Customer Reviews

Pentax K100D 6.1MP Digital SLR Camera Shake Reduction

5 star:		(52)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The Pentax K100D is a nice upgrade, replacing the well thought of *ist DL camera. The K100D builds on that camera, and boast improvements in focusing and stabalization.

The improvement to multi-point, cross sensors is very welcome. This should dramatically improve the general focus operation of the camera, while at the same time, the new sytem allows the user more control than the older *ist DL. [Cross type autofocus means that at that particular point, the camera can focus on both horizontal and vertical lines. Many cameras, like the Canon Rebel XT, only have one cross sensors. This K100D has 9.]

The stabalizer is the real gem here. The stabalizer will be a big benefit to anyone who does a high percentage of the shots indoors, WITH or without flash. For candid, non-flash photos, the stabalizer allows you to shoot at slower shutter speeds. That's also great for things like museums, that don't allow flash photos.

What people sometimes miss is how the stabalizer helps with flash. The flash fires fast, up to 1/10,000th of a second. But it only lights up our subject. If no other light get through, then we have cardboard cut-out subjects standing in front of a black background. At normal flash shutter speeds, we often have a background, but much is too dark. The stabalizer allows you to shoot at a slower speed without shaking the camera. This brings out more background. Additionally, more available light strikes the subject, requiring a bit less light from the flash. This makes the subject appear more "real", our goal with flash photos.

The camera construction is solid, and a bit heavier than you might think because of its metal interior. For good or bad, the camera uses 4 AA batteries. Their easy to get, NiMH rechargables are cheap, but they weigh a bit more and don't last as long as the Lithium Ion type batteries.

Pentax has a good selection of lenses, but not up there with the likes of Canon and Nikon.

The K100D stacks up very nicely due to the built-in stabalizer, multi-zone AF, construction, and large LCD. If you have a bit more money to spend, consider the Sony A100, which upgrades to 10 megapixel and Lithium Ion battery.

Pentax has released firmware update 1.01, which now allows the camera to use the new SDHC cards which should be available soon. These cards allow you to exceed the 2GB limit of SD, with 4GB cards to be the first available.

I took this camera on a trip to Europe and found it to work really, really well. The shake reduction was perfect for our visits to dimly lit museums. The flash also works well when you need it, and it doesn't overexpose your images.

The 18-55mm lens is really good for a kit lens. At 18mm, I found that I could usually get a decent picture of a building or room. It worked great for scenery too.

Since I didn't want to spend most of our trip adjusting my camera for each photograph, I usually just used Aperture Priority mode and auto focus. I feel that my photographs turned out great.

My only gripe is that I couldn't always get the camera to autofocus on what I wanted, but manually focusing is as simple as on any other SLR camera.

I would definitely recommend this camera for enthusiasts and even novices willing to learn a bit about photography.

When in the market for an entry-level DSLR, I stumbled upon the K100D and ended up getting it. I'm not sorry I did. While Pentax doesn't have the market share of Canon or Nikon, this is probably the best bang for your buck as far as entry level DSLR's go. Here are some pros and cons of this camera:

PROS:
*Excellent size--not too big, not too small. Fantastic grip and shutter-button placement.
*Very solid build. Feels much better in your hand than the Rebel XT/XTi.
*In-body IS. This, to me, is the trump card for this camera. It works, and instantly any lens you have is stabilized. Even if some people argue a lens-based IS regime is better, what good is it when you can't afford the expensive IS lenses anyway? Fact is, in-body IS works--shots taken even at 1/8 to 1/10 have a much higher hit-rate with than without it.
*Can use any Pentax lens ever made. If you're like me and are on a budget, scouring eBay for deals can be fun and educational.
*Solid kit lens. Comes with the standard 18-55 but has a metal mount and is quite good, apparently, as far as kit lenses are concerned.
*Prime lenses. I can't believe how much of a difference a fast prime lens can make, and Pentax is probably the leader with these. With an f/1.7 or so lens, you just can' believe the kind of shutter speeds you can get even in low light. 1/10 on a normal lens can easily transform into 1/50 with a fast prime. It makes a huge difference.
*AA batteries. When I was in Europe with my P&S and I fried my AA NiMH charger, the fact my camera took AA's saved my butt. You can get them anywhere in a pinch, and a small investment in some good NiMH's get excellent results with this camera.
*Comes bundled with RAW software. I'm not a huge RAW shooter, but it's nice to know it's there if I want/need it. Some cameras come with RAW capibility but no software to harness it. Not this one.

