Digital Camera Review

Digital Camera Review

Oct 01, 2006 - By Patrick Singleton
The Pentax K10D is supposed to be the next Pentax K1000 – the camera a million people learned on, the one that showed inexpensive cameras could deliver great results, could last forever, that “pro camera” and “pro result” are related pretty much by coincidence. Technically, the 10-megapixel K10D is an ambitious camera, with both dust and shake reduction, excellent environmental seals and 11-point autofocus. We're told at Photokina that it will sell for 1000 Euros with the 18-55mm zoom, or a few hundred more with the far superior 16-45.
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Model Design / Appearance
We like the *ist Pentaxes' design, because they had a certain simplicity and restraint. The Pentax K10D has less of that, which is a disappointment. If Batman wants a shot of some evil-doer, Robin may well pull the K10D out of the Batmobile's glove compartment. It has the right kind of gratuitous, swooping edges, and hunched, hooded look.
 
Aesthetics aside, the K10D seems solid and functional. Its environmental seals are a welcome contrast to the gaping cracks in the Canon Rebel XTi/EOS 400.
 
Size / Portability
At 5.6 x 4 x 2.75 inches and 27.8 ounces with battery and SD card, the Pentax K10D is not a small DSLR. It's nearly the size of the Nikon D200, and weighs about 11 ounces more than the Pentax *ist DL. Much of the size is related to functionality – shake reduction, dust removal, and just as important, environmental seals. The K10D has a thorough complement of gaskets on its ports, and the chassis integrity to remain sealed along its stationary seams.
 
Handling Ability
We found the Pentax K10D comfortable to hold. It was apparent at the Photokina booth that it fits a variety of hand sizes – a rather large man and a petite woman were looking at it together while we were there, and both were pleased with the grip. They said they were *ist owners looking to move up.

Key features in handling are the grippable surfaces for both hands and the fact that the camera strap won't get in the way.
 
Control Button / Dial Positioning / Size
It's always great to see two control dials on a camera – for manual shooters, it means that aperture and shutter speed are both easily adjustable. In program, it's easy to both shift program and vary exposure compensation.
 
The AE lock button is all the way out on the right corner of the back, so the user has to shift her thumb away from the grip to hit it. The 4-way controller is very good, and we like the dial that surrounds it – though there might be a better use for it than simply setting the autofocus site selection mode – it really should turn freely, and actually select the autofocus site.
 
We like the notion of a RAW button – there are plenty of times when we're popping JPEGs and suddenly find a shot that we know will need some processing, and which we could shoot a RAW file conveniently.
 
The latches for the memory door and the battery door are excellent. The word that comes to mind is “positive.” There's no chance that either will open accidentally. The on/off switch for shake reduction is also beefy. The push buttons all around seem solid and durable, and easy to use.
 
Menu
The Pentax K10D's menus are easy to read and attractive, but land sakes, they're long. It's not as though we're against cameras having adjustments, but some of this stuff just looks excessive. 

Shooting
 
JPEG Pix
JPEG pixel dimensions
JPEG Quality
Compression
Image
Tonality
Saturation
 
Sharpness
 
Contrast
 
File format
In addition to JPEGs, the K10D shoots RAW and DNG files. DNG is an open standard for uncompressed raw files
Extended Bracket
Set to bracket exposure, white balance, saturation, sharpness contrast, and set the increments by which to bracket, and whether to shoot 3 or 5 different shots
Multi exposure
 
Memory
Set the K10D to remember various settings when its shut off, or to return to defaults
Shake Reduction
Set focal length of old lenses that don't encode that data.

 

Set-up
 
User
Set a custom shooting mode with a combination of settings
Format
Blast the SD card clean
Beep
Make the camera annoying
Date adjust
Includes date and time
World time
Set for travel
Languange
Choose from 12 languages for menus and alerts
Guide display
Interval for guides to show
Brightness
LCD adjustment
Video out
PAL or NTSC for slideshows
Transfer
USB mode
Auto Power off
Set time camera will stay on without intervention
Folder
Manage folders on SD card
Select battery
Determine battery configuration
Dust removal
Shake off dust on sensor
Sensor cleaning
Open shutter to allow manual cleaning. Pentax sells its own cleaning wands for sticky stuff
Reset
 

 

Custom
 
Program line
Set how the Program mode balances aperture and shutter speed at various EV
EV steps
½ or 1/3
ISO Step
1 or whatever EV step is set to
ISO Warning
Set viewfinder warning if auto ISO rises to 400, 800 or 1600
Meter Operating time
Meter active for 10, 3 or 30 seconds (10 is apparently default)
AEL with AF lock
Lock exposure when focus is locked
Link AF point with AE
Meter at active autofocus point
Auto Bracket order
Set order for bracket exposures
Auto EV
Adjust EV
WB with Flash
Either shift white balance to flash preset when the flash is active, or leave it alone
Fine tune in AWB
Allow tuning of auto white balance
AF button
Set function of AF button – defaults to focusing while it's pressed
AF by Pressing Halfway
Set to have autofocus activated by shutter
Superimpose AF area
Show active AF area onscreen
AF in rear control
Set to change autofocus controls
Noise Reduction
For long exposure or high ISO
Color Temperature steps
Increments for adjustment
Green button
Function of the green button in manual modes
1-tough RAW & JPEG
Control RAW button function
Illuminate LCD
LCD adjustment
Release when charging
Allow shots when flash is not fully charged
Preview method
Show depth of field through viewfinder or on LCD
Rec image no
Show the number of shots left on the card, or the number of shots available in a burst
Init Zoom display
Set starting magnification for image playback
Auto Image rotate
Show vertical images upright
Save rotation info
Save verticals upright
Using aperture ring
Allow use of aperture ring on old lenses that have them
Reset custom functions
Return settings to default

 

Playback
 
Playback Display
Set information to show on initial display
Instant Review
Set for review of images as soon as they're shot
Digital preview
Unable to test
Digital filter
Modify saved images. Unable to test
Slideshow
Unable to test

Ease of Use
The Pentax K10D has a full complement of controls, as well as significant automation. The physical layout of the controls is for the most part logical (except for the AE lock). The LCD previews for depth of field and white balance are very helpful, in particular for users who are just beginning to experiment with those parameters.
 
In some ways, our attitude toward ease of use is colored by the fact that Pentax intentionally disabled the cameras we were allowed to examine. We expect to have a positive report when we handle a fully functional camera.
 
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