
Review Summary
2013-05-27T21:00:00
The camera was rated E+ and when I get the camera the screen was broken, and the image on the display gets distorted. the pictures saved on the memory were OK. I returned the camera, they were vary helpful and kind, and my money was returned.
halucafa
2011-12-11T19:00:00
With adaptor, I can use all my old Tamron/Pentax screw mount lens
Sheldo
2011-10-12T21:00:00
My first DSLR and I am very pleased with it!
David
2011-03-05T19:00:00
Still learning about features.
dick48
2011-02-25T19:00:00
Use it for travel/family photography
BERT R.
2011-02-07T19:00:00
I love Pentax cameras. Their simplicity, robustness, low cost and versatility have made them a favourite for me. I still own and use a my 35 year old film K1000 and ME Super, but what I really love about the digital k-m is that I can use my gorgeous old prime lenses. These lenses are still relatively easy to get hold of and cheap to buy off [...]. In particular, look out for the Pentax 50mm 1.7 prime and its stunning, soft depth of field when used on a wide aperture (can be bought for less than $100, I paid about $40 for mine...). You will have to make a minor adjustment on the custom settings (see p.284 of manual) and manually focus, but if you want to take portraits or close ups, the soft blurring of the background is really lovely and practically impossible to achieve on most basic new zoom lenses and compact cameras.
Foto F.
2010-11-06T21:00:00
Too many SLRs on the marketplace were too complex for my needs and use. All I wanted was a reasonably priced interchangeable lens SLR that was easy to use for vacations and fun. The Pentax Kx fit the bill perfectly.
PAUL M.
2010-06-05T21:00:00
Dust Spots -When cleaning the CMOS SENSOR FILM COVERING to remove stubborn dust spots I found a sensor swab and eclipse work best.... dSLRs get dust on the SENSOR when you change lens, etc...spot[s] are not always a dirty lens, you see. ALL dSLR SENSORS need cleaning at sometime [mine sooner than later]...check the web for any dSLR solutions.
PentaxUser
2010-05-22T21:00:00
All pentax lens are appropiate
Prometeo
2010-04-19T21:00:00
I have had excellent results using my old film-Pentax lenses on this camera...Very pleased with combination
Sheldo
2010-04-11T21:00:00
There are tons of great DSLRs out there, but I think Pentax has hit a home run here. I think this is the best DSLR out there for day to day use, especially if you travel around a lot and love prime lenses. It's cheap enough not to worry too much about it being stolen, broken, or otherwise hurt. It's small enough not to be a bother keeping it with you at all times. And you have access to the fantastic range of Pentax primes (my day to day lens kit is the 15, 31, and 77). Nikon budget DLSRs will only allow you to use a few of their primes. And Canon's superb L-primes are too expensive for me to consider bringing around on a day to day basis.
Santi U.
2010-02-22T19:00:00
This is my first DSLR. I chose the Pentax one for the price and two the reviews of the camera on several sites. I have had it about a week and love it. Because it is my first DSLR I can not give a good comparison to other models but the owners manual and the menus make it easy to navigate and learn the camera. Since I am a newbie to photography I have only used the Auto Focus and the preset modes for different settings. The results have encouraged me to learn more and hopefully get out of the preset modes. I have not used the software that came with the camera.
Sarah
2010-02-21T19:00:00
i sent this camera back. Sunset mode was terrible. Even took lousy shots of sunset when not in sunset mode. Camera would, for no apparent reason, flash that batteries were depleted and shut off during a shot, missing the shot entirely. When camera was turned back on, the battery indicator showed a full charge. Could not find anything in manual to explain this. The HDR and fish eye modes were fun but not enough for me to keep this camera. This is the only time I have been unhappy with Penax. The K-x gets no stars from me.
carol h.
2010-02-20T19:00:00
Excellent DSLR! Perfect outdoors, indoors, anything I want to take pictures of. It's lightweight, comfortable, easy to use and the image quality is unsurpassed!
