Pentax K10D Review

For the opportunity Pentax K10D Review Many thanks to Alexander Perever.

View Pentax K10D

View Pentax K10D

The Pentax K10D was released back in the fall of 2006, and in 2007 the Pentax K10D was voted the best camera of the year, so the K10D is a pretty interesting model. When you pick up the Pentax K10D you feel that the camera is weighty, very well assembled. Pentax K10D is positioned as a semi-professional model, the same as Nikon D80 or Canon 30D. By the way, the camera really resembles something like cameras Canon 10D, 20D, 30D. At the moment, the Pentax K10D is outdated. In early 2012, it can only be found on the secondary market for a modest price of 300-400 USD. And the camera has a full clone - this is Samsung GX-10.

View Pentax K10D from different sides

View Pentax K10D from different sides

Pentax K10D has on board:
1. CCD with 10 megapixels... The Pentax K10D is a camera from the days when manufacturers made cameras with CCD sensors. 10MP is more than enough for basic photography tasks, I personally still shoot at 10MP Nikon D80, D200... Anyone who has already come across SLR cameras will understand that the difference between 8 and 12 megapixels is very small. I will say more, it is very difficult to feel the difference even when printing, here is a good example in the article megapixel battle.

Photo on Pentax K10D

Photo on Pentax K10D

2. Pentax K10D - APS-C type camera. Crop factor 1.5x camera. And this means that when using it, you need to take into account the decrease in the viewing angle that the lens gives. For example, when using SMC Pentax-M 1: 1,4 50mm on the Pentax K10D, the viewing angle will be smaller, and EGF will match a 75mm lens at full frame. More details in the article about crop factor. It is a pity that the window is already 2012, and Pentax has not released a full-frame camera. But Pentax has a Pentax 645D medium format camera.

Photo on Pentax K10D

Photo on Pentax K10D

3. The camera has built-in focus motor, which allows you to focus with non-motorized lenses. For example, the camera will focus with a motorless Pentax SMC-FA 50mm f / 1.4. This will save on autofocus lenses and use old non-motorized film cameras.

Photo on Pentax K10D

Photo on Pentax K10D

4. Good build quality... The bottom of the camera reads Made in Philipine. When using it, it feels like the camera was made to last. The Pentax K10D is one of the first APS-C cameras from Pentax, and most likely they did it conscientiously. Also, on the bottom of the camera there is a rubber cap for attaching the battery pack. Bat block can be purchased separately. And most importantly, the camera has dust and moisture protection - a powerful argument when choosing a camera.

Pentax K10D sample photo

Pentax K10D sample photo

5. The limits ISO range 100-1600. When manually setting ISO, you can select intermediate values, such as 160, 640, etc. A nice feature of the camera is that in automatic mode can be set both the maximum permissible ISO and the minimum. This is very convenient and useful, the adjustment is very simple, using the front and rear selectors. Regarding the so-called working ISO, in the camera itself, ISOs higher than 400 are marked in yellow, which hints that it is better not to shoot them. Noise is already noticeable on ISO 400. You can shoot on ISO 1600, but very carefully. The camera cannot boast of a clean picture at high ISO.

Pentax K10 D sample photo

Pentax K10 D sample photo

6. White balance can be set automatically, or choose from a large number of typical settings. Also, it can be set by a pattern. BB the camera guesses more or less normal.

Pentax K 10 D sample photo

Pentax K 10 D sample photo

7. Pentax K10D has optional monochrome display, the benefits of which are difficult to overestimate. The monochrome display is a sign of good ergonomics. It is very convenient for me to use it. The display has a backlight that is activated by the correction button exposure.

Pentax K10D sample photos

Pentax K10D sample photos

8. The main display in 2.5 inches and a total of 210.000 points. The display is quite normal at that time. But for today it is still small and with poor viewing angles. I do not recommend viewing the footage on it.

Pentax K10D sample photos

Pentax K10D sample photos

9. The camera has a menu for editing footage. You can correct the RAW footage. For novice photographers and ordinary people, this is a nice little thing. For example, I recently found out that on my Nikon D200 there is no such menu and I couldn’t play with the RAW settings of the image in the camera.

Photo at Pentax K10D

Photo at Pentax K10D

10. The camera can shoot in the spirit of RAW modes - DNG and PEF. Special thanks to Pentax for the opportunity to shoot in DNG, as he somehow approached the solution of the problem of standardizing RAW data. Who doesn't know, DNG is a unified RAW format that any processing program should read. Average RAW with extension DNG weighs 16MB and PEF weighs 12MB.

Photo taken at Pentax K10D

Photo taken at Pentax K10D

11. Frame buffer. For me, only the buffer for shooting in RAW is important. If you choose DNG, then the camera places 11 pictures, in PEF format only 9. This is a good indicator for a camera with this age. This allows the camera to shoot without braking for the first 3-4 seconds.

