| Author: | | New Member Registered: May, 2016 Posts: 6 | | Review Date: February 29, 2024 | Recommended | Price: None indicated
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Colours,contrast, shadows etc. | | Cons: | Lowlight AF | | Ergonomics: 10
Build Quality: 10
User Interface: 10
Autofocus: 8
Features: 10
Value: 10
Image Quality: 10
Noise: 9
New or Used: Used
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K20D. I love it. Great colours, great contrast, artistic DR, Does not lose details and contrast at all iSO etc.I like all the photos I took with the k20D
I take photos for fun. I used Pentax k100d Super,K20D,KR,K7,K5,K5IIs, Nikon d300,d90,d700 and Canon 40D. My favorite camera K20D
If you are taking photos of moving objects in low light,K20D is not for you.Other than that, it's a great camera.
 | | | | | | | New Member Registered: November, 2010 Location: Timisoara Posts: 22
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: December 11, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $550.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Superb image quality, superb colors and high level of details, high level of customizations, very solid build, very good kit lens , a true wonder if you know how to use it, used indor with an external flash(in my case AF 280T and AF200T) become a wonder. | | Cons: | none for me | | Years Owned: 4
Ergonomics: 10
Build Quality: 10
User Interface: 10
Autofocus: 8
Features: 10
Value: 10
Image Quality: 10
Noise: 8
New or Used: Used
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I own this camera since 2010 , I am the second owner. For me this was my first DSLR and I was blown away by its image quality and detail, autofocus and the feeling of this camera in the hand.
Despite the fact that some say that is noisy at high ISO and have only 3 FPS or the autofocus is not as fast as competitors, despite all this, if you know how to use this camera, you will never be dissapointed. The image quality and detail are at a very high level even compared with the actual generation of cameras suuch as Pentax K3 or Nikon D7100. I have pictures taken at ISO 2000 and 3200 that look verry good on a big computer monitor, without any post processing.
Beside all this, with today post processing programs the noisy 3200 ISO becomes a memory.
And as i mentioned on the positive aspects, used indorr with an external flash it will blow away or at least stand up even in front of the most expensive DSLR of today.
And with a good lens and photographic skills you can compensate the slow speed of only 3fps.
Actualy the last weekend I was at a party on a club with my colleagues and I pose all that party with my K20D equiped with the AF200T flash and the kit lens, the AF200Tflash is an old fpash without focus assist lamp so the whole night I was shooting on manual focus with the focus preset at around 2 meters and guess what 90% of the pictures was perfet focused perfet exposed vivid colors and some of my colleagues who own more recent and expensiVe DSLR was amased by the quality of the pictures.
And all this magic pictures that Pentax K20D produce are because I got to know this camera and also some basic technical aspects of the photography.
As a conclusion even this is a 2008 generation camera and since then a lot of upgrades are on the market I still not feel the need to change it with the latest generation camera, because in the right hands this camera shine and more, if you combine it with the latest photo editing software the pictures taken with this camera will stand up many years forward.
PS. 99% I used the kit lens on this camera and still my colleagues who own dslr's are amased by the sharpness of the pictures the collors contrast even if the pictures are unprocessed.
| | | | | New Member Registered: January, 2014 Posts: 1
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: January 30, 2014 | Recommended | Price: None indicated
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Size makes you feel like a pro newsreporter photographer.Perfect ergonomic body. | | Cons: | For portrature none,for action requires more skill from user. | | Years Owned: 2 months
Ergonomics: 10
Build Quality: 10
User Interface: 10
Autofocus: 8
Features: 10
Value: 10
Image Quality: 10
Noise: 7
New or Used: Used
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As an owner of a KX and k100d i have to say neither come close to the proffessional feel the K20 body has.The KX has had front focusing issues since i bought it and i just cannot trust it when it matters.The k100d has been utterly dependable and will continue to be my back up.The KX will fufill the role of a holiday camera as it has video mode.Everyone searches for the right camera for them and for a bargain second hand price my dream has been realized.The BG2 grip is an added bonus for my big hands and makes this camera look even more awesome and adds an extra shutter release.I hope all you pentax owners can find a model you are truly happy with as it means you can concentrate on whats most important and that is enjoying taking photos.
