Used Pentax K100D 6.1 Megapixel Digital SLR Camera Body

2007-10-04T21:00:00

Smooth handling, and once you learn the adjustments available, nearly every shot has great possibilities

ANNE H.

2007-07-10T21:00:00

I am SO GLAD that I got another Pentax SLR camera, I always had been so pleased with the cameras I got before, and this is my first DSLR which I am pleased. I still own my film Pentax slrs which I wouldn't trade them for any thing.

GRACIELA C.

2007-07-09T21:00:00

This SLR is a great purchase for a novice as well as a seasoned pro. The light weight combined with ease of use controls make this camera a breeze to operate. The manual settings are great for portrait work as well as low light pictures. The ability to use different ISO ratings makes creative photography easy. A nice feature that the Pentax *IST did not have is the shake reduction. Previously, lower "film" speeds would result in blurry photos, but with the shake reduction blurry pictures are all but gone. The K-mount lens coupling makes changing lenses in the field quick and easy. Additionally, the ability to use any Pentax K-mount & KA-mount lens is a bonus. Recommendation: This camera works well with regular alkaline batteries, and I keep a spare set on hand, but it I would suggest that you spend a few extra dollars and purchase a rechargable CV battery system. The battery life is greatly increased and more reliable. Over all, I would highly recommend this to a beginner as a primary camera or as a secondary setup for the professional. The image quality is good enough for large format printing (24" x 36") when used with RAW format. Down-side, there aren't too many image manipulation packages out there yet that use RAW format, but the high JPG setings are usually good enough for most applications.

kdgayle

2007-07-09T21:00:00

I am still "making friends" with this new pal! There is lots to learn. I wish there was a CD or DVD on how to use all the settings--I learn better by seeing than reading! I'm disappointed that my Pentax K1000 lenses don't work with this camera--unless there is something I haven't discovered in the manual yet. It is so nice to not have to worry about "film"--I can shoot and shoot!

YVONNE G.

2007-07-09T21:00:00

I just upgraded this camera from Ist DS and I am very satisfied with its performance. ISO is slightly better and with anti-handshake function, it actually comes handy when I don't carry tripod. If you are thinking between this one and D40, I would say go with Pentax, because they have the same chip and the Pentax has anti-handshake. Not to mention, K100D is cheaper too.

Philip

2007-07-09T21:00:00

Very good value for money. The kit lense (18-55mm)results distortions below 35mm.

Ranabir G.

2007-05-09T21:00:00

I use this camera to shoot weddings! I love it, have no problem printing VERY NICE 20x30 prints, it's a great camera for the money... I purchased it when it first came out for [$] and feel it was and still is worth every cent! Now that it's less expensive the deal only gets better!A few warnings, the shutter and AF are a little loud (not good for wedding photography), you have to use rechargables or Energizer Lithium Ion AA's... this camera eats regular AA's like nobody's business... but the L-Ions last and last and last. Also I wish the auto WB was a little more acurate, but for casual shooting you'll never even notice! I've got a K10D on the way... if you're going pro, I'd say K10D, but if you're looking for a great entry DSLR --> SKIP NIKON & CANON & BE PROUD TO SHOOT PENTAX! You get 100 times more value in my opinion! The system is growing and there are some excellent lenses & accessories for it! [...]

SCOTT A.

2007-05-07T21:00:00

I'M QUITE SATISFIED WITH THE K100D.FOR THE MONEY IT FITS MY STYLE. MY ONLY PROBLEM IS LEARNING HOW TO TAKE LOW LIGHT PHOTOS AND FIGURE OUT THE AWB CONTROLS.SOME PIC'S ARE RIGHT ON THE MONEY AND OTHERS CAST WITH YELLOW OR ORANGE TINGE.OTHERWISE I'M HAPPY WITH IT BECAUSE IT'S EASY TO READ AND LEARN THE CONTROLS.

HARCHIE2

2007-05-07T21:00:00

I have always owned Pentax cameras and I am extremely happy with this camera!

Caroline

2007-03-25T21:00:00

This has to be the best camera I have owned. Very versatile as it can use any of the genuine Pentax lenses, and Sigma and Vivitar. An excellent addition to the limited number of cameras that can do digiscoping. Well built and easy to hold. 100% satisfied.

ramiot

2007-03-25T21:00:00

Love this camera! The large LCD screen is great. And it takes very clear pictures that don't need to be sharpened, unlike the Canon that I used to own. It is easy to use and has a lot of extras. The only thing that I would change on this camera is the choice of batteries. It would be nice to be able to use rechargable CV-R3s or a single rechargable lithium ion battery.

