Compared to...

With the K20D, Pentax has done its usual trick of offering an unambiguously semi-pro specification at much closer to keen amateur prices, which makes it a little awkward when it comes to identifying its peers. The real problem is that some people who might otherwise buy Canon 450Ds and Sony A350s will be tempted to spend a little more to get the better viewfinder and build quality that moving up a level gets you, while its high spec will make it appeal to people considering the Olympus E3, Canon 40D, Sony A700 or even Nikon D300.

As a result, we here compare it to cameras that have lower specifications but are cheaper, as well as the similarly specced but more expensive competitors. The Canon 450D has a lower specification than the K20D but is also less expensive, and gives an idea of how whether you get more image quality for the extra money or just a better-built body with greater customization and better ergonomics . The Sony A700 is more of a match for the Pentax in terms of specification and cost, while the Olympus E3 represents a more expensive option again, but a similar feature set and a similar level of weather sealing. In addition, comparisons to the Sony A350 are included in the review of that camera.

We'll also put it alongside the K10D just to see how much progress the K20D represents.

Positives versus the competition

• High resolution sensor
• Cheaper than many similarly specified cameras
• Higher spec than many similarly priced cameras
• Ability to save DNG
• Dust / weather seals (Also on E-3)
• Selectable program line (including MTF priority)
• Unique Sensitivity priority and Shutter+Aperture priority modes
• High quality Pentaprism viewfinder with 0.95x magnification (the biggest here)
• In-camera RAW development (Also on E-3)

