Pentax K10D, 10.2 Megapixel, SLR, Digital Camera (Camera Body)

Comments about Pentax K10D SLR, Digital Camera (Camera Body):

I use my K10d as an all purpose street camera year round – in all manner of conditions! The camera holds up surprisingly well in our regular -25C winters too! The K10d is large enough that it feels fairly substantial in my hands, yet compact enough to fit in a small case with a couple of lenses and a few accessories. The image quality is quite good and in-body stabilization is useful. Functions on the camera are easily found and simple enough. A dedicated ISO button would have been nice, but not all that important for me. I also love that I can use all my old Pentax manual focus lenses. Overall, an A+ from Pentax.

Comments about Pentax K10D SLR, Digital Camera (Camera Body):

I am brasilian and I work every day with it. I never thought it woud be so important for me. It is part of me now on.

Comments about Pentax K10D SLR, Digital Camera (Camera Body):

this is my first SLR and after 8 weeks and 1000 photo's overall I am very happy. my only real complaint is the documentation really doesn't tell me how to use the camera, but rather just lists how the functions work.

I have mostly used it in the green mode and overall very happy. on a sunny day the detail and clarity is amazing! Some problems shooting snowboarding pictures and when backlighting exists but with some practice I'm sure I can master.

menu's buttons and switches are all solid and easy to use and the camera has a very solid feel. I am very happy with the battery life but the indicator seems to go from full to empty very fast.

Comments about Pentax K10D SLR, Digital Camera (Camera Body):

I finally moved from a low cost DC to a real DC. This camera lives up to the hype. I did quite a bit of research and although a year old, it does everything plus more. My old Pentax lenses (28-200 Sigma and a 100-300 Pentax) work well and I can only imagine what a real, current digital lense will do. While automatic in every respect this is not a simple point and shoot camera. But if your willing to put in the time you'll be well rewarded. Remember that results are only as good as the lense you use so be prepared to spend a few $$ on a lense or two.

Comments about Pentax K10D SLR, Digital Camera (Camera Body):

I read so many forums about pros-cons of the entry level Canon, Nikon and others, but opted for Pentax K10D. This is my first DSLR (had a film SLR a while back) and I was attracted by the few features such as program mode and preview. The build quality of Canon Rebel and Nikon 40 make them look like McDonalds toys when compared to K10D.

Once I got the camera, I appreciated a lot the multitude of controls and after a while, havnig them so easily accessible, I actually started playing with white balance, exposure compensation, changing the ISO and depth of field. These features are available in any pocket camera, but they are burried in menus so I never was compelled to use them.

A friend with a Canon 5D was impressed with this as well.

As a drawback, I don't know how to get more dynamic range out of the camera, e.g. sometimes the dark areas of a picture (say a portrait with the hair in shade) lack detail. Not sure if this is what is expected from current gen. DSLRs, but my black and white film was giving me more details accross both high exposed and low exposed areas.

Comments about Pentax K10D SLR, Digital Camera (Camera Body):

[...] its the fantastic machine for my day by day.I have been pentax machine since 1998, and this product its better than my expectation

Comments about Pentax K10D SLR, Digital Camera (Camera Body):

The ergonomics are excellent, view finder is fantastic,control lay out easy including menu navigation. I love the digital or viewfinder depth of field preview option, with the digital option allowing you to take test shot and alter settings to see the effect before you save the shot.

Comments about Pentax K10D SLR, Digital Camera (Camera Body):

I am well into film with a Maymia 645 and a Canon AO5 as well as a Holga but purchased the Pentax as a supplement to these. I am using it conjunction with the above but its weight, clarity of instructions, and features are excellent. I have compared it with Canons and Nikons which cost nearly twice as much for a body alone and find this is an unbelievable bargain. First I used it as a "back" to get potential images for the medium format but then have gotten to the point that the results are nearly as good. I produce digital negatives that are printed on fiber; they are about 99% as good as film which I will never give up. But I am the point that I will not go shooting without the Pentax.

