| Latest Review Posted | Pentax KP
The design philosophy behind the KP follows a Pentax tradition going back to the film era - how do we create a full featured precision-engineered SLR in the most compact possible form? As Canon and Nikon slugged it out in the late 70s with tank-like pro SLRs, Pentax and Olympus carved out their own space with very fine miniaturized enthusiast models. If you have ever experienced the jewel-like handling of a Pentax MX you will find the KP is familiar territory.
The design philosophy reaches its pinnacle when paired with the limited series of compact prime lenses. The 40mm f2.8 pancake is the standard lens on my KP and the image quality obtained from this ultra-compact combination is quite superb. It is perfect as an unobtrusive walk-around camera. Alongside the 15 mm f4, the 21 mm f3.2 and the 70 mm f2.4 you have a very capable set-up which you can pack in a lightweight shoulder bag (I use the Domke f5). For more flexibility drop the 70 mm and pack the DA 55-300 PLM which works very well with this body too.
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The controls are well designed, ergonomic and respond to touch in a reassuringly positive manner. The interchangeable grip provides customization for a range of hand sizes. I thought I would miss the LCD display on the top plate, but I didn't at all. The rear LCD display has all the information I need at a glance. The third control wheel is a useful innovation, I find that I rarely need to ent... |
