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Pentax K10D

Ergonomics 
 9.3
Build Quality 
 9.7
User Interface 
 8.7
Autofocus 
 7.8
Features 
 8.6
Value 
 9.5
Image Quality 
 9.3
Noise 
 8.0
Reviews Views Date of last review
62 219,654 Sat May 7, 2022
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Recommended By Average Price Average User Rating
98% of reviewers $612.15 9.02
Pentax K10D

Pentax K10D
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Pentax K10D
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Pentax K10D
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Pentax K10D
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Pentax K10D
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Pentax K10D
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Description:

The Pentax K10D was the first DSLR from Pentax to feature a sensor with a resolution higher than 6 megapixels.  It also launched a host of new innovative features which would later become standard on all Pentax bodies, such as Shake Reduction and Dust Removal.

It won the Camera Grand Prix Japan "Camera of the Year" award in 2007, and a special brown version with gold lettering was produced to commemorate this.

Camera Manuals:


Pentax K10D
© www.pentaxforums.com, sharable with attribution
Year Introduced
2006
In Production
No (Discontinued 2008)
Current US Price
N/A
In-Depth Review
N/A
Sensor
Sensor Format
APS-C
Sensor Type
CCD
Megapixels
10.2
Resolution
2592 x 3872 pixels
AA Filter
Yes
Super Resolution
No
Bit Depth
12
Minimum ISO
100
Maximum ISO
1600
ISO Range
100 - 1600
Imaging
Exposure Modes
Green, HyP, Sv, Av, Tv, TAv, HyM, X, B
Program Modes
Normal, Action, Depth of Field, MTF
Maximum FPS
3
Continuous Shooting
3 fps until card is full (JPG), 9 frames (RAW)
Shutter Speeds (Auto)
30s - 1/4000s (stepless)
Shutter Speeds (Manual)
B, 30s - 1/4000s
Shutter Life
Exposure compensation
+/-3 EV
Auto bracketing
Exposure (3 or 5 frames)
Expanded dynamic range
No
Exposure lock
Yes
Self timer
2 s with mirror lock-up, 12 s
Metering Sensor
16-Segment
Meter range
0 to 21 EV
Meter pattern
Multi-Segment,Center Weighted,Spot
Mirror lock-up
Yes
Interval shooting
No
HDR mode
No
Multiple exposures
Yes, average and additive, 2 to 9 shots
Pixel mapping
No
Scene Modes
None
Restrictions
Exposure modes with M and K lenses are restricted to Av (with aperture always wide open) and M (with stop-down metering)
Lens Mount
Mount
KAF2 (no aperture coupler)
Composition Adjustment
No
Stabilization
Yes (sensor-shift SR)
Power zoom
Supported (zoom only)
Supported Lenses
All Pentax K-mount lenses except for lenses with the KAF4 mount variant. Support for lenses with the KAF3 mount variant requires a firmware update. Manual focus only with K-, M-, and A-series lenses. Stop down metering only with K- and M-series lenses. M42, Pentax 645 and Pentax 6x7 lenses with the appropriate adapters (stop down metering and manual focus only).
Lens correction
None
Focusing
Autofocus (viewfinder)
Yes (SAFOX VIII, 11 focus points (9 cross type))
AF Points
11
Autofocus sensitivity
-1 EV
Front/back focus correction
No
Autofocus with SDM
Yes
Autofocus assist
Stroboscopic Flash
Viewfinder/LCD
Viewfinder
0.95x, 95%
Viewfinder type
Pentaprism
Diopter adjustment
-2.5 to +1.5
AF Points in viewfinder
Yes
Exchangeable screen
Yes
Depth of field preview
Yes
Digital preview
Yes (with image magnificaion)
Live View
No
Top LCD
Yes
Focus Peaking
N/A
Back LCD
2.5 in. 210,000 pix
Body
Weather resistant
Yes
Control wheels
2
Battery grip
D-BG2 with D-LI50
Card slots
1
Dust removal
Yes, Sensor Shake DR
Dust alert
No
Memory card type
SD, SDHC
Size (W x H x D)
141.5 x 101 x 70 mm
Weight
710 g
File format
PEF (RAW),DNG (RAW),JPG
Battery life
500 images without flash
Battery
D-LI50 lithium-ion rechargeable
Flash
Built-in flash
Yes, GN 11 (ISO 100/m)
Sync speed
1/180s
P-TTL flash
Yes
Flash functions
Auto discharge, On (leading curtain sync), Redeye reduction, Slow-speed sync, Trailing curtain sync, High-speed sync*, Manual*, Wireless*, Contrast control* * Available when combined with external flash
TTL flash
No
Flash exposure comp
-2 to 1 EV
Video
Resolution / Framerates
No
Exposure Modes
Movie mode restrictions
N/A
AF During Recording
No
Sound in Movie mode
N/A
Interfacing
GPS
Not Supported
Tethering
Wired (native)
Connectivity
USB 2.0/Video out, DC in, cable release
Latest Firmware
Version 1.31
Notes
User reviews
In-camera RAW development
Special Editions

