Here is a small list of camera's compared.

Attachment 19154

Do you believe the shake reduction, ISO 3200 and somewhat larger LCD and heavier body will make the K-m a successful competition for the large brands?

..........
Can Pentax seriously compete at € 499?

- Bert

If and when they succeed with the Firmware, they can push it to ISO 6400. At least they have tried on early versions.

[Maxington]

It was one of the things that sold me on the K200D. Yes, I realize they're going for price-point here, but when your fighting the big dogs everybody sees in ads everwhere, it sure seems like it makes the most sense to market something like weather sealing, especially on an entry level SLR.

..just my 2 cents...

You'd need to package weather sealed lenses with it then, and the new lightweight low cost L lenses would no longer be lightweight or low cost then.

I don't really think its doable.

[creampuff]

Biggest down-side is the limitation of 5 AF points that are not selectable. I could not give up that feature.

I'm using a *ist DL2 which has the same AF points and framing as the K-m and I have not encountered any problems composing. In fact I'll bet most of us would get used to it in a flash. I did.

[vinzer]

Yes, so long as prospective buyers actually get to use the K-M in store alongside the other brands. Pentax has build and ergonomics other cheapies do not have, plus better viewfinder. ISO 3200 is a nice number for sales people to sling around. And I would not buy a camera without SR -- so that's the deal sealed.

If I was buying a first SLR today, this would be the one. I said when the K200D came out that I thought it was a major mis-step. This is the price point needed for entry level. The help button and redesigned menus look great. No beginners will miss the top LCD. In fact I might prefer the new menu/info screen to an LCD!

However I am disappointed it is not lighter than this. Really, it's barely different from the K200D. And why introduce a new lens only 25g lighter than the one it replaces? I think that is crazy! Though I prefer the silver band to the ugly green one we are stuck with.

Biggest down-side is the limitation of 5 AF points that are not selectable. I could not give up that feature.

I actually prefer the green band. The new DA-L lens looks quite similar to Canon's kit lens. But anyway, minor niggle. The silver lining on the body looks great, though.

Personally, the 5 AF points seem much too close to each other, anyway. Seems like it's one big center AF point. At least that's how DPReview put the overlay, so there might be differences in reality.

[creampuff]

Looking at the pictures of the new Pentax L kit lenses, there is no mistaking the cost cutting involved when they don't even bother to put distance scales on the focusing rings.

[m8o]

Interresting thing:
"Thanks to a thorough review of the AF algorithm, this AF system also offers improved autofocusing speed under poor-lighting conditions, in which conventional AF systems take longer to focus on the subject."

Does this means that the system trades accuracy for speed in low light conditions?

One might think this to imply that we currently have accurate AF in low light...

[KungPOW]

I don't see a DOF switch/button on the body. Am I missing it?

If it does not have it, how will it work with non-A lenses? Is there no stop down metering?

[ogl]

AF button function 1: Enable AF1
2: Enable AF2
3: Cancel AF
4: AE Lock


M42 and M, K lenses can work

[soalle]

Ogl,
I repost my question here, since you might have missed it:

you were speaking about 5 different features compared to the k200d and a new interesting feature that no Pentax camera had. I hope he was not speaking about the Help function!
To me, this announcement is a bit disappointing... it does not bring anything new in the panorama of cheap entry-level camera...

The only thing I am curious about is the "Shadow Compensation" (Ogl, were you referring to this?).
Does anybody know what is it?
And is it true that the focus point is not selectable?

[ogl]

1. 3.5 fps with 5 jpeg or 4 RAW. buffer 7 RAW at 1.1 fps.
(K200D - 2.8 fps with 4 jpeg or RAW, buffer 4 RAW at 1.1 fps)
2. K-m is the smallest DSLR with SR in the world. The smallest camera in Pentax digital era.
Smaller and lighter than K200D
3. 1650 images with AA batteries.
4. AF.A
5. ISO3200

Shadow Compensation is the new version D-Range.
I heard it would work more effective.
The operation of K-m differ from K200D.

Yes. Focus point is not selectable manually.
The AF is better in low-light than all Pentax cameras.

K-m is a good machine, but it's a bit late...IMO. Launched after 1000D/D40/D40x/D60/E410/E420...

[mattdm]

K-m is a good machine, but it's a bit late...IMO. Launched after 1000D/D40/D40x/D60/E410/E420...

It's before Christmas. That's all that really matters.

[lithos]

People bitch about the AA, especially the nerd-ridden websites...but I love them. Much better than proprietary batteries.

Oh, sure, they hate the fact that with AA batteries you get X shots, but with proprietary batteries you get X+123 or something.

But when you're far from a power point and your Li-Ion karks it, the local petrol station isn't gonna have another one.

[R.Miller]

As an early K100D user I plan on buying the K2000 and giving the K100D to my son. The new entry level K2000 has some nice features:

- Higher resolution 10MP sensor
- Dust removal system
- Uses AA batteries (I am a big fan of the AA's)
- SR in body
- Smaller body dimensions

The lack of the LCD on top will not be a big issue for me. While I do use it on the K100D I can adapt to the LCD on the back. No big deal.

I just hope it becomes avialable in a body only configuration.

[RMabo]

you were speaking about 5 different features compared to the k200d and a new interesting feature that no Pentax camera had. I hope he was not speaking about the Help function!

1. No top-LCD panel.
2. No socket for cable remote release.
3. No weather sealing.
4. No depth-of-field preview (?-button can be programmed to electronic preview, but I can't find depth-of-field preview there)
5. No AE-L button.

So, 5 different features compared to the K200D.

[icarus]

The k2000 + Pancakes will be a dream to travel with. I will definitely be purchasing this as a second body to complement the K10d. Just need to complete the pancake trio and add the 15mm when it arrives!!!

So...would you consider the 15mm a pancake?