Pentax K10D

The PENTAX K10D opens new perspectives to you, the photographer, with maximum speed and maximum performance. This camera produces images more rapidly, more precisely, and more realistically than any other digital SLR in its class. All components and functions are attuned to the highest photographic requirements. The K10D can shoot up to 3 fps – with a resolution of 10 megapixels. Recording delays are virtually non-existent because the new PRIME (PENTAX Real IMage Engine) image processing system calculates the graphic data with remarkable speed. Brilliance in sharpness and color, as well as simplicity in operation and comfort are always there. Further intelligent systems include supersonic direct-drive technology for ultrafast focusing, “Dust Reduction” (DR) to help eliminate the fine dust particles on the CCD and “Shake Reduction” for blur-free photographs. All these features allow you to concentrate on what is really important: creative perfection.

FEATURES

Shake Reduction

The PENTAX-developed “Shake Reduction” technology solves one of the oldest photographic problems: blur caused by handheld camera shake. The K10D produces sharp photos in challenging situations without having to use a tripod. Hand-held photography is now possible with long telephoto lenses or when long exposure times are required due to poor lighting. The PENTAX “Shake Reduction” system is integrated into the camera body and is independent of the lens in use. The principle behind its operation is simple: movement sensors in the body recognize camera shake. The system ensures that at the moment of exposure the compensating movement of the CCD sensor provides blur-free pictures. The advantage is obvious: you can increase your hand-held shooting by 2.5 to 4 stops. If you are intentionally moving the camera when shooting – while panning with a Formula 1 race car along the track, for example – you can simply deactivate the “Shake Reduction” system. PENTAX has filed for over 30 patents for this SR system, which uses a ball-bearing-mounted oscillator unit with four electromagnets that position the free-floating image sensor. Angular velocity sensors detect camera movement and relay the amount of compensation necessary to the electromagnets that move the sensor to compensate for any shake.

10 Megapixels

The 23.5 x 15.7mm CCD sensor records photos with a resolution of up to 10 megapixels.
This is enough for you to produce truly astounding prints even at 20 x 30 inches or more without difficulty.

22 Bit A/D Converter
Analog information from the K10D’s 10 megapixel CCD is delivered over two channels to the 22 bit analog-to-digital converters, where the image information is transformed from an analog signal to digital data. This new technology affords a substantially higher dynamic range resulting in finer tuning of colors compared to conventional 12 bit converters. With this new technology PENTAX is again a step ahead of the market. The photographer is the winner: digital pictures are now virtually indistinguishable from analog film pictures in terms of color and dynamic range.

Prime Image Processing

The Pentax Real IMage Engine (Prime ) was developed specifically by PENTAX for our cameras in order to meet the performance requirements of a higher resolution CCD sensor.
The PRIME engine converts the digital signal into the image you desire by assuring truer color tones, a wider dynamic range, and natural looking high ISO images. Ultimately
PRIME provides natural results similar to what you would see shooting with film. The new PRIME processor greatly accelerates the image processing of the PENTAX K10D compared to other current digital SLRs by seamlessly transferring data through the DDR2 memory component. This buffer memory has a read/write rate of 800 MB/sec making it 600% faster than SDRam and 100% faster than conventional DDR memory. Not only does the combination of PRIME and DDR2 memory allow you to take images at a faster rate, up to 3 frames per second until the memory card is full with JPEG images, but it also allows you to process RAW images in-camera without the need for a computer. The advanced circuitry frees you to focus on the image and capture the perfect shot.

Weather Resistance

Whether you’re shooting on a drizzling Autumn morning, on a snowy mountainside, along a dusty desert trail or in a tropical rain forest; the seals around the durable K10D body reliably protect the inner components against humidity and the finest dust particles. Other design elements further protect the K10D from the forces of nature. The fiber-reinforced polycarbonate body surrounding the highrigidity, stainless-steel chassis provides plenty of strength for every day use. A complete system: the K10D is protected by 72 seals and the optional battery grip with an additional 38, assuring complete protection against humidity, dust or sand. PENTAX offers the highest level of protection in this class. Durable and solid: the stainless-steel chassis is also impermeable to corrosion and is extremely stable.

Dust Removal
Behind the “Dust Removal” designation lies an entire system unto itself. The surface of the low pass filter is sealed with a nanotechnology based fluorine coating. This ensures that dust cannot adhere to the sensor surface. Dust that still remains on the surface is shaken off when the SR system shifts the CCD at high speed. The dust that is shaken off the CCD, then falls onto an adhesive sheet eliminating any possibility of its returning to the CCD surface. Dust flecks are now a thing of the past, along with annoying and time consuming retouching work.

