Pentax K100D Super 6.1MP Digital SLR Camera Shake Reduction and 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 Lens by Pentax
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Digital camera reviews of Pentax K100D Super 6.1MP Digital SLR Camera Shake Reduction and 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 Lens
Digital camera Review: Excellent camera at a bargain price
Summary: 5 Stars
I am an serious amature photographer who has used Pentax 35mm, Canon 35mm, Zeiss medium format range finders, Panasonic Lumix and Sony digital cameras. In all I've been in love with the art of photography for over 35 years. I really enjoyed the durability and handling ease of the old Pentax SLR's (K1000, ME and P3...). The K100D Super is the digital evolution of those great Pentax film cameras which I'm sure many of us have been missing. While billed as an entry level DSLR, it posesses all the manual features any experienced film shooter would be familiar with and will instantly comprehend. In addition, it can be used in complete auto or scene modes for point and shoot users who are graduating to the SLR experience.
This is really a serious piece of gear at a great price. It is built very solidly with a metal frame and proper access doors instead of those cheap rubber flaps other manufacturers are using. It feels natural in my average size male hands and all the controls are where they should be. Menus are easy to navigate and it takes minimum time to orient around the displays to make a variety of custom settings. Kudos to the engineers who made things so ergonomic and user friendly for both novice and veteran photographers. The pentamirror viewfinder is bright, uncluttered and all 35mm users should be right at home with the quality of the display. Dust removal, anti-shake, 11 point focus, excellent metering... it has all the useful features desired of a high quality DSLR.
Some reviewers have panned this camera for its 6.1mp sensor. Unless you plan on making poster size prints, this is really a non-issue. Don't fall for all the pixel packing marketing hype. Pentax is to be congratulated for using a proven, excellent quality APS-C sensor which undoubtedly factors into keeping the price down (and the ISO noise down too!). The photo processor is also proven over a couple of previous models and is top notch. The utility of using commercial AA batteries is underrated. I often take my cameras traveling abroad and if I happen to need power in a pinch, any semi-civilized place will have batteries I can use. Likewise, SD media is the world's most widely used mass storage format and available just about everywhere - brilliant!
Oh yeah - the photos this camera are capable of taking are simply spectacular! And after all, isn't that what we are ultimately trying to achieve from this art form?
Go ahead and get off the fence. All the features you will need are in this little gem. K-10D shooters - buy one as a backup.
Digital camera Review: Pentax: Always the Best!
Summary: 5 Stars
If you're an avid photographer (which means you love to take photos) or you're new to digital SLRs and you're ready to make the move to a digital SLR, then the Pentax K100D Super is a top choice.
For those use to operating a typical 35mm film SLR, the switch to digital is fairly easy. I've been a Pentax guy for over 20 years: the old K1000 being one of my favorite standard SLRs, along with the newer ZX50. If you're not use to using a typical SLR and have been using any of the simple point-and-shoot digital cameras out there, don't worry, trust yourself, you can adapt and it can be really exhilarating. Using an SLR, whether 35mm or digital, offers so much more when taking pictures.
You may be one of those who are debating with yourself: Pentax, Canon or Nikon? Then you find yourself reading too many publication reviews (and more, like posts here on Amazon) and you lean one way, then the next, and finally start getting crazy. Pure & simple, all three manufacturers make excellent cameras: including digital SLRs! I think anyone who is involved with photography will agree. However, I've used Canon's & Nikons, and Pentax has always ended up being my #1 choice.
When looking for a camera, I feel your #1 consideration should be: how much photography do you do? If you're like me; a traveler, a hobbyist, and find yourself shooting a lot of photos then you're more apt to invest in a good camera. The #2 consideration is cost. Without a doubt, the Pentax K100D Super results in one of the best Digital SLRs out there for the money; a fact all publication reviews, that I respect, agree on.
Many publication reviews often compare the K100D Super to the Nikon & Cannon, and one of the most consistent factors noted is while Canon & Nikon digitals are sporting 10 megapixels, the K100D Super only has 6.5 megapixel. I say, what ever. The reality is, that 10 megapixels can be a concern if you're trying to print pictures the size of posters, and quite simply most people aren't. The reality is most folks will print normal size photos, and even up to 8.5x11 or slightly larger. The Pentax shoots in RAW & JPEG, the RAW features allows for manipulation, using any descent photo software, to larger sizes photos including 15x17.5
I've used my K100D Super on a recent trip to Point Reyes State Park, here in the Bay Area. I was sure to shoot photos of sand on the beach: personal and really up close to see individual grains of sand. I took photos of the oysters we had, reflections of drift wood on still salt water ponds, a jelly fish (some 30 feet away), the crashing waves, any possible deviation of shots I could think of, and I was purely amazed at the K100D Super's performance & quality! I used both the Auto setting and then played with the other settings.