| | | | | Junior Member Registered: January, 2013 Location: Sturtevant, Wisconsin Posts: 48
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: December 14, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $350.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Built like a tank | | Cons: | | | Years Owned: 3
Ergonomics: 10
Build Quality: 10
User Interface: 10
Autofocus: 10
Features: 10
Value: 10
Image Quality: 10
Noise: 10
New or Used: Used
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I upgraded from my K100D to the K20D with I purchased from a friend. I love it being weather sealed, I use it a lot outside in light rain and snow. I've taken over 7000.00 photos in the last three years and no problems. I can't afford a new K3 so I guess the K20D will be with me for a lot longer. Most of my photos are of my dog and other wildlife and nature.
| | | | | | | Forum Member Registered: July, 2013 Location: Varna, Bulgaria Posts: 76 | | Review Date: October 14, 2013 | Recommended | Price: None indicated
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | This camera is fantastic with the grip. | | Cons: | Hot pixels some time .. | | Years Owned: 2
Ergonomics: 10
Build Quality: 10
User Interface: 10
Autofocus: 8
Features: 9
Value: 10
Image Quality: 10
Noise: 8
New or Used: Used
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I love my Pentax k20 !  | | | | | Veteran Member Registered: January, 2011 Location: Minahasa, North Celebes (Sulawesi) Posts: 586
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: January 6, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $600.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Professional look, build like a tank, dependable auto WB, paired with no hassle with legacy manual lenses | | Cons: | The size might not for everybody | | Years Owned: 2
Ergonomics: 10
Build Quality: 10
User Interface: 9
Autofocus: 9
Features: 9
Value: 10
Image Quality: 9
Noise: 8
New or Used: Used
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This is my parting review for my trusted K20D  Upgraded from K100DS to K20D. The camera served me well for about two years before I decided to go K-5. Sold it to a very happy friend, and sold his K-r for this 
I practically lives in a tropical rain forest, it rained hell and the weather is damp and wet all year long. My K20D accompanied my trips into deep forest, streams, creeks. I also love camping days on the seashores, so my K20D befriends sea breeze, sand and dust. Mind you, I have no WR lens, but as long as I did not toss it head-first in a river, I know it will survive. I love photography, but I don't care much about cleaning gears everyday, so this camera have survived both weather and abuse. There was a time I really treated this camera really really bad, hoping that it will defunct, so there will be a reason for me to get it replaced, but it simply won't die on me. It did not give up, never, ever, presumably because of it's build to last forever. Damn!
I praised K20D battery life. I'm not a 'one shot one kill' photographer, I like doing exploration shots, I'm a trigger happy guy. I full-charge the battery and it'll stay 'full' for hundreds upon hundreds of shots. On groups hunting, all my friends worries about their battery life. I don't. I know that when the day is over, there will be enough juice left, even enough for a night shooting session. If I'm going to wander in the woods or beaches for days, I'd attach the BG with an extra battery, and I will return happy with thousands great images.
I've owned K100Ds, seen K10D, K-x, and K-r shots, and K20D is very reliable shooting at 'default' setting. While other bodies must compensate up and down to get naturally perfect image, K20D's image is just right, no need to wiggle with settings, and outcome a crisp, sharp, WB-correct images. I could push the saturation up very high, yet there's no 'yellowing' effect suffered by other bodies.
AF is better to previous models, but inferior to K-r. I had a film SF-1 and cursed the absence of AF illumination on K20D. Pentax should have put it there, and in all of other bodies, since it helped a lot when focusing in dark. Everybody knows that Pentax lags when it comes to AF, but I shoot mainly with legacy MF lens anyway.
Don't buy negative reviews about K20D ISO, it's not that bad, it's ISO performance is good up to 800 -or 1600 if shooting in less dark condition -but K20D sensor is really not build for night shoots and long exposures. I'm into long exposures lately, so yes, finally I found a reason to upgrade.
K20D represents everything Pentax. I know that you could only get it used these days, but if you're looking for a reliable camera you can abuse, yet still giving a perfect results, buy this, no regrets.
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: January, 2008 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 547 | | Review Date: April 12, 2012 | Recommended | Price: $300.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Great sensor, bright finder,fast operation | | Cons: | iso 6400 is useless | |
I got a great deal on the camera used. I is a vast improvement over my K100D Super, which I gave to my daughter. The finder is very bright and I no longer need special screens to focus manually. Battery life is also excellent. The only better would a K5. Ether a K5 or a K3 will be my next DSLR. | | | | | New Member Registered: October, 2010 Location: Almaty Posts: 20 | | Review Date: February 10, 2012 | Recommended | Price: $400.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Lots of positive aspects | | Cons: | Poor High Iso (1600+) | | Years Owned: Just bought
Ergonomics: 10
Build Quality: 10
User Interface: 9
Autofocus: 9
Features: 10
Value: 10
Image Quality: 9
Noise: 8
New or Used: Used
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After using K-x, K20D feels fantastic ergonomic wise, grip adds more comfort holding in portrait mode...
