| Author: | | Pentaxian Registered: August, 2008 Location: Wellington, New Zealand Posts: 11,251 | | Review Date: May 24, 2009 | Recommended | Price: None indicated
| Rating: N/A |
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Summary
I was all geared up to go for the big name “Nikon” and buy their entry level model D40. Thanks to my lucky stars I came across the Pentax K100D and, after a lot of research and deliberation, I changed my mind. I could not be happier. The K100D is an absolute joy to use and continues to reward me with its features and image quality.
It is the ideal camera for people interested in serious photography without the budget to enter the professional league of much more expensive cameras. With its backward compatibility to the classic Pentax K-mount it gives you (image stabilised!) access to a vast range of legendary and very affordable lenses. Paying a lot of attention to detail, the designers created a product that provides excellent support for creating high quality images (see “Strengths” below).
If your main focus is action photography, the K100D is not the best choice since there are other models with faster autofocus and a quicker burst rate during continues shooting.
See below for a detailed list of pros and cons. If you are looking for a detailed product description, this review is quite comprehensive: Steves Digicams - Pentax K100D Digital SLR - User Review. Here Pentax K100D Digital Camera - Full Review - The Imaging Resource! you can read how a real photographer gets excited about the K100D. I wrote a “Tips and Tricks” article for the K100D.
I love this camera. Many features demonstrate that it was made for true photographers. Ultimately, your needs determine which camera is best for you. While I certainly found a number of issues to mention in the “Weaknesses” and “Wishlist” section, the plus points mentioned in the “Strengths” sum up to an unbelievably nice package which is unbeatable if the few shortcomings don’t affect you. Thanks Pentax, for this outstanding value for money.
BTW, almost all of the comments made here also apply to the K100D super, which adds automatic sensor cleaning and support for modern lenses with ultra-sonic autofocus motors.
Strengths
The K100D has many points in its favour:
In-Body Shake Reduction
When switched on, shake reduction moves the sensor in all directions to compensate any small camera movements caused by inevitable hand shaking. This allows you to use longer exposure times before images become blurred. Often this means either getting the shot or not because the available light is just to low for a faster shutter speed. Of course, like any image stabilisation, this system can only avoid blurring caused by camera movement. Fast moving objects still require fast shutter speeds (unless you are panning). The built-in shake reduction means that any K-mount (or M42 mount with an adapter) lens ever made will suddenly be a “VR” lens (as Nikon calls their image stabilised lenses). Hence, you don’t have to put up with lenses that do not support image stabilisation and are not forced to pay for image stabilisation afresh for each and every new lens you buy.
Sensitive Sensor
At first sight the 6 MP sensor seems to be outdated by today’s 10MP or higher resolution sensors. A 10MP sensor just gives you ~1.3 x better resolution in each dimension, in other words, not much more. Having more MP allows for more cropping potential, which is good, but if you can frame the image in camera, 6MP can go a long way to provide you with satisfying prints (up to A3 = 11.69 x 16.54 inches).
Low Light Specialist
In combination, the shake reduction and the sensitive (SONY) sensor provide you with a camera that will fare well in low light situation were others will already give you blurred images or images with a lot of noise. This also means that you will be able to use some lenses comfortably, that are too slow (dark) for many other cameras. For instance the Tamron 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II Macro (was also available as a Pentax badged version) is an incredibly versatile lens with surprising image quality. One of its few disadvantages is that it is not very fast, in particular at the telephoto end. No problem with the K100D. The combination pleases me no end and is ridiculously affordable.
Hands-Off Approach to Noise Reduction
The K100D produces less noise than higher MP cameras to start with but I particularly appreciate Pentax’s “hands-off” approach to noise reduction. Yes, the D40 spits out images which have less noise but at the expense of little detail left. Check out Nikon D40 Review: 17. Photographic tests to see for yourself which kind of image you prefer; the clean but smeared D40 version or the more detailed K100D version with a bit of (almost film like) grain.
Built-In Focus Motor
The K100D’s built-in autofocus motor will drive any K-mount autofocus lens, no matter how old it is. In comparison, Nikon’s entry level models can only autofocus with a few modern lenses which have their own autofocus motor built in. Although the latter system provides you with very quiet and quick autofocus and the respective number of lenses is growing, this means that on a Nikon many classic, very affordable old lenses will only support manual focus.
