photo:pentaxk
Pentax K mount camera system
introduction:
In Dec 2006, it was announced that Pentax is merging with the much larger Hoya company in an effort to increase competitiveness. Pentax was valued at $US771 million and had 1336 employees compared with Hoya at about 20 times that valuation and 3338 employees.
The Pentax digital SLR's use the Pentax KAF2 bayonet mount which is compatible with the KA film predecessors, and given the long sensor to lens flange distance of this design it means that unlike the situation with Olympus 4/3rds and Canon, non-KA mount lenses cannot be adapted to this camera and retain ability to focus at infinity. This is not an issue as long as you are happy to use Pentax KA mount lenses only.
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the new Pentax DA lenses are for Pentax digital SLR and can't be used on full frame film cameras.
so buying a Pentax means being locked into the Pentax lens and flash systems which has some unique benefits but as it is a niche player in the market dominated by Canon and Nikon, without a high end flagship model capable of rapid sequence action shots or boundary pushing qualities such as low light AF performance, high ISO performance, you may find yourself locked into a system that limits you.
History of Pentax digital SLRs:
2017:
Pentax KP
24mp APS-C dSLR, maximum ISO sensitivity of ISO 819,200
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27-point SAFOX 11 down to -3EV
tiltable 920K LCD
1080/30p
$US1099
2016:
Pentax K-1:
36mp full frame dSLR
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anti-aliasing filter simulation which vibrates the sensor during exposure to intentionally blur high frequency detail across multiple pixels, to avoid moiré
Pixel Shift Resolution mode that increases color resolution by shooting four consecutive images with the sensor moved by one pixel - effectively canceling the Bayer color filter array and lowering noise by image averaging
Horizon Correction, which rotates the sensor if you hold the camera slightly off-level
Astrotracer system that uses the sensor's movement to cancel-out the effect of the Earth's rotation when taking images of stars (something it can calculate using its GPS)
SAFOX 12 AF sensor with 33AF points incl 25 cross-type
86,000-pixel RGB metering sensor acts to offer 77-segment metering
Cross-Tilt rear LCD
illuminated controls
weathersealed
4.4fps burst
1080/30p video
$US1799
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2013:
Pentax K-3:
24.4mp APS-C sensor at 8.3fps
sensor-shift image stabilization with rotational compensation
anti-aliasing 'simulator' via using the IS system (camera has no optical low-pass filter)
SAFOX 11 TTL autofocus system (27-point, 25 of which are cross-type)
86,000 RGB pixels metering system
1920 x 1080 video recording (60i, 30p, 24p) with audio level control
dual SD slots; USB 3.0 - perhaps a 1st for a dSLR!
2012:
Pentax K-5 II:
16mp 1.5x crop APS-C sensor at 7fps
ISO 100 to 12800 (80 to 51200 Extended)
's' version, which costs $100 more, comes without an anti-aliasing filter
shutter 30sec - 1/8000th sec
built-in flash with wireless TTL remote flash
weathersealed with “3 stop” SR shake reduction system
DR II (Dust Removal II) mechanism
the latest, SAFOX X, autofocus sensor designed for low light work down to -3EV
timelapse recording, optional GPS
3“ LCD screen
1080 25p HD motion jpeg video but only mono mic
automatic compensation of distortion and lateral chromatic aberration (available only with DA,D FA and FA Limited series lenses)
760g
2008:
2007:
2006:
Pentax K10D:
10mpixel APS-C size sensor (23.5×15.7mm 1.5x crop); 22bit A-D converter; 2-4 stops CCD-shift image stabiliser that can compensate for x-y shift and rotation; sensor dust removal system; weatherproof; 11-point AF with 9 being cross-sensitive; compatible with new supersonic AF lens motors; sensitivity (auto ISO) exposure mode; dedicated RAW button; 16 segment metering; SDHC cards; spot metering; 95% coverage viewfinder; 3fps x 9 RAW; 20x zoom playback; multiple exposures (up to 9 images with auto EV adjust); DNG RAW format; 717g;
the feature set on this camera is the best to date for this type of camera, and if you don't mind the weight, some minor image issues such as some moire and requirement of the Pentax mount lenses, this has got to be high up there on your wish list.
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Pentax K100D:
Pentax K110D:
Pentax *ist DL2:
2005:
Pentax *ist DS2:
Pentax *ist DL:
2004:
Lenses designed for Pentax digital SLRs:
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2008:
35mm f/2.8 macro
18-55mm f/3.5-5.6
55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED
200mm f/2.8 ED IF SDM
300mm f/4 ED IF SDM
2007:
16-50mm f/2.8 ED AL IF (24-75mm equiv)
50-135mm f/2.8 ED IF (75-203mm equiv)
60-250mm f/4 ED IF (90-375mm equiv)
2006:
14mm f/2.8 ED IF (21mm equiv.)
10-17mm f/3.5-4.5 ED IF fisheye zoom (15-25.5mm equiv)
12-24mm f/4 ED AL IF (18-36mm equiv.)
21mm f/3.2 AL (32mm equiv)
16-45mm f4 ED IF (24-68mm equiv)
18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL (27-83mm equiv kit lens)
40mm f/2.8 (60mm equiv)
50mm f/2.8 macro (75mm equiv)
70mm f/2.4 (105mm equiv)
100mm f/2.8 macro (150mm equiv)
50-200mm f/4-5.6 ED (75-300mm equiv)
photo/pentaxk.txt · Last modified: 2017/01/26 16:39 by gary1