• 10.2-megapixel resolution captures enough detail for poster-sized prints
• Includes 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 lens
• Large, 2.7-inch wide-view LCD monitor
• Dust-proof, water-resistant construction; comprehensive Dust Removal system
• Capture images to SD/SDHC cards (not included)

In the last year, twice the auto focus has completely failed to work. I’m currently ready to send the camera off to Pentax for warranty repair, for the second time for the same problem. When I first purchased the camera, the auto focus sporadically stopped working for brief moments with the symptoms progressively worse over time and eventually (auto focus) stopped working all together. I sent the camera off for warranty repair. Upon receiving the camera back, the auto focus symptoms immediately started to happen again and then again (auto focus) died.

The colors are pleasantly inaccurate — that’s correct, the colors are off but with a nice interpretation that tend to skew on the saturated side. That’s the charm of the K200d I learned to like. Also, unless you are shooting in ideal lighting the pictures are on the underexposed side – not much of an issue since I shoot in RAW.

I’m thoroughly impressed with the customer service department; I’ve spoken to them over the phone and through the “live chat” many times. Each time, I’ve received a conclusion and each time the representatives are knowledgeable and friendly.

When the camera works, I love it. It takes great pictures and it’s a joy to use with a solid build and small footprint. I own the 10-17mm, 21mm and 40mm lenses (all DA) — the unusual lens lineup is the main reason for my purchase. My favorite setup: couple the K200d with the 40mm lens and you have a setup that doesn’t attract too much attention in public with decent image quality.

I started out with a K100D and when the K10D came out, I was immediately green with envy. A few years later, the K200D came out, it was competitively priced and had most of the great K10D features. I cut my losses and traded the K100D in for the K200D. I am very pleased with it. The reasons for the trade were for the following features:

+ Remote flash: I’ve always wanted this feature that Nikon users take for granted, it doesn’t work as great and sometimes doesn’t detect the controlling flash. But when within range and everything, it works and am very happy to finally have it.

+ Weather seals: sure, it’s not bullet proof and doesn’t help the lenses at all. But I used to not take my camera out when weather conditions were not fair. The same goes for my friends with canons and nikons. With the K200D, I have no fears of taking it out and actually USING it. I know, it’s totally a psychological thing, but the peace of mind is still a feature to me.

+ Sensor cleaner: The anti shake feature is also used to shake off the dust in the K200D, it doesn’t really work, I never notice it shaking anything off. But I also set it to shake upon power up. I also have a Giottos rocket blower, the combination seems to keep the K200D relatively dust free. Much more so than my K100D. I know it’s not just the weather seals because I know the dust is getting in when I change lenses.

+ Better WB & PRIME engine: the color control is much better in the K200D, an immense improvement and main reason for the upgrade.

+ Shoots in DNG format: I am no longer tied to Pentax’s photolab SW. I can now use photoshop without any plugins or upgrades. Very good feature.

The things I miss on the K100D:

- Battery power seems more finicky on the K200D, I had to switch to Eneloops, which allows me to get 1000+ images per charge. AMAZING, but sad that it only performs with Eneloops.

- The images look under exposed and overly contrasted. These features can be offset easily, but it does take some time to get used to and learn to work around. Once you learn its behavior, it is very predictable and linear.

- My external flash no longer gets perfect exposure every time in any condition. For some reason, the K200D works terribly with the FGZ540. It is very easy to under or over expose an image. I am not sure if this is because I shoot in ISO100 vs K100D’s ISO200. But the end result is I can no longer turn on the FGZ and just shoot. I have to manually set the flash zoom. The flash exposure setting doesn’t seem to do anything either. I’ve gone on forums to see if I have a defective K200D, but in the end, I’ve moved on and have accepted the issue.