Comments about Pentax K10D SLR, Digital Camera (Camera Body):

The Pentax K10d is a very nice camera. I used a Pentax ist Ds for 3 years before purchasing the K10d. Both of these cameras are very well built and have a solid feel. In fact, I didn't buy a Canon digital rebel initially because it felt cheaply made compared to the Pentax ist DS camera. If you like the feel of quality you'll know what I mean when you hold the K10dThe controls on the K10d are also very well thought out. Buttons are placed well and all the important features are easily adjusted without having to scroll through pop up menus. Even the rocker switch for ISO, flash, white balance, and shooting mode is very easy to use. It is easy to change any of these functions on the fly.I shoot a lot of photos including hockey photos. I am very impressed with the performance of the K10d. Fast focusing with my Sigma 70-200 f2.8 lens and low noise at ISO 800.I would highly recommend this camera to enthusiasts. Simply put, for quality and features I don't think any other model comes close for the money. Factor in the $100 rebate on the body alone and It's a no brainer for anyone who doesn't already have an inventory of canon or Nikon lenses.

Expertise: Advanced non-professional/Lifetime interest in photography

Problems Encountered: No major problems. I am not overly impressed with the shake reduction feature. Auto white balance is a bit weak.

Previous Equivalent Item Owned: Pentax ist DS

Items I Recommend: sigma 28-70/2.8 and sigma 70-200/2.8

Comments about Pentax K10D SLR, Digital Camera (Camera Body):

I have had a lot of experience using d-slr cameras as wellas film cameras. In my opinion this is one of the bestcameras out there. Why? Because it meets or exceeds most ofthe demands of shutterbugs out there. You can shoot andprocess raw format easily, the color is beautiful andstrong, the camera has a great solid feel and build quality,and you can mount any pentax lens, screw mount or bayonet,as well as autofocus lenses. The battery holds its chargeforever and the viewfinder is one of the best designsgoing. The camera has a 10.1 meg sensor, with excellent lownoise reduction. I have to say that I have never been apentax shooter and come from the Nikon/Canon camp. But inthe digital world for the money the k10d is a better camerathan the 30d and will hold its own against the 40d whichis near twice the cost. Pentax kept its k-mount allowing theuser to keep using all those great takumars out there, andalthough I think canon is a great camera company, they madea mistake by not making a more universal mount that couldtake those wonderful fd lenses.

Expertise: Semi pro

Previous Equivalent Item Owned: Canon 10d,20d,1ds nikon dix,d2x

Comments about Pentax K10D SLR, Digital Camera (Camera Body):

So far I've owned this camera for a month or so now. I'dimmediately suggest getting the Sigma 28-200 mm lens becausethe kit lens is pretty boring. But it most certainly is abeautiful piece of glass, I'd just suggest getting somethingelse as a useful add-on. As far as picture quality goes, ican't imagine it getting much better. I love the interface,its fantastic. One thing that will bug me about most camerastoday, is they don't like to get a bad picture. Sometimes ithink a picture is fine and then it'll begin focus hunting.I believe a fix for this is to open up your aperture a bitmore, or just manually focusing on these moments (greatdistance or low light). I honestly think the body is quiterugged but i am too scared to drop it, thus it appears to bein prefect condition. If your starting out without many orany other-name brand lenses I'd suggest going with thePentax K10D. Good luck and if this doesn't help you, checkout the Wiki, this camera is Europe's camera of the year for2007-2008 and all sorts of other neat awards.

Expertise: 4 years training/ 5 years experiences with Slr.

Problems Encountered: The shutter is pretty loud. I understand that its an actualSLR but a lot of competitors are doing a good job ofquieting it down. Again focus hunting can be annoying in lowlight or far distance shots.

Previous Equivalent Item Owned: Canon Rebel (original)

Items I Recommend: Sigma 28-200 mm lens, remote, large carrying case (its a big camera).

