Pentax K100D Super Digital SLR Camera Digital Camera with smc P-DA 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 Lens - 6.1 Megapixels - 3.05x O...

The Pentax K100D is (or was) marketed as an entry level DSLR, but don't be fooled by this, it is a truly capable camera with lots of pro features.

The entry level/semi-pro tag seems to have been applied simply because of the amount of plastic used. More than other expensive Pentax models which are aimed at the (often) physically tougher life of a pro-camera.

In fact it is only the external casings that are plastic, the camera internals are built onto a metal chassis. So perhaps they are tougher than first impressions suggest! It is still a light camera though, I have several lenses which weigh more.

The 6.1 Mpx is more than enough resolution for 99% of photograpy. Few pictures are going to be printed three times the size of your PC monitor, and those that are (on billboards!) are not viewed closely enough for it to matter. Also, the physical limitations of lens resolution make much more almost pointless for most digital cameras with their comparatively small sensors.

There are plenty of options for setting up colour balance etc, and speed settings go to 3200, which is faster than the later K110D.

It also has an option for allowing the use of earlier manual focus and manual aperture lenses. In practice all you need to do to use your older manual lenses is to switch off auto-focusing, and tell the camera that you want to use an aperture ring.

Backwards compatibility with older equipment is in fact excellent. You can use screw-mount lenses with an adapter, and no trouble. I have used the adapter that I got for my old manual Pentax's and it works fine. The lenses are used stopped down, with manual metering in 'preview mode' conveniently operated by an extra position on the on-off swithch. The AF indicator also works with manual focus lenses and is a handy check!

A very useful feature, and the one that clinched it for me, is the Shake Reduction feature. Shake reduction technology moves the picture sensor, so everything is built into the camera body. Almost any lens can benefit from shake reduction, just tell the camera the focal length. (Tip... Add any extension if using tubes.) I have used 400mm lenses on mine handheld at 1/15th without noticable shake! So if you do a lot of low-light photography.... The menu is easily acessed, so zoom lenses can be used with little trouble too.

As well as CR-V3 lithiums, it can use AA size batteries which are easily available. The only downside is that it considers a battery dead at a voltage at which NiMH rechargeables still have plenty of life left in them. So when using them you don't get quite as many pictures as you might expect before recharging. Big deal, buy two sets and a rapid charger!

(The manual warns against using lithium rechargeables as these can provide too many volts. Although 'regulated' lithium batteries can be obtained which limit the maximum votage to 3V, it is difficult to be sure untill after you have bought them, which may be too late. Most battery sellers are not battery experts. Do not rely on their word!)

With a 1G SD card it will store around 94 pictures in RAW format, lot's more in JPEG. The software provided works best on RAW files, even pulling respectable images out of some very hazy shots taken at an airshow which unprocessed looked blank. So use RAW if you can!

There is not enough space for all the good stuff, but I am a dyed-in-the-wool film camera user, I don't like digital on principle. But I like this camera. Nuff said!

After researching the market for digital SLR's I decided on the Pentax K100D for price,value,ease of operation,and also because I had previously owned a 35mm Pentax camera.So far I am delighted with the camera.It is so easy to operate and picture quality is excellent for the sort of shots I take.A really good digital SLR for the amateur photographer.

This is a fabulous camera, produces beautiful photographs, excellent colours, brilliant children mode. I love this camera, easy to use too.

Both my wife and I had Pentax ME Supers, and we had accumulated a selection of lenses for these cameras, so I had been waiting for Pentax to produce a digital back for the camera. However when the K100D came along it seemed to fit the bill, as it takes the full range of K-mount lenses. Adding the shake reduction in the Super was just the icing on the cake.

The instruction manual is very detailed, but lacks a simple introductory guide. I still haven't worked out how to see the picture I am framing in the rear LCD screen!

The picture quality is excellent, and transfer to my Linux PC is straightforward as the camera just appears as another filesystem.

I love this camera, very easy to use and the results are good quality. It is only six mp but that would only bother me if I were intending to produce massive prints of my pictures, which I am not.

I had already decided that i would buy a pentax dslr from the low down from a camera magazine, this was not my number one choice model, but I am very very pleased with it.

It will last me for years as everything is there, anti - shake, built in flash with fittings for a flash gun, manual and automatic controls, it is a well thought out camera, a bit on the heavy side in weight so if you have more of a slight frame you might want to think about a lighter model or make.

It isn't waterproof unfortunately, that is the only draw back I can think of.

Brilliant camera overall, I am very pleased with it.

I am getting close to retirement and need a new hobby to fill my time. I bought this item because the price was a bargain and it seemed to meet the criteria, and ticked all the boxes for my requirements. The thing I like about it most is the easy use, so far seems idiot proof. Nice clear instruction manual, everything needed for a beginner or a pro.

Pentax K100D Super is a perfect upgrade from the previous excellent models Pentax *ist D, Pentax*ist DS & Pentax K100D. It is propably best choice for low entry DSLR, excellent choice for everybody, who does own any new Pentax Lens or, and what is specially good with adapter, old superb Takumar, Pentax and other M42 lenses. 6Mpix Sensor is the same which is ised in Nikon D40 or previous Pentax models, allow You to shot at high Iso 3200. Easy menum, Sipmle knobs, but excellent output from the camera is I think the best choise for someone who just comming to DSLR from compact.
It use pentamirror for viewfinder, but this type is better quality although it is not pentaprism. But name SUPER means that You can use new SDM lenses for fast y silent Autofocus directly from Pentax or SIgma HSM too. And SR - shake reduction is another great benefit to this small DSLR. 2,5" LCD is great for immediately viewing the pictures you take, all in all is best choice for 6Mpix DSLR and great second body, if you have semi profi or profi body from Pentax :)

Having looked at many other digital SLR cameras prior to making the purchase I have been impressed for far with the quality for money that this camera offers. Having been a keen photographer for sometime and had a number of 35 mm SLR cameras I had a good idea what I was looking for, however what I also wanted was decent inexpensive camera that was capable of provoding me the quality photo's that i had obtained from the 35 mm. So far this camera would appear to forefill all my expectations and had the full range of abilities to provide a quality print. I would recommend this anyone.