AA powered
Four AA batteries or accumulators power the K100D. While these are slightly heavier than a specialised accumulator, they liberate you from special manufacturer’s accumulators and chargers. Four 2500 mAh accumulator will give you around 500-600 shots, which is plenty, AFAIC. You can buy a couple of sets for a very affordable price. If you ever run out of power, four simple AA batteries from any odd shop will save the day.
Build-quality
Handling the K100D is a joy as it is very sturdy and instils a feeling of quality. While the body is not as big and heavy as a professional DSLR, it still provides an excellent grip for bigger hands. If you are a lady with small hands and/or looking for the smallest form factor possible, you may prefer the D40 or a Canon Rebel model. I find these way too small to hold comfortably. Note that the new Pentax K-7 has almost the size of the K100D (the latter is a tiny bit smaller). I love the fact that the door to the USB connector is solid and spring-loaded. No fumbling with a cheapo rubber cover you’ll find on point&shoots or the D40. I enjoy the simple operation and the apparent attention to detail by the designers when I operate the door. Every single time.
LCD Display on Top
Just like a pro camera, the K100D features an LCD display at the top, showing important shooting data. On a Nikon D40 you’ll have to waste battery power to use the preview LCD and waste time by turning the camera to look at it. Details like these make me feel that the compromises made with the K100D were made in the right way.
11-Auto Focus Sensors
Nine of these are of the more useful and more expensive cross-type (sensing focus both vertically and horizontally). For comparison, the Nikon D40 gives you three, with only one of them being a cross-type. The sensors can be selected manually and are placed very well, i.e., close to “rule of thirds” positions. Not being forced to focus with one sensor and then recompose is great for action shots where you want to position something (say a player) somewhere other than the centre and don’t have time to recompose. Also, for small DOF shots, (say portrait or macro) recomposition is often not viable as the change in camera position/angle will move the subject out of focus.
Conservative Exposure
The K100D will expose cautiously, i.e., will rather underexpose rather than overexpose, if in doubt. This is ideal for a digital camera since there is no way to rescue blown highlights. With a slightly underexposed shot, you always stand a good chance to recover a lot of shadow details with some mild post-processing. Inexplicably, the D40 will typically overexpose. I know a D40 user, who applies a constant -0.7 EV exposure compensation to counteract this behaviour.
Miscellaneous Goodies
There is a mirror lock up shooting mode, which allows you to reduce camera vibrations to an absolute minimum. This function is cleverly linked with the self-timer option which helps to keep the user interface small.
You can manually set the white balance with a spot metering mode. I once shot a theatre performance and used the programme someone held six rows in front of me as a white balance reference. Thanks. 
Two features you won’t find on a D40 are:- Auto-bracketing: Make a series of images with varying exposure levels.
Great for nailing the exposure and/or creating the increasingly popular HDR images.
- Optical preview: Stop-down the lens for an optical preview of the depth-of-field for a given aperture. This is available in addition to a digital preview functionality.
Decent Kit-Lens
The kit lens, of course, does not compare to high grade expensive lenses, but it has very decent quality. The results you get with kit lenses from the Canon 450D or the Olympus E-520 are appalling in comparison. The Nikon D40 kit lens has no dedicated focus ring and you are forced to manually focus with a wobbly barrel. That’s no match to the otherwise very capable body (which uses the same SONY sensor as the K100D).
Bundled Software
The “PhotoLaboratory” offers top-of-the-class RAW conversion (SILKYPIX engine) and supports lens distortion/vignetting/chromatic aberration corrections.
Beautiful Images
I compared a lot of sample images and found the K100D images to be consistently more appealing than that of the D40 or other models. The colours are very accurately reproduced and the exposure retains more details in bright areas. I feel the pictures resemble those made on analogue film with a 3D feeling and warmth, compared to a rather technical, slightly sterile touch of the D40 images.
Weaknesses
Not a Speed-King
If your emphasis is on action, look elsewhere. The K100D’s continues shooting mode is relatively slow (2.8 frames per second) and does not last very long (5 frames, after which the rate slows down). In particular, if you are shooting RAW, this will slow you down when it counts to get in as many shots as possible in a short interval. Also, while the K100D’s auto-focus is more than adequately fast in normal circumstances, for action shoots you may prefer a Canon 40D or Nikon D300.
