March 6th, 2010 | 
Author: 
The PENTAX K10D digital SLR features an array of PENTAX innovations including 10.2 effective megapixels and a PENTAX-developed Shake Reduction (SR) system that effectively offers a 2.5 to 4 stop advantage for sharp, blur-free images even under difficult shooting conditions, such as macro and telephoto photography or low light settings without a flash. Also featured is a newly developed Pentax Real IMage Engine (PRIME) designed exclusively for PENTAX digital SLR cameras to produce well-balanced, true-to-life images. PENTAX also incorporated a new high performance 22-bit A/D converter to quickly transfer images with accurate color tones and richer gradation from the CCD to the imaging engine. The new Dust Removal (DR) system incorporating PENTAX-original Special Protect (SP) coating helps keep the CCD surface dust-free, and adds a shift mechanism to shake dust off the CCD. All this is housed in a dependable dust-proof, weather-resistant body construction featuring 72 seals throughout the camera to allow photographers to continue shooting even in dusty or rainy environments.
Product Specification :
Megapixels :10.2 Megapixels
Optical Zoom :3 X
Lens System 
ENTAX-DA 18-55mm lens
LCD Screen Size :2.5 in
Recording Method :SDHC Memory Card, MultiMediaCard, Secure Digital (SD) Card
Camera Type :SLR
powered by Yahoo shopping
Posted in Digital Camera
If you're starting out from scratch with no major lens investments, it's hard to beat the K10D for sheer value. The body is fantastic with good controls and a fantastic viewfinder, speedy operation, and weather sealing. Neither the D80, the Sony A100, nor the Canon Rebel XTi can claim all those things. But what really is the icing on the cake is an effective in-body stabilization system that works well (I've used it down to 4 stops under), that stabilizes *every* lens put on the camera. This can't be overstated in terms of usefulness — I can shoot with fast lenses like a 50/1.4 at four stops under, which means near darkness.
The camera's image quality is quite good, at least on par with its contemporaries or a little better (this is very subjective). Low light performance is decent — better than the Sony Alpha, not quite up to the Canon, and about on par with the D80. However, due to the in-body SR, you can often shoot at lower ISOs than the others and take advantage of those wonderful Pentax prime lenses.
There are too many good things to write in such a short space, but needless to say, I am really happy with my K10D (I switched from Canon). Try one out and you'll be pleasantly surprised.
Pro : Effective in-body SR, lens compatability, build, speed, viewfinder, ergonomics
Con : So-so included software, weight, noisy AF
After a LOT of research, I chose this camera from the entire set of sub-$1,500 DSLR options.
The K10D has an impressive set of USEFUL features. To name a few of the big ones: weather sealing (only camera of its class to have this!), in-body Shake Reduction that works for 3 stops or so, compatibility with virtually ALL Pentax lenses ever made, customizable auto-ISO (you select min and max range for camera to choose from), not to mention several Pentax-unique exposure modes:
-hyper-manual and hyper-program: basically a easy switch to Tv or Av within those modes
-TAv: a great mode where you set shutter and aperature with the dials and watch what ISO the camera selects… thus you can easily change all three variables at once!
-Sv: sensitivity priority, which I personally haven't used but can imagine being nice for quick shots where a certain sensitivity matters.
DPReview complained a little about the default JPGs being soft, but many users have noticed that putting the camera in "bright" mode (really more like a "vivid" mode on other cameras) and turning sharpness up 1 or 2 notches makes the JPGs just as sharp and detailed as the competition, without obvious sharpening artifacts. RAW is just as good either way.
I do wish the Automatic white balance was more reliable, or at least that manual white balance was more quickly accessible. Most of the presets work okay (except fluorescent seems to not work in many situations), but manual is what I most often use indoors.
I also would ideally like to have had a dedicated ISO display in the viewfinder/top panel. But in TAv mode (which I use a lot, instead of manual) it is there in place of the shots remaining. In the other modes just hit the "OK" button to see it.
All in all, the minor complaints don't affect the usability or picture quality much. This camera is top-tier, at a mid-range price. A very good deal.