TomG
2010-01-14T19:00:00
This camera has everything! The only issues that I had where with Auto focus was louder then expected. Low light Auto focus struggles to find focus.
BStowell
2010-01-11T19:00:00
I was just interested in exceptional image quality and charpnes. I found that the K-x has a CMOS censor that takes great picturea at 100 ISO and has no equal in sharpnes - better that the Nikon D90, 5000 that have also a CMOS sensor of the same size and similar pixer size. The only 2 cameras that get similar quality of sharpnes and detail are cameras with CCD censors of the same size; the Nikon 3000 and the Sony 300, both have lower pixer size so they should be better at the sharpnes level - they are close, the K-x is better at 100 iso, but the K-x is not too good at 1600iso compared with most cameras. So, I desided to buy a normal lense with a 1.4 aperture to take pictures without using the flash at 100ISO at lower light levels knowing that the camear performs great at 100ISO. It also has the video and shoots 4 frame per second. Anyway, the camera is well built and priced well.
1
2010-01-09T19:00:00
My first DSLR , bought in November and started using it in December. Nice evenly balanced weight , not too heavy . Set up with a little help and then off I went for a walk with it . It gave me confidence to try things I had never expected to be able to do - and to a degree I succeeded. So far I'm still using it on Auto but will start moving to manual setting this week. I'm thrilled with the camera though I have learnt to be careful with the inbuilt Flash - you can easily get reflections - I have now bought a Metz flash unit to use with it , which has a built in diffuser .
Angela T.
2009-11-19T19:00:00
This camera does NOT like some brands of NiMH batteries, like the ones supplied by Adorama "POWER 2000" brand. The camera will refuse to start up, with a freshly charged set of brand new AA's, even after waiting for 5 minutes after inserting the batteries. Changing the battery type used in the menus has no effect. It fails for Auto/NiMH mode selection. Once the unit starts working with a set of batts, the life is very good. Camera works best with single use Energizer Lithium AA's. Hope Pentax fixes this issue soon, because its a GREAT camera, with this single Killer flaw. Low light performance, features, frame-rate, view-finder are all top-notch!! Kit lens could be a bit brighter though.
Nev
2009-11-01T19:00:00
Hi ISO performance is stunning! Viewfinder is pretty good too. Build quality is solid. Colour accuracy is not great. Overall its great value!
Nev
CMOS with primary color filter and integrated Shake/Dust Reduction sensor movement system
23.4 x 15.6mm
8 bits/channel JPG, 12 bits/channel RAW
12.6 MP
12.97 MP
12M (4288x2428), 10M (3936x2624), 6M (3072x2048), 2M (1728x1152)
1280x720p24 (16:9), 640x416p24 (3:2) (resolution/FPS)
Image sensor movement combined with SP coating (Dust Alert available)
PENTAX KAF3, KAF2, KAF and KA (K mount, 35mm screw mount, 645/67 med format lenses useable w/ adapter and/or restrictions)
Yes
N/A
TTL phase-difference 11 point (9 cross) wide autofocus system (SAFOX VIII)
AF Auto, AF Single (w focus lock), AF Continuous (available in Action mode including Auto Picture Action, Kids, Pet, Stage Lighting, Night Snap, P/A/S/M/B/Sv), Manual
11 point auto, 5 point auto, AF point select, center/spot
Yes, via built-in flash
Pentamirror
96%
0.85X (w/ 50mm F1.4 at infinity)
0.85X (w/ 50mm F1.4 at infinity)
Natural-Bright-Matte III
-2.5 to 1.5
Optical & Digital (available via programmable Green button)
2.7" TFT color LCD monitor w adjustable brightness
230,000 dots
Yes
TTL by CMOS image sensor
100%
Magnification (2-6X in AF, 2-10X in MF), grid pattern, bright/dark indication, histogram
Contrast w Face Detection (up to 16 faces), contrast, phase difference
Retractable P-TTL popup flash
12 (100/m), 16 (200/m)
25mm wide angle (equivalent to 35mm)
