Pentax K100D Super (18-55mm lens kit)

Description: The Pentax K100D is a 6.1-megapixel, prosumer camera.Compared to other prosumer digital cameras on the market, it is expensive at around $570.

Pros: This model supports RAW picture files, which makes color adjustments in software much easier.

Cons: Has a 2.8 in thickness.Also, this digital camera has 6.1-megapixel resolution, which is considerably lower than some similarly priced digital cameras.

Suitability: Designed for serious photographers who want a lot of control over their shots.This camera has a hot shoe terminal which allows you to attach an external flash to accommodate poor lighting conditions.A recommended use, based on key features, is framed photos for the home.The largest recommended print size, estimated from the camera's resolution, is 12x16 or larger.

Value: Overall, this digital camera's price seems hard to justify, with respect to its features.In fact, you would normally pay about 30% less to get a prosumer camera having comparable resolution.

Suggestions: For more help in deciding if this is the best digital camera for you, visit the buying guide for digital cameras at CNET Reviews.

CNET's Product Briefs are generated by a software tool that combines product specifications with knowledge of our editorial experts. They do not reflect hands-on assessment or labs testing. For more information about how we create Product Briefs, contact us.

• Manufacturer: Pentax
• Part Number: 19157

• General

• Product Type Digital camera - SLR
• Width 5.1 in
• Depth 2.8 in
• Height 3.6 in
• Weight 1.3 lbs

• Main Features

• Resolution 6.1 megapixels
• Color Support Color
• Optical Sensor Type CCD
• Total Pixels 6,310,000 pixels
• Effective Sensor Resolution 6,100,000 pixels
• Field of View Crop Factor 1.5
• Sensor Dust Reduction Yes
• Sensor Features Special Protect (SP) coating, Dust Reduction (image sensor vibration)
• Light Sensitivity ISO 200, ISO 400, ISO 800, ISO 1600, ISO 3200, ISO auto
• Shooting Modes Automatic, Program
• Shooting Programs Pet, Kids, Text, Macro, Action, Candle, Museum, Sunset, Landscape, Night scene, Surf & snow, Portrait mode, Night portrait
• Special Effects Slim, Soft, Color, Sepia, Black & White
• Image Stabilizer Optical (image sensor shift mechanism)
• Max Shutter Speed 1/4000 sec
• Min Shutter Speed 30 sec
• X-sync Speed 1/180 sec
• Exposure Metering Spot, Multi-segment, Center-weighted
• Exposure Modes Bulb, Manual, Program, Automatic, Shutter-priority, Aperture-priority
• Exposure Range EV 1-21.5 ( ISO 200 )
• Exposure Compensation ±2 EV range, in 1/2 or 1/3 EV steps
• Auto Exposure Bracketing 3 steps in 1/2 or 1/3 EV steps
• Exposure Metering Zones 16
• White Balance Custom, Presets, Automatic
• White Balance Presets Flash, Shade, Cloudy, Daylight, Fluorescent, Tungsten light
• Status LCD Display Illumination Yes
• Status LCD Display Information Aperture, Drive mode, Flash mode, Metering mode, Shutter speed, Photos remaining, Battery condition, Red-eye reduction, Bracketing indicator, Exposure compensation, White balance indicators
• Still Image Format RAW, JPEG
• Remote Control Optional
• TV Tuner None

• Memory / Storage

• Flash Memory None
• Supported Flash Memory MultiMediaCard, SD Memory Card
• Floppy Drive None
• Image Storage RAW 3008 x 2008, Super-fine JPEG 3008 x 2008 : 330 - With 1GB card, Fine JPEG 3008 x 2008 : 607 - With 1GB card, Normal JPEG 3008 x 2008 : 966 - With 1GB card, Super-fine JPEG 2400 x 1600, Fine JPEG 2400 x 1600, Normal JPEG 2400 x 1600, Super-fine JPEG 1536 x 1024, Fine JPEG 1536 x 1024, Normal JPEG 1536 x 1024

• Camera Flash

• Camera Flash Pop-up flash
• Guide Number (m / ISO 100) 15.6
• Flash Modes P-TTL, Auto mode, Fill-in mode, Flash OFF mode, Red-eye reduction
• Red Eye Reduction Yes
• Features AF illuminator, Flash +/- compensation

• Lens System

• Type Zoom lens - 18 mm - 55 mm - F/3.5-5.6 DA Pentax KAF
• Focal Length 18 mm - 55 mm
• Focus Adjustment Manual, Automatic
• Auto Focus TTL phase detection
• Auto Focus Points (Zones) 11
• Min Focus Range 9.8 in
• Max View Angle 76 degrees
• Lens Aperture F/3.5-5.6
• Optical Zoom 3 x
• Zoom Adjustment Manual
• Lens Construction 9 group(s) / 12 element(s)
• Filter Size 52 mm
• Lens System Mounting Pentax KAF2
• Lens Manufacturer Pentax

• Additional Features

• Self Timer Yes
• Self Timer Delay 2 sec, 12 sec
• Flash Terminal Hot shoe
• Additional Features AE lock, AF lock, DPOF support, Auto power save, Date/time stamp, Histogram display, Brightness control, PictBridge support, PRINT Image Matching, Shadow point display, USB 2.0 compatibility, Digital image rotation, Digital noise reduction, Highlight point display, RGB primary color filter, Depth-of-field preview button

• Viewfinder

• Viewfinder Type Optical - Eye-level penta-dach mirror
• Viewfinder Color Support Color
• Field Coverage 96%
• Magnification 0.85x
• Dioptric Correction Range -2.5 to +1.5
• Viewfinder Frames Autofocus frame
• LCD Display Information AE lock, Aperture, AF-in-focus, Picture mode, Shake warning, Shutter speed, Metering system, Red-eye reduction, Exposure compensation, Flash charge completion, Frames-remaining counter

• Display

• Type LCD display - TFT active matrix - 2.5 in - Color
• Display Form Factor Built-in
• Display Format 210,000 pixels

• Digital Player (Recorder)

• Type None

• Connections

• Connector Type 1 x USB, 1 x Composite video output
• Expansion Slot(s) 1 x SD Memory Card

• Software

• Software Drivers & Utilities, Pentax Photo Browser, Pentax Photo Laboratory

• System Requirements for PC Connection

• Operating System Support MS Windows XP, MS Windows 2000, MS Windows Vista, Apple Mac OS X 10.2 or later
• Peripheral Devices USB port

• Miscellaneous

• Included Accessories Strap, Body cap, Dust cap, Lens cap, Shoe cap
• Cables Included 1 x USB cable, 1 x Video cable

• Battery

• Supported Battery AA, CR-V3
• Supported Battery 4 x AA Alkaline battery ( Included ), 2 x CR-V3 Lithium battery ( Optional )

• Environmental Parameters

• Min Operating Temperature 32 °F
• Max Operating Temperature 104 °F

• 

  Pentax K100D Super (body only)

  Price: $599.95

  Manufacturer: Pentax

  Specs: SLR, 6.1 megapixels, 2.5 in LCD display

• 

  Pentax K100D Super (18-55mm lens kit)

  Price: $899.90

  Manufacturer: Pentax

  Specs: SLR, 6.1 megapixels, 3 x, 2.5 in LCD display

Pentax

Manufacturer profile

• Address: Pentax Imaging Company, Englewood, CO.
• Phone: 1-800-877-0155
• Fax: 303-799-9213