Comments about Pentax K10D SLR, Digital Camera (Camera Body):

Having Adobe DNG for my RAW Files and Adobe RGB for color is great, as well as the other features that save time in the digital darkroom, and editing in the field lets you can change settings.I also love setting the extended bracketing in user mode when Im changing the white balance, or using continuous at a higher ISO setting in user mode. It lets me use any mode straight-up then go back to my many different settings in user mode and capture a lot of photos A.S.A.P. more like a pro model than an inexpensive model. I love having the 1.5 Lens Factor make my 100-300mm lens work like a 150-450 before I add a teleconverter but I cant wait for Pentax to come out with a camera with no lens factor so my 20mm works like a 20mm instead of a 30mm, Im sure i will be able to afford one in a couple years or so when the price comes down and the quality gets better.

Expertise: Advanced Amateur Shutterbug for 30 Years

Problems Encountered: I had to download Firmware 1.30 upgrade, but it's easy to do.

Previous Equivalent Item Owned: Pentax MS-S 35mm SLR & Pentax K-1000 35mm SLR

Items I Recommend: D-BG2 Battery Grip & SanDisk Extreme 3 SD Cards 2Gb. and larger

Comments about Pentax K10D SLR, Digital Camera (Camera Body):

Jpeg files are definitely soft, which I expected. Do your self a favor and shoot RAW only and convert with Adobe Raw. DO NOT use the supplied software. I used Benjamin Kanarek post processing method. Do a search on Pentax life. TIFF files were definitely sharp using a 43mm 1.9 Feel is excellent, grip ties everything together. very solid feeling to the camera. Easy to use. Battery had a substantial charge out of the box which was nice.

Expertise: Professional

Problems Encountered: Loading the 1.10 and above firmware. I guess I'll have to do without it.

Previous Equivalent Item Owned: K100D, Canon 20D, Nikon D70, Mamiya 645, Contax G1

Items I Recommend: Grip, extra battery, 43mm 1.9 or 31mm 1.8, 16-45mm

Comments about Pentax K10D SLR, Digital Camera (Camera Body):

I have always used Pentax. The K1000, the ME Super, the *ist DS, and now the K10D. For me, value for my dollar is very important, and no advanced amateur DSLR out there delivers like the K10D.Sure, there are more expensive pro DSLRs that have an edge on the K10D, and maybe a few similarly priced advanced amateur cameras with a bell or whistle that the K10D doesnt have, but when you consider the complete package - the ruggedness, the photo quality, and the improved user interface - the K10D rules the field. Pentax quality and reliability are legendary. Every camera I've owned from Pentax has delivered years of reliable service. The only problem I've ever had with a Pentax was when I put an off-brand lens on my *ist and dislodged the aperture release spring. Pentax made the repair and I discontinued use of the lens.I am an amateur photographer. I need a camera that makes it possible to capture the action as my daughter and her teammates play volleyball, to stop the car and catch the morning light on a wildflower along the side of the road, to record a once in a lifetime event at our church, and to make portraits in front of a decorated tree the night of the Christmas dance. The versatility of the K10D meets everyone of my requirements with enough power left over to carry me into the future as I improve my skill level and technique.One final note - I did the pricing research. There are cheaper places to shop, but no one provides the quality service of B&H. Take a look at their user reviews, then look at the reviews of some of the other photo suppliers. For many of them - there is a reason why you pay less. For a purchase this important, I wouldn't go anywhere else but B&H. PS My thirteen year old daughter has taken over ownership of the *ist.

Expertise: Amateur

Problems Encountered: No problems.My only concern is a little one. I wish it was more affordable to access genuine Pentax lenses. Yes, there is an adequate supply of quality lenses from other manufacturers, but I would like to try seeing the world through Pentax glass.

Previous Equivalent Item Owned: *ist DS

Items I Recommend: battery grip; extra battery; remote

Comments about Pentax K10D SLR, Digital Camera (Camera Body):

I'm going to keep this brief and straight to the point. If you are looking to buy a DSLR with between 8-10 MP, buy this one. Dont waste your money on a canon or Nikon. Your only paying for the name with those brands. Many features that the other guys just dont have....mainly the 72 weather seals. Find a canon or Nikon in this price range that offer that!! You wont. Thank you Pentax for listening to the people that matter most, your customers!!

