Pentax K10D Digital Camera Review

Manual Control Options
The K10D has a complete suite of manual controls. Aperture, shutter speed, and ISO can all be adjusted in 1/2- or 1/3-stop increments. White balance, focus, and image size/compression are also variable, as are a variety of interface and image-rendering properties.

Focus
Autofocus (8.5)
On paper, the K10D’s autofocus system is one of the most intriguing elements of its design. The camera is fitted with an 11-point TTL phase-matching system, with 9 cross-type sensors. The 11 points are arrayed in a relatively tight 3 x 3 grid down the center of the frame, with an additional point wide to either side, midway down. The selected AF sensor can be set to illuminate red over the focus area.

There are two Focus modes to choose from: Single (AF.S) or Continuous (AF.C). The modes are selected with a small switch on the side of the lens mount, positioned comfortably within reach of the user’s left thumb.

In general, we found the K10D’s autofocus system quite fast, but not incredibly accurate. With DA lenses it was also one of the noisiest systems we’ve ever used, and would often hunt in minimal contrast (invariably stirring up even more noise). The camera is decent in low light, provided there is a good deal of contrast in the scene. In low contrast, the K10D is not as accurate as prosumer models from Canon. The autofocus is more accurate and discerning than nearly every entry-level DSLR we’ve tested. Overall, the system shows potential – primarily in its speed – but still has a ways to go.

Unfortunately, the camera body lacks an autofocus assist illuminator; instead it is built into the pop-up flash. This seems unnecessary, but won’t have too much impact on workflow beyond frustration.

Manual Focus (8.25)
With a bright, contrasty focusing screen and 0.95x magnification, we found focus easy to discern within the K10D’s eyecup. The matte screen shows a distinguishable snap when the subject moves into focus, and the camera provides confirmation by illuminating an AF sensor. The K10D is superior to many DSLRs in its price range in this respect, and effectively accommodates manual shooters with legacy lenses.

Exposure (9.25)
The K10D has 10 exposure mode options arranged around its mode dial. They are (moving clockwise): USER (custom), Green (Full Auto), Hyper-Program, Sensitivity Priority, Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority, Shutter and Aperture Priority, Hyper-Manual, Bulb, and Flash X-Sync Speed. The significant inclusions here are the addition of two sensitivity-oriented Priority modes; one fixes the ISO, adjusting shutter speed and aperture values, while the other offers the inverse, maintaining shutter speed and aperture settings by altering the sensitivity. An X-mode is also available, which defaults to the camera’s max sync speed of 1/180 second and allows an aperture to be set for the flash exposure.

Exposures can be biased +/-3 EV in 1/2-stop steps or +/- 2 EV in 1/3-stop increments. Bracketing is available, with the number and sequence of the photos selectable by the user. Three or five frame brackets can be set.

Metering (8.0)
Exposures are constructed around a TTL multi-segment metering system that takes light readings from 16 zones throughout the frame. There are three modes available, selected with a ring surrounding the mode dial. Multi-Segment, Spot, and Center-Weighted metering options are available. Multi-Segment metering functions like other manufacturers’ Matrix and Evaluative systems, taking readings from a number of zones across the composition and determining the best overall exposure for the scene. Spot Metering takes a reading from the center of the frame (roughly 5 percent) or active autofocus point. Center-Weighted metering is a combination of the two; it biases the exposure toward the center but does not neglect the rest of the scene, retaining sensitivity (albeit diminishing) as it moves toward the edges of the frame.

The metering timer is adjustable, and can be set to 10-second (default), 3-second, or 30-second options in the Custom Settings menu.

In terms of design, the K10D’s 16-segment metering system is somewhat dated. Many competitors now feature meters that read from 35 to 256 zones across the frame. In use, however, we found the K10D supplies accurate readings in most lighting conditions. The K10D’s multi-segment setting is generally consistent with competing models in situations with a distinct key light coming from the front or side. It is thrown in some high-contrast, backlit scenes, but no more so than its direct competitors. The camera’s spot meter is right on and quite consistent. The Center-Weighted setting, however, is disappointing. It is easily fooled by backlit subjects – even in the center of the composition – and is generally less effective than its Multi-Segment setting.

White Balance (9.25)
A full gamut of white balance options are implemented on the K10D. Users can set it to Auto, select from eight presets, take a custom reading, or dial in a specific Kelvin temperature. Color balance performance can be viewed prior to taking the shot using the digital preview feature. Unfortunately, white balance settings are only adjustable in the Function (Fn) menu, and are not given a dedicated button on the camera body.

The K10D allows white balance fine tuning along a dual-axis grid that’s strikingly similar to Canon’s implementation of the feature. The ability to tune the color balance along the blue/amber and green/magenta axis offers substantial flexibility, and should be useful for JPEG shooters.

In practice, we found the fine tune correction is often necessary when using the Auto WB setting. The K10D’s Auto WB is frustratingly inaccurate, though more effective in daylight shots (and some night exteriors) than indoor scenes. Under incandescent illumination, the K10D struggles to neutralize color cast, and necessitates further corrections. The preset setting is much more accurate in these situations.