Pentax K10D - Expert Reviews

Review summary: Pentax's new digital SLR camera offers the killer combo of ease of use and gorgeous pictures.

Pros: Superb build. Excellent images. Very low noise at high ISOs.Three-way shake reduction. Dust removal for CCD sensor ; Flash must be raised manually. Lens hood must be removed when using flash to avoid shadows. SD card not included

Cons: Flash must be raised manually. Lens hood must be removed when using flash to avoid shadows. SD card not included

Verdict: . If there's anything major not to like about the Pentax K10D, we couldn't find it. It's a good-looking, superb performer that'll more than satisfy even the pickiest photographer.

Award: Highly Recommended!

Review summary: When you first take the Pentax K10D out of its box, you can instantly tell that this is a serious camera. Weighing over 700g and measuring 101(H) x 141(W) x 70(D), this is a large and heavy DSLR, even without the lens fitted. The K10D has a ...

Verdict: The Pentax K10D is an excellent mid-range digital SLR camera that manages to achieve the difficult task of being intuitive to use whilst offering a lot of complex functionality. Pentax have included a number of genuinely useful innovations that help ...

Review summary: The K10D isn't however without its faults. The body may be dust and weather-resistant, but it ain't built from magnesium alloy. The image quality using the default settings can come across as dull compared to the competition and we also felt it had a ...

Pros: Built-in Shake Reduction system, Dust and weather-resistant seals, Unique shooting modes and RAW options, Switches for metering and focus areas,

Cons: Default JPEG settings lack impact, Basic metering and tendency to underexpose, No dedicated buttons for ISO or WB, Tough rivals like the Nikon D80 and Canon 30D

Verdict: One thing should be clear from our comments so far: the K10D is not the greatest performer using its default settings. If you want a camera that takes great-looking JPEGs straight out the box, then look elsewhere. Shooting alongside the K10D with a ...

Review summary: Just picking it up with a standard set of expectations, the Pentax K10D does not necessarily impress. Spend some time, explore the new exposure modes, learn how to tweak white balance, and you might discover a digital camera that could significantly ...

Pros: Compatible with an extensive list of Pentax K lenses, Responsive with a good shutter lag time, very good shot-to-shot speed, Good color accuracy, Easy white balance adjustment, Bright, powerful built-in flash, Good quality in kit lens, Fairly quick ...

Cons: Very warm color balance in low-lighting and warm outdoors, Auto white balance had a hard time with household incandescent lighting, Shadow detail lacking in JPEG images, Slightly high contrast, especially outdoors in full sun, Phantom pixels with ...

Verdict: As with several other manufacturers (pioneered by Olympus, and also including Canon and Sony), Pentax has equipped the K10D to fight a common problem of digital SLRs: dust. First, they've employed a vapor-deposited "Super Protect" fluorine compound ...

Review summary: A great feature set for the price, pro-level customization, and excellent photo quality make the Pentax K10D a bargain amateur dSLR. Only unremarkable performance holds it back from joining the pack leaders.

Pros: Excellent photo quality ; well-designed and solidly built body ; premium features for its price class ; nice kit lens

Cons: Occasional autofocus hunting ; Shake Reduction only buys you a little over one stop