Pentax K100D

Advantages: image quality,shake reduction, backwards lens compatibilty
Disadvantages: DSLR's are still too big

...REVIEW OF PENTAX K100D DIGITAL SLR BACKGROUND I've owned SLR's for 30 years starting with screw mount lenses and moving to Pentax K mount. In the last 5 years I became interested in digital photography owning a Canon A200 and Konica Minolta Dimage Z3. We've also got 5 other digital compacts in the household including new Samsung and Fuji 6MP models. The KM Z3 is a great camera with a 12 times optical zoom and anti shake sensor but I was a little disappointed with noise in the dark areas of some pictures. This could be kept to a reasonable level if ISO was fixed at 50 but this limits flexibility when the sun isn't shining. I'd thought about buying a digital SLR for some time but couldn't really justify the expense over what seemed to be minor benefits. However, when I discovered that the K100D would work with my old K mount...

bodyboarderdude 07.02.2007 · Read review
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Review of Pentax K100D

The Pentax K200d, left behind in the pixel races.

Advantages: light, ease of use, great in-camera editing, cheap, batteries are buyable everywhere,
Disadvantages: poor low light performance, expensive to run, no room for growth,

...I've always had a interest in cameras and even as a child used an SLR 35mm camera, I was still happily stuck in my ways until borrowing a digital camera from my partner on holiday. Suddenly I had instant access to my pictures and no worries about not having enough film. I decided that it was time I joined the digital age and after a brief bridge camera trial I after long deliberation decided to buy the outsider, the Pentax K200d. I admit I'm stubborn in my ways and as a unconventional slightly gothy woman I have a natural aversion to the crowds of middle aged men with their Eos's at the zoo, but after eight months I bought myself a Canon and I'm selling my Pentax and waving goodbye to them. Despite being the makers of some fantastic glass they are so behind other manufacturers in the pixel race and as my skills grow I find that I need...

einochi 17.05.2009 · Read review
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Review of Pentax K200D

Nikon D90 - My Next 'Last' Camera

Advantages: Movies, LiveView, 12.3 mpixels, build quality, excellent lens range
Disadvantages: Still quite bulky for casual use. Expensive if that's all you want it for

...There?s been a legion of digital cameras that have passed through my hands since they started to become a serious contender for 35mm?s domination of the amateur market. Going from memory, they?ve included Philips, Casio, Canon, Nikon and errr?..Nikon. Of course the last one, my first DSLR, a Nikon D70 was going to be the last; but then we all say that don?t we, lads? What I really meant was ?the last for quite a while?. LOOKS LIKE THE ?QUITE A WHILE? HAS EXPIRED Then my daughter started making noises about a night-school class in photography, where the minimum kit requirement just so happened to be a DSLR, and I got to thinking about letting her have the D70 for a ?song?, whilst good ol? Dad treats himself to the later and much higher-specified D90. Since I bought the D70 four or five years back, things have moved on apace...

BNibbles 04.08.2009 · Read review
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Review of Nikon D90

  Pentax produces pretty perfect pictures!

Advantages: Great build quality, easy to use and good picture quality.
Disadvantages: No image stabalisation and no wide angle capability in the lens.

...As I am sure most Ciao members will now know, I am a professional photographer but as well as taking pictures I also hold photography seminars at my local camera club and over the last few years I have become somewhat of a target for sales persons asking me to try out their latest digital cameras and give talks and written reviews on them. I figured a couple of years back if I was going to be testing out all these cameras and doing reviews anyway then I may as well be posting them on Ciao and Dooyoo and making some money for charity which as you well know is what I do now. The latest camera to be handed to me is the Pentax Optio M60 and as you read on you will find that this little digital camera is a real breath of fresh air. For months now I have been handed very expensive digital point and shoot cameras that claim to be able...

thebigc1690 28.04.2009 (17.05.2009) · Read review
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Review of Pentax Optio M60

My experience of the Nikon D90 as an amateur photographer.

