Pentax *istD 6.1MP Digital SLR Camera with Pentax FA J 18-35mm F4-F5.6 AL Zoom Lens Review
After nearly 3 years of playing with other digital cameras I finally took the leap back into SLR-land and purchased this great Pentax camera. Though I am just beginning to explore its capabilities, so far I am delighted: there are a lot of advantages to SLR camera use that I missed from the film days.
As with any of the current crop of digital SLR's, you get a ton of flexibility and shooting speed at a price that would have been unthinkable just two years ago. If you are used to using film SLR's, and have been frustrated by certain aspects of using a typical digital camera, you will be happy to be back in the land of no-shutter-lag shooting; the ability to use a ring on the lens barrel for zooming; tons of manual flexibility combined with idiot-proof program modes; and of course the flexibility of many lens choices. What has particularly driven me crazy about the current crop of high-end non-SLR digicams is the use of EVF viewfinders -- by contrast, the viewfinders on digital SLR's are great.
So why this Pentax vs the other competitive models? (The others worth considering in this price range at this time are the Canon EOS 10D; the Canon Digital Rebel; the Nikon D70; the Nikon D100; or even the Sigma models). This Pentax has the same sensor as the Nikon models, and the imaging capabilities of any of these cameras is doubtless well beyond my skills in any case. So to me it came down to ease of use, size and build quality. Size in particular is important to me: if you just look at the specs of this camera on a cubic-inch basis it's 38% smaller than the Nikon D70 and 26% smaller than the Digital Rebel. The Canon 10d is even bigger, and looks like a house sitting next to the Pentax.
After handling all of these cameras, I concluded that the Pentax is the one I would use most often. Too often my film SLR's sat at home when I was using film -- I would grab a point-and-shoot instead. I really wanted something I would use a lot.
On the other hand, some published complaints (and my conclusions) about the Pentax have been:
(1) Images are too "soft" (this is super-easy to adjust if you use something like Adobe Album, Elements or Photoshop, and in return the camera is not "sharpening" the image for you, which can introduce sharpening noise)
(2) Not as many lenses as available as in the Canon or Nikon lines (There seem to be plenty for my purposes, both new and used)
(3) Memory cards are hard to eject (Doesn't seem that hard to me; you need to be careful no matter what camera you use).
Another issue (price) with this camera has been fixed: when it was introduced it was more expensive than the others in its class. But the price has been reduced and now is typically available at a price that slots it in as a bit more expensive than the D70 and less than the 10D.
All of these current digital slr's are great, and it seems to me that if you already owned Canon or Nikon lenses you wouldn't go wrong with one of their models. On the other hand, if you are starting from scratch (or like me, you own brands you can't use on any of these), the Pentax is worthy of serious consideration.
Pentax *istD 6.1MP Digital SLR Camera with Pentax FA J 18-35mm F4-F5.6 AL Zoom Lens Feature
- 6.1 effective megapixels
- Pentax FA J 18-35mm F4-F5.6 AL zoom lens included
- Compatible with K, KA, KAF and KAF2 mount lenses and 645 / 67 lenses with an adapter
- Compatible with CompactFlash Type I/II cards and MicroDrives
- Powered by 4 AA batteries
Pentax *istD 6.1MP Digital SLR Camera with Pentax FA J 18-35mm F4-F5.6 AL Zoom Lens Overview
Pentax's *ist D is the world's smallest and lightest digital SLR (as of April 2003), measuring just 5.0 by 3.7 by 2.3 inches and weighing 18 ounces. It features a clarity of 6.1 effective megapixels, a 16-segment metering system, an 11-point AF sensor, and a continuous shooting rate of 2.7 frames per second. It's also compatible with K, KA, KAF, and KAF2 mount lenses and 645/67 lenses with an adapter.
Optics and Resolution
Employing a high-performance CCD with dimensions of 23.5mm by 15.7mm and embracing Pentax's unique image processing technology, the *ist D offers 6.1-megapixel resolution for the recording of precise, superior-quality images.