CONS:
*Weak buffer/continuous shooting mode. You only get about 4-5 continuous JPG shots. If you're like me and don't shoot sports or action much, it's not so much of a big deal. If you do, you might want to look elsewhere.
*WB a little spotty. AWB is worthless in low light, but the tungsten preset is good. But it stinks that when you pop the flash it doesn't revert to flash WB, so you have to do it manually every time. It's the little things like this where Nikon and Canon probably beat Pentax.
*Slow read/write time. It just isn't very speedy, even with a fast card.
*Exposure compensation deactivates Auto-ISO. Basically, you can select your ISO range (e.g., 200-800). But if you use +/- compensation, it turns that feature off, reverting you to 200 and forcing you to change. A little annoying.

Overall, this is a great camera. There are a few annoyances and its overall operation isn't the fastest. But the images are excellent, and the in-body IS and prime lenses are a treat. Highly recommended.

Other reviewers have covered some of the technical details of the K100D, but I would like to focus on the ease-of-use perspectives. I have owned a Pentax ZX-5n film SLR for a number of years so I have been waiting for the right time to add a digital body.

It was logical for me to stick with Pentax, but it really gets back to the reason I went with Pentax in the first place. Compared to the other major manufacturers, I think Pentx does a much better job designing a camera that does NOT require you to carry a camera manual with you at all times. One of the problems with modern technology is that it offers almost endless choices which can intimidate and bewilder the average user. The imbedded functions on some of the modern digital SLRs are often only accessible through a complex set of menus or user-defined codes.

I trusted Pentax would not design a camera that way, and the K100D is quite usable right out of the box. The default settings are quite robust, and this camera can be used readily as a high-quality point-and-shoot. Most SLR users want more than that from a camera: aperature and shutter priority, ISO settings and a few other things. On the K100D, moving from auto to manual adjustment is straightforward and simple.

Pentax optics are excellent and the picture quality from the K100D is perfect for anyone short of a professional photographer. Overall, this camera has delivered everything I expected and more.

Although I like my Canon A620 (replacing an A95) it is a bit limited on focal length, and even Canon's conversion lenses degrade the image and make the zoom into a fixed focal length lens. So, after much deliberation, I began shopping for a DSLR.

The Olympus E-500 with 2 lenses and dust-cleaning is a low-priced option, but the 2X multiplier on the focal length makes really wide angle lenses a bit rare. And, ergonomically it was not quite right for my hands.

The Canon Digital Rebel XTi (my original first choice) and the Nikon D80 are very nice, with more resolution, but they are too pricey for me. The Nikon D50 is about the same price as the K100D, but has no shake reduction in the body, though that is available in some more-expensive lenses. The Nikons were a bit large for my hands as well.

So, I went with the K100D. Its medium size feels solid, the buttons and general layout are good, and it has all the basic features most people will need.

The viewfinder is nice and bright, but very shiney and a bit reflective in bright light. However, the camera displays the basic settings on the top panel, so you may not need to use the LCD much unless you review all your pictures or make frequent menu/setup changes. I use a stick-on flip-up LCD protector that slides off if desired, leaving a glass cover over the screen.

As with all manufacturers, the kit lens is OK but not great for one reason or another, so I got the body only. Pentax makes a decent selection of basic lenses, and Sigma or Tamron, among others, should fill any other needs. I opted for the Pentax 10-17 fisheye (reasonably priced with [...]), a Sigma 18-50 2.8 EX (kind of pricey but supposedly a great lens) for the mid-range stuff, and a Sigma 70-300 APO DG 4.5/5.6 (also reasonably priced) for the long end.