On, off, redeye, slow sync, slow sync w redeye, slow sync w trailing curtain, wireless
-2 to 1 EV in 1/2 steps
Hotshoe (P-TTL, high speed sync available), wireless with PENTAX dedicated flash, X-sync socket
1/180 sec
SD, SDHC
USB 2.0 hi-speed, AV out
NTSC, PAL
Power source: 4 AA (lithium, NiMH rechargeable, alkaline)
Approx 1900 (1100 w 50% flash, CIPA)
Approx 680 min
Yes (optional)
Sensor-shift Shake Reduction (4 stops max)
TTL open aperture, 16 segment metering
EV 1-21.5 (ISO 200, 50mm F1.4)
Yes
Yes
Yes
+/- 3 EV (1/3 and 1/2 steps)
Yes (available via programmable AF/AE-L button)
Yes, 3 frames, up to +/- 1.5 (1/2 steps) or +/- 1.0 (1/3 steps)
200-6400 (1, 1/2, 1/3 EV steps), up to 1600 in Bulb, expand to 100-12800
200-6400 (1, 1/2, 1/3 EV steps), up to 1600 in Bulb, expand to 100-12800
Auto, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Fluorescent (D, N, W, L), Tungsten, Flash, CTE
Yes
Electronically controlled, vertical run, focal plane shutter
1/6000 to 30 sec, bulb
Auto Picture (Portrait, Landscape, Macro, Action, Night Scene Portrait, StandardFlash Off), Picture (Portrait, Landscape, Macro, Action, Night Scene Portrait, Standard Flash Off), Scene (Night Scene, Surf & Snow, Food, Sunset, Kids, Pet, Candlelight, Museum, Stage Lighting [JPG], Night Snap [JPG]), Program, Sensitivity Priority, Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority, Metered Manual, Bulb (available in Metered Manual), Movie
Auto Picture (Portrait, Landscape, Macro, Action, Night Scene Portrait, StandardFlash Off), Picture (Portrait, Landscape, Macro, Action, Night Scene Portrait, Standard Flash Off), Scene (Night Scene, Surf & Snow, Food, Sunset, Kids, Pet, Candlelight, Museum, Stage Lighting [JPG], Night Snap [JPG]), Program, Sensitivity Priority, Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority, Metered Manual, Bulb (available in Metered Manual), Movie
Yes
P, A, S, M, B (in Metered Manual), Sv (Sensitivity Priority)
Custom Image Modes: Bright, Natural, Portrait, Landscape, Vibrant, Muted, Monochrome. Color modes include gamut radar and fine adjustment for saturation, hue, key, contrast, sharpness (regular and fine adj). Monochrome mode includes adjustment for film filter effects (green, yellow, orange, red, magenta, blue, cyan, infrared), toning (sepia warm/cool), key, contrast, sharpness (regular andfine adj). Cross Processing mode available for creative random effect generation.
(capture): Toy Camera, High Contrast, Soft, Starburst, Retro, Color Extract (6),Fisheye, Custom (8)
Folder name (standard, date)
Approx 4.7 FPS (Continuous Hi: 17 JPG, 5 RAW), 2 FPS (Continuous Lo: unlimited JPG, 11 RAW)
Yes (12s, 2s)
Yes, infrared (0s, 3s, continuous)
One Shot (no data, basic data, full data, color channel histogram), Multi Image Display (4, 9, 16, or 36 thumbnails), Calendar Filmstrip, Folder, Magnification (quick zoom available), Select & Delete, Movie Playback (no data, basic data, full data), Bright/Dark Indication
Image Rotation, Digital Filter, Resize, Cropping, Slideshow, Image Comparison, RAW Development, Index Print, Protect, DPOFson, Protect, DPOF
Toy Camera, Retro, High Contrast, Extract Color (6), Watercolor, Pastel, Miniature, Base Parameter Adj, Monochrome (filter effects, toning), Color (6), Soft, Starburst, Fisheye, Slim, HDR, Custom Filter
Still: RAW (PEF, DNG), JPG (EXIF 2.21), DCF 2.0 (design rule for camera file system), DPOF, Print Image Matching III
AVI (Motion JPG)
22
Windows XP/Vista, USB 2.0 port
Mac OS-X 10.3-10.5, USB 2.0 port
English, French, German, Spanish, Swedish, Dutch, Italian, Russian, Portuguese, Danish, Finnish, Polish, Czech, Hungarian, Turkish, Greek, Japanese, Korean, Traditional/Simplified Chinese
Fiber reinforced plastic polymer covers around a rugged stainless steel chassis
32-104°F
4.8 x 3.6 x 2.7"
Without battery or removable memory: 18.2 oz
Loaded and ready: 20.5 oz
Pentax 1 year limited warranty
027075159440






perfect budget SLR for prime enthusiasts
By Santi U.