Storage and Transfer
The *ist D is compatible with CompactFlash Type I/II memory cards, and is also compatible with MicroDrives.
More Features
An optical pentaprism viewfinder was developed especially for the *ist D. This makes viewing easy with an ample 95% field of view and 0.95x magnification. There is also a superimposed display function that assists composition by illuminating the AF points in red.
Other features include:
- New 16-segment metering system achieves more accurate exposure
- New 11-point AF sensor (SAFOX VIII) for enhanced focusing
- Fast 1/4,000 second shutter speed and high-speed flash sync at 1/150 seconds
- Custom function allows functionality to be tuned to satisfy user preferences
- Noise reduction function activates for long exposures
- 1.8-inch, 118,000-pixel LCD monitor
- Choice of JPEG, TIFF, and RAW recording formats
- Convenient playback functions, such as nine-image and 12x magnification display
Power and Size
The camera is powered by 4 AA batteries; rechargeable NiMH batteries are recommended. It measures 5.0 by 3.7 by 2.3 inches and weighs 18 ounces.
The *ist D and the *ist DS Compared
| *ist D | *ist DS |
| Effective Pixels | 6.1 Megapixels | 6.1 Megapixels |
LCD Monitor
| 1.8-inch TFT Color LCD | 2.0-inch TFT Color LCD |
| Power Source | 4 AA, or 2 CR-V3 | 4 AA, or 2 CR-V3 |
| Storage Media | Compact Flash (I & II),
MicroDrive
| SD Memory Card |
| File Formats | 8-bit (JPEG), 8-bit (TIFF),
12-bit (RAW) | 8-bit (JPEG),
12-bit (RAW)
|
| Exposure Modes | Auto w/Hyper Program
Program AE
Shutter-Priority AE
Aperture-Priority AE
Metered Manual
Bulb
| Program AE
Auto Picture
Picture
Shutter-Priority AE
Aperture-Priority AE
Metered Manual
Bulb |
| Interface | USB 1.1 | USB 2.0 |
| Flash Sync | 1/150 sec | 1/180 sec |
| X-Sync Socket | YES | NO |
| Continuous Frame Advance | 2.6 fps | 2.8 fps |
| Continuous Autofocus | YES | YES (in Action Picture Mode only) |
| Mirror Lock | YES | YES |
| Wireless Flash Sync | YES | NO |
| Optional Vertical Grip | YES | NO |
| Stainless-Steel Chassis | YES | YES |
| Remote Assistant from PC | YES | NO |
| Interchangeable Focusing Screens | YES | YES |
| PictBridge Compatibility | NO | YES |
| Weight (w/o Batteries) | 19.4 oz | 17.8 oz |
Pentax *istD 6.1MP Digital SLR Camera with Pentax FA J 18-35mm F4-F5.6 AL Zoom Lens Specifications
Portability never looked like this. Weighing in at a mere 20 ounces with batteries, the lightweight, stylish *ist D does not sacrifice quality and performance. A 6.1 megapixel CCD with advanced data processing circuitry for astonishing image clarity and detail. A newly-developed 11 point autofocus with SAFOX Vlll for quick and accurate focus. A bright, high-precision viewfinder with superimposed AF-point display for super-clear views of any subject. And featuring a PENTAX K lens mount for compatibility with most existing PENTAX 35mm format lenses and accessories. All protected by a super-rigid, black stainless-steel chassis. Portable and maneuverable, the *ist D is the ideal go-anywhere traveling companion for advanced amateurs and photography enthusiasts.This bundle includes PENTAX lens. The PENTAX smc P-FA J 18-35mm F4.0-5.6 AL is an ideal entry-level zoom lens designed to be used with fully automatic cameras. Its lightweight design makes it easy to handle and maneuver. It features aspherical lens elements to help transmit light more efficiently and Pentax's acclaimed smc multi-layer coating to lower surface reflection, reduce ultraviolet rays, and deliver clear, high-contrast images.
*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Sep 10, 2009 16:50:03
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