Want to take more professional pictures without having to empty your bank
account?
Last year’s beginners' digital SLR from Pentax has been spruced up and given
a Super name tag, while the price for a kit, including the camera and an
18-55mm zoom lens, has been reduced considerably.
It still has the same 6-megapixel resolution, a solid build with physical
dimensions that are both large enough to get a firm grip and portable enough not
to cause shoulder strain. It has easy-to-use controls, including a
self-explanatory mode dial at the top, and clear on-screen menus.
But what's new is a dust removal system that uses a protective coating on the
K100D Super’s CCD sensor, backed up with a high-speed vibration mechanism that
shakes the sensor free of any dust that has settled. This is important because
dust on a camera sensor shows up as blots on the image, and though they can be
removed in software, it’s an unnecessary trouble.
Dust, raindrops and stray hairs can all get in when changing lenses, though
it’s debatable whether the
K100D
Super’s family users are going to want to change the adequate kit lens very
often. Still, dust reduction sets the camera apart from competitors such as
Nikon’s D40.
It also includes an effective anti-shake mechanism that compensates for
wobbling hands – useful for low-light shots without a flash, or when zooming
into a scene. This also means that any compatible
(KAF2
bayonet mount) Pentax lenses benefit from shake-reduction when attached.
Switch the camera on and you can be up and shooting in around a second, with
no real
shutter
lag. It can shoot JPEGs or, for the ultimate in quality, RAW files, although
these take up more space. It's sensitive up to ISO3200, and results might be
visibly grainy at this setting, but they’re worth keeping.
The K100D Super’s 11-point autofocus is quick to determine the target, and
exposure levels are similarly spot-on, delivering even brightness and contrast,
and preserving detail under testing conditions like a bright sky with a dark
foreground. Colours are well saturated and skin tones flattering.
Unusually for a budget SLR, it's possible to keep track of settings using the
narrow screen atop the camera in addition to the clear 2.5in screen on the back.
Put simply, the Pentax K100D Super is more of a digital camera than you’d expect
for the money, and as it can make prints up to A3 size, we wouldn't hesitate to
recommend it as a first step towards better photographic results.
Vista compatible: Yes
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