Grand Prix

Weather Sealed: Yes
Price History:



Add Review of Pentax K10D
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Veteran Member

Registered: September, 2011
Location: California
Posts: 369
Review Date: March 14, 2012 Recommended | Price: $250.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: Color, Weather Sealed, Price, Accessories
Cons: None
Years Owned: 1    Ergonomics: 10    Build Quality: 10    User Interface: 10    Autofocus: 10    Features: 10    Value: 10    Image Quality: 10    Noise: 10    New or Used: New   

Excellent camera, glad I upgraded to this from my K100D Super. It was a great upgrade and allows you to learn a lot more! The weather sealing on the camera just amazes me, and how the OEM battery grip is also weather sealed. Great camera and affordable!
   
New Member

Registered: December, 2011
Posts: 2

3 users found this helpful
Review Date: December 17, 2011 Recommended | Price: $950.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: Weatherproof
Cons: AWB not accurate but
Years Owned: 4    Ergonomics: 10    Build Quality: 10    User Interface: 10    Autofocus: 8    Features: 8    Value: 10    Image Quality: 9    Noise: 8    New or Used: New   

I love this camera

After many years with film (car racing, car shows, weddings, etc....) I lost the joy in photography. Quit taking pics on any kind in 1990.
In 2001 I bought my first digital(Sony point and shoot) In 2004 I met my wife, we both had passions for photography in out past and about 5 point and shoots later we both decided to go DSLR. My wife has a Nikon D80 and I bought the Pentax K10D(2007) I am to say the least, rough on a camera. I wanted a tough outdoors camera that could be outdoors in a mist or rain and not be afraid of hurting it in any way. What I got was exactly that. If you are looking at buying a lightweight DSLR, the K10D is not your camera. This camera without a lens, weighs about what my wifes D80 does with a 50mm on it. Does that make it uncomfortable NO. It is the most balanced feeling camera I have felt, especially in the beginner to midrange DSLR major brands.

There are many reviews on here but in layman terms that everyone can understand, here is a very brief review.

Beginner to Midrange comparison
Image quality - equals or slightly below Nikon, Canon or Sony(=N,CorS) (soft on the edges on some pics) in RAW surpases all 3
White balance - Auto white is poor, always manual set. 60% of my pics I have to adjust the levels in photoshop.
Autofocus - about 100% accurate about 80% of the time. When it is off it is way off
AutoSettings - If you want auto settings like landscape, overcast etc... this camera is not for you. The K10D does not have any
scenesettings, This puts the camera in more of a midrange photography knowledge catagory for a beginner price
Camera Feel - In your hands it is heavy but balanced. Generous righthand grip size, bigger and more comfortable than (N,CorS)

My BIGGEST complaint. Availability of high end lenses 400mm 500mm 800mm

Ok now for real world - Would I buy again, 100% yes
Through my business I have been to Africa, Middle East, Europe, Canada, Central and South America and all over the US taking more than 20,000 pictures and this camera has been rock solid. All I have ever had to do to a pic in photoshop is adjust the levels.

