ON PAPER, the Pentax K10D is everything a serious photographer could want. In-camera image stabilization, sensor dust removal, spot metering, 11 auto-focus points, 32 custom functions, and backwards compatibility with hundreds of older Pentax lenses. The K10D is also the first digital SLR to provide both the manufacturer specified RAW format (in this case Pentax PEF) and also the 'standard' Adobe created DNG format. Nice touch!
In use the K10D delivers on the promises its specs would imply. Fans of the bright and clear viewfinders on Pentax D-SLR's will find the K10D is no different. The handgrip is nicely shaped and the body well balanced. All of the important and commonly used controls are easily reached with the right hand leaving the left free to for tasks such as manual focus or depth of field preview.
Pentax has also improved upon one of the major complaints with their past D-SLR offerings by allowing a full range of selectable ISO's from 100 to 1600. Though image quality in the past at ISO 200 was perfectly acceptable, we couldn't help but feel ISO 100 should be the standard, especially for those of us who like to shoot near the coast. It seems Pentax has finally taken on board with this opinion as well.
The only major complaint with the K10D is the choice by Pentax to use SD/SDHC cards instead of Compact Flash. These days SD cards come in very high capacities which is nice, but we have always found them much too flimsy and easy to loose in the field. Compact Flash cards would have been a much more professional and practical choice. Still, despite this minor grievance, the Pentax K10D is without a doubt the D-SLR heavyweight Pentax users have been waiting for. It's priced very competitively with Nikon's equally excellent D200 and an all out bargain next to Canon’s very pricey (yet full frame) 5D. It's obvious the designers of the K10D had a serious desire to create a camera full of features photographers could actually use and take advantage of.
For those thinking about buying their first serious D-SLR we would highly recommend taking a good hard look at the K10D. For those already committed to the Pentax lens lineup, the decision to purchase a K10D is no decision at all.
www.pentaximaging.com
