Pentax

Pentax

see also:

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.
This is not to be confused with the older Pentax M42 screw mount which is not compatible.
the new Pentax DA lenses are for Pentax digital SLR and can't be used on full frame film cameras.
no high quality 24-120mm standard zoom lens available as is with Olympus
some nice new lenses not available on Olympus yet such as:
- 14mm f/2.8 ED IF (21mm equiv.)
- 21mm f/3.2 AL (32mm equiv)
- 100mm f/2.8 macro (150mm equiv)
- 200mm f/2.8 ED IF SDM
- 300mm f/4 ED IF SDM
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, Nikon and now Olympus, 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.
Having said this I am sure if you don't mind the size and weight, the 20D and 200D will take great photos and it is the nice lenses that at the end of the day may make this system work for you.

History of Pentax digital SLRs:

2008:
- Pentax 20D:
  - pros:
    - weatherproofed, rugged
    - live preview with CCD based IS and sensor dust removal system
    - IS works with legacy MF lenses by entering focal length into camera
    - brighter bigger viewfinder than Olympus E510 but not as good as E3.
    - presumably will fit a budget between the E510 and Olympus E3.
    - ISO priority AE mode
  - cons:
    - Pentax have increased mp to 14.6mp which to me seems too much for a cropped sensor as it is likely to sacrifice image quality, dynamic range and high ISO noise unnecessarily for marginal benefit other than advertising hype.
    - you will be locked into the Pentax system of lenses which although are good and have some unique digital lenses, is not in the top 3.
    - IS only 2-4 stops (as with Olympus E510 but not as good as E3)
    - AE bracketing is only +/- 2EV
    - AF not likely to be as good or fast as E3
    - heavier than the Olympus E510 but similar to Olympus E3
    - 3fps burst similar to E510 but not up to 5ps with E3
    - SD cards not CF cards
  - see http://www.dpreview.com/news/0801/08012311pentaxk20d.asp
- Pentax 200D:
  - budget version of the 20D
  - 10mp, weathersealed,
  - IS but much heavier than the Olympus E510
  - http://www.dpreview.com/news/0801/08012310pentaxtk200d.asp
- Pentax DA 60-250mm f/4 lens
- Pentax DA 55mm f/1.4 lens
2007:
- Pentax K100D Super:
  - as for K100D but adds sensor dust protection, auto-ISO mode, not sure what else.
  - http://www.dpreview.com/news/0706/07062801pentaxk100dsuper.asp
2006:
- Pentax K10D:
  - 10mpixel APS-C size sensor (23.5x15.7mm 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.
  - see http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/pentaxk10d/
- Pentax K100D:
  - 6mpixel entry level version; 11pt AF; CCD-shift antishake; spot metering; 96% coverage viewfinder; 2.8fps x5jpg; 12x zoom playback; SDHC card; 565g; AA batteries; no RAW+jpg;
  - see http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/pentaxk100d/
- Pentax K110D:
  - similar to K100D but no anti-shake
- Pentax *ist DL2:
  - 6mpixels; 5pt cross AF; spot meter; 2.8fpsx5jpgs; SD; AA batteries; 12x zoom playback;
2005:
- Pentax *ist DS2:
  - 6mpixels; 11pt 9 cross AF; spot meter; 2.8fpsx8jpgs; SD; AA batteries;
- Pentax *ist DL:
  - 6mpixels; 3pt AF; spot meter; 2.8fpsx5jpgs; SD; AA batteries;
2004:
- Pentax *ist D:
  - 6mpixel; 11pt AF; spot meter; CF card; AA batteries;

Lenses designed for Pentax digital SLRs:

see Pentax lens roadmap pdf
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)