I hope this helps
   
Senior Member

Registered: October, 2009
Location: Nis
Posts: 268

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: October 21, 2011 Recommended | Price: $500.00 | Rating: 8 

 
Pros: Excellent ergonomics and build quality, nice colours,
Cons: Noise on higher ISO, no pixel mapping, heavy...
Years Owned: 3    Ergonomics: 10    Build Quality: 10    User Interface: 9    Autofocus: 8    Features: 8    Value: 9    Image Quality: 8    Noise: 6    New or Used: New   

This is an good workhorse DSLR camera, good image quality, nice colours, good features, simple user interface with baterry grip well in the hand, maybe little heavy. I used with Tamron 2.8/17-50mm, AF is fast but not always accurate, with manual lenses, focus confirmation sometimes makes mistakes. Noise on higher ISO is visible, and also colours in shadows especially in the case of manual lenses. All of this is to be expected since the camera is from older generation with CCD sensor. Nice feature is shake reduction on the sensor, so it is possible with all lenses. Weather resistance is also a big plus, I used several times in the rain and snowstorm.
   
Inactive Account

Registered: August, 2011
Location: Budapest
Posts: 5
Review Date: October 19, 2011 Recommended | Price: $1,000.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Excellent building quality, comfortable handling
Cons: AF in low light
Years Owned: 5    Ergonomics: 10    Build Quality: 10    User Interface: 9    Autofocus: 5    Features: 7    Value: 9    Image Quality: 8    Noise: 7    New or Used: New   

Match this camera with good fix Pentax lenses.
   
Junior Member

Registered: February, 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 34

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: September 15, 2011 Recommended | Price: $1,000.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: 100% view finder, Weather Resistant, In Camera SR
Cons: None
Years Owned: had since 2008    Ergonomics: 10    Build Quality: 10    User Interface: 9    Autofocus: 9    Features: 9    Value: 10    Image Quality: 10    Noise: 8    New or Used: New   

Great camera has never let me down, and now own 3 including a GP edition. Despite its age now it gets a lot of interest when fitted with the Grip and has impressed several friends who use Minolta/Sony DSLRS with its build quality
Update (190/6/2013) Still have my GP edition, now have 2 K5's and this camera still holds its own, Bought a Nikon D90 to replace it with as a walk around camera.............. Nikon SOLD, K10 still going strong.
   
New Member

Registered: September, 2011
Posts: 5
Review Date: September 11, 2011 Recommended | Price: $275.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: quality, sturdyness ,, weather sealing , raw , battery life
Cons: menu system could be easier
Years Owned: one    Ergonomics: 10    Build Quality: 10    User Interface: 8    Autofocus: 10    Features: 10    Value: 10    Image Quality: 10    Noise: 10    New or Used: New   

The K10d is one of my 2 pro like camera's that i own (the other is a nikon d200) . the reaseon to buy a pentax is quite simple i am moderator of a pentax section @ photocamel so i figuered out as mod i needed a pentax camera..

I bought it i like new state (1629 clicks) and i really like it , i still need to get used to the menu systems and understand some of the many detailed options but i really like this camera . To me it was not the first camera that uses inbody stablelising system (the first was my sony alpha 100) and though i shake a bit with my hands i need stablelising systems to get more usuable photo's

i like the long battery life and i like the weather sealing , i still need a WR lens to be water proof with the camera

i also like the ergonmics and the looks and feel. the menu system could be easier for me
lucky that the camera speaks my language (dutch) .

i have yet to test it at high iso or bad light , but i think it will cope pretty well

i still need to learn all i can about this great camera
   
Veteran Member

Registered: June, 2010
Posts: 753

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: July 12, 2011 Recommended | Price: None indicated | Rating: 8 

 
Pros: lots of custom functions, WR, ergonomics, price, image quality
Cons: Autofocus precision, missing AF adjustment for multiple lenses
Years Owned: 1 year    Ergonomics: 9    Build Quality: 8    User Interface: 8    Autofocus: 6    Features: 8    Value: 9    Image Quality: 9    Noise: 7    New or Used: New   

I really liked this camera. Only thing that made me upgrade to K20d was Autofocus adjustment for multiple lenses and maybe 14.6 sensor. I shoot in RAW and mostly within ISO 100-200, sometimes 400 - so I can only praise K10d's CCD sensor. Actually i think that the images taken by K10d have bit more natural colours and the photos were cleaner at low iso than images from K20d, but the difference is negligible. It's a great camera and on secondhand market can be obtained for really low price...but it's a great value.

Edit:
After some time I got myself another K10D as a backup to K-5.....besides K10D brought me to Pentax so there is something emotional about it too. And still at base iso it gives K-5 good run for its money. I only wish Pentax incorporated AF Adjustment in this camera....pity. Otherwise great dSLR...
   
