Pentax K10D Digital SLR Camera, 10.2MP, 2.5" LCD Monitor, 11 point AF, Single & Continuous AF shooting

2013-12-16T19:00:00

The color saturation is amazing, it reminds me of the days when I was shooting Kodachrome.

Timothy T.

2013-10-13T21:00:00

I have used this camera for more than five years. The image color and sharpness were perfect and comfortable when hold in hand. Drop on ground for some times with no impact on the function!

Allan

2013-04-22T21:00:00

I use the K10D as an all- around camera shooting events. No complaints.

Uchytil

2012-05-06T21:00:00

Pentax has some of the best body design in the business, and this DSLR from 2006 is a bit of a design marvel even by their own high standards. It's sturdy, compact, fits well in the hand, and with only a brief settling-in period, it can be used without fuss, confusion, or even looking at the body. I heartily recommend the K10D to anyone looking for an inexpensive but durable and feature-rich camera, although there are of course limits to what a DSLR from 2006 can do. As far as handling goes, this might be the perfect camera. In its own quirky way, its ergonomics are as elegant as that of a Leica rangefinder or an Apple product. Everything just "makes sense" in a way that's hard to describe. Everything that ought to be a physical button is a physical button. Everything that ought to be buried in a menu is buried in a menu. You can customize the camera's interface to suit your needs, as well. I once owned both a Pentax K10D and a Canon 5D at the same time. I actually wound up using the K10D much more often, because it was just that much more fun to shoot! The 5D felt clunky and clumsy in comparison. The 5D also felt more fragile, too, despite being much bigger. The K10D is weather-sealed and very solid feeling, without being overly brick-like. As far as image quality goes, the K10D performs very, very well for its age. It produces absolutely excellent results at ISOs 100-200, and it produces very good results up to ISO 800. According to DXOMARK, this camera actually beats the 5D in dynamic range at ISO 100! However, this is not a low-light camera. From ISO 800 onwards, things get iffy. Images are more than usable if you nail the exposure, and the noise has a pleasing grainlike consistency, but it's obvious that the K10D can't compete with newer cameras at high ISOs. Also of note is the fact that the K10D is a camera meant to be used in RAW mode. Images straight out of the camera can be a little bland, but after getting punched up in Lightroom or GIMP, they look much better than that of other cameras, both of the same vintage and newer. Compare this with how my GF1 produces very good images straight out of the camera, but I have relatively less room to futz around with them in post. (Bonus tip for the K10D: shoot with -1 on Contrast. You'll preserve more shadow detail that way.) The K10D has all sorts of other weird advantages. It has in-body lens stabilization, for one thing. It can use just about any K-mount lens ever made, which is good enough as it is, but this is made even better by the "green button" mode that lets you use even old M glass as well as you possibly can. The K10D also features "Hyper-Program Mode," which lets you have the best of both Aperture Priority and Shutter Priority Modes, complete with Auto-ISO to boot. This is ideal for event shooting, where swiftly changing conditions may require many different on-the-fly adjustments. Disadvantages? There are a few. There's no Live View, which would be helpful when using those manual focus lenses. Also, reviewing photos sometimes takes longer than it should. If you need to chimp a shot, you might see that spinning hourglass for a few seconds, and if you're like me, you might start swearing under your breath as it does so. Faults aside, it's still a great value for the money. I would happily recommend this camera over even many newer cameras.

Corpulence P.

2011-09-06T21:00:00

Easy to use. Image stabilization good and fast focus.

rlw

2011-03-05T19:00:00

I bought this as a second body to go with the Pentax K-X. It really does have great color rendition at lower iso...up to 400 or so with superb results, an appearance to the images that the K-X, a newer camera with more megapixels could not achieve. I went for a walk in the rain and the camera kept the rain out. Great build, kind of heavy, menus and displays are best suited for experienced dslr/slr users.

Natural P.

2008-04-01T21:00:00

Photography is my hobby and this is my first DSLR after owning a SLR in the past. I picked the K10D over the Nikon D80, because of the many additional features it has, such as in-body stabilization and auto-focus, weather seals, dust reduction, etc. The image quality is very good and using the camera is a blast, once you get used to it. I highly recommend the product. The kit lens included is also acceptable and good for the price, but you might also thing about investing in a more powerful zoom - Pentax offers a cheap 70-300 mm one.

kiril106

2008-03-18T21:00:00

This is a great product. I have been trying to get into the Digital SLR field for a while now, and boy I think I struck a Gold mine! The weather proofing, weight, controls and everything about it impress me. The best thing of all was that I can use all of my 35mm Film format lenses with my new digital K10D ... WOW!