There are tons of great DSLRs out there, but I think Pentax has hit a home run here. I think this is the best DSLR out there for day to day use, especially if you travel around a lot and love prime lenses. It's cheap enough not to worry too much about it being stolen, broken, or otherwise hurt. It's small enough not to be a bother keeping it with you at all times. And you have access to the fantastic range of Pentax primes (my day to day lens kit is the 15, 31, and 77). Nikon budget DL...
View full Review
Nice to own a Pentax again
By PAUL M.
Too many SLRs on the marketplace were too complex for my needs and use. All I wanted was a reasonably priced interchangeable lens SLR that was easy to use for vacations and fun. The Pentax Kx fit the bill perfectly.
The extremely compact and lightweight PENTAX K-x is perfect for users stepping up from a point and shoot digital camera to their first digital SLR.
12.4 effective megapixels
The K-x incorporates a newly developed CMOS image sensor to assure high-speed image data readout and more flexibility with varying ISO sensitivity levels.
Widescreen HD movie recording at 1280x720 pixels at a cinematic 24 frames per second (720p24)
The PENTAX K-x movie recording function captures true-to-life movie clips in 16:9 high-definition TV proportions (1280 x 720 pixels) at a frame rate of 24 frames per second.
PENTAX-original SR mechanism for sharp, blur-free images
The K-x features the PENTAX-developed Shake Reduction mechanism that effectively compensates for the adverse effects of camera shakeby as much as four shutter steps. This innovative mechanism extends its benefits to all PENTAX interchangeable lenses - even those designed for film-format cameras.
High-speed continuous shooting at approximately 4.7 images per second
The K-x's high-speed continuous shooting mode records as many as 17 images (in JPEG recording format) at a maximum speed of approximately 4.7 images per second. This is the fastest of all entry-class models. The K-x also features a more reliable shutter unit, which passed a demanding action test of more than 100,000 shutter releases. The top shutter speed of 1/6000 second allows the photographer to preserve sharp, crisp images of fast-moving subjects.
High-performance, high-speed PRIME II imaging engine
This new imaging engine offers greater data processing speed and enhanced capability to produce higher-quality images with richer, more accurate color rendition, as well as faster transmission speed of movie data.
Live View function with Face detection of up to 16 faces
In addition to the camera's viewfinder, the K-x features a Live View function that allows users to view subjects on the LCD monitor during shooting.
Digital Filter function
The K-x's digital filter function allows users to process recorded images in a variety of creative ways within the camera and produce highly creative visual expressions. With a choice of 16 different filters including Color Extract, Retro, Soft, Starburst, Toy Camera, and more (including a custom filter for building multiple effects), photographers may apply multiple filters to a singleimage for customized effects
Cross Process mode
The K-x features a new Cross Process mode that automatically and randomly adds finishing touches to exposures to create eye-catching images with unique, intriguing colors (just like images treated with Cross Process* in film photography). This mode adds a whimsical element to digital photography since photographers don't know the results until the captured image is actually displayed on the camera's LCD monitor.
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