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The Pentax K110D is the second new DSLR to be announced by Pentax today (the first being the K100D).
Like it's sibling the Pentax K110D is styled in the classic design of 'K' series film SLRs and is reverse compatible with K-mount lenses.
The K110D is a very similar DSLR to the K100D with virtually the same feature set (6 megapixels, 2.5inch LCD, 11 point focussing, shutter speeds of up to 1/4000th of a second, ISO up to 3200 and 2.8 frames per second shooting) except for the anti shake technology.
This makes it a DSLR aimed squarely at the entry level market and with a price point of $599 it is likely to compete well with it's competitors.
The Pentax K110D is due to hit stores in August 2006 (a month after the K100D).
Compare prices on the Pentax K110D and get the latest price on the Pentax K110D
** The continuous AF mode is selectable by the user only when P, Tv, Av, M or B is selected as a shooting mode on the mode dial. This mode is automatically activated by the camera when the Auto Picture Program, or one of the Picture or Scene modes, is selected.
Bright, clear viewfinder
The K110D features a lightweight penta-mirror viewfinder, which combines PENTAX-original finder optics with a Natural-Bright-Matte II focusing screen to deliver bright, clear subject images with a 0.85X magnification and a 96 percent field of view.
Large LCD monitor to facilitate image viewing and menu setting
The K110D incorporates a large 2.5 inch color LCD monitor on its back panel. Its wide-view design allows the photographer to check the monitor image over 140 degrees vertically and horizontally, ensuring effortless image viewing even from a diagonal position. With a total of approximately 210,000 pixels, it also offers digital zooming of playback images up to 12 times for easy confirmation of the image's focusing status and details. The large monitor size allows for large letters, digits and icons on the menu screens to facilitate menu confirmation and camera operations. In addition, the color scheme between the menu listings and the background is optimized for each menu screen to assure at-a-glance confirmation, even under varying shooting conditions.
Auto Picture Mode for effortless point-and-shoot SLR photography
The K110D offers the PENTAX-developed Auto Picture Mode, which automatically and instantly selects one of the four Picture modes — including Portrait, Landscape and Macro — by calculating various photographic factors to assure optimum results. Since this advanced shooting mode takes away all the concerns about aperture, shutter-speed, white-balance, saturation, contrast and sharpness settings, the photographer can concentrate on image composition and shutter opportunity.
Auto sensitivity control up to ISO equlivalent of 3200 standard output sensitivity
The K110D features an auto sensitivity control function, which automatically sets the optimum standard output sensitivity — up to 3200, which is the highest automatic setting in its class — based on such data as the subject's brightness level and the lens' focal length. Since this function allows the use of higher shutter speeds in poor lighting situations (such as indoor sports events and night scenes), it helps the photographer to effectively reduce camera shake and prevent blurred images.
AA-battery power supply for easy battery replacement on the road
The K110D is powered by four AA-size batteries — available nearly everywhere around the globe — for worry-free batter replacement. It also accepts two CR-V3 lithium batteries.
True-to-life, rich-gradation images assured by 6.1 effective megapixels
The K110D features a large, high-performance 23.5mm x 15.7mm CCD as its image sensor, assuring the faithful reproduction of the desired photographic intention in the resulting images — from images with beautiful out-of-focus backgrounds to those with edge-to-edge sharpness. By combining 6.1 effective megapixels with a high-performance imaging engine and advanced image-processing technologies, the K110D is designed to produce beautiful, true-to-life images that are rich in gradation. What's more, it offers a choice of two finishing touches of “Natural” or “Bright” to create a distinctive atmosphere.
Compatibility with existing PENTAX interchangeable lenses
The K110D is compatible with all existing PENTAX interchangeable lenses. This compatibility lets the photographer use various lenses for the same subject, or select the most appropriate lens for a given situation, assuring the top visual creativity available only through SLR photography.
** Lenses compatible with the K110D are: K-, KA-, KAF- and KAF2-mount lenses; screw-mount lenses (with an adapter); 645-system lenses (with an adapter); and 67-system lenses (with an adapter). Certain lenses may lose part of their functions.
Super-compact, ultra-lightweight body, with outstanding rigidity
While the K110D is designed to be compact and lightweight to enhance operability and portability, it also incorporates a newly developed stainless-steel chassis and a fiber-reinforced engineering plastic housing to reinforce its overall rigidity and durability.
Upgraded standard software package
The K100D's standard software package consists of the PENTAX PHOTO Laboratory 3 that features the reliable SILKYPIX image-processing engine (developed by ICHIKAWA SOFT LABORATORY) for RAW data processing, and the PENTAX PHOTO Browser 3 that offers faster data processing speed and better operability than the previous version, and can convert RAW images to the DNG format. DNG is a public, archival format for digital camera raw data.
