shot in program mode with multisegment metering, using the Bright custom image setting and a sturdy tripod. The photo at left was taken without HDR, the next two were taken with high dynamic range set to levels 1 and 2. We like the dynamic range expansion, but as seen in the same-size captures at the bottom, camera movement mars the sharpness of the HDR images, and the self-timer is unavailable to minimize shake.
	HDR Level 1
	HDR Level 2

Pentax K-x Specs
Type	Compact SLR / System
Focal Length Minimum	18.0 mm
Focal Length Maximum	55.0 mm
Still Pixel Count (gross)	12.9 megapixels
Still Pixel Count (effective)	12.4 megapixels
Sensor Size	APS-C
Sensor Type - New	CMOS
Aspect Ratios	3:2
Frame Rate(s)	24p
Original Price	650.00 $
Height	91.44 mm
Width	121.92 mm
Depth	68.58 mm
Weight	581.18 g
Model Colors	black
Display Type	LCD
Display Size	2.7 in.
Display Resolution	230,000 pixels
Viewfinder Type	optical
Viewfinder Magnification	0.85 x
Viewfinder Coverage	96.0 % coverage
Diopter Adjustment - New	-2.5 to +1.5m^-1
Media New	SD/SDHC
Connectivity Options	USB, A/V, hot accessory shoe
Battery Type	AA
Mirror Technology (Interchangeable Lens)	DSLR
Waterproof	No
ISO Options	200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200, 6400, Extended ISO
Minimum ISO	200
Maximum ISO	6400

Pentax K-x Scores
Rating	Score	Weighting
Color Score	11.36	9.0
Color Modes Score	4.0	1.0
Long Exposure Score	7.01	4.0
Noise Score	5.95	9.0
ISO Options Score	6.0	1.5
Sharpness Score	9.48	6.0
Chromatic Aberration Score	8.48	3.0
Picture Options Score	9.13	0.5
Dynamic Range Score	8.13	6.0
Stabilization Score	2.02	5.0
Auto White Balance Score	9.43	4.0
Custom White Balance Score	2.74	2.0
White Balance Features Score	10.0	0.5
Playback Mode Score	10.0	1.5
In-Camera Editing Score	10.75	0.5
Software Score	5.0	0.5
Direct Print Features Score	2.0	0.5
Sensor Score	3.0	1.0
Viewfinder Score	7.75	1.5
LCD Score	4.4	2.5
Flash Score	6.75	1.0
Lens Mount Score	7.75	1.5
Battery Score	4.0	1.0
Memory Score	3.0	1.0
Connectivity Score	2.0	1.0
Shooting Modes Scores	11.5	1.0
Live View Score	3.0	2.0
Scene Modes Score	6.5	0.5
Picture Effects Score	8.0	0.5
Focus Score	14.25	1.5
Exposure Score	6.25	1.0
DOF Preview Score	1.5	0.5
Metering Score	7.5	1.0
Shutter Speed Score	10.0	1.0
Self-Timer Score	3.0	1.0
Other Controls Score	2.0	0.5
Handling Score	7.0	2.5
Controls Score	8.5	2.5
Menu Score	6.5	2.0
Manual Score	5.75	1.0
Shot to Shot Score	4.22	3.0
Drive and Burst Modes Score	4.5	1.0
Video Color Score	7.1	1.25
Video Sharpness Score	9.77	1.25
Video Motion Score	7.0	0.63
Video Noise Score	11.62	0.63
Video Controls Score	3.0	1.2
Video Low Light Sensitivity Score	0.97	0.95
Video Low Light Color Score	5.67	0.78
Video Low Light Noise Score	6.73	0.78
Video Compression Score	6.0	0.95
Video Audio Score	0.25	0.3
Video Handling Score	4.5	0.73
Total:	673