Note when some people call Pentax autofocus “slow”, this is relative to other DSLR models and means “very, very quick” compared to point&shoot models. Autofocus speed varies from almost instant, over 0.2 seconds to almost a second, depending on the lens, what focus range needs to be covered, and light availability. With low light (when flash or really long exposures are required) the autofocus can sometimes go hunting but at least it tries to lock where others give up. With my Tamron 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II Macro, autofocus is quick and spot on target.
Lack of SDM Lens Support
Unlike the K100D super, the K100D does not drive the modern (silent and ultra-quick) ultra-sonic motor autofocus lenses. Yet the K100D super does not allow fine tuning of the AF system) as the K100D does.
Exposure Correction kills Auto-ISO
The very useful “Auto-ISO” mode, in which the camera automatically determines the optimal ISO speed, is disabled when you apply an exposure correction. Unless you are happy with ISO 200, you then need to choose the ISO mode manually again. BTW, it would be nice to have a way of permanently displaying the current ISO setting.
Automatic White Balance Challenged with Incandescent Light
The automatic white balance works excellently most of the time, but incandescent/tungsten light is outside its working range. That means that you need to remember to manually set white balance to the "Tungsten" setting if you shoot indoors with warm artificial light. The K100D, however, is not the only DSLR with this behaviour. It shares it with many other DSLR models. At least its incandescent preset white balance performs better than most.
Slow Flash Synch Speed
The maximum flash sync speed is just 1/180 (this is a limitation the K100D shares with all Pentax DSLRs). You may want to have a faster synchronisation when doing flash fill-in in the presence of bright sunlight. I personally have never missed a faster synchronisation.
No RAW+JPEG mode
You are forced to either shoot RAW or JPEG, you cannot shot both at the same time. No big deal AFAIC, and the D40’s combined mode is useless as it only provides you with a JPEG in “basic” quality.
No Backlight for Top LCD Display
This means you cannot read the top LCD in very low light situations without a flashlight. However, this is way better than having no display at all.
No Flashy Menus
This isn’t a real weakness. Some menu items are abbreviated and there are no flash graphics, like featured on the D40. However, if this is of any significance to you, ask yourself what the real purpose of a camera is and whether you are after a photographer's tool or a toy to play with. I love the fact that you can navigate upwards even at the top of menus to directly reach bottom menu items. Also, the dial supports a quick change between menus.
Wishlist
There are a number of improvements I can imagine but take these with a grain of salt as they certainly exceed the expectations one should have towards an entry-level priced camera and equally apply to the competition.
It’ll be nice to have a default button that resets all shooting settings to a user-defined default. Apparently, this is what the “green” button does on other Pentax models. With the K100D you need to get used to check whether you have made any specific settings, e.g., exposure compensation, previously and make sure you don’t inadvertently use it on the next shot.
The auto selection of focus points should go into manual mode, when the user uses the cursor keys. Pressing OK could bring it back to automatic.
The P-mode could switch to Tv or Av, depending on which value your are manually manipulating. I believe his is called the “hyper-manual” mode on the K20D for example.
Some user settings (e.g., bright vs natural image ton) should be retained for auto modes. Since many auto modes automatically choose “bright” or apply heavier sharpening, I don’t use them at all. Sometimes it could be convenient to use a P-mode that optimises for shutter speed when shooting actions scenes.
When the camera shows a preview of the last shot taken, it would be nice if one could immediately zoom into it instead of switching to “play” mode first. Luckily, later Pentax cameras have this feature.
The Pentax Laboratory uses a lot of screen real estate but is otherwise excellent. It is a shame that it only opens RAW files, as I would like to be able to use its lens correction and curve control facilities for JPEGS as well. Inexplicably to me one has to enter the angle of view of the lens manually, while it should be possible to extract this information from the EXIF data.
The manual is OK, but could sometimes be more explanatory. Often you get descriptions along the lines of “Use the ISO choice menu to chose the desired ISO setting” without further explanation of what that implies on a technical level and when you should go for which setting. Granted, the manual is not supposed to be a beginner’s photography guide but a little more information wouldn’t hurt.
The KAF mount is “crippled” in the sense that it lacks a mechanical coupler for the aperture setting of older manual lenses (again a limitation the K100D shares with all Pentax DSRLs). These lenses are still usable as the K100D supports them with a corresponding setting, but automatic exposure then requires one additional press of a button for each shot. It would have been lovely to just choose the aperture on the lens manually and shoot. This is the only example, I am aware of, where cost cutting got in the way of supporting a true photographer’s need.