Advantages: Excellent picture quality, lots of useful features, well designed controls, great kit lens
Disadvantages: More expensive than some other DSLRs, quite big and heavy, limited movie mode

... How I made my choice I recently bought the D90 to upgrade from my Olympus 560UZ bridge camera, so this is my first foray into DSLR photography. Most people starting in DSLR photography will opt for the cheaper D40, or the D60, D70 and D80. I am not particularly rich, and in the end chose the D90 because I didn't want to grow out of the smaller DSLR and have to buy a new body quickly. I have found that the prices of Nikon DSLRs haven't decreased significantly over the last 3 years, so I decided (maybe wrongly) that this option would save me money in the long run. I found that it is very important to go into a shop and hold the camera in your hands before making a choice. All the photography shop assistants said that the Canon series was just as good as the Nikons, but I discounted them because I didn't get on with the feel...

potoroo99 15.09.2009 (22.09.2009) · Read review
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Review of Nikon D90

PENTAX K1OOD

Advantages: EASY TO USE, BRILLIANT IMAGES
Disadvantages: NO SELF CLEANING

...I have owned this camera for six months now and it has been brilliant. The choice of aperture priority is the one I use most. I really don't get on well with instruction manuals and I'm pleased to say I can manage this without using the instructions - although one reason for choosing this model was that my old pre-digital lenses should fit it - I have tried one lens but got no response at all, so will have to go to the manual! The images are mainly sharp and bright although not quite so good in low light situations - in spite of me trying to compensate for the low light the results are not so good as with my old Pentax SLR film camera. The anti shake works so well that I have to pull myself up when using other cameras without it - it has made me a bit careless! The one drawback for me with this camera is that bits of dust...

cherryjay77 29.12.2007 · Read review
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Review of Pentax K100D

k100d - Great for starters and enthusiasts alike

Advantages: Excellent Image Quality, Good shake reduction, Price, Ergonomics, Beginner friendly, Backwards compatibility
Disadvantages: Slower performance than other similar cameras

...I've had this for just over half a year and loved every moment of it. Be aware as with any other SLR you will need a fair bit of money put aside for more lenses and accessories once the addiction starts kicking in. Overview: As well as being aimed at those wanting to move up into the dSLR market, the k100d is suited for those seeking slightly better ISO performance or a smaller body at an affordable price. Features: As well as the standard set you'd expect from any dSLR on the market, the k100d offers multi-exposure bracketing, which is ideal if you intend to delve into HDR photography. I do find the menu system to be slight counter-intuitive but its possible to stay away from the menus most of the time, in normal use, unless you need to change ISO specifically. Image Quality: Don't be put off by the 6 megapixel sensor as it...

aKarma 19.01.2008 · Read review
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Review of Pentax K100D

Pentax K1000

Advantages: Unlimited use
Disadvantages: Need to buy a flash separate

...In this age of high technology automatic electronic equipment it pays to take a step back to the simple things such as the Pentax K1000 camera. The fully manual 35mm SLR obviously requires complete user control but for the photographer who doesn’t want to be limited by a camera’s ability, this is the one for you. The only power needed is for the exposure meter from a small battery which is activated when the lens cap is removed. The built-in through-the-lens meter measures the average brightness of the ground glass at full aperture and then couples to the aperture, shutter and film speed settings. The shutter mechanism is completely manual meaning that the camera can still be used even when the battery is exhausted, with a little guess work for the exposure. The focal plane shutter extends from speeds B, 1 second to 1...

hakkved 09.03.2001 (07.03.2001) · Read review
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Review of Pentax K1000

Cry at the price, laugh at the quality

Advantages: 10.1 megapixel digital camera, well built, dazzling pictures, loads of features
Disadvantages: Price

...The Pentax K10D is one of those cameras that costs the Earth and is only really considered by those seriously into their photography. It is not designed as a point and click camera, instead utilizing advanced features, a superior lens and all round range of features that leave the professional drooling at just the mention of its name. Growing up Pentax was always a brand associated with photography quality and when designing and releasing the K10D onto the market it is clear that Pentax have retained all of their old qualities instead of going down the smaller is better route they have stuck with tradition and produced a camera that looks and performs how a camera should. Far too advanced for my own needs my experiences given here will be from the demonstrations I have performed for customers. Cost & Availability: A brand new...

insiderknowledge 24.05.2007 · Read review
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Review of Pentax K10D

*ist D is for me

Advantages: Shoot as many as you can - edit there and then or at home-magic
Disadvantages: Need rechargeable batteries to keep up

...I am an avid Pentax user/collector and had lusted after the latest offering for nearly two years.When the opportunity arose on ebay to buy I had to have it - pristine used example with lenses etc. What a beautiful product - foolproof for the older technophobe like me - scope to create for the imaginative - takes all Pentax lenses-feels and handles beautifully-I now go out and take a hundred shots where before I may have taken 1 roll of 36 at best and then waited to see if they were any good. I have become more creative/selective and aware of photo-opportunities-I can store/send by email/crop/adjust/turn into sepia/print etc all at my desk with the PC. OK so it was not brand new - £420 for the body and £100 for the Sigma 28-300 lens - what a bargain and boy what a camera. I know you can use your mobile phone but this looks and feels...

tozza27 28.05.2005 · Read review
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Review of Pentax *ist D