Review based on a production Pentax K-x, firmware V1.01
The Pentax K-x sits in the slot previously occupied by the company's K200D - one of the best-specified entry-level DSLRs on the market in its time - though that position has now been elevated by the arrival of a new breed of simplified models below it. In Pentax's line-up that means the K2000/K-m designed to entice compact camera users into DSLR ownership with its easy-to-use interface and diminutive scale, and it's that camera the K-x is immediately reminiscent of (they share the same body).
Despite its compact size and use of AA batteries, there is more than a hint of the K-7 about the new model's specifications. It gains the K-7's 11-point AF system and PRIME II imaging engine, along with its abilities to correct for chromatic aberration and distortion when using Pentax DA and DFA lenses. It also features an orientation sensor.
While, unlike the K-m, on the K-x you can now at least select the active AF-point, it's still not displayed in the viewfinder. However, despite of all the shared features with the K2000/K-m and K-7 there is still plenty new about the K-x.
The camera is based around a 12.4 megapixel CMOS sensor with onboard A/D conversion (a system often associated with Sony), with output fast enough not only for the camera to shoot at 4.7 frames per second, but also for capturing 24 frames of 720p HD video per second. Along with the sensor come higher ISOs - now up to 6400, expandable to 12800. Plus there's a revised version of the K-m's shutter mechanism to allow the high continuous shooting speed, which ups the maximum shutter speed to 1/6000 sec. The camera also features a new 'cross-processing' mode on top of an already impressive range of filters and processing options.
 K-7 |
 K-x |
 K-m |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Image sensor | 14.6Mp CMOS |
12.4Mp CMOS |
10.2Mp CCD |
| Imaging engine | Prime II |
Prime II |
Prime |
| Sensitivity | 100-3200 (6400 with expansion) |
200-6400 (100 and 12,800 with expansion) |
100-3200 |
| Continuous shooting speed | 5.2fps (40 frames) |
4.7fps (17 frames) |
3.5fps (5 frames) |
| AF | SAFOX VIII+ with superimposed points 11-points (selectable) AF-assist lamp |
SAFOX VIII 11-points (selectable) |
SAFOX VIII 5-points |
| AE | 77-segment |
16-segment |
16-segment |
| Viewfinder | Pentaprism Coverage: 100% Magnification: 0.95 |
Pentamirror Coverage: 96% Magnification: 0.85 |
Pentamirror Coverage: 96% Magnification: 0.85 |
| Movies | 1024p 30fps |
720p 24fps |
No |
| Microphone | Mono internal or stereo external |
Mono internal |
No |
| HDMI output | Yes |
No |
No |
| Lens correction | Yes |
Yes |
No |
| HDR mode | Yes |
Yes |
No |
| Multiple exposure | Yes |
Yes |
No |
| Orientation sensor | Yes |
Yes |
No |
| Slow-sync flash | Yes |
Yes |
No |
| Weight | 670g |
515g |
525g |
| Cold resistant to -10deg | Yes |
No |
No |
| Weather resistant | Yes |
No |
No |
If you're new to digital photography you may wish to read some of our Digital Photography Glossary before diving into this article (it may help you understand some of the terms used).
Conclusion / recommendation / ratings are based on the opinion of the author, we recommend that you read the entire review before making any decision. Images which can be viewed at a larger size have a small magnifying glass icon in the bottom right corner of them, click to display a larger image in a new window.
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Dpreview use calibrated monitors at the PC normal gamma 2.2, this means that on our monitors we can make out the difference between all of the grayscale blocks below. We recommend to make the most of this review you should be able to see the difference (at least) between X,Y and Z and ideally also A, B and C.
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Pentax K-x 12.4MP Digital Camera (Black; Body Only) | $299.00 |
Pentax K-x Digital SLR with 2.7-inch LCD and 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL Lens (Black) | $700.00 |
Pentax K-x 12.4 MP Digital SLR with 2.7-inch LCD and 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL Lens (White) | $429.64 |
Pentax K-x 12.4MP Digital Camera (Black; Body Only) | $299.00 |
Pentax K-x 12.4MP Digital SLR with 2.7 inch LCD and 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL Lens (Red) | $1,999.00 |
Pentax K2000 Digital SLR with 18-55mm Lens | $269.93 |
Pentax X-5 silver 16 Digital Camera with 26x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom with 3-Inch LCD (Silver) | $196.95 |
Pentax K-01 16MP APS-C CMOS Compact System Camera with Dual Lens Kit 18-55mm, 50-200mm (Yellow) | $734.89 |
Pentax SMC Pentax-DA L 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 AL (White) For Digital Slr Cameras (New in White Box) | $98.89 |
Pentax K-5 16.3 MP Digital SLR with 3-Inch LCD (Black Body Only) | Too low to display |
Pentax K-x 12.4MP Digital SLR with 2.7 inch LCD and 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL Lens (Navy) | $469.00 |
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