The Pentax K10d digital slr camera is presented - and the specifications match the rumors! Pentax K10 d has a ccd sensor of 10 megapixels, jpeg + raw, 11 point autofucus, SD &amp; SDHC support, spot metering, advanced processing and more.




All Pentax K10d digital slr camera info is now official by Pentax.


Order your Pentax K10D with fast shipping here.


Look at the size of the K10d, not as small as the Pentax ist digital camera, but still a very tight package, even with the battery grip. A bit lower but wider than the Nikon D80. With the battery grip attached this perhaps gives some idea of what a single unit pro model might look like. With grip it is not as big as the Canon 1d series (which I often feel is too much "beast" in size and weight).


The K10d is compatible with most K-mount lenses, KA and KAF lenses. If the Pentax K10-d performance is as expected start hunting for those Pentax SMC lenses on the new and second hand market. Pentax has always made pretty good optics.


The sensor seems to be the same sony 10 megapixels found in Nikon D80 and Sony Alpha100. 


www.pentax-k10d.com


Update: the sensor is the same as Sony Alpha100 and Nikon D80. The sensor name is Sony ICX493AQA. The PDF (in japanese) is here.


Virtually all brands are presenting 10 megapixel cameras. Nikon have the d80 and d200, Sony has Alpha100, Canon has the 400d xti and is about to deliver another one, Olympus release E-400 and perhaps e-2 or e-3.






10 megapixels is a good level of resolution but what if most sensors are from the same make? Processing will diversify results... Apart from Canon and Fuji of course, oh and Sigma :))




** You can order the Pentax K10d now for 899$ **


The Pentax K10d has the new 22 bit ad converter that was rumored. From their press info: "With the highest resolving power (22 bits, or 4.2 million gradations) among all existing digital cameras, it offers a digital-conversion capacity 1,024 times greater than conventional 12-bit, 4,096-gradation A/D converters."


Including this image processing in the Pentax K10d slr is a revolution since the technology is advanced and the Pentax K10d camera and kit are expected to have very agressive pricing. A bold but necessary move since competition on the DSLR market is fierce.


If the ADC is by nucore is unclear. They have stopped advertising which cameras contain their technology, probably due to licensing the core while brands doing their own application.


Although this new image processing allows for vastly more information (tones, shades, smoother gradients, etc etc) we should not expect all of this information to deliver to the image files. It simply isn?t possible because of ccd capture limitations. 


However, the positive effects will be visible and we may see very fine images by the Pentax K10d, certainly on par and beating the best systems available today... unless they have botched the job of adapting it - in which case it might be goodnight and goodbye. (read "Samsung.. help") A lot of people would be disapointed to see for example high image noise now that the hype is up.


Remember though that some cams already employ similar technology for image processing and the good part is that it has prooven to work - so noise, dr and gradations should be good.


Pentax Shake Reduction is a floating sensor construction that functions together with all lenses that the K10d is compatible with... basically almost all Pentax lenses: PENTAX K, KA, KAF and KAF2 lenses. The older lenses and 645 need aadapters.


The Pentax K10D is weather sealed. 72 seals to keep dust and humidity out. Very very impressive at this price point. The battery grip is also sealed :)


K10 d has a pentaprism - with a good matte screen manual focusing should be somewhat easier.


Points to note:


10.2 megapixels 3872x2592


1.5 crop


The use of Double Data Rate memory for quicker processing (certainly needed with 22b ADC)


Dust removal (nothing new)


Glass pentaprism. Pentax K10 d has a viewfinder with 95% field of view and 0.95 magnification with Natural Bright Matte II focusing screen.


11 sensor af with 9 cental arrangement of cross type sensors


flash sync 1/180


3 fps - unlimited to sd card capacity in jpeg. 10 image buffer in raw.


capture raw &amp; jpeg simultaneously at 6 frame buffer


100 - 1600 iso


100.000 actuation shutter


500 image battery capacity (flash used in 50% of actuations)


supersonic lens motor suport


1/4000 - 30 seconds and bulb


2.5 inch 210.000 pixel screen 20x zoom


built in popup flash guide 15.6


32 custom-programmable functions available


USB 2.0 (HI-SPEED)


D-BG2 battery grip takes extra battery and remote control storage


battery grip has shutter release and control wheel


weight 790g with battery


dimensions 141.5(W) x 101(H) x 70(D)mm (5.6 x 4.0 x 2.76 inches)


** You can order the Pentax K10d now for 899$ **


Pentax k10d fullsize
The image at right with Pentax k100 and K10d side by side is one of many kindly posted by Mr. Ned Bunnell on his blog. Ned is marketing director in the PENTAX Imaging Company. Check out the full lineup of comparison shots from every angle here at Ned Bunnell?s blog.


The K10d looks good for my hands. On paper this is a true killer cam - certainly offering more than any entry / mid / enthusiast dslr out there today. Let?s hope it all works in practice too. I have a feeling Pentax are going to be quick to the market with this one.


10 megapixels seems to be the norm at this time in digital slr camera history. Since many are using similar, or the same, sensors the battle is hotter than hot and all brands are fighting with delicate weapons of dynamic depth, raw processing, internal hardwiring, channel output configuration and noise depletion and exotic filter arrays :)


I have no doubt some of the others will also perform with good results. First images from Olympus-400 for example are looking pretty good, considering presale hardware and low firmware version. I personally think we might see some good quality files from the Pentax. At under $1000 for the body the weather sealing is enough to make it a great value buy.


Our earlier predictive Pentax K10D post is here.


Update: There seems to be some confusion out there about the bit size on Pentax K10D files. Some have suggested that the raw files will be 16 bit. This is not correct. The K10d has a 22 bit internal file and outputs a 12 bit raw file and normal 8 bit jpeg file.




Highlight: Pentax Digital 645






Highlight: John Carlsson Popphoto podcast






Highlight: Check out the Pentax K10D SAMPLES




However, the Pentax K10D can also outputs a DNG file, a format that supports values between 8 and 32 bits. Wouldn?t it be cool if you could choose color depth for raw / dng output? Information is scant but if such were the case it would have created a stir by now. The official word for now seems to be 12 bits with possible firmware update to support 16.


The official k10d broschure also states 12 bits for now. See below.






Pentax has also announced their lens roadmap as it looks today. Click roadmap image for pdf in english from Pentax.


Presumably this is similar to the Samsung offerings since Samsung and Pentax share the same lens mount.