Russell R.

2008-03-16T21:00:00

This camera has excellent performance. Feels very comfortable and balanced. Two raw formats: DNG and RAW. Shake reduction works on any lens and helps produce very sharp shots (even for pixel peepers). The lens and flash selection from Pentax is limited, so also consider Sigma, Tamron, Metz, etc. Price/Performance ratio is excellent!

ERIC S.

2008-02-20T19:00:00

The K10D is my first dive into digital SLR's. My initial search made me believe that Nikon and Cannon were the only viable candidates in the price range I was willing to spend. When combing the forums, I came across a favourable review for the Pentax K10D. This sparked the warm fuzzies I had for my long sold K100 film body. The K10D had all the features I was looking for and some features found only in higher end models. I took the plunge and have no regrets. I love the tank like build and larger size; I have big hands the some DSLR's felt more like a point and shoot when handling them. I take a fair amount of outdoor photos and the weather/dust proofing gaskets were a strong plus for me. I agree with other viewers that shutter noise is louder than the competitors, but that is not an issue for me. Features like the dust removal and anti shake built into the body are just icing on the cake; the latter negating the need to purchase more expensive anti-shake lenses. On the downside is the obvious lesser availability of lenses compared to Nikon or Cannon, but since I am not a professional photographer, I find the four lens I currently own fill all my photography needs. Another observation is that in side by side photo comparisons to the Cannon EOS 30D the Pentax photos were not as sharp. I wasn't overly concerned since I take 90% of my photos RAW, it can easily be tweaked with a good editing program like Bibble or CS3 ( the included Pentax software for RAW manipulation is OK if you're just starting out.) The 'green' mode is also OK if you just want to start clicking away, but it produces mediocre/unexpected results---do yourself a favor and learn how to use the advanced features. Also, get a dedicated flash---I don't think I have to elaborate on the issues with built in flashes. The K10D is a great camera for those deciding to step up from a point and shoot and it can produce professional results with a little experimentation and know how. I've only had this camera for one month and I grow fonder of it each time I use it. I admit I am biased from my shutterbug beginings, but the K10D is one nice camera. Thanks Adorama!

DarkestArc

2008-02-20T19:00:00

For a person who is still learning about dslr cameras this camera lets me set it to automatic to take great everyday pictures while also challenging me with manual settings which keeps me excited about photography.

Big L.

2008-02-20T19:00:00

The K10D is my fourth SLR, and my third Pentax (since beginning with SLRs in 1974). The K10D body accepts all my previous SMC lenses (which I do prefer to the 18-55 mm "kit" lens); however, even this serves my purposes. As my first digital SLR, the K10D makes experimenting with technique very convenient. I've loaded 1GB Sandisk Extreme III SD and shoot RAW frames, with satisfacory performance. So far (after approx. two weeks) data rate is lag free, except when I exercised the system with astrophotograhy (nighttime temp. = 23 degrees). Manual, spot metering very good. One drawback: now I have to get a new flash unit since I've learned that this new body will not readily interface with my ancient (c. 1982)Vivtar 285. Bottom line: A good camera, which gives me no reason to regret choosing any of its rivals.

BHS

2008-01-20T19:00:00

what erve you are a professional or a hobbyist,this cemare are good enough for you. But, if the focus system can fast,that's will be perfect...

pitta

2007-10-22T21:00:00

I went from Canon A-1's & EOS-1, Leica R6.2, and Pentax LX to an Olympus (E-510) digital.Two months later went to the Pentax DL-2 (same as the DL-1 but not sold in USA).It reminded me of how much I like my LX. I waited for the K10D with great anticipation.I was told it would be under USD $2,000.When I saw they were only (retail) [$] I was quite pleased.Bought my first in April. Bought my second K10D in July.I can't find anything I dislike about the camera.Have you looked at the Canon Rebel XTi in this (street) prices range?Pick one up... I did. I thought it was a static display. It felt like a cheap toy. Build quality is non existent.The only other camera I considered was the Canon EOS-5D (street price about $2200).Two Pentax K10D at about [$] (street price) each or one Canon EOS-5D for $2200?I went with the Pentax. I was also very impressed with the Pentax DA* and limited lenses.Since my K10D's I have purchased all of the limited lenses (77mm, 31mm, 43mm).I am overly impressed with the quality and the prices are a stealUnique items like the 40mm (I have it), 21mm, & 70mm pancake lens.My only disappointment with Pentax has been with the some what new 50mm f1.4. My 10+ year old Pentax AF 50mm 1.7 is far superior.Anyway, back to the K10D: My uses are primarily in Macro and low light.I am extremely pleased with this model. The battery life is also very good.Lastly, if you use the camera in poor weather, it is shocking at how weather resistant it is.