New Member

Registered: September, 2008
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 5

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: May 6, 2011 Not Recommended | Price: $600.00 | Rating: 6 

 
Pros: Takes older Pentax lenses, weather sealed, shoots DNG
Cons: Image quality only OK compared to Canon, Nikon

My first DSLR, I got it because I could use all my old Pentax lenses with it. It's a good camera, not a great one. I deal with professionally shot digital images all the time in my work, and image quality is clearly inferior to Canon or Nikon, but not seriously so. It's hard to review a 4-year-old digital camera, things change so quickly, but I would not recommend a K10d today (2011), it's just too old. By today's standards, it's unnecessarily big and bulky, the low-light performance is only OK, auto-focus and shake-reduction (the weak point of all early Pentax DSLRs) is unimpressive. Color and contrast straight out of the camera is a bit dull, but I don't mind that since I shoot only RAW. That said, if you can pick one up cheap, it's not a bad camera for certain uses. A 10MP camera is perfectly sufficient for copy work, for example. The ability to use older Pentax K-mount lenses, and M42 screw-mount lenses with an adapter, is a definite plus.The decision to allow saving captures as Adobe DNG was a stroke of genius in my opinion.
   
Inactive Account

Registered: October, 2010
Location: Baltimore
Posts: 2,542

2 users found this helpful
Review Date: April 6, 2011 Recommended | Price: $250.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Solid Build, Great Colors Rendered
Cons: Discontinued
Years Owned: +1 Year    Ergonomics: 10    Build Quality: 10    User Interface: 10    Autofocus: 8    Features: 9    Value: 10    Image Quality: 10    Noise: 7    New or Used: New   

Pros Solid Build, Great Colors Rendered
Cons Discontinued
Rating 9
Price (U.S. Dollars) $250 USD
Years Owned Less than a year

I can recommend this camera: Yes

Value, Features, Performance & Size
Solid Build
Can take a Battery Grip & other accessories
Can handle larger manual lenses

Camera Review
I initially got this camera after acquiring a good number of fully manual lenses including some very heavy zooms. I felt I needed a better built camera than my K-m to be able to safely handle my larger lenses on a regular basis. The Pentax K10d was the right answer, solidly built with some size.

When I was looking for a 2nd camera body, I did not even consider the k10 till someone out of the blue told me to look into it. In today's world, it would seem 10mp is on the lighter side, but really, back in the day when I was using a Canon 20D, 8.2mp was a ton and plenty to print out even the largest prints (I don't believe they're printing anything larger than what you could find back a few years ago). Plus, if you take the time to read reviews on the Pentax k10, you will find some very positive and enthusiastic reviews.

I can describe my feelings towards the k10 in one word, AWESOME. I've read where people complain about out of camera JPEG's not being good or terrible High ISO images. I've attached 2 images to kinda dispel these fears. Out of camera images, whether Raw or JPEG, when properly exposed are just super and will not really need a lot of Post Processing. As far as High ISO, I limit my shots to ISO 1250, I was surprised with the general quality of the images and most were usable for 8x10 or smaller prints. IMAO, the strongest part of the camera are the colors rendered, just fabulous, blacks are extra rich. I think the sensor on the k10 is just out of this world. Once you get the hang of the buttons, wheels and menu, it's a simple camera to navigate and use. Not at all intimidating.

I really cannot find anything to complain about, maybe it's not a fast AF system but I don't take those kind of photos, so it never mattered. For me, it's pretty near a perfect 10 but I only gave it a 9, gotta leave room. If the k10 were available new today, I would buy one in a heart beat. You can pick up a gently used one for @ $300 or less...

Out of Camera JPEG with a Pentax-M 50/1.7


RAW ISO 1250 with a Pentax-F 70-210


It's a great camera!!!

Updated 3/2012 I ow own a K20, K-m and a K-x, the K10D still produces the very best (by far) images at low ISO's of any camera I've tried or own... just acquired another K10D!!!
   
Veteran Member

Registered: April, 2009
Location: Ontario, California
Posts: 1,736

3 users found this helpful
Review Date: December 19, 2010 Recommended | Price: $500.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Excellent SOLID build, weather sealing, awesome IQ.
Cons: Sometimes lousy IQ over ISO 800

Pros Excellent SOLID build, weather sealing, awesome IQ.
Cons Sometimes lousy IQ over ISO 800
Rating 9
Price (U.S. Dollars) $500
Years Owned 1.5

I can recommend this camera: Yes

Value, Features, Performance & Size
It has been a real trooper, easily enduring many, many airports, soccer fields,and other adventures. I haven't been able to upgrade, mainly because I haven't been able to find a newer camera that I like nearly as much! It is one of the two biggest APS-C cameras Pentax has ever made!