I am very very happy with the K200D, as the DSLR market gets more and more competitive, I still find the K200D completely usable for all my needs. If you want a DSLR that just works out of the box, you should stick with canons and nikons. Pentax is really for the dedicated and people with a pentax lens collection. Feature for feature, pentax always loses to canons and nikons, but it is still more than enough for anyone who is serious about photography. Especially if you’ve done film photography, I feel that Pentax replicates the film camera experience better than all other brands. Its simplicity and attention to detail gives it that classic feeling. While other brands focus on speed, specs and little functions that make it completely and totally feel… digital. I do envy those features some times. When I see my friends shoot in 800 or 1600ISO with no noise at all, I am jealous. But then, you really can’t do that with film either. So I’ve come to terms with Pentax’s short comings. I hope Pentax will turn things around with their full frame DSLRs.Firstly, I wanted to give it 3.5 stars, not 4.

I have mentioned below the main camera features, it’s rating and a bgjustification. These are the most important points to be considered with respect to the other cameras in competition (Canon XSi and Nikon D60).

1.Weather proof body(4/5):Excellent feature for the price. But, it is of no use without a weather-ressistant lens. But Pentax has recently (May 2009) released 2 weather ressistant lenses (18-55 and 50-200mm) under $250 each. These lenses were not available when I purchased the camera.

2.Processing speed (1/5): Yes!! None of the reviews mentioned this when I bought it(I got screwed!). Try clicking a pic with the shutter open for 6 seconds. The Pentax K200D takes about 7 seconds to process the image and store it in the card (the time taken to store the image is negligible, also considering my high speed Sandisk Ultra card). I tried clicking more snaps with 10, 15 and 30 seconds. The time taken by the camera to process them is 11, 16 and 30 seconds. Until the camera processes the image, you have to wait and cannot click any more pictures.

I compared it with my friend’s Canon Rebel XSi and the difference was very evident. The Canon took less than half time to process the pictures.

This gets really annoying while capturing night scenes, ligtnings, etc.

3. Image stabilization (4/5): The Pentax shifts it’s sensor to compensate for the shake, unlike Canon and Nikon (they shift the lens elements). Since the shake reduction is in the body, any kind of lens (cheap ones, old ones, etc.) can be attached to the camera body and IS can be acheived. Hence, lenses are cheaper for the Pentax. Whereas in Canon and Nikon, the IS (or VR=Vibration Reduction as Nikon calls it)lenses are costly. But the quality of IS is a little better in Canon (no idea about Nikon).

4. Picture quality (4/5): The picture quality is just like any other camera. The contrast is on the higher end and I like it that way. It makes the pictures ready for printing. I went out with my friend who had a Canon XSi. My pictures looked far better than his when we compared them. The Canon pictures looked dull because they are more natural and the contrast is well balanced. The Canon pictures are a bit (about 10%) sharper than the Pentax.

Overall, no regrets with the picture quality. It is almost “awesome”!

5. Lens compatibility (5/5): If you are planning to use a varitey of lenses, then you are in luck! The K200D is compatible with every single Pentax lens produced till date (some older lenses require an additional mount) Also, the lenses are cheaper compared to Canon and Nikon. There are also third party manufacturers like Sigma and Tamron.

6. Other features: There is no need to review the other features like RAW, LCD, Menu, Modes, etc. since they are pretty much the same in all the cameras.

Although, please note that this camera does not come with “live view”, i.e., the LCD does not show the image. You need to use the viewfinder to see what you are capturing.

It also feels like a pro camera, but with the feel comes the weight.It has a small LCD display on the top of the body which are usually present in pro and semi-pro cams. But this LCD cannot be used in situations with low lights since there is no light in the LCD.

CONCLUSION: I would recommend this camera if above features with 4 or more points are very important for the photographer (Weather resistant, lens compatibility, cheap lenses and ready to print pics). The worst part of the camera is the processing speed and the fact that it lacks “live view”. I can live without the live view, but I found it slow. Overall, I am extremely happy with the output (pictures), just wish that it would be faster. Great camera!I was a very active 35mm amateur many years ago and just sort of feel into the point and shoot mode. I decided to get back into trying some creative photography and a DSLR was the way to go but there are so many to choose from. Of course Canon and Nikon are the most popular so I read up on them but Pentax really kept rising to the top due to the fact all Pentax lenses work on all Pentax cameras with the exception of an adapter ring must be used on some, I really liked the idea of having that used market to shop from. Also as I read I found Pentax is tops in Europe and Asia and doesn’t even advertise in America so that explained why I hadn’t seen much on them. I really took my time and the K200D just seemed like the logical choice for me and I’m as pleased with it as I could possibly be. Oh yea, the shake reduction mechanism is in the camera body, not just the lens like the others so you get that great option with every lens you use. Do your research but, you can’t go wrong with this one.BUY this cam. I bought it, went to Europe, and inturn had tremendous pics! The camera is the best deal of any SLR because they don’t have to advertise like Nikon and Cannon.