Pentax F.

2007-10-16T21:00:00

The K10D is nice for outdoor photography. It is solid, practical, and has a ton of features.

Orangecrush

2007-10-13T21:00:00

I got mine with the battery grip, it's great. Love setting it up for User Mode then going back to one of the preset modes until I want to do my Photo Shoot, especially if I set the White Balance, or Saturation in Extended Bracketing. Of corse having it change to continuous and Auto ISO 400-1600 with a warning at 800 in Shutter plus Apreture Priority by swithching to User Mode is great too. The color is great in Raw Capture thanks to Adobe DNG and Adobe RGB. However I'm buying lenses that work with 35mm film because Pentax is bound to come out with a camera that has no lens factor instead of a 1.5 lens factor so my 20mm works like a 20mm instead of a 30mm

Dan J.

2007-10-09T21:00:00

great camera. perfect for travellers, when you are not sure about the weather conditions you're gonna face. weather sealing works best if used with DA* lenses, which, for now, are insanely priced. IS really works, it gives you 2-3 stops. combine it with a good lens (f/2.8, f/4) and you can work miracles in interiors or when shooting action. arround 3 fps lets you handle even sports but not at a professional level. 10mp will allow you to further crop the image for extra zoom. don't take the kit lens. if you do not have the extra money, forget k10d and get k100d super with a better lens. things to remember: 1.5x crop factor (all focal lengths are multiplied by 1.5; quite hard and expensive to get ultra wide). +1 contrast and +2 sharpness for good jpeg (or shoot raw). fast sd needed for 3fps.

cvlad

2007-09-25T21:00:00

The Pentax K10D is the digital SLR that finally tempted me away from using solely film SLRs and into the digital camera world. And I am very glad I got it. While I am still learning how to use the camera (having had it for less then a month), I am tickled at some of the images I have already captured and at the potential of the camera for my photography. Sure, there are some professional jobs for which a different camera would be a better choice. And the K10D (like any camera) has its limitations. But it is a powerful, easy-to-use, versatile camera that allows the user to accomplish much. An excellent camera for an advanced amateur and even for a rank amateur who is interested in developing her skill as a photographer.

Seth H.

2007-09-23T21:00:00

This is my second K10D. I bought one in January and have loved it; this one was for my daughter. I love the feal, the photo's are great, couldn't be hapier with the camera. This one did have a black dot that showed up on the sensor, and that is the only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5. I am sure these kind of problems are bound to happen. I wish that Pentax would have replaced it instead of having to send it in for repair. I only had it for 3 weeks when I found the black dot; I went back and found the dot on every image that had been taken. I only showed up on images with a white background. I love the weatherstripping and the heavy-duty build of the camera.

jimbo

2007-07-09T21:00:00

A pleasure to use. Easy on the battery life, too!

David71360

2007-07-09T21:00:00

This is a solid camera. Having outgrown my digital point & shoot, I was looking for a camera that would truly replace my film SLR. My choices were the Pentax, Nikon's D80, and Canon's Rebel XTi. The Pentax K10D fit the bill perfectly at a better price. I can shoot fully automatic, a wide variety of semi-automatic settings, or fully manual. It's fast enough to cover my daughter's soccer games and takes great pictures. I shoot only raw, and use Photoshop Elements to convert to JPEG for more conventional sharing of images. It takes a while to learn all of its features, it has that many, but well worth the time.

Rick

2007-05-22T21:00:00

An excellent DSLR which offers excellent value, features, and image quality compared to competing models in other brands - and does so at a much lower cost. The internal image stabilization is a wonderful feature that eliminates deciding whether to pay extra for IS when buying lenses. Best of all, it works as advertised. This camera has more than met my expectations and should satisfy almost any DSLR user, including most pros. The limiting factor will invariably be the photographer's skill and knowledge, not this camera. With good glass mounted on this camera, I have absolutely nothing to complain about regarding image quality. The only negative point I can think of is new Pentax lenses are a bit slow in coming, so if you like a wide range of new lenses to pick from, that might be an issue. All previous Pentax lenses work fine, however. For people like myself who like to travel light with a couple of quality zooms to cover the range, or those who can manage with a combination of a few primes and zooms, this should not be a huge issue. Pentax is in the process of releasing a series of DA* lenses for their DSLR's, and there is a good selection from their existng line of primes and zooms. I would buy this camera again without any hesitation and recommend it (particularly to outdoors photographers) without reservation.

