Pentax K2000

	Hardware Summary
• Viewfinder reasonably comfortable, but lacks a cover for tripod shooting • LCD is acceptable but unexciting at 2.7 inches and 230,000-dot resolution • Built-in flash provides decent illumination, external flash far brighter but lacks bounce-flash capability • Compatibility with both current Pentax lenses and older models via adapters • Kit lens slow at maximum f/3.5 aperture; has plastic lens mount • Unusual use of AA batteries in an SLR has its pros and cons
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Sensor (2.75)

The image sensor features a dust-resistant coating, along with a dust removal system that shakes the CCD to remove errant particles.You can choose whether or not to have the dust removal system triggered automatically each time you start up the camera. There's also an interesting Dust Alert function that displays any spots it detects on the sensor. This will prove useful if the automatic dust removal system doesn't fully solve the problem and you're left to clean the sensor manually.

Viewfinder (6.75)

The viewfinder encompasses approximately 96% field of view, with 0.85 magnification, a reasonable spec for an entry-level SLR. There's a rather prominent diopter adjustment tab inset into a slot on top of the viewfinder (with a -2.5 to +1.5m^-1 range). It takes fingernails and patience to adjust accurately (or, if necessary, you can remove the eyecup to get more purchase on the control), yet we managed to change the setting accidentally more than once when the camera brushed against our clothes -- all in all, not the perfect control. One missing element is a cover to close the viewfinder when shooting on a tripod; leaving it open can let light leak in from behind and throw the meter reading off.

It's not hard to accidentally move the diopter
adjustment on the viewfinder top.

The view through the viewfinder is illustrated below.

 

		Spot metering area		Autofocus frame

Focus mode

Recordable images/ISO /EV compensation (while setting)

Flash status

Shake reduction status

Aperture

Picture mode

Shutter speed

Focus indicator

AE lock

LCD (4.40)

The LCD is a bit scrawny by current standards, measuring 2.7 inches with 230,000-dot resolution, though this is not the worst area for cost-cutting. At least the screen is bright and displays colors accurately. The viewing angle is fairly limited, but with no Live View mode, you're not going to be looking at the LCD from odd angles while shooting anyway.

Both the brightness and the color reproduction of the LCD can be adjusted through the menu system. There are 15 possible brightness levels, with a black-to-white gradient displayed on the setting screen so you can judge the effect of your adjustment. As for tuning the color, you can tweak the screen along the green-magenta and/or blue-amber axes, with 15 available settings on each.

When shooting, the LCD displays a full-screen settings summary, as shown below. It's a decent screen layout, though we would have preferred to see the individual settings appear larger, even if that meant shrinking the top section (with shooting mode, shutter speed, aperture, remaining exposures and battery life). If you prefer not to have this screen displayed, it can be toggled off by pressing the INFO button (the LCD can be annoyingly bright when you hold the camera up to your eye, and there's no automatic sensor to turn it off as you'll find on some SLRs). The camera is kind of stubborn about this display, though: every time you depress and release the shutter button (even if it's only to focus, without taknig a shot), the screen will turn on again.

Shutter speed

World time

Capture mode

AE lock

Battery level

Shots available

Scene mode

EV comp

Aperture

ISO

Flash mode

Drive mode

White balance

Flash exposure compensation

Digital filter

File format

Image quality

Image szie

Image finishing tone

AE meter mode

Focus mode

Shake reduction

A more useful button-press is hitting the OK button, which turns the status screen into an interactive control panel. Move the cursor to highlight a setting in this mode and you can scroll through your options by turning the control dial. Or, if you prefer, press OK again and you're taken to a menu screen listing the available settings for the options at hand.

LCD Panel
As with most inexpensive SLRs, there's no monochrome LCD on the camera top to provide shooting information when viewed from above.

Flash (7.25)

Pentax gives the optimal range of the built-in flash as 0.7m to 5m. When shooting in Auto Pict mode there are five available flash settings: auto, forced flash, auto or forced flash with red-eye reduction enabled, and wireless mode, which can synchronize a dedicated external flash (models AF540FGZ or AF360FGZ). In Auto Pict mode and auto flash setting, the camera will pop up the flash on its own if it figures conditions require it. In the more user-controlled modes (Program, Sensitivity Priority, Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority and Manual), it's up to the user to hit the button and raise the flash, so the on-screen menu choices are cut to Flash On, Flash On with Red-eye and Wireless.

The camera can pop up the flash in auto shooting modes. 