ISO of course not the best, but i'm trying keeping it as low as possible between 100 and 800... My K-x produces iso 3200 as K20D 800 imho...
AF screws my FA 50 faster than K-x for 1.5 times...
I was wondering why LCD doesn't show exposure info like K-x does. But after some time using top lcd and VF i finally adapted
Build quality is superb, feels like a brick in my hands... Even i bought it used, nothing squeeked and no painted buttons were erased
I can recommend this camera with confidence. I now think that next DSLR must be K20D-like body, rather K-7 or K-5 )
| | | | | Inactive Account Registered: January, 2012 Location: Prince George Posts: 4 | | Review Date: January 30, 2012 | Recommended | Price: $800.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Durability, weight, cold weather operation, very long battery life | | Cons: | Lacks low light capability | | Years Owned: 4
Ergonomics: 10
Build Quality: 10
User Interface: 10
Autofocus: 9
Features: 10
Value: 10
Image Quality: 10
Noise: 10
New or Used: New
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Great camera! I actually own two of them.
| | | | | Forum Member Registered: November, 2008 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 88
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: October 20, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $700.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Build quality, price, IQ | | Cons: | Not the fastest AF or best ISO (nowadays...) | |
Well I thought it's probably about time to post my review
This camera has been as solid as a rock and has never missed a beat in my 3 years of ownership. It has seen snow, rain, mud, weddings, messy hands, jungles and sweat! The body is reassuringly hefty (not cumbersome, but large) so that bigger lenses don't dwarf the body. I remember mounting a DA* 16-50mm to a k-x and it looked insane! All was back to normal on the gripped K20d though Having said that, it's also a great travel camera when a 40mm is strapped on the front. Not pocketable, but not far off either.
I think at the time, this camera was a ravingly good deal - I got it with cashback from Pentax, knocking £100 off the price. It was such a great deal that I actually considered selling it 6 months later for a profit. Thankfully I didn't! The only thing that seems to be truly lagging now is the AF, but I'm not keen on being too dependent on it anyway. So much so that i use the DA lenses in Quick-shift manual all the time and only auto focus using the AF button. Works a treat
Even years after it's release you can still get stellar images from it, as you can from a lot of older cameras which are now on the scrap-heap. I think there's a chance people are going to start buying 'old' pro cameras (D2X, S5 pro) and get stunning results. My view is that people are going to start seeing drastically diminishing returns from high end cameras - when you think of what more you could want from something like the K-5 / D7000 / 5D mkII, you are essentially splitting hairs!
So if you want something that feels like it will last another decade and serve you like a loyal pet - go get one (cheap) !
| | | | | Senior Member Registered: July, 2009 Location: Perth, Australia Posts: 180 | | Review Date: June 9, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $450.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | IQ, ISO Noise | | Cons: | AF and WB | | Years Owned: 1
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I don't think I can add too much more than what's been already said but I "downgraded" to the K20D from a K-7 and I consider this a better camera.
Sure the K-7 has more functions, has a slightly better AF and better WB but the WB can be corrected in post processing.
I find the IQ of this camera a lot better than the K-7 especially at ISO 100-400.
This camera deserves a better score than 8.5/10 it currently has. It easily deserves a 9/10.
| | | | | Senior Member Registered: July, 2010 Location: Pacific Northwest USA Posts: 261 | | Review Date: August 25, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $500.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Great Sensor | | Cons: | Yes, a little slow AF | |
| Pros | Great Sensor | | Cons | Yes, a little slow AF | | Rating | 10 | | Price (U.S. Dollars) | $500.00 | | Years Owned | 2 1/2 |
I can recommend this camera: Yes
Value, Features, Performance & Size
Too many attributes to mention. Seriously.
Camera Review
C'mon let's get real. This is the last genuine Pentax digital body. Everything after is Hoya-Pentax. So this is an immortal classic that too few people recognize as such. How sad is that? This camera gives much, but also demands much of you. Your brain controls the camera. If your brain isn't up to the task then please buy more updated equipment that will do more of your thinking for you. This camera has it's flaws, but it's still superb. Ask any K20d owner. A totally indispensable tool. Get one cheap used.