There could be more dedicated buttons on the body for white balance, ISO, focus mode setting, but you won’t find these on a D40 either. The Sony A200 was the only entry level model I know of which deviates from the “beginner friendly” minimal button interface. The Pentax solution with a “Function” button that directly takes to the four most frequently used settings is very useful in practise, though.
| | | | | | | Veteran Member Registered: March, 2007 Location: Ankara, Turkey Posts: 401 | | Review Date: May 8, 2010 | Recommended | Price: None indicated
| Rating: N/A |
| Pros: | Has SR, compatible even with the ancient(!) lenses, image quality is very good.
| | Cons: | Rather slow to record
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| Pros | Has SR, compatible even with the ancient(!) lenses, image quality is very good. | | Cons | Rather slow to record | | Rating | 9 | | Price | 650 | | Years Owned | 3 |
I can recommend this camera: Yes
Value, Features, Performance & Size
The highest price/performance ratio in its class.
Very high image quality for its price.
Camera Review
It has been years since I have given away this camera while upgrading to K10D. It was my first DSLR and I have learned a lot while using it. I still believe it was a very, very good camera in its class and it had practically no serious rivals there (other than brand name concerns).
It is unfair to compare it to my later cameras (K10D & K20D) as the intended targets are not entirely similar.
The two reasons why I needed to upgrade it were: Low crop-tolerance and rather slow recording speed. The former was more important. Although you can print a nicely composed, properly exposed image (up until ISO 400) quite large, safely; there is not much room for cropping without a quality loss while printing (large).
For an experienced photographer who can compose and shoot perfectly (without a need to crop later) this camera still offers very good image quality even after many years of its production. For a "digital device", this longevity is seen rarely.
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: October, 2008 Location: Albuquerque NM Posts: 9,830 | | Review Date: August 11, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $200.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Biggest bargain in a used SLR
| | Cons: | Can't use SDM lenses
| |
| Pros | Biggest bargain in a used SLR | | Cons | Can't use SDM lenses | | Rating | 8 | | Price (U.S. Dollars) | 200 | | Years Owned | 2 |
I can recommend this camera: Yes
Value, Features, Performance & Size
Very well priced on the used market, probably because of the 6mp sensor and no support for SDM.
Nicely sized body, something like the K-7. Takes AA or CR2 batts. Shake reduction and manual focus switches that are easy to access.
Camera Review
I purchased this camera as a backup to my K10d. It actually delivers better image quality at high ISO than what was, at the time, the Pentax flagship. It gives up a few megapixels, but the quality of the shots is outstanding. It also nicely combines scene settings for the newbie with full control for the enthusiast. It also uses AA batteries or even the double CR2 lithiums.
I now have a K20d and a K-x, so the K100d gets less use than before. It won't work with my workhorse DA17-70 SDM, which puts a bit of a crimp in its style. However, right now, my K100d and DA18-55 are in the hands of a friend who is learning to use a DSLR, and will take it on a trip to Europe next month. She loves it, and I'm sure I have just improved her travel shots immensely.
Finally, it is a screaming bargain. These bodies show up used for the low $200 range.
This was my backup body on a recent trip to Spain. Its low-light capabilities are still second only to my K-x.
 | | | | | Loyal Site Supporter Registered: March, 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Posts: 23,920 | | Review Date: August 12, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $700.00
| Rating: 7 |
| Pros: | Capable, sturdy design, beautiful 6Mp sensor
| | Cons: | Slow memory dump, small buffer, no SDM
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| Pros | Capable, sturdy design, beautiful 6Mp sensor | | Cons | Slow memory dump, small buffer, no SDM | | Rating | 7 | | Price (U.S. Dollars) | 700 | | Years Owned | 2 |
I can recommend this camera: Yes
Value, Features, Performance & Size
Features/Performance: 8/10
has it all bar write speed, buffer size, AF speed, SDM and front e-dial - very capable
Value: 7/10
outdated now and not worth much but when first released was good for a newbie/enthusiast
Size: 9/10
compact and light yet feature-packed
Camera Review
A great little AA-battery-run camera.
It was my first dSLR and was a good performer.
The Sony 6Mp CCD sensor was just brilliant - vibrant colours and full of detail.
All the above comments apply - a simple yet capable entry-level camera.