Camera Review
I bought my K10d during the big Ritz Camera sell off of 2009. I chose it over the K100d super for the higher megapixel count, even though at the time everyone was saying that the K100d was the IQ king. A couple of weeks later I picked up a K100d and ended up using it for roughly six months, swearing to myself that the K10d couldn't do as well, that it just didn't have the IQ performance. It's funny how wrong someone can be, with the evidence staring them in the face.

Around the sixth month I started forcing myself to use the K10d, so I could justify the expense to myself, and at first I hated the images I was getting from it. After a couple of weeks I started to question what the problem was, why I was having so much trouble getting good images. It was then that I began to dig into menus, tweak a little here, a lot there, disable this, enable that. It was then I realized that this one time ugly duckling was really a beautiful swan!

The K10d is a wonderful camera to use. It has almost every feature a still photographer could want, but it's “out of the box” configuration is terrible. You need to adjust it to get the performance out of it, otherwise it is like having a beautiful piano that is completely out of tune – no matter how well you play, it is not going to sound right. For example, to cure the issues I was having with the AF system, I simply switched it to center point only, and then I found the AF to be as fast and reliable as any camera I have ever owned. If the high ISO performance was better I'm not sure what reason I could ever come up with to upgrade.

The K10d is probably the oldest of the “prosumer” Pentax bodies you would want to invest in today. Yes, the *ISTd has TTL flash support, but it will not focus many of the newer lenses, it does not have weather sealing, and it does not have shake reduction. Furthermore, the K10d can often be purchased used for well under $300, which is a bargain in the DSLR market. I'm not going to recite the K10d's feature list, but for all practical purposes if you buy a K10d you are getting a professional grade camera for the same or less than some of the older entry level cameras cost.
   
New Member

Registered: January, 2010
Location: Sherbrooke, qc
Posts: 6

2 users found this helpful
Review Date: December 14, 2010 Recommended | Price: $600.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Bang for the buck
Cons: battery pack

Pros Bang for the buck
Cons battery pack
Rating 9
Price (U.S. Dollars) 600$
Years Owned 6 months

I can recommend this camera: Yes

Value, Features, Performance & Size
I am french speaking guy from Quebec, my apologizes for my english...
I own a K10d with my two previously owned lenses from my k100d: a 18-55mm and a 50-200mm. It gives a lot for the price. The sealed body is one the the main reason I have chosen this model. I have previously had many problems with sand and rain, no more of this with the K10D. I also added an after-market battery grip for 40$ that allow me to have more autonomy and the vertical shooting button.

Camera Review
I got that camera because my son dropped my K100 and since I got it, I have dropped it a couple of time and it's still in good shape. I tend to trust more this body, it's kind of heavy, but you feel it's not all made of cheap plastic. It fit's well in my hands, i like a camera body that fill your right hand and does note feel like you're holding it with your fingers like the new compact DSLR models on the marker.
I like that we can use all the previous lenses of pentax. My uncle gave me a 70mm he used to shoot in the 70's and it fits! A good thing in the single use world we are living in!
I may get used to the pentax way the buttons are displayed, but it feels that they are all at the right place for my fingers
The AF is pretty fast and does'nt go in back and forth frenzy often, even under low lighting conditions. Talking of light, I don't use the opo-up flash often as I own a AF-540 but it's yet powerful and not too hard on the batteries.
The LCD display gives you all the informations you need quickly so you don't need to go trough many menus like canon... The Raw button, the AF selector, the dial around the menu button is another interesting feature that keeps you from going into the menus often.
I like the colors I get with that camera and the auto-bracketing mode give very good HDR for my real estate photos I am doing.
I have tried the new K-X, while teaching a friend the basics of DSLR and I does not regret my K-10... except for the video capabilities a dad would enjoy some time... well I have a Iphone for those purpose.

I would strongly recommend any Pentax product as they are to of the line and not too expensive. Want to pay for big billboards and TV ads? go get a Nikon or Canon!
   