Photo taken at Pentax K10D

Photo taken at Pentax K10D

12. 3.3 frames per second... Not much, but enough. 3 fps is quite enough for amateur purposes. Considering that for a higher rate of fire, a larger buffer is needed, and this increases production costs, then 3 frames is just right for a camera of this type. For example, I am not chasing rate of fire and still shoot with Nikon D40 with its 2.5 frames per second. Just keep in mind that only professional photographers need a rate of fire; two frames per second are enough for an ordinary person. Always remember that it is not important what to photograph, but important how to take pictures.

Pentax K10 D sample photos

Pentax K10 D sample photos

13. The camera uses SD HC cards. My Pentax K10D made friends without problems with a 16 GB card SD HC class 10. When shooting in RAW, it is always important to have a large memory card, or several spare ones.

Pentax K10 D sample photos

Pentax K10 D sample photos

14. Pentax K10D has a built-in image stabilizer, which helps increase shutter speed by 2-4 steps. With any lens you can use image stabilizer. This is very important when take off hands... And there is no need to buy lenses with stabilizers, everything is already built in. A very useful thing. But personally, I am of the opinion that in the Pentax K10D the stabilizer actually works at about 2 stops. The stabilization mode is activated by a special button on the camera body.

Photo taken at Pentax K10D

Photo taken at Pentax K10D

15. Pentax K10D has an unusual matrix cleaning function... It can be configured to turn the camera on or off. When you hold the Pentax K10D camera in your hands, you really feel that something is working in the middle and I think it cleans the matrix. But this is not a panacea, the matrix will have to be cleaned manually after a year or two of using the camera. Unlike many other cameras, here you can really hear how the dust shaker cleaning system works.

Photo at Pentax K10D

Photo at Pentax K10D

16. Autofocus has 11 focus points. It is quite enough for convenient work, while 9 of them are cruciform. Autofocus is great. There are different modes of its operation.

Photo at Pentax K10D

Photo at Pentax K10D

17. A lot of useful pleasant things. The camera has a special button to switch between RAW and JPEGThe battery cover and memory card cover are very well protected against accidental opening. There is excellent snapshot preview function - done by turning the inclusion lever even further. In this case, you can see the finished result of the image without saving it, or view the depth of field - for a simple and effective solution to preview the depth of field and the image, I give Pentax a bold plus. Also, the Pentax K10D has a button under bracketing and function multiple exposures.

Photo on Pentax K10 D at high sensitivity

Photo on Pentax K10 D at high sensitivity

18. The camera has the ability to work with manual optics. Econometrics and focus confirmation work. The only thing with old Pentax lenses is that the camera does not read aperture values. For older M42 or M39 thread mount lenses, the Pentax system is one of the best because it measures exposure and gives focus confirmation. For example, some Nikon cameras do not measure exposure and lose infinity with manual optics for M42 threads, and Canon cameras do not provide focus confirmation.

Photograph by Pentax K10 D

Photograph by Pentax K10 D

19. SV, TAV modes on the wheel control shooting modes. Unusual modes give priority to ISO sensitivity when selecting the desired exposure. Exposure at the camera from 30 seconds to 1 \ 4000 seconds. 1 \ 4000 is sometimes not enough in order to shoot on a fast lens during daylight hours. Minimum excerpt when synchronizing with flash is only 1 \ 180 seconds. For example, simple Nikon D40 can shoot with flash at 1 \ 500.

Photograph by Pentax K 10 D

Photograph by Pentax K 10 D

20. The battery is quite powerful, can easily withstand 1000 frames without a flash. It all depends on how to use the camera during filming, as well as on the lens that is used on the camera.

Pentax K10 D sample photos

Pentax K10 D sample photos

21. Measurement exposure Pentax K10D is pretty well implemented. He is mistaken very rarely. The built-in exposure meter has only 16 segments, but this does not interfere with giving the correct exposure metering.

Pentax K 10 D sample photo

Pentax K 10 D sample photo

All examples of photos in this review were taken on a Pentax K10D without processing (automatic conversion from RAW and JPEG with a reduction in size and adding a watermark from EXIF) You can also see sample photos on the Pentax K10D in galleries:

Prices for modern Pentax cameras in popular stores can look at this link.

In comments Can I ask you a question on the topic and you will answer, and you can also express your opinion or describe your experience. Many little things for a photo can be found on AliExpress.

UPDATED

Examples of photos on Jupiter 37A 3,5 / 135 and camera Pentax K10D a photographer shared with readers of Radozhiva Yuri Leo.

Results

Pentax K10D - a great option for your money. Suitable for those who like to use manual optics. Pentax K10D has low operating ISO values. But the camera has a built-in image stabilizer and well-designed ergonomics.

Comments on this post do not require registration. Anyone can leave a comment. Many different photographic equipment can be found on AliExpress.