Expertise: Pro

Problems Encountered: Nothing

Previous Equivalent Item Owned: Canon 20d 30d (already sold them)

Items I Recommend: battery grip

Comments about Pentax K10D SLR, Digital Camera (Camera Body):

This is a flat out amazing camera, I would have to say every photographer whether it be amateur or pro to have one of these but only if you truly love photography.

Expertise: Pro

Problems Encountered: No Problems it's Amazing!

Comments about Pentax K10D SLR, Digital Camera (Camera Body):

I have shot with many cameras and really enjoy the pentax way of doing things. I find the k10d to be the most ergonomically sound camera. I have tried this with several bodies, nikon D70, D200, canon 30D, 5d, or 1dmarkIIn and it seems the k10d is the easiest camera to instantly shift shooting parameters on the flythe k10d is customizable to individually adjust all parameters with the right hand only. this is a very unique and important function for sports/photojournalists who need to make lightning quick adjustments on the fly.with my k10d, and pentax proprietary hyper function dials, i can adjust AV, TV, EV, ISO, Focus points, and all without ever taking your eye off the viewfinder and with only one hand. most cameras require 2 handed operation and with visual confirmation from the top lcd. with the k10d theses parameter changes are confirmed in the viewfinder. many have stated other cameras are just as easy, but i have experimented with most cameras, and none are as efficient and as swift as the K10d. the speed of adjustment of shooting parameters may not be of interest for casual/or landscape shooters, but for PJ's or Sports shooters, it surely makes our jobs easy when our tool is this flexible.Its no wonder it won the 2007 TIPA expert DLSR award and the 2007 CJPC Grand Prix Award.

Problems Encountered: I only wish the FPS rate was a little faster, at least 5 FPS. the k10d can shoot at 3.3 FPS, which is adequate, but a tad bit faster in the FPS category would be a welcome update in future models.

Previous Equivalent Items Owned: Pentax *ist D, nikon D70

Items I Recommend: BG2 grip, makes the camera fit like a glove.

Comments about Pentax K10D SLR, Digital Camera (Camera Body):

Pentax has a winner with the K10D. Magazine and online reviews have been very positive, many giving this camera recommended to highest recommendation ratings. Thanks to recent firmware updates, white balance & image sharpness has improved, remote P-TTL flash units can now be controlled using the built-in flash, and the camera can now be directly controlled by a computer. Make sure reviews include these recent firmware updates in their evaluations. Image quality, especially using either Pentax or Adobe DNG RAW image formats (JPEG is default), is impressive all the way up to ISO 1600. Some noise is present from ISO 800 through ISO 1600, but not excessive (roughly par with most mid-range semi-pro cameras). The included software handles both JPEG and RAW image formats with ease. The camera's built-in shake reduction (image stabilization) system works with any lens ever made for the Pentax. The dust removal system reduces the risk of dust on the image sensor ruining valuable images. The glass pentaprism is superior to the mirrors used by other manufacturers, delivering bright clear visibility through the viewfinder. High-speed flash sync is available with all true P-TTL compatible flash units (made by Pentax, Sigma, Vivitar, and others). More than fifteen companies are currently selling lenses for the Pentax, with each, including Pentax, adding new lenses at a brisk rate. An online search will quickly reveal lenses from 8mm to well over 2600mm. For those on a tight budget or just looking for the exotic, there is also a wide range of used/pre-owned lenses available. The camera itself is incredibly easy to use, with most options exactly where one expects them to be. While there are certainly many options available, any one can be used or ignored as needed; allowing the new user to quickly get started taking excellent images while leaving the more advanced features for another time. All in all, an excellent camera for the advanced or advancing amateur to the serious professional.

Previous Equivalent Items Owned: Minolta Maxxum 7D, Maxxum 7, Mamiya 645 Super, Mamiya M645, and others.