Cons: Retro Safox autofocus
Pros: Great sensor. Optimized for still photography, not video!
| | | | | Senior Member Registered: July, 2022 Location: Ocala, FL Posts: 115 | | Review Date: March 13, 2023 | Recommended | Price: $75.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Rugged, Feature Rich, Ergonomic | | Cons: | Not too much | | Years Owned: 1
Ergonomics: 8
Build Quality: 9
User Interface: 9
Autofocus: 7
Features: 7
Value: 10
Image Quality: 8
Noise: 8
New or Used: Used
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This is a camera that I purchased simply because it came with a Pentax FA 50mm F1.4 strapped to it's nose for under a hundred bucks.
I thought this camera was going to behave like a K7 - the one K series camera I disliked enough to sell outright.
The K7 had noise such that I only used mine for shooting at base iso with flash or with B&W picture settings because the grain kind of blended into black and whites much better - I really really disliked this, your milage may vary, but for me this issue put me off so much I skipped it.
I got the K20D and found the noise was much less, the camera is well made and ergonomic, it takes decent pictures at 14mp and with good glass it behaves admirably.
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: August, 2012 Posts: 678 | | Review Date: January 29, 2017 | Recommended | Price: $145.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Advanced features, weather resistant | | Cons: | Heavy, won't use cards larger than 16GB, BG2 battery grip won't fit GX-20 | | Ergonomics: 8
Build Quality: 10
User Interface: 8
Autofocus: 8
Features: 9
Value: 9
Image Quality: 9
Noise: 9
New or Used: Used
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My copy is actually the K20D's 'evil twin', the Samsung GX-20, and I'm pretty pleased with it so far. At a single glance, it's pretty obvious it shares about 95% of the same DNA as with its Pentax step-sibling. Although its inherent Pentax-ness is undeniable, there are a few cosmetic differences like squarish buttons on the back and a slightly different shape to the grip, which is deeper and thus more comfortable than my K10D, but these are mostly just aesthetics. One annoying physical difference is to the bottom of the camera prevents it from using the BG2 battery grip, which fits both the K10D and K20D. Where things get a little more interesting is with the firmware. Samsung runs its own firmware, which features different JPEG algorithms and Adobe RAW format as opposed to Pentax's own flavor of RAW as well as a slightly different look to the menus--monochromatic color scheme with category icons running up the left side of the rear screen instead of across the top. This menu arrangement seems slightly more intuitive to me than Pentax's in that it provides a more linear left-to-right navigational flow.
All that aside, the shooting experience is still pure Pentax. Having had a K10D for a while, the GX-20 felt very familiar from the moment I first picked it up. Autofocus is snappy, although a bit schitzo in AF-S mode (Samsung calls it SAF), just like my K10D. CAF mode (AF-C in Pentaxian) works just fine. Image quality is quite good, although colors were a bit muted for my taste until I warmed things up a bit in the custom settings. Also, the camera is limited in the size memory cards it can use. The manual says it guaranteed to work with SDHC memory cards up to 8GB and mine will use 16GB cards successfully, but has write errors with 32GB cards. Pentax corrected this issue on the K20D with firmware update version 1.04 but Samsung's updates for the GX20, which were all based on corresponding Pentax K20D updates, stopped with version 1.03.
While the contrarian side of my nature kind of enjoys going 'rogue' with the Samsung branded version of this camera, there is a bit of a downside now that Samsung appears to be bowing out of the camera market. Support and even acknowledgement of legacy cameras is nonexistent on Samsung's Website. Not surprisingly, my GX-20 came to me with version 1.00 of its firmware and while updates are known to exist, Samsung no longer offers firmware updates or PDF manuals for its GX series cameras; in fact, they don't even acknowledge their existence. Fortunately, after a bit of online detective work, I found the last known update, version 1.03, archived at softpedia and the manual on another archival site. Other than that, the best support available for these orphaned Samsung DSLRs (GX-1L, GX-1S, GX-10 and GX-20) is right here at Pentax Forums.
Update: After having the camera for more than a year, I've come to understand and accept its quirks and shortcomings and they don't really bother me but I do feel like the K20D is a slightly better choice because of better support from Pentax in the form of more up-to-date firmware and PDF manuals and the fact that you can get a battery grip for it. That said, the Samsung GX-20 is a solid camera and worth considering but I wouldn't pay as much for it as I would a comparable K20D.