Forum Member

Registered: August, 2008
Location: San Jose, CA
Posts: 52

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: December 7, 2010 Recommended | Price: $500.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: Solid feel, nice colors, easy access to all controls
Cons: Jpegs look soft when viewed 100%, ISO beyond 640 has poor quality when viewed 100%, not good in AF-C

Pros Solid feel, nice colors, easy access to all controls
Cons Jpegs look soft when viewed 100%, ISO beyond 640 has poor quality when viewed 100%, not good in AF-C
Rating 10
Price (U.S. Dollars) 500
Years Owned 2

I can recommend this camera: Yes

Value, Features, Performance & Size
Exceptional value for money - Solid handling with semi-pro features like weather sealing, plethora of external buttons
Features - Pentax unique modes like Sv, TAv priority, in built SR, bright view finder
Performance - Very fast in operation as long as it is not fast moving

Camera Review
This is my first SLR ever... I previously owned sony DSC-S85 which is a nice camera with the ability to change metering mode/ focus using an external button, highly usable manual modes like Av, Tv and a fast 2.0 to 2.5 lens. Limitations are it is slow in operation, ISO beyond 200 very noisy and I was looking at DSLRs from Sony, Pentax and Olympus (No Nikon/ Pentax ) as they had in built IS. I had my eyes on Pentax K100D Super then came the craigslist ad for K10D + kit lens for $500, I immediately lapped it up
My first impressions were this camera is one hell of a sopishiticated machine with so many options and completely strange (atleast to me coming from a prosumer camera background) ergonomics, it took me some time to get familar.
One standout is the solid feel and once I started using TAv and Sv modes, I was a very happy camper! It responded fast, I had no qualms in taking pics @ ISO1600 (as long as I do not see 100%, they are fine), I can change metering modes on the fly and I use the digital preview feature to do unusual angle shooting.

I bought WR 18-55 and the quality is very good.
Most of my pics are indoors and once I obtained Tamron 28-75mm and Pentax F-50mm f1.7, I have some many possibilities

Some of the cons - I have the Tamron 28-75mm and at large apertures indoor, I never had very sharp pix as I got outdoors wide open. performance with the 50mm was much better. I am not sure if the problem is in indoor lighting (I had seen reports where focus is upset in the presence of indoor tungsten lighting etc...) or with the lens ( I had the lens calibrated by Tamron service)

Wud've been nice if focus assist light is separate from the flash. It is very annoying having to remember opening the flash head in dark light
I with they zoom in the focus area in digital preview (with live view in newer cameras, it does not matter any more).
AF-C was useless in the few occasions I used

With a toddler running, I do not have whole lot of time to do RAW processing, there are sometimes when I wish the camera jpeg is sharp when viewed at 100% ( I changed the default options, it is better but not as good as when I processed a RAW file occasionally... Probably I need to learn batch processing so that I process all files at once )
It is not a big deal for me as I do not believe in 100% viewing but for some people it might be a big deal

Auto White balance is bad in indoor, it is a pain to do custom while balance every time


My biggest complaint is with Pentax system - They do not have fast affordable primes in the focal lengths 24mm to 30mm. Yes 35mmf2.4 is good but it is only half stop faster than my tamron and 24mm or 28mm will be very useful. (Probably 30mm or wider lens with fast apertures makes the lens big unlike the 30-50mm range I guess).

I have no complaints ( I have taken over 11000 pix) and have no plan to upgrade unless Pentax comes with form factor close to Nex cameras in the mirrorless segment.
I can recommend the camera whole heartedly
   
New Member

Registered: November, 2010
Posts: 4
Review Date: December 3, 2010 Recommended | Price: $999.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Feels right, lens compatibility, very reliable, love all the control
Cons: Noise on the high ISO settings, close up flash images tend to be too hot

Pros Feels right, lens compatibility, very reliable, love all the control
Cons Noise on the high ISO settings, close up flash images tend to be too hot
Rating 9
Price (U.S. Dollars) 999
Years Owned 4

I can recommend this camera: Yes

Value, Features, Performance & Size
I chose the Pentax over the current Canon equivalent because it fit my hand much better (Canon was too small) and because of the Pentax lens compatibility. I bought several old film camera lenses at very low prices from ebay and craigslist.