Vicxpix

2007-03-07T19:00:00

Please note that all comments in this review are made based on extremely sharp 12 x 18 inch enlargements and larger (to 24 x 36 inch). Also, in my work tripods get in the way. I shoot handheld 99.9% of the time. I bought this camera to use with an excellent but manual focusing 300mm f2.8 that I found easily well outperforms in resolution and sharpness the Canon 300mm f4 IS (very disappointing) and needed a DSLR that could actually meter AND focus a manual focus lens properly. Neither Nikon or Canon models could do this. Their screens and focusing were useless for focusing and the various Nikon models could either not meter at all or were inaccurate. The Pentax K100D has accurate (if somewhat silly) one button manual metering and you can focus on the goundglass or with the central AF sensor. This all works well, but focusing is more tedious than on the groundglass of an old film SLR. Critical shallow depth of field focusing can be done, but it won't be as quick. The attaction of an image stabilization system that is useful throughout the shutter speed range was of interest to me. I shoot high speed subjects, such as small flying birds that slow speed lens based IS is no use. It has some effect even at high speeds(1/1000). I have found the system to be of great use on macro use in existing light and wind. Shooting small insects and flowers at 1 to 1 in the Texas wind can be a bit tedious when expecting a perfect large print. This system has a noticeable effect even at 1/250 and 1/500 second with a 90mm macro at 1 to 1 (handheld, of course). I have also found the IS to be very effective on the slow end where most people will use it. I have a very good biologically based IS already. (People comment that I must not drink coffee.) With this IS, I have been able to hold steady static shots to 1/8 -1/4 second with a 90mm lens on this camera without any support. This is a good 2 stops better than my Canon DSLRs. It works in slow speed pans of cars at 1/60 second with a 300mm lens, yielding sharp details on the car with a beautifully blurred background. The details in the car is equivilent to my Canons at 1/250. I use no IS lenses on the Canon. I've tried them, don't like them. Unlike IS using shifting lens elements, the the Pentax and Konica/Minolta/Sony systems move the sensor, so the resolution of your lenses is not effected. Auto white balance is not as accurate as my Canon's in all light. I consider the auto white balance performance to be very disappointing. My original Canon Digital Rebels had flawless AWB. A colormeter or custom white balance could not improve upon that system. The 20D is not quite as good as the Digital Rebel. The Pentax 100D's AWB does not come close. However, the custom white balance on the Pentax is fast, very accurate, and easy to use. The Canon system is slower and more tedious. Color is very accurate when the white balance is correct except a slight magenta cast in reds. Resolution is high enough, if you are good enough, and your lenses are good enough, to yield excellent 24 x 36 inch enlargements. Noise at 200 ISO is almost non-existant, even in gray skys. Slight at 400 ISO, but gets objectionable in skys (for my purposes) at 800 ISO. Frame rate is reasonable for a few frames, but the buffer fills quickly. Performance is very much like the original Digital Rebel. Not bad, but if you expect to shoot fast, long strings, Nikon or Canon would probably be better. While I only use this a a secondary camera system, and only have about 7000 frames through the camera, build quality seems to be quite good. Since I have had 3 of the 5 Canon Rebels and 20D's I have had fail due to various internal problems long before this, I would say this is a good start. The big complaint I would have (other than the auto white balance) is the AA batteries. Nimh batteries usually yield fair performance, 200 to 500 shots w/o flash. But the camera will tell me that a newly charged set of batteries is dead, or show a set of batteries dead that is not. Switching the camera on aand off provides more life, but wastes time. Changing the batteries in the dark or in the field, particularly on a moving boat can be an annoying experience. Indeed, if you are traveling, AA's can be quite convenient. But if you are doing fast work particlarly in less than optinum conditions, even Nimh AA's are not the way to go. Give me single rechargeable Lithium Ion batteries, such as Pentax has done on the 10D. This camera gets 4 stars from its overall performance for the price, and its unique features.

SCOTT K.

2007-02-11T19:00:00

Like: Shake Reduction (SR) feature really works well, yielding sharp images when using slow shutter speeds in low light without flash. Allows you to capture usable images you may not have attempted. SR also produces sharp images when using telephoto lenses without a tripod. SR works with any current or old Pentax lens. High ISO photos exhibit low noise. Like that it uses AA batteries (same that I use in my shoe mount flash unit). Battery life is terrific with 2700 mAh rechargeables. Well-built and comfortable to use. Great kit lens. Good viewfinder. 6.1mp plenty for average size prints. Dislike: Auto white balance does not adjust well for tungsten lighting, producing photos with a little more yellow cast than the competition. Problem can be eliminated however by manually setting WB for tungsten light. Hopefully a firmware update will be released to fix this.

ROBERT G.

2007-02-04T19:00:00

Good.

Martin

2007-02-04T19:00:00

I purchased this camera for my wife and I can't set it down. The ability to take a shot with no delay or take sequential shots without missing the timing of a moving object (or a smile)is incredible. I thought they would never fix that in the digital format for under $2k! The controls are easy to use, and the shake control is a major bonus. The only oddity at first was the batteries, there is no AC adapter and the batteries are AA, you can buy rechargeable AA, or if they are dead, and your on vacation you can buy regular AAs! Buy the [...] starter bundle including the rechargeables and the USB adapter to transfer pictures so you don't drain your batteries.. If you are used to a digital and you use the screen to aim, remember this is an SLR and you have to use the viewfinder, but now with an anti-shake 80-200mm zoom, distance shots look perfect! The only disadvantage now is.. I may have to buy another one so we don't battle over it.

CSS I.

2007-02-04T19:00:00

everythings work as expected. wish could take raw and jpeg pictures at same time.

Flash