Negatives versus the competition

• Only 3fps continuous shooting rate
• Live view doesn't allow fine focusing

	Pentax K20D	Canon EOS 450D	Sony A700	Olympus E3
Price (Body only) (With kit lens)	$1200 / £725 £800 [check]	$800 / £450 $850 / £500 [check]	$1300 / £750 $1400 / £890 [check]	$1500 / £1000 $2250 / £1850 [check]
Construction	• Plastic • Metal frame • Sealed openings	• Plastic • Metal frame	• Plastic • Mg Alloy chassis	• Mg Alloy body • Sealed openings
Dust removal	• Sensor-shift shake • Anti-static coating	• Sensor-shift shake • Anti-static coating	• CCD-shift shake • Anti-static coating	• SSW filter
Sensor type	CMOS	CMOS	CMOS	Live MOS
Sensor size	23.4 x 15.6 mm	22.2 x 14.8 mm	23.5 x 15.6 mm	17.3 x 13.0 mm
Pixel density (MP/cm²)	4.14	3.77	3.32	4.16
Image Stabilization	Built-in sensor shift	Lenses only	Built-in sensor shift	Built-in sensor shift
Effective pixels	14.6 million	12.2 million	12.3 million	10.1 million
Aspect ratio	3:2	3:2	3:2	4:3
FOV crop	1.5x	1.6x	1.5x	2.0x
Image size	4672 x 3104	4272 x 2848	4272 x 2848	3648 x 2736
Live View	• Yes • Up to 1:1 pixel view • Mirror flip AF	• Yes • Up to 10x magnify • Mirror flip AF • Different modes	No	• Yes • Up to 10x magnify • Mirror flip AF
Lens support	• Pentax KAF mount	• Canon EF / EF-S	• Sony Alpha • Minolta A-type	• Four Thirds
File formats	• JPEG • RAW (PEF) • DNG	• JPEG • RAW (CR2)	• JPEG • RAW (ARW) • cRAW (ARW)	• JPEG • RAW (ORF)
Auto focus	• 11 point • 9 cross-type • -1 to 18 EV	• 9 point • 1 cross-type • -0.5 to 18 EV • Eye-start AF option	• 11 point • 1 double cross-type • 0 to 18 EV • Eye-start AF option	• 11 point • 11 cross-type • -2 to 19 EV
AF illuminator	Flash strobe	Flash strobe	Red lamp pattern	Flash strobe
AF adjustment	Yes, body and up to 20 lenses	No	No	No
Metering sensor	16 segment	35 zone	40 segment	49 zone
Metering range	0 to 21 EV	1 to 20 EV	0 to 20 EV	1 to 20 EV
Metering modes	Multi-segment, CWA, Spot	Evaluative, Partial, Spot, CWA	Multi-segment, CWA, Spot	ESP, CWA, Spot, Highlight spot, Shadow spot
Exp. comp.	+/- 3.0 EV (In 0.5 EV)	+/- 2.0 EV	+/- 3.0 EV	+/- 5.0 EV
Exp. comp. EV steps	0.3 or 0.5 EV	0.3 or 0.5 EV	0.3 or 0.5 EV	0.3, 0.5 or 1.0 EV
Manual EV steps	0.3 or 0.5 EV	0.3 or 0.5 EV	0.3 or 0.5 EV	0.3, 0.5 or 1.0 EV
Sensitivity range (boost setting)	100 - 3200 (6400)	100 - 1600	100 - 1600, (3200, 6400)	100 - 3200
Auto ISO adjust	Max & Min ISO selectable	No	Max & Min ISO selectable	Max & Min ISO selectable
Shutter speed	30 - 1/4000 sec	30 - 1/4000 sec	30 - 1/8000 sec	60 - 1/8000 sec
Continuous rate (high)	• 3.0 fps • 38 JPEG/Fine frames • 14 RAW frames	• 3.5 fps • 53 JPEG/Fine frames • 6 RAW frames	• 5.0 fps • Unlimited JPEG • 18 RAW / 25 cRAW	• 5.0 fps • Unlimited JPEG • 19 RAW
White balance	• 8 presets (with adj) • Color temp (K) • Manual	• 6 presets (with adj) • Color temp (K) • Manual	• 6 presets • Color temp (K) • Manual (3 mem.)	• 7 presets • Color temp (K) • Manual (4 mem.)
Image parameters	• 6 presets • Saturation +/- 4 • Hue +/- 4 • Contrast +/- 4 • Sharpness +/- 4	• 6 presets • 3 User defined • Sharpness 0-7 • Contrast +/- 4 • Saturation +/- 4 • Color tone +/- 4	• 13 presets / 3 user • Saturation +/- 3 • Contrast +/- 3 • Brightness +/-3 • Sharpness +/- 3 • Zone -1 to +2	• 5 presets / 1 user • Saturation +/- 2 • Contrast +/- 2 • Sharpness +/- 2 • Gradation (3)
Noise reduction control	4 levels	1 additional level	3 levels	4 levels
DR extension mode	DRange	Highlight Tone Priority	DRO (3 modes plus 5 manual settings)	Shadow adjustment
Built-in flash	• Manual pop-up • Guide no. 13 (ISO 100)	• Electronic pop-up • Guide no. 13 (ISO 100)	• Manual pop-up • Guide no. 12 (ISO 100)	• Electronic pop-up • Guide no. 13 (ISO 100)
External flash	• Hot-shoe • PC sync terminal • Wireless flash	• Hot-shoe	• Hot-shoe • PC sync terminal • Wireless flash	• Hot-shoe • PC sync terminal • Wireless flash
Flash sync speed	1/180 sec	1/200 sec	1/250 sec	1/250 sec
Delete in record review	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Storage	• SD (Inc SDHC)	• SD (Inc SDHC)	• CF (inc. UDMA) • MS Duo / Pro Duo	• CF (inc. UDMA) • xD-Picture Card
Viewfinder	• Pentaprism • 95% coverage • 0.95x magnification	• Pentamirror • 95% coverage • 0.87x magnification	• Pentaprism • 95% coverage • 0.9x magnification	• Pentaprism • 100% coverage • 1.15x magnification
LCD monitor	• 2.7" TFT LCD • 230,000 dots	• 3.0" TFT LCD • 230,000 dots	• 3.0" TFT LCD • 922,000 dots	• 2.5" TFT LCD • 230,000 dots
LCD articulation	No	No	No	Yes (flip-out & twist)
Top panel LCD	Yes	No	No	Yes
Vertical grip	Yes, BG-2	Yes, BG-E5	Yes, VG-C70AM	Yes, HLD-4
Other features	• Color tunable LCD • Weather sealing • Program jump btn. • RAW development • JPEG edit	• Custom 'My Menu'	• Included IR remote	• RAW development • JPEG edit • Weather sealing
Dimensions	142 x 101 x 70 mm (5.6 x 4.0 x 2.8 in)	129 x 98 x 62 mm (5.1 x 3.9 x 2.4 in)	142 x 105 x 80 mm (5.6 x 4.3 x 3.3 in)	142 x 116 x 75 mm (5.6 x 4.6 x 2.9 in)
Weight (inc batt)	804 g (1.8 lb)	522 g (1.2 lb)	690 g (1.5 lb)	800 g (1.8 lb)