Unique Exposure Modes

You’ll always get the right exposure and with the settings you want. Shooting with the K10D
in the Program Automatic Mode offers a Hyper Program (Shift Function) to instantly change the shutter speed or aperture. When you change either of these settings, the other exposure parameter automatically changes accordingly for proper exposure. The Hyper Program function is accessible by two ergonomically placed dials on the front and the back of the camera. The K10D presents multiple options for automatic exposure. The new Sensitivity-Priority AE (Sv) mode, is designed to automatically select the optimum combination of aperture and shutter speed for a user-selected sensitivity. In the Sv mode you can shift the sensitivity simply by turning a dial. The Shutter-Priority (Tv) mode lets you choose the optimal shutter speed and the Aperture-Priority (Av) mode lets you select the appropriate aperture. Another exposure mode offered by the K10D is Shutter & Aperture-
Priority AE (TAv), which is designed to automatically select the most appropriate sensitivity for a user-selected shutter speed & aperture combination. If you are working with PENTAX F,- FA-, DA- or DFA- series lenses, you can benefit from the MTF data: a microchip in the lens passes information to the camera regarding the optically optimal and lens-specific aperture to use.

The Perfect Exposure

16 Segment Metering
The K10D easily handles even the most difficult lighting conditions with its 16 segment metering system. It can accurately assess the balance between the bright and dark areas within the segments automatically, or, alternatively, you can opt for
center weighted or spot metering.

11 Point Autofocus
The K10D uses an 11 point autofocus system. In automatic operation (AUTO) the camera recognizes which object is nearest and chooses that object as the main focus point. If you want more direct control you can select any of the 11 points individually. It is also possible to simply select the center of the image as your main point of focus. With continuous autofocus, the focus adjusts as your subject moves within the frame, or should you prefer more direct control, you can always focus manually. Sensitivity Range The K10D operates between ISO 100 and ISO 1600. Naturally, you can select the ISO value manually, or, in automatic operation, you can determine the ISO range in which you want to work. With the new Sensitivity Priority mode (Sv) the ISO can be changed by simply turning the selector wheel.

The Color White
With the K10D you can either specify one of the standard white balance settings, set your color temperature, or manually set the white balance. If that isn’t enough, you can fine-tune
color temperatures and preview the results to verify your settings. If you find yourself shooting regularly under certain conditions, you can manually save 3 color temperature settings into memory.

Image Capture
Image processing begins in the camera. With the K10D you can set how you want your
pictures to appear. Do you prefer the images to be neutral in color rendition, or would you prefer something a bit more elaborate and colorful? The K10D can store the preferred parameters for sharpening, contrast and color saturation. Something entirely new is the RAW converter in the camera. Photos that were taken in RAW can be directly converted to JPEG files in-camera, as they are stored, or you can capture in the Adobe Standard DNG format. Finally, with the RAW button, you can quickly change from shooting just JPEG’s to RAW + JPEG’s on the fly. You don’t have to go through a series of menus, simply press the button and keep on shooting.

In Camera Processing

The world does not always look so rosy. Sometimes you have to work a little extra to make it appear more interesting. One proven and important method for doing this is with a filter. Whether for color photography or for blackand- white, the Pentax K10D offers a rich election of digital filters. During processing a mysterious and interesting black-and-white picture may develop from a color shot. For fun effects there is even a filter to make your subject
appear to be slimmer – or broader (if you dare!). The K10D also allows you to develop JPEG images from RAW files in the camera. It lets you adjust image size, compression, white balance, image tone, saturation, sharpness and contrast. This eliminates the need for a computer and lets you output directly to a printer, or allows you to free up memory.

Pentaprism Viewfinder
The pentaprism viewfinder in the K10D is designed to give you the best view while composing your image. The viewfinder gives a 95% field of view and 0.95x magnification so you see as much of the image as possible before capture. The viewfinder also gives all the important image information in a concise manner: focus point indicated in red, in-focus indicator, focus mode status, shutter speed, aperture, exposure compensation, number of images remaining, Shake Reduction status, and with a press of the OK button on the back of the camera the current ISO setting. Additionally, the focusing screen is interchangeable so you can use a PENTAX grid screen or scale screen.

--------------------------------------

PICTURES

----------------------------------

SPECIFICATION

Canon EOS 60D videos

Sony SLT-A33 videos

Sony SLT-A55 videos

Canon PowerShot SD1400 IS videos

Fujifilm FinePix W3 videos

Canon PowerShot S95 videos

Nikon D3100 videos

More ...