Jaeger

2007-05-09T21:00:00

I considered the Nikon D80, but the Pentax is a better value because Shake reduction is in the camera. The results from the camera is fantastic. This camera and lens is everything I could have hoped it would be.

Steve

2007-05-07T21:00:00

I waited for this camera to be awailable, and had two lenses and previously owned a Pentax DS, and the K110. The "soft" shots produced in most situations were a huge disappointment for me, and I returned the camera. In-camera controls were not, at least to my eyes, much of an improvement, and I am now looking at the Nikon D40x, as an alternate choice. I might add, that all the favorable opinions influenced my purchase, so that is a factor to include in your decision making.

The s.

2007-05-05T21:00:00

If I had to choose again I would buy it once again. The camera fits hands very well especially with the D-BG2 battery grip. The dials, and buttons are just under the fingers - you can just use them without "fingering" and taking your eye off the viewfinder. The menu, especially the custom tab offers plenty of advanced options and adjustments - you can fully customize the camera. The LCD screen gives clear and vivid colors even in strong sun light. And the image quality. I knew from previous readings that it was very good, but haven’t expected that digital camera could reproduce the colors so exactly. It's difficult to write about K10D without enthusiasm. I could also list all of its useful features and advantages but you can find them in the specification or in many web reviews. Just it offers everything that I expected from a camera. Besides, I love Pentax’s P-TTL flash mode, which is very accurate with both AF-360FGZ and AF-540FGZ flash units. Now, with K10D the adjustments abilities in flash photography are almost unlimited.

Havranek

2007-04-17T21:00:00

Menues are easy to navagate, camera is well balanced and easy to handle even with long lens. The Shake Reduction handled a 500mm on a very windy day. The contuinus shooting easly captures fast action.

Catman

2007-02-26T19:00:00

AFTER READING MANY REVIEWS AND ALL THE RAGS I NARROWED IT DOEN TO THE NIKON D-80, THE CANON 30-D AND THE PENTAX K10D. ALMOST ALL OF THE PROFESSIONAL REVIEWS SAID: "GO NIKON." HOWEVER AFTER USING ALL THE CAMERAS PRE AND POST PRINT AND PHOTOSHOP THE PENTAX HAS THE CLEAREST, CLEANEST PRINTS AND THE BEST OVERALL COLOR, SATURATION CONTRAST AND A GREAT SENSE OF BALLANCE. THE SKINTONES ARE NEAR PERFECT. AND IF YOU LIKE THE FEEL OF A SOLID CAMERA, THE PENTAX FEELS LIKE A "REAL" AND SOLID CAMERA. DUST AND WEATHER PROOF TO BOOT. OH THE AUTO FOCUS IS ALSO QUIET AND FAST! IF I WERE LOOKING FOR A D-SLR (AGAIN) I WOULD STRONGLY SUGGEST TAKING A LONG HARD LOOK AT THE PENTAX K10D--YOU WILL BE GLAD YOU DID.

Bish

2007-01-08T19:00:00

I have been using Pentax gear professionally for thirty-five years. I was a bit concerned that they'd miss the digital tsunami, but the original D lived up to my expectations. After that, a series of lesser cameras with the same sensor seemed to be the only choice. I wouldn't give up the two control wheels and the more professionally oriented control set in general. Worried again, I had a fortune invested in glass and I was not anxious to buy it all again in another brand. Then comes the K10D. At last, a professional Pentax digital, with two control wheels, and instead of all those confusing "picture" modes a couple of truly innovative new sensitivity modes. I bet a lot of engineers are thinking "DUH, why didn't I think of that?". An added benefit is the shake reduction. And my old M 50mm f/1.4 is still plugging away, it's now my main portrait lens. The shake reduction is a special bonus, and you can set it to work with your old glass. The battery grip and the size of the camera are more to my liking than the D (which is now my backup camera). Plus storing an extra memory card in the grip is an amazingly clever idea. Another "DUH, why didn't I think of that?" feature! Handles well, writes to my 133x card blazingly fast (one thing I didn't like about the D). After a burst of 9-11 RAW files, it keeps firing at a bit less than two frames per second. That means it's writing to the card at something like 20 MB/sec. I thought it was odd that it didn't have a PC connector, but since we all use Pocket Wizards these days, it's no big deal. And the tripod mount on the grip isn't centered on the lens. I've not had any problem with it, but it is a bit odd. Too bad they didn't use Compact Flash cards, I can't interchange cards between cameras. But that's the price of progress, I guess. Figuring out the new sensitivity modes was a challenge, but not nearly as confusing as those silly "picture" modes on other cameras.

LAUREN G.