Pentax include 2 software packages. First is "Photo Browser 3", which handles directories and thumbnails, slideshows, basic image manipulation such as crop and rotate, and a variety of printing options. You can print photos only, Exif info only, or combinations in various sizes. You can also save an "index print" of thumbnails as a jpg, which makes a handy contact sheet. Just about every manufacturer includes something similar. However, Pentax also includes "Photo Laboratory 3" which is used to process RAW image data that the camera can produce instead of a jpg. With it you can change individual parameters of the unprocessed image data, such as color balance, contrast, or even lens distortion, without degrading the image quality, then save as a jpg or tiff.

I've only had the camera a little while, but I'm confident I made good choices. I've posted some photos in the Amazon collection.

I was on a very tight budget and needed a new camera ASAP, since my old fixed lens camera had a lens that became "unfixed". I had a 35mm Pentax SLR years ago and loved it. After looking around, specifically at the Nikon D40 and the Canon Rebel, I decided to go with another Pentax this time due to it's affordablity and the online reviews that I had read. I have been very pleased, but there are limitations to this camera.

First things I like:
I really love the Shake Reduction feature. Neither Nikon or Canon had this. I was skeptical that it would make much of difference, but I have found that it does help the blur when you are pushing the shutter speed to a setting a little slower than you could normally get away with without a tripod. The Shake Reduction does add weight to the camera, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. I like the extra weight, I think it feels more substantial in my hand and when mounted on a tripod, it feels more steady.

I also like that it takes AA batteries. It is nice to be able to stop into any gas station and pick up new batteries if I get into a bind, plus rechargable AAs are cheap and widely available for purchase. Other things that I like, the menus in the camera are easy to maneuver once you get oriented and the screen on the back is nice and big.

I REALLY love that the camera can be turned on instantly and there is no delay when a take a photo. On my fixed lens camera, it took a couple seconds to power up and due to a delay between when I pushed the shutter and when the camera actually would get around to capturing the image, I had to try and anticipate how early to push the shutter button to get the photo I was going for. This was a source of endless frustration when photographing objects in motion, especially my children. However, I realize that this is a benefit of pretty much any DSLR and is not an advantage that is unique to the Pentax K100D.

Another nice feature is the 2 second delay. I've never had a camera with this setting before. When using this, the mirror drops out of the way as soon as you push the shutter button, but it doesn't actually take the photo until 2 seconds later. This lets any vibrations inside the camera due to moving parts settle down before the photo is actually taken. This has come in handy when taking shots that are especially vibration sensitive, for example photos we take through our telescope.

It can be as easy or as complicated to use as you want it to be. I have fun playing with all the the manual settings, but in the automatic modes, it is easy enough that my 9 and 10 year old kids can use it too. Admittedly, I had to give them a quick training session so they could understand how the autofocus works, but they got the hang of it really fast with minimal practice. The "Kids" setting is where I leave it when I turn it off, making it ready and waiting for the quick grab and click photos of my kids doing their everyday stuff.

Things I don't like:
I wish it had an ISO setting below 200. A lower setting would help reduce noise when making bigger enlargements.

I don't usually like the color I get from the auto white balance mode, particularly when I am shooting inside. I have noticed this problem to be worse when I am in a large auditorium under those big square industrial lights that give a yellowish hue. This color problem can be fixed by using the manual white balance, an easy procedure, but sometimes I forget to do this until it's too late. This is a little quirk that I am still getting used to. This is my first DSLR, and I am a very amateur photographer in training, so maybe this is to be expected with any camera -- I really have no idea.

A few words on megapixels:
6.1 is fairly low on the scale of available megapixels on new cameras today, but after doing some reading on the subject, I couldn't see spending a lot of money chasing megapixels. 6.1 is big enough for me to do a 16 x 20 enlargement, the largest size I have ever needed, and that is only needed on rare occasions. It is also big enough to let me do a fairly tight crop and print a nice 5x7 or 8x10 if I feel the need.