Price: $699.95   Buy This Camera

• 10.2-megapixel resolution captures enough detail for poster-sized prints
• 2.7-inch LCD display; body only–no lens included
• Dust-proof, water-resistant construction; comprehensive Dust Removal system
• Pentax Original Shake Reduction Mechanism
• Capture images to SD/SDHC cards (not included)

In the last year, twice the auto focus has completely failed to work. I’m currently ready to send the camera off to Pentax for warranty repair, for the second time for the same problem. When I first purchased the camera, the auto focus sporadically stopped working for brief moments with the symptoms progressively worse over time and eventually (auto focus) stopped working all together. I sent the camera off for warranty repair. Upon receiving the camera back, the auto focus symptoms immediately started to happen again and then again (auto focus) died.

The colors are pleasantly inaccurate — that’s correct, the colors are off but with a nice interpretation that tend to skew on the saturated side. That’s the charm of the K200d I learned to like. Also, unless you are shooting in ideal lighting the pictures are on the underexposed side – not much of an issue since I shoot in RAW.

I’m thoroughly impressed with the customer service department; I’ve spoken to them over the phone and through the “live chat” many times. Each time, I’ve received a conclusion and each time the representatives are knowledgeable and friendly.

When the camera works, I love it. It takes great pictures and it’s a joy to use with a solid build and small footprint. I own the 10-17mm, 21mm and 40mm lenses (all DA) — the unusual lens lineup is the main reason for my purchase. My favorite setup: couple the K200d with the 40mm lens and you have a setup that doesn’t attract too much attention in public with decent image quality.

I started out with a K100D and when the K10D came out, I was immediately green with envy. A few years later, the K200D came out, it was competitively priced and had most of the great K10D features. I cut my losses and traded the K100D in for the K200D. I am very pleased with it. The reasons for the trade were for the following features:

+ Remote flash: I’ve always wanted this feature that Nikon users take for granted, it doesn’t work as great and sometimes doesn’t detect the controlling flash. But when within range and everything, it works and am very happy to finally have it.

+ Weather seals: sure, it’s not bullet proof and doesn’t help the lenses at all. But I used to not take my camera out when weather conditions were not fair. The same goes for my friends with canons and nikons. With the K200D, I have no fears of taking it out and actually USING it. I know, it’s totally a psychological thing, but the peace of mind is still a feature to me.

+ Sensor cleaner: The anti shake feature is also used to shake off the dust in the K200D, it doesn’t really work, I never notice it shaking anything off. But I also set it to shake upon power up. I also have a Giottos rocket blower, the combination seems to keep the K200D relatively dust free. Much more so than my K100D. I know it’s not just the weather seals because I know the dust is getting in when I change lenses.

+ Better WB & PRIME engine: the color control is much better in the K200D, an immense improvement and main reason for the upgrade.

+ Shoots in DNG format: I am no longer tied to Pentax’s photolab SW. I can now use photoshop without any plugins or upgrades. Very good feature.

The things I miss on the K100D:

- Battery power seems more finicky on the K200D, I had to switch to Eneloops, which allows me to get 1000+ images per charge. AMAZING, but sad that it only performs with Eneloops.

- The images look under exposed and overly contrasted. These features can be offset easily, but it does take some time to get used to and learn to work around. Once you learn its behavior, it is very predictable and linear.

- My external flash no longer gets perfect exposure every time in any condition. For some reason, the K200D works terribly with the FGZ540. It is very easy to under or over expose an image. I am not sure if this is because I shoot in ISO100 vs K100D’s ISO200. But the end result is I can no longer turn on the FGZ and just shoot. I have to manually set the flash zoom. The flash exposure setting doesn’t seem to do anything either. I’ve gone on forums to see if I have a defective K200D, but in the end, I’ve moved on and have accepted the issue.

