Wide ISO range
Solid handling design
Poor noise performance
Some colors were VERY off
Introduction
Fine adjustments are easy with the on-screen preview, but the auto WB is unimpressive, and custom WB isn’t as precise as other SLRs.
White Balance (6.09)
The K-x is a mediocre performer in white balance adjustment accuracy, lagging the competition using the automatic white balance system and falling short of the color accuracy levels we expect after taking a manual white balance reading.
We check white balance performance by shooting the X-Rite ColorChecker chart under daylight, incandescent and compact fluorescent lighting produced using the X-Rite Judge II light box. The test photos are analyzed using Imatest software, with color error measurements compared against the known values of the ColorChecker chart. More on how we test color.
Automatic White Balance (9.43)
The automatic white balance system handles daylight illumination well, but it’s flummoxed by compact fluorescent and incandescent lighting, like that produced by household tungsten bulbs.
Custom White Balance (2.74)
We demand a very high level of color accuracy after going to the trouble to take a custom white balance reading with an SLR. The K-x didn’t live up to these standards, Shots taken under incandescent lighting were much improved compared to the automatic WB results, but still no great shakes compared to other tested cameras.
The K-x couldn’t match the exemplary results delivered by the K2000 in daylight shooting, but its WB accuracy holds up well compared to the other tested cameras.
Incandescent illumination is consistently the most challenging light source for automatic white balance systems, and the K-x is not alone in failing to cope well. The GF1 was the noteworthy exception to the orange-tinged rule here.
The Pentax K-x handled compact white fluorescent lighting poorly compared to the competition, including the exceptional K2000 results.
Overall, the Pentax K-x offers underwhelming white balance accuracy levels.
Shop for the Pentax K-x
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