Summary:
OK, so yes there are better cameras out there, but you can spend thousands upon thousands of dollars on photographic equipment and still recognize that there is something better out there than what you have. I gave this camera 5 stars because for the price, I just don't think it gets any better than this. I love it.

I purchased this camera and I am very pleased with it. Pentax quality speaks for itself and IMHO Nikon and Canon do not have significantly better quality lenses to justify the much higher price. (I have owned Nikon equipment and used Canon, so I am not speaking out of ignorance.) The 6.1 MP cameras from each company actually use the same SONY CCD, so the only difference in the body is the software and feature set. Again they are not worth the extra money.

Now to answer the question on everyones mind, YES the shake reduction really does work. It works VERY well in fact. I can verify that, for me anyway, it adds a 3.5 stop advantage. I have been able to shoot at 300MM in fairly low light with no blur HANDHELD!!!! This is something I would never do without a tripod before, but now I can take shots when I don't have my tripod that I would otherwise have to pass up. Don't get me wrong on this point though, because it won't make up for poor technique or make the impossible happen, but it will give you an added advantage that can make the difference between getting a shot or missing one.

Also the ease of use is a great bonus, especially for the beginner or if you are experienced and just working under fast moving conditions where you don't have the time to think out every detail. This camera is equally impressive whether in full auto or full manual mode. If you are a Pentax owner, this camera is worth looking at to upgrade to. If you are new to DSLR's, this camera is worth your time and money as a first camera....the next real stop up is $2000 away.

My advice is get this camera! It is worth it!

I'm fortunate enough to work in a college A-V department, which means that I have access to some top-notch toys. We've been partial to Canon dSLRs; for the past four years I've used a 10D and a 20D. Image quality, solid build and features from those two legendary cameras put them far ahead of most competitors.

Why, then, did I turn to the Pentax K100D when I decided to buy my own dSLR earlier this year? Despite the nearly second to none image quality from Canon, I truly detest the cheap, tacky plastic feel of the Rebel line, with the Rebels' painfully shallow grip making extended use uncomfortable for my long-fingered right mitt. Rebel pricing continues to be hundreds of dollars higher than other entry level dSLRs; I didn't have a spare grand to spend on a full Rebel system, despite already owning a few EOS compatible lenses from my retired 35mm EOS SLR. After doing a lot of online research - winnowing out Nikons, the Sony Alpha (am I the only one who found the build to be appallingly cheesy?), various Olympuses - only Pentax models remained. Nostalgically recalling my beloved Pentax ME Super 35mm SLR from 25 years ago, I figured I'd give the K100D a go. The reviews were solid; sample images looked quie good; the feature set - including RAW and built-in image stabilizing - quite impressive for such a remarkable price. (The K10D, while 4MP higher in resolution, didn't justify its $500 price difference based on the test images I viewed online.) I ordered the body only and paired the K100D with a Tokina 24-200 autofocus lens (which turned out to be heavier than the K100D itself but provides extra range at the wide angle end, due to the cameras 1.5 magnification factor)

The first extended test of my K100D came on vacation to southern CA in March this year. Over the course of nearly two weeks, the camera and lens performed very well. I enjoyed the rugged feel of the K100D - the deep grip allowed me to shoot without finger cramp - and the large LCD made reviewing my images a breeze. What wasn't to like?

Namely, no 100 ISO setting; slow focusing (perhaps the Tokina lens should take the blame, but I'm not so certain); a pinging then clacky shutter which sounds cheap; unimpressive RAW images; often jaggy JPEGs at 100% viewing; the low light performance which means very noisy photos at 800 and 1600 IS0s - an area where Canon dSLR products trample Pentax like Godzilla over Tokyo - and the K100D's irritating reliance on AA batteries for power. Actually, the battery issue is a classic "mixed bag"; rechargable AAs are available almost everywhere and cost much less than dedicated batteries. Their performance in actual use - based on my experience of shooting over a few thousand images to date and editing on the run via the LCD - comes up far short when compared to the BP-511A battery packs for the 20D. Carrying a pocketful of a dozen charged AAs is a burden, too. I hope that Pentax will ditch the AAs and move on to a more powerful single battery for the K100D's eventual successor.