While there are many great features on the Pentax, and easy read up is available on-line, let me highlight those I would note to support my recommendation:
Cost: This camera is the best value & cost for a camera of this quality. Again, this is stated time and time again in publication & on-line reviews.
Body: The body of the K100D Super is solid! It's a great combination of polycarbonate & stainless steel housing. It's not the cheapo plastic like other cameras.
Anti-shake: This alone, is one serious note to consider. Pentax puts their anti-shake in the camera body, unlike Nikon & Canon who put it in their lenses, thus one reason why Canon & Nikon lens cost more in the long run. Now, seeing the error in their ways, I've read Nikon & Canon are racing like mad dogs to fall in line with Pentax's lead.
Pentax Lenses: Any Pentax lens ever made will work on the K100D Super. This is where Pentax has shined for years. Those of us with older lenses can just pop them right onto the K100D Super's body (in fact, most Pentax SLR cameras allow for this). If you go to a garage sale or flea market and find a great old Pentax lens, it's will fit the K100D Super. And since this is the case, all Pentax lenses benefit from the anti-shake in the camera. Better yet, digital lenses are different than film lenses. Film lenses are superior in many ways to digital lenses. Using an older Pentax film lens on the digital body enhances the quality of the photo, an added benefit to the Pentax crowd.
And, the K100D Super is already set to accept the newest generation of Pentax lenses (SDM lenses) coming out this year.
Dust Removal System: The Pentax has an internal anti-dust shake device that removes any dust that may be present.
Auto/Manual: Auto Picture Mode, Scene Modes & Manual. You can easily go between using the Auto mode of the camera or fall back on your own experience of doing things manually using the AV, TV, Manual and so on.
Memory Card: the K100D Super uses SD Cards, but typical Pentax (thinking ahead), the camera will also accept the newer SDHC cards.
Batteries: There are several batteries the camera can utilize: rechargeable, Lithium & standard AA+. This is a benefit as you're not limited to one manufacturer's battery.
I took this camera out of the box, DID NOT READ ANYTHING - LITERALLY, put in the batteries, put in an SD Card, turned it on, set the date, turned it off and walked out the door to Point Reyes. Then, I turned it on and starting shooting pictures. It was that easy (and yes, I plan to read the manual). I wish Amazon let you post photos on a review.
This is a solid pick for me and others. Hope this helps.
Digital camera Review: surprise this product
Summary: 5 Stars
i was thinking about new point shot camera and i asked my friend about slr digital camera, he said i can used any kind of lens that was the same brand with camera. after i read all description of pentax(my faverite brand), yes i bought k100d super. everything looks great for me such as on time shipping ,perfect product that can fit my previous lens(28-80 and 100-300)and easy to use.i'm very happy with this product.
thank you
Digital camera Review: best for its class considering the price
Summary: 5 Stars
I just recently made my jump to the DSLR camera after around five years being a pocket digicam user. My first digital camera was a very compact one megapixel, and then I changed it to the more megapixel count digicam which was Fuji 3.2 megs. Getting interested in using manual exposure made me ditch that and bought the Pentax Optio 550. It's my last pocket digicam before I bought this K100D Super.
What I can share about this great DSLR is this K100D Super is loaded with lots of features, such as Shake Reduction (a very useful features that allows me to take pictures indoor without having to fire the flash so I could take advantage of those sun rays sneaking thru' the branches of tree outside my room's window), 11 autofocus point, AA battery (ever run out of juice when you're in the middle of your fun day ?), a display on top of the cam, digital filter and dust removal capability. You can have all of these features at a price that won't break your piggy bank.
In Indonesia where I live, a shop offered me a very good deal where this DSLR can be had for as low as around USD 540.
The picture quality is top-notch, very crisp and clear. I cranked the sharpness setting one step higher, and the sharpness of pictures I've taken never let me down, even in high ISO and low speed.
Combination of those three factors (features, price and pic-quality) made this cam the most suitable DSLR for amateur like me.
If you're looking for a DSLR that could bolster your career as a fine photographer, this cam might not be right choice, as more advanced DSLR like K10D (also from Pentax), Nikon D200, or Canon 40D carry more features, perform better and provide better picture quality, but come with higher price tags.
This K100D is not without its downside. For action and/or sport photographer, this cam perform too slow when you use the continous mode. Very large print is somewhat not recommended as this cam only provides 6 megs.
Ask yourself what is your need in using the DSLR for you. After you already have the clear answer to the question, then you can match your need to the feature of the cameras.
Sorry if my English is bad, as it's not my native lang.
Digital camera Review: High Quality, Low Cost
Summary: 5 Stars
Pentax K100D Super 6.1MP Digital SLR Camera Shake Reduction and 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 Lens The Pentax K100D Super combines low cost with high quality images. I am able to use all my old Pentax lenses along with the included zoom. Very pleased with my purchase!