Pentax K20D - Expert Reviews

Review summary: Despite a price difference of more than £300, both the Pentax K20D and the Sony Alpha 350 scored the same mark in their recent AP reviews. As these 14-million-pixel cameras have similar specifications, we decided to see how they compared in a head-to-head

Review summary: Featuring the highest resolution available in the sub-$8,000 price range (at the time of this review), this 14.6-megapixel DLSR falls into the "prosumer" category. A medium-size, relatively lightweight camera, it's built with a rigid stainless-steel chass

Pros: Attractive design, Scroll ball is comfortable and easy to use, Works with Windows and Mac systems, Integration with Tiger is flawless

Cons: Side buttons are hard to squeeze, Comfort could be improved

Review summary: This is a 14 megapixel (CMOS) evolution from the K10D with many of the same features - sensor-shift image stabilisation, dust removal, rugged construction and good ergonomics. There are a number of body seals to keep out dust and moisture with the memory

Pros: The quality of images is really quite remarkable. We used the camera to take a sequence of photos of a white cat. This is as hard as it gets for exposure and dynamic range. The Pentax produced images in which every hair is sharp and no detail is lost in t

Cons: The LCD review screen is poor. We found it difficult to judge the quality of an image in review mode, which led us to suspect that our white cat photos were all under exposed and soft in focus, which they were not. The screen is the Achilles' heel of an o

Verdict: The Pentax K20D is an improvement on the already good K10D. The new 14mp CMOS sensor delivers finer resolution without any apparent increase in noise. Compared with the Nikon and Canon competition the Pentax feels a little rough and gritty. The body graph

Award: Editor's Choice!

Review summary: This is the most powerful semi-pro DSLR in the world, and will blow your head clean off.

Verdict: With the launch of the K20D Pentax is taking on the top players in the semi-pro DSLR market. It has a class-leading specification, with build quality, handling and performance to match, and has exactly the sort of features that will appeal to advanced ama

Review summary: The K20D is a very nice reflex. If it lacks a bit of ambition compared to its predecessor, there is an impressive technical sheet (large viewfinder, stabilization, anti-dust and 14 million pixel sensor). This is a model that will please those who like exp

Pros: - 14 million pixel sensor, - Moisture proof construction, - Very nice ergonomics, - Good control of noise up until 1600 ISO, - Mechanical stabilization

Cons: - Menu ergonomics should be reviewed, - Liveview aiming not very useful, - Burst mode a bit weak, - No assistance lamp for autofocus (you have to use the flash), - No entry level lens with internal motorization