It was a decent upgrade from the consumer *ist DS/DL series, though the K10D was the really decent upgrade at the time.
| | | | | | | Veteran Member Registered: April, 2007 Location: Gainesville Posts: 347 | | Review Date: December 16, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $700.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Shake Reduction, Great Entry Level SLR
| | Cons: | Poor ISO Performance, Slow Bursting
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| Pros | Shake Reduction, Great Entry Level SLR | | Cons | Poor ISO Performance, Slow Bursting | | Rating | 8 | | Price (U.S. Dollars) | $700 | | Years Owned | 4 |
I can recommend this camera: Yes
Value, Features, Performance & Size
Shake reduction is excellent, especially since it is in body and therefore works with all the older, cheap glass as well as any of the new ones. It also means you can purchase the non OS versions of lenses for a reduction in cost when investing in lenses.
Camera Review
I got this camera as a gift for my 16th birthday and have loved it ever since. I originally got it because, for the year, it was the Wired entry level DSLR of the year. I thought I wanted a Canon or Nikon, but in the end, the shake reduction and all of the other great features make me glad I didn't.
This was my first DSLR camera. It has a number of great features, from the convenient size to the shake reduction, this camera does everything that a new photographer could ask for. The convenient menu system makes it easy to understand each of the camera's settings. Let me go into more detail below.
Shake reduction is a huge plus. The main benefit is that it is in body instead of in the lens. This means that any lens you buy will have shake reduction, giving you an extra 3-4 stops that you can lower your shutter speed and still be able to hand-hold your shots without a tripod.
The 6.2 megapixel sensor works well, though the noise is not pleasant and makes photos nearly unusable for print above 800. This means that you should probably have a fast lens in your bag if you plan on doing low light photography. I bought a 50mm A mount f/1.7 for about $75 and it has worked well for this purpose.
The kit lens has been my main stay lens, even though it is the first iteration of this lens, it has served me well. It may not provide the resolution of the FA or DA Ltds, but it works well enough for day to day photography.
If I had one complaint, it is that this camera's autofocus does not work with SDM or HSM lenses. It was designed and built before these types of motors were in lenses. This means that you must autofocus if you are using one of these lenses. If you bought a K100D Super instead though, it will work with these types of lenses.
This camera is great for a beginning shooter. I am upgrading now to the K-5 after 4 years of using this camera. It is a great starting point.
| | | | | New Member Registered: December, 2010 Posts: 7
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: December 20, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $500.00
| Rating: 7 |
| Pros: | Cheap entry level cam, top LCD, perfect for IR photography
| | Cons: | No possibility to use SDM lenses, very slow RAW processing
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| Pros | Cheap entry level cam, top LCD, perfect for IR photography | | Cons | No possibility to use SDM lenses, very slow RAW processing | | Rating | 7 | | Price (U.S. Dollars) | 500 | | Years Owned | 3 |
I can recommend this camera: Yes
Value, Features, Performance & Size
Very good for its price, good size and weight. good image quality but rather slow processing.
Camera Review
I have this little baby for quite a while now. This was my first digital SLR a my first „real“ SLR since my only other SLR is slightly outdated: a Yashica FX-2. I bought the K100D because of ability to use „old“ lenses and AA batteries and the shake reduction system built in the body. I really had no clue what features really count. But it's still a great camera (with some drawbacks) which is still in use, although I now own a K5.
The K100D was a entry level DSLR but compared to up-following entry level cams it has some features the others are missing. I really love and often use the top LCD panel and don't understand why this is not standard in newer cams in this price class. The utilization of the main screen is no good compromise as it drains more power and is not as comfortable, but that's just my opinion. The other thing is the visibility of and the ability to chance focus points manually.
Sensor
Image quality is rather good, but the sensor resolution is not. With only 6 MP it is not to easy to crop parts of the image like with the K5's 16 MP sensor. But the really really good thing about this sensor (and this is one reason I still use and will use this cam often) is it's capability of taking astonishing infra red pictures. With a IR filter you can capture the infra red light reflected by trees and grass. This is not possible anymore with nearly every camera which brand whatsoever today.
ISO Speed
Not as great as my K5 (what a shock ;-)) but usable up to ISO 800
Buttons
Unfortunately nearly every function resides in the menu and it's a pain to change something. Even worse: every tab has to be scrolled down to reach certain options.
But Pentax is definitely doing better with todays cameras.
Conclusion
It's a great camera for its price and I would never sell it. Especially because of the IR capability. It is slow in processing RAWs, but rather quick with jpegs. AF is OK although it hunts a lot with slower lenses in low light. Good as a second body. If I break it, I would search ebay for a K100D super which is quite the same but witch the otion to use SDM lenses, although I don't even owe one for now.