Flash intensity can be adjusted in a range from -2.0 to +1.0, in either 1/2 or 1/3 EV increments. There's no user-selectable slow sync option, but according to Pentax, the camera will automatically employ a slower shutter speed when shooting dark scenes in shutter-priority and Night Scene Portrait modes (useful for exposing both the foreground subject and background in poorly lit condtions). Maximum flash sync speed is 1/180 second.

The Pentax K2000 is sold in two kits, one of which (the one we used) includes the black camera body and 18-55mm lens plus the AF200FG external flash, which lists for $150 (Amazon has it priced at $89). This sounds a bit juicier than it is in practice, though, because the AF200FG has a fixed-position head. No swivel, no tilt, no bounce, not a lot of usefulness. While the AF200FG does provide additional light intensity and a higher firing position above the lens, you'll still have to invest in a more upscale model (the AF540FGZ or AF360FGZ) if you want high-speed flash sync or a true autofocus assist illuminator.

 By default, you can't take a photo while the flash is charging, though this can be overridden in the custom menu.

Lens Mount (7.75)

The K2000 is fairly omnivorous when it comes to lens compatibility. With its bayonet mount, it will accept most K mount lenses and, with adapters, 35mm screw mount, and some medium format lenses as well. Of course, the variety of lenses available for Pentax cameras can't match the depth and breadth of the Canon and Nikon catalogs, but for the intended user, there are plenty of fine choices available.

Classic Pentax lenses can be mounted with readily available adapters.

The 18-55mm kit lens has a maximum aperture of f/3.5 at its widest setting and f/5.6 at full zoom, making it fairly slow for low-light shooting. The camera made up for the optics, though, with good results in our long exposure tests, which are shot at shutter speeds between 1 and 30 seconds in dim 20 lux illumination. The mount on the lens is made of plastic, so it's not going to take a lot of abuse.

Lenses mounted on the K2000 have a magnification factor of 1.5x. In other words, the 18-55mm kit lens behaves like a 27-83mm lens on a 35mm camera. That still represents decent wide-angle coverage, and a useable medium telephoto on the flip side, particularly for shooting people without getting thisclose. Here are three shots to illustrate the zoom range, taken at the widest, midpoint and most telephoto end of the zoom range.

Zoom Ratio Examples
18mm	36mm	55mm

One more noteworthy point about the Pentax K2000: since image stabilization is built right into the camera body, any lens you mount takes advantage of this capability. Canon and Nikon owners have to purchase individiual image-stabilized lenses to achieve the same benefit.

Battery (5.00)

The K2000 is powered by four AA batteries, unusual for an SLR (most of the AA-powered models we've seen lately have been point-and-shoot ultrazooms). The AA solution means you can leave the charger home when you take your camera on the road, find inexpensive replacements anywhere you wander, and pick up rechargeables for a modest sum if you like. Pentax says you'll get 1650 shots without flash per set of AA lithium batteries, 1100 with high-capacity NiMH batteries and 360 with alkalines. If you use the flash 50% of the time, those figures drop to 1000, 640 and 260 respectively. Considering the fact that most Lithium-ion rechargeables shipped with SLRs are good for about 800 shots on a good day, we're happy to go the NiMH route with a set of lithium AAs as a backup.

An optional AC adapter is available (K-AC84), but it isn't one of those elegant deals where there's a dedicated DC input port on the camera and you just plug it in. Instead, the power adapter has a connector shaped like two AA batteries, which gets inserted into the battery compartment, with a cable snaked out of the camera via a small hatch ordinarily covered by a removable rubber door. All things considered, we'll stick with rechargeables.

We're OK with AA for an SLR -- you can always find power and can leave the charger at home.

Memory (3.00)

The K2000 relies on SD/SDHC cards to store your precious photographic moments.

The K2000 accepts inexpensive, easy to find SD cards.

Jacks, Ports & Plugs (1.50)

There is a single port that serves for both USB computer connection and video output. The USB cable is included but, unlike most cameras we receive for review, the K2000 ships without a video out cable. It's available as an optional accessory (cable I-VC28) for $10. You can argue that the camera price is very low, and video output isn't used very frequently with a non-movie-enabled camera. Still, if Pentax can afford to toss the cable in the box for a $120 point-and-shoot, they should have included it here.

 
USB and AV out share
the same proprietary jack.

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Pentax K2000 Digital Camera Review Navigation
Intro	Product Tour	Color	Noise
Resolution	White Balance	Sample Photos	Playback
Hardware	Controls	Design & Handling	Speed & Timing
Nikon D90 Comparison	Canon 50D Comparison	Canon Rebel XS Comp	Olympus E30 Comparison
Conclusion	Specs & Ratings