Camera Review
I have made do with my old Sunpak and Nikon flashes, mostly in manual mode. Christmas is going to bring me a new pttl flash and I am greatly looking forward to that.

More than 40,000 pictures later, it is still working great. It takes hundreds of pictures with one charge on a battery (although the original is getting weak now).

I only shoot in RAW dng and love the range of control that I have with exposure in Photoshop. Finished images are saved as jpgs and then I save the originals to DVD to free the disk space.

I am continually finding a new way to adjust the settings to get a new flavor to an image or to work around a new exposure problem.

The autofocus is a bit problematic ... when shooting shots of children that move around a lot, it often focuses on the wrong spot. I tend to prefer the center focus mode, but if I get in a hurry, I sometimes forget to make sure that I lock the focus on the child before firing, ending up with a well focused distant object that is irrelevant.

Because I use the controls to compensate for the way I shoot pictures, I also have to remember to switch things back to more automatic settings when I hand the camera to someone else to take pictures.

One thing that people always say when the hand my camera back is "Wow, it's fast." They often take a dozen shots where they would only take one or two with a pocket camera.

The only tempting features that I have seen enticing me to upgrade are in-camera HDR, better high ISO noise handling, and perhaps faster frame rates and higher image resolution. Hmmm ... I would also like a preview display that swings out from the camera. My first digital was a Nikon 950 with a twist body and I loved being able to get shots at ground level or from way overhead or without people being conscious of the camera because it was lying in my lap.
   
Veteran Member

Registered: March, 2008
Location: Israel
Posts: 932

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: November 16, 2010 Recommended | Price: $1,700.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: IQ, Ergonomics, speed and ease of operation. Essentially everything
Cons: None

Pros IQ, Ergonomics, speed and ease of operation. Essentially everything
Cons None
Rating 10
Price (U.S. Dollars) 1700
Years Owned 3 + 1

I can recommend this camera: Yes

Value, Features, Performance & Size
I haven't yet touched K-5. Taking this into account K10D yields the best IQ among all Pentax flagship cameras prior to K-5. IMHO, it outdoes both K20D and K-7. The color rendition and the tonality rendition of this camera are outstanding. Many times I would just convert the RAW files with default settings in LR and get what I want.

Camera Review
It is hefty and felt rather big after really small *istD. But what a joy it was to use. I shot with mine 20,000 images in three years and gave it to my daughter. She's shooting with it for a year now. Hence 3 + 1 in "years owned" field. I can only praise this camera. It's been reliable, dependable and produced excellent results.

Today, just before 2010 ends, it feels outdated - slow AF, narrow ISO range, not too reliable metering, no AF adjustment unless you engage in trickery, etc. But none of these really get in a way of photography. At least as far as what my daughter and I are shooting. The IQ however is stellar.
   
Veteran Member

Registered: January, 2009
Location: Andenes
Posts: 361

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: November 10, 2010 Recommended | Price: $900.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Low-ISO images are GREAT, Bright viewfinder, Compability to older lenses, Easily accessed menus, Lovely grip for large hands, Sound (A really loud lovely klick), Weight, Shake reduction, Weather resistant, Semi-pro, RAW-files
Cons: High ISO is bad (beyond 500 but 640 is actually better), Auto-focus in low light not optimal, AWB not good in some conditions, Jpg`s

Pros Low-ISO images are GREAT, Bright viewfinder, Compability to older lenses, Easily accessed menus, Lovely grip for large hands, Sound (A really loud lovely klick), Weight, Shake reduction, Weather resistant, Semi-pro, RAW-files
Cons High ISO is bad (beyond 500 but 640 is actually better), Auto-focus in low light not optimal, AWB not good in some conditions, Jpg`s
Rating 9
Price (U.S. Dollars) 900
Years Owned 3

I can recommend this camera: Yes

Value, Features, Performance & Size
Size, perfect.
"Too many" features for an amateur, perfect for a semi-pro.
Good value for it`s class.

Camera Review
The camera was just the perfect buy for me and my entrance to the DSLR-world.
I learned the hard way by testing all features and pros and cons by testing and eventually understand this camera and the performances it really can achieve step by step...
Now, afetr 28000 exposures I wouldn`t want to change camera for anything. The camera fits my hands much better than k7/5 and I`m just getting more and more in love with the camera.

If you find a K10d for a good price; buy it.
And shoot in RAW---
Add Review of Pentax K10D



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