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: December, 2010 Location: Ontario Posts: 3,332
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: December 20, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $750.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Small, cheap
| | Cons: | Slow
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| Pros | Small, cheap | | Cons | Slow | | Rating | 8 | | Price (U.S. Dollars) | 750 | | Years Owned | 4 |
I can recommend this camera: Yes
Value, Features, Performance & Size
Terrific value, image quality is still good, overall slow, nice and compact.
Camera Review
After 4 years and nearly 32,000 shutter actuations, I still love my k100d. First, the image quality. The 6mp sensor is old by todays standards, but it still produces the same image quality it did 4 years ago. I was happy with it then, and I'm still happy with it. I don't generally print larger than 8x12, and 6mp is plenty for this size. I've gotten into the habit of framing my images as I want the final result to use all 6mp as opposed to relying on room to crop later on. Being 'forced' into this habit was good for learning good technique on. While I always use iso200 when possible, I don't hesitate to move up to iso400 if needed. I'll only specifically avoid iso800 for the most detailed of shots. iso1600 is workable for low-light, iso3200 is for emergencies only but still looks decent for a 4x6 print.
The size is terrific for me, not too big yet still feeling substantial. Paired with a small prime, it makes a great go anywhere kit. It's a pretty durable camera, I've taken it out in the snow, freezing cold, and light rain plenty of times, despite no weather sealing. I haven't abused it, but I haven't babied it either and it's still 100% except for the usb connection port I recently busted off (100% my fault).
My biggest gripe is the speed of the k100d, in reviewing shots, autofocus, and frames per second. None of these are necessary to take any given photo, and I've gotten in the habit of manually focusing except outdoors and timing any action shots rather than relying on a burst to hit 'the moment'. Again, this encourages good photo technique, so for a 'starter' dslr, I can't complain too much. The viewfinder is terrific for entry dslr's released around the same time, so manual focusing is pretty nice.
Batteries are another concern, but using eneloops and a quality smart charger, I hit ~300-400 shots per charge. Poor batteries and a poor charger are nothing but frustration, so it's worth the investment. I appreciate the AA's, as I usually carry 2 or 3 hot shoe flashes with me, so spare AA's will work in camera and accessories.
Note the price I paid was 4 years ago when it just came out and included the DA18-55mm and DA50-200mm kit lenses, a used k100d is much cheaper these days! It would be a great investment for anyone low on funds and wanting to get into photography, or as a backup body. I plan to make use out of mine until it explodes on me.
Some sample photos:
Flickr: Jelly Brain's stuff tagged with k100d | | | | | Closed Account Registered: March, 2011 Location: Ingham,UK Posts: 229 | | Review Date: May 6, 2011 | Recommended | Price: None indicated
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | solid build, ease of use IQ of standard 18-55 lens | | Cons: | None | |
This is my first DSLR - purchased new earlier this year. So far I tired it out at a local zoo and in my hometown - with some good results mostly impressively using RAW.
I have also purchased two SMC-M lens a 50mm f1.7 & 135mm f3.5. Both gve great image quality which by small margin beats the kit lens. The 135 lens was brand new still in its box - a lucky find on Ebay and well the £33 I paid for it.
The 6MP sensor is big enough for my needs I tend to shoot landscapes, gardens and architecture in good weather.
I had toyed with the idea of the K-x a very popular model on this site but for less than half the price pICked up the K100d. I also researched batterieS before tying Sanyo Eneloops. They really are working well combined with a quality charger, the Technoline BL700.
| | | | | Junior Member Registered: April, 2010 Location: Voorschoten, The Netherlands Posts: 45
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: June 1, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $375.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Image quality, build quality, size, lens compatibility, AA batteries, build-in shake reduction, LCD screen on top of camera | | Cons: | Slow memory access, no AF-assistance light, some options are too far away in the menus, no SDM-support, indoor shooting requires manual WB | |
A very nice camera. Of course, in comparison to today´s cameras it lacks in megapixels and in features, but in the field this doesn´t result in serious limitations to the (amateur) photographer in most circumstances.
When I bought this camera (refurbished, body only), it was already outdated marketingwise. As a result, the price was very low. A kit lens was available in a Dutch internet shop for only EUR 45,- and I found the 360FGZ flash for EUR 100,-. Two manual primes for EUR 25,- and EUR 29,-. FA 70-200 for EUR 80,-. For some extra reach a Sigma 28-80 AF. In total my full very camera bag cost only a little more than 500 euros. With Pentax serious photographing can be cheap.