Comments about Pentax K10D SLR, Digital Camera (Camera Body):

Well, first off, I must say that this is an amazing camera.It is packed with features that make it extremely useful. Iespecially like the ability to take pictures in Adobe DNG.The Pentax optics are extremely good. However, the choicesare limited. I really wish that they had a good long telephoto.Image quality is excellent, but there is some fuzzinessaround the edges. Now I'm not sure whether this wasintentional or not (some people think that Pentax was tryingto get the look of film)... I personally prefer a sharperimage, but I can deal with it. The best way to avoid this isto take in RAW. I'd recommend an SD card of at least 4 GBand to get 2 or 3 of them (133x or 150x). I understand thatit's a lot of money for those cards, but if you get anythingless, you will suffer in the long run.In terms of lenses, I'd go with a Pentax lens. Pentax hassuperior optics and amazing quality for a decent price. Ifyou go the third party route, make sure you know what youare doing when you buy it. This camera is probably the most versatile on the markettoday. It's weather seals have been extremely useful becauseI like taking macros of flowers with drops of water on thepetals during a rainstorm or after one. It also has dustremoval and the fact that the image stabilization is on theinside of the camera makes it so you can use any lens youwant (which is nice). However, if you are a sports person,or you are into fast motion photography, the 3 fps isreally a big letdown. If you are needing faster, I'd lookelse ware.In summary, buy this camera if you want versatility and alot of features for the money. However, if you are lookingfor really sharp JPEGs, then spend the extra on a Nikon D2Xsor a Canon EOS 5D (or EOS 1Ds Mark II), because those arealso extremely good cameras. Also, if you need the fasterfps, go with a Nikon D2Xs. Yes, I know the price differenceis astronomical ($799 vs. $4,245), but the Nikon will suitthose needs.

Problems Encountered: None so far, except for the minor shortcomings listed in thereview.

Previous Equivalent Items Owned: Nikon D100

Items I Recommend: BG2 Battery Grip, A good telephoto and a macro lens

Comments about Pentax K10D SLR, Digital Camera (Camera Body):

First of all I want to congratulate again the good people atB&H Photo for a clockwork prompt delivery (7 days to my homecountry, despite being announced my order would be delayedwaiting for the lens).Next I want to congratulate Pentax for a great camera. Imagequality is near perfect up to ISO 600, all the feature workclose to specs, weather sealing allowed me to shoot in rain(some pretty good pictures too).The thing that blew me away was the ease of use. A lot offunctions have dedicated buttons and switches that just fallunder your fingers (RAW button, AE lock, special functionsmenu separate from main menu to hold usual suspects like WB,ISO, flash and shooting mode, metering, Shake Reduction andsome others). Two wheels have selecting items down toextremely easy.For glass I chose Sigma's 17-70mm DC Macro. It's much betterthan the kit and gives you some latitude.Shake reduction works, giving you an extra 2, maybe 3 stopshead start but that doesn't eliminate the need for fast lenses.I'm guessing because of fairly high noise in high ISO someof you will want to shoot RAW, therefore I recommend somefast SD cards (133x or 150x) that can sustain fast writingspeeds.On the accessory side, we get the great D-BG2 grip withextra battery, shutter and (why did no one think of thisbefore) extra SD card. On the lens side, we get only thebare necessities from Sigma, Pentax, Tamron and I thinkTokina too.Happy shooting!

Problems Encountered: None really, just a couple of notices ... if while workingat high ISO (800-1600) you don't get perfect exposure,expect a lot of noise.Second ... the fabled 22 bit converter is ... well ...there, it's just that I don't see its influence. Maybe it'snew technology that needs to be pushed further.It's not for sports fan and the rather poor 3fps continuousshooting proves it.Pentax doesn't have a broad range of lenses. True telephotos(over 200mm are non-existant), just a couple of flashes tochoose from (no ring/macro flashes).

Previous Equivalent Items Owned: Canon 350D, Canon Elan 7

Items I Recommend: Sigma 17-70 DC macro, Lexar 1Gb 133x