I am very very happy with the K200D, as the DSLR market gets more and more competitive, I still find the K200D completely usable for all my needs. If you want a DSLR that just works out of the box, you should stick with canons and nikons. Pentax is really for the dedicated and people with a pentax lens collection. Feature for feature, pentax always loses to canons and nikons, but it is still more than enough for anyone who is serious about photography. Especially if you’ve done film photography, I feel that Pentax replicates the film camera experience better than all other brands. Its simplicity and attention to detail gives it that classic feeling. While other brands focus on speed, specs and little functions that make it completely and totally feel… digital. I do envy those features some times. When I see my friends shoot in 800 or 1600ISO with no noise at all, I am jealous. But then, you really can’t do that with film either. So I’ve come to terms with Pentax’s short comings. I hope Pentax will turn things around with their full frame DSLRs.Firstly, I wanted to give it 3.5 stars, not 4.

I have mentioned below the main camera features, it’s rating and a bgjustification. These are the most important points to be considered with respect to the other cameras in competition (Canon XSi and Nikon D60).

1.Weather proof body(4/5):Excellent feature for the price. But, it is of no use without a weather-ressistant lens. But Pentax has recently (May 2009) released 2 weather ressistant lenses (18-55 and 50-200mm) under $250 each. These lenses were not available when I purchased the camera.

2.Processing speed (1/5): Yes!! None of the reviews mentioned this when I bought it(I got screwed!). Try clicking a pic with the shutter open for 6 seconds. The Pentax K200D takes about 7 seconds to process the image and store it in the card (the time taken to store the image is negligible, also considering my high speed Sandisk Ultra card). I tried clicking more snaps with 10, 15 and 30 seconds. The time taken by the camera to process them is 11, 16 and 30 seconds. Until the camera processes the image, you have to wait and cannot click any more pictures.

I compared it with my friend’s Canon Rebel XSi and the difference was very evident. The Canon took less than half time to process the pictures.

This gets really annoying while capturing night scenes, ligtnings, etc.

3. Image stabilization (4/5): The Pentax shifts it’s sensor to compensate for the shake, unlike Canon and Nikon (they shift the lens elements). Since the shake reduction is in the body, any kind of lens (cheap ones, old ones, etc.) can be attached to the camera body and IS can be acheived. Hence, lenses are cheaper for the Pentax. Whereas in Canon and Nikon, the IS (or VR=Vibration Reduction as Nikon calls it)lenses are costly. But the quality of IS is a little better in Canon (no idea about Nikon).

4. Picture quality (4/5): The picture quality is just like any other camera. The contrast is on the higher end and I like it that way. It makes the pictures ready for printing. I went out with my friend who had a Canon XSi. My pictures looked far better than his when we compared them. The Canon pictures looked dull because they are more natural and the contrast is well balanced. The Canon pictures are a bit (about 10%) sharper than the Pentax.

Overall, no regrets with the picture quality. It is almost “awesome”!

5. Lens compatibility (5/5): If you are planning to use a varitey of lenses, then you are in luck! The K200D is compatible with every single Pentax lens produced till date (some older lenses require an additional mount) Also, the lenses are cheaper compared to Canon and Nikon. There are also third party manufacturers like Sigma and Tamron.

6. Other features: There is no need to review the other features like RAW, LCD, Menu, Modes, etc. since they are pretty much the same in all the cameras.

Although, please note that this camera does not come with “live view”, i.e., the LCD does not show the image. You need to use the viewfinder to see what you are capturing.

It also feels like a pro camera, but with the feel comes the weight.It has a small LCD display on the top of the body which are usually present in pro and semi-pro cams. But this LCD cannot be used in situations with low lights since there is no light in the LCD.