Pro : Weather Sealing, in-body Shake Reduction, unique and useful exposure modes, image quality, lens compatibility, bargain price, selectable auto-ISO
Con : Auto White Balance only really good for sun, no dedicated ISO (except in TAv mode), autofocus is sometimes a little slow, default JPG settings should be tweaked for best results
Have had this camera over a month now and found it a real workhorse. Rugged and well balanced with the battery grip. Feels like a photographer designed it with sensible features such as the Green instant auto exposure check button when in Manual Mode. I use this all the time. It's been criticised for having too many gimmicky features – at least it does not have things like music in the preview mode! No – it has loads of features that you select from so it really feels like YOUR camera. Oh – and USER mode is the icing on the customisation cake. On the main mode dial there's a mode to select where you have chosen all the settings – it's like being able re-design the camera on the fly just for your style. Sweet.
I have used it in fairly heavy rain and there was no problem. Image quality is really excellent and that in body shake reduction seems to work really well.
I spent weeks reading reviews of all the main Digi SLRs and after handling all of them in this bracket I am glad I went with the Pentax.
Had a Canon D60 before with 4 lenses and a grip.
Pro : Weather sealing, in body shake reduction, build quality, kit lens good, useful features, feels designed by photographers, ,battery grip holds spare mem card and improves handling
Con : availability,removing battery grip to remove body battery
I really like this camera, it is a joy and gem to use and handle. Has useful features and lots of flexibility, it's easy to customise how the camera works, so it can work as I work. I don't have to adopt myself to how the camera works.
It has very flexible and easy Auto ISO and manual ISO settings, including the Sensitivity priority mode (you set the ISO, the camera sets aperture and shutter!). Manual ISO is easily set by pressing the OK button and spinning the front wheel. (with firmware updated to v1.1).
It's great that it supports both Pentax own RAW format (loslessly compressed) PEF and Adobes DNG. This makes compatibility with other RAW conversion software than Pentax easier. The included software is easy to use and understand, but low on features and doesn't run smoothly on my Intelbased Mac (not universal binary).
Autofocus is fast and reliable, same with the metering. Works well even in high contrast situations. Image quality is first rate, details are crisp and clear, colours very natural.
Viewfinder is crips, clear and large. Makes manual focusing easy.
Pro : natural colours, flexible RAW formats, flexible exposure settings, User-mode, easy customisation, fast and reliable autofocus, reliable metering, weather sealing, great build quality, good viewfinder, great ergonomics
Con : Included software could be better
Last year, I had all but decided on purchasing a Nikon D200 – it had most of the features I wanted, and at about $1600, wasn't too much of a stretch to afford (not counting replacing all my existing Pentax lenses and accessories). However, when the K10D was released, I thought I'd play with it some to see. After reading the feature comparisons, reviews biased away from Pentax, in general, and owning an *ist-DS, previously, I "took a chance" and bought the K10D, since it was $700 cheaper than the D200, and I already had lenses and a nice flash unit.
Two weeks and over 1000 photos into ownership, I have 0 complaints. The spec list did not do this camera justice, and the stuffy Nikon/Canon camp reviews of it were way too harsh. This camera is a wonderful photographic tool, with many features available only on the "high end" Nikon and Canon cameras. A buddy of mine just bought the D200 I was looking at, and I would put the K10D up against it any day of the week, and twice on Sunday.
Long exposure noise handling is fantastic – I've shot 7 minute exposures at night with Noise Reduction turned OFF, with almost no noticeable noice in the images. The images, if properly focused with decent glass, are sharp (sharpness complaints in reviews are based on JPEG images, and I only shoot RAW – why anyone would bother shooting a 10MP jpeg is beyond me).
I love this camera, and I have no doubts that it will do everything I need it to do until that fateful day when the shutter fails, or I drop it into a stream. And on the next day, assuming the K10D isn't a fluke, and Pentax continues to actually try to compete with the prosumer Nikon and Canon cameras, I'll be purchasing whatever their current model is.
Pro : extensive feature set, very low noise in long exposure shooting, great image quality, fantastic photographic tool
Con : metering is sometimes inaccurate in difficult lighting, autofocus sometimes a little slow
I've had this camera for almost a year. First kid on the block with one. Even though I consider myself an advanced amateur, there was definite learning curve. Being use to a point and shoot where all the jpgs come from the camera sharpened and saturated ready to print, the out of camera (As Shipped) JPGs were a little (surprisingly) soft. This is easily remedied by adjustments to the camera processing parameters. Or, you can treat the DSLR as they are Meant to be treated and shoot RAW, then create your own JPGs. That is actually about the worse thing I can say about the camera. Even after almost a year, I've yet to discover everything it will allow me to do. Being backwardly compatible to ALL K mount lenses as well as the old M42 classics (some with restrictions), you can build up a wild array of glass for not too much money. The one I would stay away from unless you have no other recourse, is the kit lens. It's a very nice lens on the 6Mp cameras but I personally think it under performs on the 10Mp K10d. If you can spare the extra (roughly) $200 = $300 and want a lens in that range, get the DA 16-45mm or the Sigma 17-70mm lens. Add to it the Tamron LD Di 70-300 and a 50mm prime lens (take your pick, they are all nice) and you'll have a camera that just plain rocks. You will have to spend some time learning to use it however. Remember, you're buying an SLR, NOT a point and shoot.
