Pentax K10D 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera with Shake Reduction (Body Only) by Pentax
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Digital camera reviews of Pentax K10D 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera with Shake Reduction (Body Only)
Digital camera Review: Perfect even for serious beginners
Summary: 5 Stars
A little back story: my interest in photography started just a few months ago, after I started collecting desktop wallpapers. It doesn't hurt that my girlfriend is beautiful. So, with only basic point & shoot experience under my belt, I started reading up on photography techniques and looked for a camera. Being the novice as I was, I was only looking at Canon and Nikon. Fortunately, a photographer friend of mine recommended the K10D by Pentax, a very experienced camera maker that doesn't have the marketing dollars of Canon or Nikon, and I was simply floored. On paper, it looks great, especially given the price. You're getting higher end features like shake reduction and weatherproofing for introductory DSLR prices. Shake reduction featured in the body is particularly valuable, as it applies to all your lenses and thus reduces the price you have to pay for them.
I went to a camera shop to compare the cameras, as my friend told me it's also important to see how the cameras feel in your hands. While the K10D is definitely heavier than the Canon Rebel XTi, I found that the extra weight was actually reassuring; it doesn't feel like a toy. I also like the way the controls were laid out on the back, and the dual dials plus extra exposure modes together with the green button really make things a snap.
The only cons: ISO performance beyond 800 could be better, and some people may like having dedicated buttons for ISO and WB, though the new firmware makes selecting ISO a lot faster. Oh, and you might find yourself spending a lot of time taking lots and lots of pictures...
If you're serious about having better control over your pictures and getting great image quality without breaking the bank, go for the K10D. You can use the money you saved to buy all the new and old lenses that the K10D can still mount. You won't regret it; I sure didn't.
Digital camera Review: Photographic Excellence
Summary: 5 Stars
This is an excellent camera. It has been replaced by the K20D and subsequently by the superb K7. The K10D still holds its own against these more modern DSLR and others from other manufacturers. It has a robust feel of a solid device for taking pictures. It oozes quality. Some features are 10MP sensor, Shake Reduction (SR), weather sealed body, large viewfinder, dust removal system, unique to Pentax exposure modes, a one touch RAW button and much more.
Image quality is good. I like the color rendition and depth it produces.
One thing I like about Pentax is with an adapter you can mount their old Asahi Takumar lenses. These lenses are all metal construction with build quality in the Zeiss and Leica level. They are manual focus only but have first class optics. Of course you can get modern autofocus lenses from fixed focal length, zooms, wide angle and weather resistant versions.
The Pentax K10D is a great camera. A bit dated now but still effective. If you can find one pick it up, it could be a great backup camera.
Digital camera Review: Power Packed Pentax
Summary: 5 Stars
Pentax K10D 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera with Shake Reduction (Body Only)
This is a terrific camera, packed with more features than you can imagine. I have always used Pentax cameras and this one lives up to the hype. First of all, all Pentax lenses ever made can be used with the K10D. that was a real positive for me. It is well made and feels solid in your hands. The battery life is amazingly long and you can take about 400+ pictures before a charge. It is not a beginners camera however. The software is ok, but beleive it or not,I prefer the proprietary i photo software that comes with a MAC; it's just easier to use. There is a lot of camera here for the money and I give it a full 5 stars.
Buy it, you won't be disappointed.
Digital camera Review: Prosumer performance for budget conscious amateurs(and maybe even a pro or two)
Summary: 5 Stars
So far I've been really impressed with this camera. I've used several brands, and I think it would be difficult to beat the K10D featureset for the price. I'm switching from the Sony Alpha to Pentax for a couple of reasons, mainly that I don't have $1400 for A700, and I would really like to have something that's weatherproof, so it's not like the Sony stinks(or Canon or Nikon or Olympus stink), it's just that Pentax offers what I want for a price I'm willing to pay. Image quality wise, I can't tell much difference between the brands I've owned and/or used on loan, the Pentax might be a little better at higher ISO's than the Sony. Maybe. But it takes some looking between similarly priced DSLRs and lenses to find any substantial difference in image quality. I've used several(most) DSLR brands, and I would be hard pressed to pick out one over the other image quality wise. Lens wise, I've use several moderate to low-end zoom lenses, and again, which maker has the image quality is kind of a toss-up. They all perform well, and until you get into the 4 digit priced lenses, you're unlikely to actually measure much difference between the different makers. In fact, I'm working on getting the money together now to buy pentax's 16-50 and 50-135 DA* zooms becuase they offer the features I want, much like the K10D. The lenses maybe a bit pricey, but I think that they're alot of value for the money, again much like the K10D. Frankly, I don't entirely understand why Pentax hasn't made more of a splash with this camera, I think it blows Nikon's D40x and Canon's Digital Rebel XT and XTI away from the standpoint of build quality and features for roughly the same price, and is a better value than Nikon's D80(sheesh it's $200 bucks more, still 10MP, and it's not splash and dust proof).Digital camera Review: Rock Solid
Summary: 5 Stars
I'll make this short. The camera feels rock solid. This is not your beginner camera - unless you want to really LEARN PHOTOGRAPHY!
I've owned other Pentax products alongside Nikon. I'm a big Nikon fan but thought I'd give this cam a chance - plus it accepts all Pentax lenses manufactured since the Middle Ages!
If you intend to buy this camera with a zoom, I'd probably consider something else than the Pentax 'kit zoom' it's typically sold with. Spend the extra bucks on a Tamron 18-250 and you'll be covered. The kit lens is 'just ok' but somewhat limited in range and seems destined to collect dust once you've played with it a few weeks.
Size-wise this fits big hands and is not a lightweight - just as 'serious cameras' are supposed to be.
Again, 'rock solid' would be my description and this camera's biggest impression out of the box. Great job Pentax. Now all I've gotta do is go shoot!