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Picture Quality / Size Options
The Pentax K20D has a newly-developed 14.6-megapixel CMOS image sensor that was made in a collaboration between Samsung Electronics and Pentax Imaging. According to the manufacturer, the new sensor has larger photo diodes that capture more light and is therefore more sensitive. This allows the camera to increase its dynamic range.
The old K10D has a 10.1-megapixel CCD, so the new DLSR has more resolution and does it on a CMOS sensor. According to Pentax’s press release announcing the K20D, the “sensor brings out optimum performance of Pentax interchangeable lenses.” The sensor is paired with a Pentax Real IMage Engine (PRIME) image processor. UPDATE: A previous version of this article listed the K10D as having a 6.3 megapixel sensor; this was an error casued by confusion with a previous Pentax camera.
The 23.4 x 15.6mm sensor offers RAW files in PEF and DNG format. JPEG files can also be taken in the following image sizes: 4672 x 3104, 3872 x 2592, 3008 x 2000, and 1824 x 1216. Compression can be set to premium, best, better, and good. RAW files can be taken and developed in the Playback mode and then output as RAW or JPEG. Pentax also says the camera will include TIFF files by production time.
We can’t evaluate the actual effectiveness of the K20D’s resolution on the PMA trade show floor, but we hope to get this DSLR in our imaging lab for a more thorough evaluation of its new 14.6 megapixels.
Picture Effects Mode
More and more DSLRs are including picture effects in one form or another. Many are trying out modes that simulate different types of film. Pentax’s “custom image” function serves this purpose. It has Bright, Natural, Portrait, Landscape, and Vibrant modes. Each of these modes allows you to fine-tune the color, saturation, contrast, and sharpness. In the Recording menu, separate adjustments can be made to the saturation, hue, contrast, and sharpness.
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