CONCLUSION: I would recommend this camera if above features with 4 or more points are very important for the photographer (Weather resistant, lens compatibility, cheap lenses and ready to print pics). The worst part of the camera is the processing speed and the fact that it lacks “live view”. I can live without the live view, but I found it slow. Overall, I am extremely happy with the output (pictures), just wish that it would be faster. Great camera!I was a very active 35mm amateur many years ago and just sort of feel into the point and shoot mode. I decided to get back into trying some creative photography and a DSLR was the way to go but there are so many to choose from. Of course Canon and Nikon are the most popular so I read up on them but Pentax really kept rising to the top due to the fact all Pentax lenses work on all Pentax cameras with the exception of an adapter ring must be used on some, I really liked the idea of having that used market to shop from. Also as I read I found Pentax is tops in Europe and Asia and doesn’t even advertise in America so that explained why I hadn’t seen much on them. I really took my time and the K200D just seemed like the logical choice for me and I’m as pleased with it as I could possibly be. Oh yea, the shake reduction mechanism is in the camera body, not just the lens like the others so you get that great option with every lens you use. Do your research but, you can’t go wrong with this one.BUY this cam. I bought it, went to Europe, and inturn had tremendous pics! The camera is the best deal of any SLR because they don’t have to advertise like Nikon and Cannon.

Price: $599.95   Buy This Camera

• 14.6-megapixel resolution captures enough detail for poster-sized prints
• 2.7-inch LCD display; body only–no lens included
• Dust-proof, water-resistant construction; comprehensive Dust Removal system
• New Live View function
• Capture images to SD/SDHC cards (not included)

I’ve owned the K20D for six months now and it’s a great camera. I’d like to offer some advice, learned the hard way, to people thinking of buying one.

Firstly, buy it! At this price….

Secondly, I wouldn’t buy the kit lens. I did, and I hardly ever use it. It’s OK, well built and not expensive. But it won’t give you those WOW factor photos you’d expect from your investment in a top quality DSLR. If you want that WOW factor, I personally recommend you move fast to find a good deal on the Pentax FA 50mm f1.4 prime lens. If you can get one for under $260 (at time of writing), you’ll have a wonderful, low cost prime. But do it right now, before it goes the same way as the top rated 35mm f2, which is now hard to find and expensive. It’ll help you take wonderful photos, particularly portraits in-doors without flash. Its very, very sharp outdoors. I’ll guarantee friends and relations will say: great photos, what camera are you using? And camera experts will say: great photos, what lens are you using? You may have to jump around a bit to get a good composition with its focal point – but why not look like a serious photographer? It you can’t or don’t want to invest in a top quality lens, then I’d stick with a point and shoot or consider the next two options.

Thirdly, for maximum entertainment, I’d buy a value-for-money zoom lens like the Tamron 70-300mm macro. This lens isn’t the best of breed. You can go that route when you’ve mastered all the “photographer’s at fault” issues – or if you have money to burn. It’s a lot of fun outdoors and it’ll produce very fine photos (up to around 250mm). I’ve used it for numerous photos of my 6 and 7 year old girls playing with pets, friends, creepy crawlies, as well as other “Daddy objects” far away, like planes and the moon. Plus it has a macro feature that is a bit of a hassle to set but works well. In other words – it’s a lot of fun!

Fourthly, try an old Pentax/Takumar lens on the body. Go shopping on eBay you’ll find some of the greatest ever lenses/glass for sale at ridiculous prices (compared to new lenses). Buy a proper Pentax adaptor, change the aperture ring setting so that the shake reduction will work on a totally manual lens, and you’ll be able to take some fantastically evocative photos. I’ve got three 35 year old Takumars, and its amazing the range of photo styles I can produce – from razor sharp to creamy “1960s” looking colors. You’ll really get to know how to use the camera to its full potential. My Takumar 55mm is the my pick. The only real problem is that with manual focus its hard to catch fast moving children. But then its back to the FA 50mm.

Finally, the expert reviewers are right, you DO need to (and shouldn’t have to) + EV compensate most times to get a perfect exposure, but that’s just a little quirk…also…if you have Canon software from your point and shoot digital camera, use this for managing and sending out your photos, its easier than learning the Pentax software…

This review will be brief, so take it for what it’s worth. So much has been said about the K20D, that I would only be repeating what you probably already know: This camera is a winner! I’ll leave the technical reviews to more qualified people out there.