Another Update (16 December 2019): I really wanted to make this a separate review because I've now acquired a Pentax K20D in addition to the aforementioned Samsung GX-20, but the rules of this forum don't allow that. I picked the camera up on eBay for about what I paid for the Samsung without a lens almost three years ago. I really didn't need it but it was going cheaply and had a super low shutter count of just under 3,000 (compared to the Samsung's almost 14,000). I actually tripped it over the 3,000 mark, taking some test shots with it after it arrived. To sweeten the deal, the camera came with a new third-party battery, a third-party charger, a small bag and three lenses: the ubiquitous 18-55mm DA II kit zoom lens, a plastic craptastic silver FA 28-80mm zoom and a Vivitar Series 1 28-105mm manual focus zoom.
My initial tests show the camera is not only fully functional but corrects some of the previously noted shortcomings of the Samsung, including its inability to accept the BG2 battery grip from my K10D, difficulty writing to SDHC memory cards greater than 16GB, and somewhat muted color profile. I have used the Samsung very little since I acquired it, so I'm not decided what my plan for it is, now that I have the K20D. I may well hang a surplus lens on it and sell it off. Meanwhile, I'm pleased with the K20D and look forward to taking some great photos with it.
| | | | | Senior Member Registered: February, 2011 Location: Brno Posts: 295
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: January 2, 2017 | Recommended | Price: $1,100.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Pentaprism, build quality, nice RAW image quality, ergonomy, live-view, WR, SR, 21 fps, can be controlled from PC software, last true Pentax body | | Cons: | Slow AF, 3 fps, poor hi-iso by today standards, weak jpeg, during live-view it is not possible to change settings | | Years Owned: 13 (2021)
Ergonomics: 9
Build Quality: 10
User Interface: 9
Autofocus: 7
Features: 8
Value: 10
Image Quality: 9
Noise: 6
New or Used: New
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K20D was and still is my favourite Pentax camera. I bought one of first, that arrived here in early 2008. In fact this is the last camera produced by Pentax before Hoya stepped into design.
Some people stated here, that image quality is awful. But they have no clue. JPEG might be weaker, but still even those 12-15MB jpegs do contain a lot of data! But seriously, who shoots jpegs with DSLR?
And when you use RAW and especially after they are pre-processed by "Pentax K20D Raw Border Correcter 0.9.0.0" tool, or latest Lightroom they are very good!! That Samsung sensor coupled with Pentax image processor certainly was the best APS-C in 2008 when Canon still was offering poor EOS 40D and Nikon only had D80!
Only later when D90, D300 and EOS 50D were introduced, they caught the DSLR bus again and in some areas (AF, Hi-ISO and video) surpassed this great camera a bit. But for significantly higher price. Anyway K20D still had better WR, in body stabilisation and better fine details in low-ISO images.
Shoot RAW! Keep ISO low in 100-800 range and camera would deliver excellent images printable on A3 without problem. Even up to ISO 1600 they are very usable. ISO 2000 and higher only if you have enough light and use +0.7 to +1EV correction. ISO 3200-6400 is just marketing, not usable for serious work.
When shooting outside on good light, this camera shows what it can do. Colors and contrast are even better than from K5. Keep in mind, that this camera rather underexposes image and avoids any blown highlight sources. Which is good, because you can dig deep into shadows into RAW, but it is hard to save anything from blown areas..
If you are beginner only clicking pics in JPG on auto without any knowledge and thinking, avoid this camera. This is tool for people who know what they want. Definitely not a point-and-shoot DSLR. I used it even for shooting on few weddings as main photographer. No problem at all. Great camera.
Autofocus might be slow and sometimes does not finish the focusing, but it is very accurate. It usually does two iterations and if locks, things are focused. (Unlike K5, which is much faster, but not that reliable)
It also is very cheap camera today, while still offering bright pentaprism, live-view, in body stabilisation, two control wheels and very good weather sealing. Nice camera for serious beginners who want to learn how to shoot raw, develop, how to set correct exposure, use M mode and others. It is also nice for old manual lenses as the live-view can be easily switched and magnification is fast using back wheel without pressing anything else.
And it is still joy to use it sometimes and it also works as nice backup.
btw. I made some videos about this camera:
Movie created BY K20D using TV card and AV output
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jub-sxAnNvQ
K20D WR real life
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTHe-5yH-xQ&t=17s
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