Save-by-day Storage Capability on an SD memory card
Images can be stored in a standard format where all files are located in one folder, or the images can be stored in folders for each day of shooting automatically on an SD memory card.
Additional features
High-speed shutter unit, with a top speed of 1/4000 second
High-speed continuous shooting, up to five images (at “Best” image quality in JPEG format) at the speed of approx. 2.8 images per second
Eight distinctive Scene modes to accommodate specific subjects/applications
19 custom functions to personalize camera operations
SD memory card compatibility
Choice of two depth-of-field preview functions (digital/optical)
Choice of 16-segment multi-pattern metering, center-weighted metering and spot metering to accommodate various photographic applications
Noise reduction mechanism to reduce digital noise during extended exposures
USB 2.0 (HI-SPEED) compatibility for speedy data transfer to PC
Choice of image format between JPEG (Best, Better or Good) and RAW
Five digital filters (Black-and-white, Sepia, Slim, Soft and Brightness) for easy editing of recorded images
PictBridge compatibility
Specifications
• Lens mount: PENTAX KAF mount
• Lens construction: 8 elements in 5 groups
• Angle of view: 68° ( when used with *istD series & K100D body )
• Aperture control: Automatic
• Number of diaphragm blades: 7
• Minimum aperture: F22
• Metering system: TTL open-aperture metering
• Minimum focusing distance: 0.2m (0.66ft.)
• Filter size: 43mm or 49mm
• Maximum magnification: 0.17X
• Dimensions (diameter x length): 63mm x 25mm (2.5inch x 1.0inch)
• Weight: 140g (4.9oz) without hood / 155g(5.5oz) with hood
•
Ultra-thin, super-lightweight design
With newly developed, high-performance optics, this new lens measures only one inch (25 millimeters long) and weighs a mere 4.9 ounces (140 grams). Mounted on a PENTAX digital SLR camera body, the lens protrudes very little from the camera's front panel, making it an ideal choice for carry-everywhere, instantaneous snapshot photography.
Versatile wide-angle perspective
Mounted on a PENTAX digital SLR camera body — including the new K100D — this lens offers an angle of view equivalent to a 32mm lens in the 35mm format. This versatile angle of view produces natural images with a moderate perspective and an expanded depth of field (or a wide in-focus area), making it ideal for many different types of subjects and occasions, including snapshots, landscape, travel photos, and architecture.
High-performance optics
This lens incorporates a hybrid aspherical lens in its eighth optical element to effectively compensate for a variety of aberrations, which cause adverse effects on overall image quality. In order to assure high-quality image reproduction over the entire focusing range, it also features a floating mechanism, which is designed to adjust the degree of aberration compensation in relation to the focusing distance.
Limited Lens-series quality for distinctive visual description and a premium appearance
The PENTAX Limited Lens series is designed for ultimate image reproduction by combining a series of mechanical and numerical evaluations with human assessment of test shot samples. True to this tradition, this new lens not only assures excellent image quality, but also produces sharp, clear images with outstanding contrast even at the maximum aperture, because its optical design has been optimized for digital photography. In addition, its lens barrel, hood and cap are all made of a high-grade aluminum material, shaped for perfect proportions and striking beauty.
SP coating to protect the lens against water and grease
The PENTAX-original Super Protective (SP) coating is applied to the front surface of the lens. Through a vapor deposition process, the lens surface is coated with a special fluorine compound to repel dust, water and grease, making it easy to wipe off fingerprints and cosmetics.
Digital SLR-exclusive design
This lens is exclusively designed for use with the PENTAX digital SLR cameras, with an image circle perfectly proportioned to the CCD size (23.5mm x 15.7mm), and optics optimized for digital imaging characteristics. Combining high-quality image reproduction with an ultra-thin, super-lightweight design, it is a perfect partner to PENTAX digital SLR cameras.
Other features
• PENTAX-developed Quick-Shift Focus System for instant switching to manual-focus operation after the subject is captured in focus by the AF system.
• Minimum focusing distance of 20 centimeters for close-up photography.
• Dual filter attachment design: 43mm filters on the hood, and 49mm filters on the lens (without use of the hood).
CNET Asia has a review of the Pentax K110D and writes, "Overall, the Pentax K110D is a great camera and there is very little to fault. It is obvious that much thought has been put into designing the camera to appeal to both basic and advanced shooters. The Pentax K110D compares well with other entry-level dSLRs from the more popular brands such as the Nikon D40 or Canon's 400D. It makes for a great starter camera for those on a shoestring budget as it would not be hard to find second-hand lenses to fit on the camera's K-mount. If you have a bit more cash to spare, though, we would recommend the K100D anti-shake."
Compare prices on the Pentax K110D and get the latest price on the Pentax K110D
Posted by Darren in our Pentax category on May 23, 2006
Wow, not bad review. I expected it would be small and non-informative. Thanks
wow - this looks like a great camera.