I got it mainly for its weather-resistance and because it has received such positive feedback here on Amazon and on other sites. Now that Pentax has finally released 2 weather-resisitant lenses,

PENTAX DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL Weather Resistant Lens for Pentax Digital SLR Camera

PENTAX DA 50-200mm f/4-5.6 ED Weather Resistant Lens for Pentax Digital SLR Cameras

I feel like I have the perfect setup for my needs.

This is my first DSLR, and when I started looking for a DSLR I only considered Canon and Nikon. But this Pentax does everything I want it to. And usually it does it very well.

No camera is perfect. But for the price, the K20D is certainly one that you might want to seriously consider. Canon and Nikon make good stuff, but don’t feel inferior with the K20D. It is one sweet piece of equipment!I continued my travels through the Pentax family since I learned to shoot with the old K1000 and all my lenses were bought for this camera, I just hated the idea of starting over from scratch. I upgraded to the MZS several years ago but finally made the leap to digital with the K20d this spring after missing graduation pictures of a niece due to rewinding film. I have absolutely loved the in camera shake reduction. My general use lense is a Sigma 28-300. I was shooting a pickup basketball game at our church this weekend at around 200 handheld in shutter speed priority and getting excellent shots. I’ve used all the modes at some point in the past six weeks or so and they all work wonderfully well though I can’t imagine when ISO priority will actually be my main consideration in a shoot. I have only had one complaint and that came shooting lightning shots at night. The camera takes about 80% as long to write the information to the card as the aperature was left open. I have done some research and have learned that card speed might be a factor so I have some 30m cards coming,… I’ll update if these improve this weakness. The data capture with each shot will be helpful in learning becuase this camera tracks everything but moon phase and wind speed involved with taking the shot. It can only greatly improve the leaning curve. I owned it less than a year, but the camera has been handled less than perfect. It has been dropped at least three times, but the true test was a complete soak. My daughter had around her neck, while trying to get closer to the ocean, at cliff walk’s 40-steps, Newport. She slipped and went completely down to the water. The camera went completely under water with her. I took battery as a precaution and noticed inside compartment was dry. I let it dried for few days just to be sure before tried to use it again. Well, it worked perfectly, like nothing ever happened to it. I had 18-250 lens at that time, and unfortunately, it did not survived. I wish I had one of those weather-sealed lens.

On the side note, it does capture good images and I agreed with other reviewers. I have owned Pentax cameras for 25 years. They are simple easy to use cameras with the controls in just the right place to give the operator complete freedom to take any shot. You won’t find yourself winding into a pretzel in order to make a simple adjustment.

The K20D is a fantastic camera that performs like one 3 or 4 times its price. I have shot images of all types and brightnesses and have found it to be excellent. The brightness curve is a little low and will need to be brought up a little but this is far better then being too high and blowing out detail.

The battery life is excellent allowing me to get 750-1000 shots before needing to make a change. I use little flash so I can enjoy the full colors of my setting without blown out spots and bad reflections.

I have great night vision and the auto focus will start to loose it a little before I do. I can quickly switch to manual focus and keep on shooting. I avoid pushing the ISO over 800 to minimize noise. You will find the detail is still excellent at high ISOs where other cameras will sacrifice detail to keep the noise to a minimum. I personally would rather have a full detail shot with a little noise of that important moment then a low noise low detail shot.

My lens choice is the DA 18-250mm. This is a fantastic lens that surprisingly does the whole range well. When I shot film I was constantly in need of lenses and would often carry 3-5 on me. This lens will almost do it all. I am still planning on getting a wide of 10-12mm and a longer zoom of 400m or more.

The in body shake reduction system allows me to shoot down to 1/2 second while holding the camera. I have been doing this for a long time and have trained myself to hold very still but with it off, the best I can do is 1/15th. I would still recommend a tripod but knowing I can still take the shot in almost any condition is very comforting.

The bottom line is that this camera is well worth the money. It is the best value for anything even remotely close in capability. Don’t let the fact that Cannon and Nikon hog all the press keep you from giving this a serious look.

Price: $699.95   Buy This Camera