Pentax K20D First Impressions Review

 

The Pentax K20D is built and priced for advanced photographers, but still has a few attractions to lure point-and-shooters with its live view LCD and Green mode. It comes with a nice variety of Automated and Manual modes, with more attention paid to the more creative end of the spectrum. Manual, Aperture Priority, Shutter Speed Priority, and Program modes are available on almost all DSLRs, but the Pentax K20D is the first to include a Sensitivity Priority mode. More details on these modes and more manual controls in the next few sections.

 

Auto Focus – The Pentax K20D has a through-the-lens phase-matching autofocus system that hasn’t changed much from the K10D. Both DSLRs have a fast 11-point autofocus system that Pentax dubs SAFOX VIII. The autofocus points are all grouped toward the center, the same as the K10D.

 

The autofocus mode can be changed from Single to Continuous with a switch on the left side of the camera, near the lens mount. There is also an autofocus area switch that surrounds the multi-selector. It moves from Auto to Select and Center. The latter two options are the fastest because the camera doesn’t spend time searching for a subject. Even still, the autofocus modes seem to be snappy, as a DSLR should be.

 

The autofocus system is enabled differently when the live view LCD is used as opposed to the optical viewfinder. The LCD shows a live view, and when you want to focus, you push the big AF button on the back of the camera. When this is done, the screen goes black until you release the AF button. It’s a surprise: you don’t know if the camera has successfully focused until the button is released. Most of the time it works, but it’s hard to tell when the camera has finished focusing. Bottom line: use the viewfinder and avoid the clunky autofocusing that comes with the live view.

 

Manual Focus – The same switch that moves between Single and Continuous autofocus modes also moves to manual focus. Manual focusing is done through the lens, which is not included.

 

ISO

The Pentax K20D has a wider ISO range than its predecessor and keeps the mildly interesting Sensitivity Priority mode that allows you to choose the ISO and leaves the exposure settings up to the camera. This isn’t entirely different than the Program mode because you can change the ISO but not the shutter speed and aperture there. There is also a TAv mode that lets you choose the aperture and shutter speed and the camera chooses the ISO. This might be useful for shooting in variable lighting, but I don’t think the Sv and TAv modes will be picked up by other DSLR manufacturers.

 

There is an automatic ISO setting along with an ISO 100-3200 range at full resolution that goes beyond the K10D, which topped off at ISO 1600. The ISO options can be accessed by pushing the function button and then pushing to the right on the multi-selector. The range can be accessed in selectable increments of 1, 1/2, or 1/3. The new K20D DSLR can also expand up to ISO 6400 through the Custom menu.

 

The K20D has a new CMOS sensor that promises less noise in the higher ISO settings, but we could not test that on the PMA show floor.

 

The white balance can be changed by pushing the function button and then pushing left on the multi-selector. Auto, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Tungsten, Flash, and three Fluorescent white balance modes (W, D, N) are available. Each of these can be fine-tuned on a +/- 7 scale between amber and blue, and green and magenta. You can also opt to change the color temperature in Kelvin or Mired steps. The Manual white balance mode lets you set it and even shows a live view of what you’ve captured on the LCD screen.

 

There is an exposure mode for everything: Manual, Shutter Speed Priority, Aperture Priority, Program, Sensitivity Priority, Shutter Speed + Aperture Priority, User, Green, Bulb, and X-sync modes are on the dial. Every level of manual control is available.

 

Exposure compensation is available by pushing the designated button and rotating the front adjustment dial. When the options are scrolled through, you can see the change – unless you’re viewing from the live view LCD and then there’s no information about the exposure compensation appearing whatsoever. The range goes from +/- 3 EV in half-steps and +/- 2 in third-steps. This can be specified in the Custom menu. There is an exposure bracketing mode accessible from the button to the left of the viewfinder. It shoots three or five images in the +/- 2 range.

 

The metering modes are conveniently found on a switch that surrounds the mode dial. It moves from Multi-Segment to Center-Weighted to Spot. The Multi-Segment metering system uses only 16 segments when most digital cameras use much more elaborate systems.

 

The Pentax K20D has a typical shutter speed range for a DSLR. It has 30-1/4000 of a second shutter speeds along with a bulb option, available on the mode dial. The electronically-controlled focal plane shutter snaps vertically in front of the CMOS image sensor. For longer shutter speeds, Pentax employs a noise reduction system that is improved from the last model, according to the company.

 

The available aperture depends upon the affixed lens, of course, but it can be controlled by one of the two adjustment dials on the camera. If the lens comes with an aperture ring, the camera can also sync with that.

 

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