And without cuts on quality. The camera feels very robust. My only reference DSLR´s are canons: 450, 500, 550, and 60D. Those all have a very plastic feel. Using AA´s is for me a very positive point. I shot up to 500 pictures with one set (including plenty of use of the screen) using GP ReCyko (or similar).
In my eyes the image quality is very good. Using up to ISO 800 is no problem. Six Megapixels is sufficient, with a good lens (certainly the M50 1.7) pictures are very crisp and sharp and have a pleasant feel. I do sometimes experience some over exposure (in my view), which can be corrected quickly.
There are some downsides. It is strange that this DSLR does not have an assistance light build in for focus in low light conditions (the external flash does solve this problem, but I do not always carry the flash with me and camera + flash is pretty heavy). All small P&S camera do have one, so any DSLR certainly should. Also the memory access really is too slow, especially when shooting RAW and when reviewing photos (very annoying!). Another thing is that when shooting inside you have to remember to set WB manually when there is incandescent light. Further, I do sometimes have trouble seeing the symbols in the viewfinder (unfortunately, I wear glasses). In that sense, it is very positive that the camera has a top LCD-screen. Finally, some more direct access to some options would have been very pleasant (such as the metering method or AF-settings).
Overall, the positive sides are far more important than the negative, and even five years after the cameras introduction, I can still recommend the camera, especially for the budget-minded.
| | | | | Senior Member Registered: October, 2008 Location: Great Plain, Hungary Posts: 204 | | Review Date: June 21, 2012 | Recommended | Price: $100.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Very good image quality for 6Mp, good handling | | Cons: | Some feature are hidden away in menu | | Years Owned: 2
Ergonomics: 9
Build Quality: 9
User Interface: 8
Autofocus: 8
Features: 10
Value: 10
Image Quality: 10
Noise: 9
New or Used: Used
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I bought this camera cheap with a slight fault, namely the flash sync does not work very well. I think it is a general problem with K100Ds as I read that elsewhere as well.
Also the battery indicator works funny with certain types of batteries (with AA rechargeables shows that the battery is depleted even if fully charged). I have got Lithium CR-V3 rechargeables and they last for a very long time with my K100D.
Now the good things. I really like this camera for its image quality. It is as good as 6Mp can get in my opinion. If you are not too keen to take part in the megapixel race and do not want to change your camera every two years just buy a K100D and spend the rest of the money on some decent lens. You'll not notice the difference if you just watch pictures on your computer screen or have prints no larger than A4. (Bear in mind that generally a computer screen has a resolution around 1200x800 pixel so watching 10-20 Mp pictures on a PC will not make you feel any better than a 6 Mp.)
For me this camera is plenty enough for my general shooting even when I do demanding jobs.
Some features would be nicer if there was a button or switch rather than having to dig into the menu, but that is not a big deal in most cases and for ordinary shooters like myself.
You might want to consider its sibling the K100D Super as well if you'd like to use SDM lenses and want to have sensor cleaning. If not just go for the K100D. My girlfriend made some really stunning shots with this camera at her workplace although she is photographically illiterate.
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: January, 2008 Location: Florida Posts: 514 | | Review Date: September 24, 2012 | Recommended | Price: $300.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Image Quality, Ergonomics & Handling, Build, Dynamic Range | | Cons: | ISO starts at 200, loud shutter | | Years Owned: 4
Ergonomics: 9
Build Quality: 10
User Interface: 7
Autofocus: 7
Features: 7
Value: 10
Image Quality: 9
Noise: 7
New or Used: Used
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I've purchased 3 of these so far. One for me before my upgrade to the K200D, and a few others for family. Great image quality from this 6MP camera that is still quite pleasing even now with 16+MP cameras at every turn. One thing I loved about the *ist, K100D, K10D, K200D, K20D, is the Pentax philosophy to accept noise in order to preserve image detail. Noise can mostly be removed in post processing, but once detail is gone there is no magic that can bring it back.
One of the reasons I upgraded from the K100D was because the lowest ISO available is 200. Now I understand that the IQ didn't suffer because of it. In fact one benefit was much better dynamic range than other brands.