The last question, then, is the age old one of "Would I buy this camera again?" The answer: a solid "Maybe". There certainly is a lot to love about the K100D - it feels good in the hand; it takes a wide range of Pentax and Pentax-friendly lenses; images at 200 & 400 ISOs when taken in good light can be wonderful in color and saturation, and it's not another tacky Canon Rebel or dumbed-down Nikon. For what it is and at its price point, this little Pentax offers an attactive camera for undemanding dSLR users. More experienced shooters who are unwilling to overlook the K100D's many limitations may want to keep looking or wait for Pentax to evolve its dSLR line even further before hopping on the Pentax bus.

Having much experience with DSLR's over the past three years, I was initially reluctant in plunking down my money for the K100D having used Nikon almost exclusively. To my surprise, it is a great entry level DSLR and affords the serious amateur great IQ, shake reduction (about two stops), low noise at high ISO's, and superb handling along with great build quality. The kit lens is a few notches above many other kit offerings and the camera really shines when using one of the Pentax prime lenses and their better quality zooms. The Pentax line up is very satisfactory and the lenses are extremely good and rather inexpensive when compared to the Canon and Nikon selection. Has to be the best deal in current DSLR offerings!

After whats seems months and months of research into a DSLR, I had my sights on this camera and a D40 from Nikon(The Canon lower end cameras were such chinsy little plastic pieces I took them out of consideration). Side by side, the Nikon's images looked really great and sharp directly from the camera's auto function, and because this camera would also be used by my wife, I thought that would be nice, since she is not as much of an enthusiast as I am. I enjoy manually adjusting settings.
I did online comparisons on every single review website out there. I liked the Pentax's natural looking color tones. Some people say they are too warm. I like this as opposed to the colder images of the other camera. The D40 seems like a very reliable brand family to enter and since they are so popular it would be good to fit in with everyone else on the streets shooting away. I still wasn't sure until going into a store to look at each one side by side. I started with the D40. It felt good, the menu looks good, the manual focus part of the lens felt like a toy. And it was very lightweight.
I picked up the K100D and the feeling was a lot different. The camera has a nice bit of weight to it. The finish and the exterior is really nice. It feels and looks like more of a professional camera than a consumer/entry/beginner level DSLR unlike the D40 (even worse--the XT/XTI) I looked through the viewfinder and felt right at home, starting to take pictures and lost my focus on trying to inspect the camera for purchasing. Some people complain about autofocus noise, shutter noise, or the autofocus hunting in the dark. I feel that there are some who's hearing is extremly sensitive or they are shooting primarily in libraries and churches. After working with this camera, the auto focus is fast. If it misses focus (maybe 1 out of 10 times)you press the button again and it always finds it right away. You wasted maybe 1 second. All point and shoot cameras I had before were MUCH worse in this category. If you are into manual focusing I do not think it is actually possible to be physically fast than if you went with auto focus.
Images look really balanced right out of the camera. Not as sharp as the D40, but this is ONLY because of a difference in processing style. I have read about Pentax's imaging philosophy and for me it really makes sense. The in camera processing is not heavy-handed. They are going for a more film-like appearance. This means lighting which casts a warm hue takes a warm hue in the image rather than always looking like cool white fluorescent lighting. The images just looks more natural. The same for the ISO settings which are not over laden with noise reduction. Yes you get grain at 1600 ISO (as with every camera) but the grain is actually more film like. Detail is not missing like the other's happy processing engines. For these reasons, I would say the K100D seems more like an photo enthusiast's camera, the D40 seems more like its designed as point and shoot DSLR.
I think that this camera is good for the whole range of people who want to shoot. I'm happy with this purchase for sure.