Pro : Solid build, easily found buttons, no scene modes
Con : As shipped, in camera jpg processing a little soft
I have about 5 Cameras and the change came when I got a great deal on a Samsung GX-1S which is the same as a Pentax Ist*d. This camera gave me the color and sharp detail I had dreamed of for people of color. Since I am an African American it was great to get a camera that could produce warm and accurate color definition without adding a ton of red that my canon did. Canon despite being popular produces a lot of red in African Americans and is not anywhere NEAR sharp as either my samsung or my new k10. the k10 has the exact menu system as my samsung and more. it has a WB color adjust which now has put me at another level with photography. now I can adjust how much yellow or red I want in my photos without ruining the photo. I shoot in JPG mainly because I believe in getting it right in the camera and this camera delivers! I recommend this camera to anyone serious about photography. forget canon and nikon, you get tons more for your money with this great camera and it is obviously designed by photographers. the features are so USEFUL, not a bunch of junk like 12 presets you can set, or color settings that vary very little when you change them. CONTRAST is the one thing that sets this camera apart. Canon and nikon can produce VERY dull looking photos due to a certain lack of contrast the cameras produce. the k10 produces amazing photos that have a certain film type look to them that is not able to be produced by any other camera, BELIEVE ME, I'VE TRIED! the viewfinder is another amazing feature of this camera. on my canon I have a 50mm 1.8 and the standard 18-55mm. when you try to blur out a background with either lens you can barely tell your doing it. the same can be said with the D80. everything looks in focus. but with the k10 you can tell exactly what is in focus and see what is not in focus right through the viewfinder. it will be blurred out completely and when you click the shutter the image looks EXACTLY like how you saw it. I have had clients look at the LCD after a picture is taken and just be in AWE at how clear and detailed the picture is and immediately say I WANT THAT PICTURE – this is before I can even get it to photoshop. so with all this said, I hope this review has been useful as I am now officially hooked on pentax.
Tip: The little green button on this camera is a life saver when using a 50mm in low light. it automatically sets the aperture and shutter speed in Hyper Manual Mode. use this with the shake reduction on and the photos you can achieve are priceless.
Pro : Tuff Body, USEFUL features, Excellent Viewfinder, Can use Any Pentax lens ever made.
Con : Wish Camera Had Popular Dynamic Range Option..
I used to be a Canon user in my 35mm
manual focus days. I carried around an F1n (2 of them to be precise) when i Shifted to autofocus i went for the
nikon f5 since i couldnt use the old canon lenses with the eos system.However i never did like Nikon's service in the philippines( lousy, slow,)
When iit came for me to shop around for A dslr i had the choice between thw Nikon d80 and Canon eos 40d. However when i went to the nikon store that day the sales reps must have had a long day since i left not purchasing the camera. There was another camera store nearby and i wanted to see if i could get a good deal on a d80 or eos 40d . however the sales rep introduced me to the pentax k10d and the rest is history.
What i like about the camera is that it did not take me long too familiarize with the various features and functions. In fact i went ballistic, shooting about 300 pictures the day after i got it.The lenses are fantastic and the shake reduction, well, imagine a sharp handheld at 1/2 second with a 100-300 zoom. Take note that i have the limited edition grandprix version that comes with the battery grip. autofocusing is fast, like my old f5.
though it tends to grope in dim light , but then again, what camera af doesn't? tHE lcd IS AMONG THE CLEAREST AND BRIGHTEST I HAVE SEEN.the exposure meter also rates up there with the best. i also like a solid camera, AND THIS IS WHAT IT IS.
IT WOULD BE SAFE FOR ME TOSAY THAT I WILL BE A PENTAX USER FOR A LONG LONG TIME,IN FACT MY NEXT UPGRADE WOULD BE THE K1d OR WHATEVER THE FLAGSHIP OF PENTAX WILL BE AT THAT TIME
Pro : Shake reduction, ease of use onboard RAW to JPEG conversion
Con : relatively weak built in flash, so, so software