The loud shutter was another annoyance, but that was a minor consideration.
| | | | | New Member Registered: November, 2011 Location: Hoorn, NH Posts: 4 | | Review Date: May 31, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $100.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Easy to handle, Excelent learner Cam | | Cons: | Loud, ISO lowest 200 | | Years Owned: 3
Ergonomics: 7
Build Quality: 7
User Interface: 7
Autofocus: 5
Features: 5
Value: 8
Image Quality: 6
Noise: 4
New or Used: Used
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I found this camera with the kitlens on a carbooth sale in the UK, almost burried between the kuddly bears and the teacups. Nicely in the orriginal boxes, and even the receipt was included in the box.
now im learning my 9yr old daughter the basics of DSLR photography with my old manual lenses. her Results are great (atleast to a proud dad)
| | | | | Senior Member Registered: May, 2013 Location: BC Posts: 138
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: June 7, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $100.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Compatibility with Legacy Pentax Lenses/Good Used Second Camera | | Cons: | lowest ISO is 200/Some Menu Features need several button presses to access | | Years Owned: 6 Mths
Ergonomics: 9
Build Quality: 9
User Interface: 6
Autofocus: 7
Features: 7
Value: 10
Image Quality: 8
Noise: 8
New or Used: Used
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Purchased this as a backup to my Sony Alpha but lately I have been using it more during my walks. Eventhough this camera is a 6.1mp you can't tell much difference when you put printed pictures of other cameras side by side.
I would highly recommend this camera as a "learner's" or introductory camera to the world of DSLR.
And for the budget conscious this camera will take legacy pentax lenses which are priced not to break the bank.
What I liked about this Camera.
1. Top LCD
2. Takes AA batteries (excellent when travelling as AA batteries are available anywhere)
3. in-body image stability (SR aka shake reduction)
4. in-body auto focus
5. accepts k mount legacy lenses
What I did not like.
1. lowest iso is 200
2. slow AF at times (I'm guessing depends on the lens)
3. maybe my eyesight is going but I have a hard time seeing if subject is on focus when using MF
4. Top LCD has no backlight
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: August, 2012 Posts: 678 | | Review Date: September 22, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $150.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | | | Cons: | | | Years Owned: 1
Ergonomics: 9
Build Quality: 9
User Interface: 9
Autofocus: 9
Features: 8
Value: 9
Image Quality: 9
Noise: 9
New or Used: Used
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I originally bought this camera body last year as a Christmas present for my girlfriend, but after carefully comparing it with my Samsung GX-1L, I ended up giving her that one instead. Shake reduction and a low shutter count tipped the scales in its favor.
Even though it only has 6 megapixels, I've been very pleased with its performance in all respects, and have captured some great pictures with it.
UPDATE: I've had a good run with this camera but recent upgrades to my camera stable have made me decide the time is right to list it on eBay and let someone else enjoy it.
| | | | | Site Supporter Registered: June, 2013 Location: Port Angeles, WA Posts: 505
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: September 25, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $120.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Image quality, colors, size, AA's, inexpensive on the used market | | Cons: | Not much flexibility if I get a shot I want to enlarge more than 11x14 (200 ppi about), slow shooting speed and buffer, slow AF | | Years Owned: A few months
Ergonomics: 9
Build Quality: 10
User Interface: 8
Autofocus: 7
Features: 9
Value: 10
Image Quality: 10
Noise: 8
New or Used: Used
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A solid 8 overall. I picked this up from a forum member a few months ago as a backup camera. However, the White Balance adjustments seem more subtle and easier to dial in than other models, and image quality is still fantastic.
It definitely holds up image-quality wise to modern 'entry-level' DSLRs.
It has enough features-- almost everything you need, nothing you don't.
AA battery use is an excellent feature-- I have Rayovac Hybrids/Eneloops in this, as well as my speedlites, and can cut down on what spare batteries I take with me.
The AF is slow, noisy, and sometimes innacurate. K100d Super with SDM lenses fixes a lot of these issues.
Menus are a bit of a pain, but once you have it set up, you rarely need to change anything.
Noise-- Great, just don't go over 800.
Overall, this is the best value. Forget spending a couple hundred on a newer P&S or mirrorless, pick up a used one of these and you'll have more fun, and have better image quality.
Also, lowest ISO on this is 200, I don't see this as a disadvantage, though, as the best image quality is 200-400.
Ergonomics are perfect on this! Using mostly manual lenses, the AEL lock takes a meter reading, and is easier to reach than the 'green button'. The thing is light, and fits perfectly in my hands.
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