Material prepared Arkady Shapoval. Training/Consultations | Youtube | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Telegram

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Comments: 68, on the topic: Pentax K10D review

  • Vladimir

    Thanks for the reviews. The photo examples lack the lens brand and aperture value.

    • Arkady Shapoval

      It's my pleasure. For camera reviews, I do not indicate lens brands.

    • Plazmx

      Mark is not needed. You can write 125mm / F3.5 for example. It would be great.

  • Sash___OK

    Brilliant pictures of nature - with greenery and birds of prey such as a sparrow. Most of all, a photo of a drop on a ripening branch sunk.

  • Sergei

    Pentax's medium format is 645D, fix it. I still work with 10 and 20 ... The working iso is really not high ... when using various plug-ins, you can shoot up to iso 800 without any problems, then you have to conjure harder. I didn't like the examples very much.

    • Arkady Shapoval

      Fixed.

  • Valery

    “The display is quite normal at the time. But for today it is still small and with poor viewing angles. I do not advise you to view the footage on it ... "The author is clearly not in the subject ... Perplexity ... He probably did not take this camera in his hands if he writes it ... It sucks

    • Arkady Shapoval

      The Pentax K10D has a poor display for 2012, especially its size.

  • Valery

    “Conclusion: The Pentax K10D is a great option for the money. Suitable for those who like to use manual optics. Pentax K10D has low ISO performance values. But the camera has a built-in image stabilization and well thought out ergonomics.
    Thanks for attention. Arkady Shapoval. "
    Arkady, you are an incompetent person

    • Arkady Shapoval

      Adding thoughts, add reasoning)

  • Vasil

    I also looked around for a look and a photo of a gorobtsya, as well as some sort of bag on a tree (: Now, in Mayboth, I would like to look around Pentax Km (:

  • sn797

    A good overview and good photos ... Good, ordinary, average (that's a long word :)) photos, with beautiful bokeh and mood. You shouldn't scold! And static and dynamic, what else is needed for review? Although I never shot with the described camera and I probably hardly will, I read it with interest and pleasure! Thank you.

  • Alexey

    Arkady hello! The question is a little off topic, but you have not found such a topic. They intend to purchase a Pentax 80-320 lens from a film camera, I want to put it on a Canon device through an adapter. The price seems to be inexpensive, 2 tr, tell me, is it worth taking or not? I have a Canon 55-250, so I don’t like it, except that it’s only a zoom, but I can’t talk about a beautiful picture.

    • Arkady Shapoval

      I didn’t work with Pentax 80-320, I can’t tell anything sensible.

  • Sergei

    Hi Arkady! I see that you are familiar with different systems of the Central Control Panel. He faced the difficult choice of acquiring Nikon D7000 or Pentax K-5. Both cameras have their pros and cons. I am thinking of acquiring a CROP for my family and home. If you had such a choice, you, as a professional photographer, which camera gave your preference?

    • Arkady Shapoval

      Both cameras are decent. I would take the D7000, there are more native lenses and bells and whistles.

    • Taoist

      Mayke rіk to that standing in front of such a vibrator.
      I’ll share my dostvidom;
      Having taken Pentax K-5, I’ll write about it.

      There isn’t a lot of doubts about my thoughts on my thought, more precisely one: zyomka video (autofocus, vitrimka / diaphragm, file format). Nikon D7000 peremptorily stronger in the ability to video camera.

      Now about the plus.
      1. Dovzhin shy vіdrіzku allowing є vikoristovuvati manual optics (like a bayonet, so і ізібову М42) through a lens-less adapter for saving health focus on several. The weaker side for uson Nikon.
      2. The function of stabilization of the camera “Shake Reduction” (SR) is implemented in the body of the camera, so be it a smart object, I will take the stabilizer “for free”. For example, I especially know from the hands of a window 1 / 60s with an object Tair 300mm without the smallest image smudging.
      3. In the set (t.z. "kit"), there are sawn logs of objects.
      4. Available super-compact and lightweight “pancake lens”. I would like to add more to the Pentax system as a whole about specific models, like points 1, 2.

      About D7000 I can give you more information and obvious speech:
      Nikon’s company has won a lot of popularity for Pentax (it’s wonderful, even the same Pentax let out the first gray mirror camera), so if you need to sell the camera, it’s easier to know if you’ve got accessory, including optics. Now, on the forums, hostility develops on the forums, but the D7000 people bought the picture, they shook off more and more, and through them, they roamed them.

      I say garnish photos!

  • Sergei

    That's for sure! In the D 7000 there are many gadgets and the choice of lenses is simply huge. It is interesting as in D7000 with dust and moisture protection. I think all DSLRs are vacuum cleaners, some more, others less.

  • Maksim

    Hello Arkady! Another thanks! I have recommended your work to many people to read, so far there are no complaints or dissatisfied ones! Now on the matter and on the topic. That long-awaited moment has come when the equipment cannot cope with my requests and I was faced with the choice of purchasing a more advanced device. Sergey stopped between Nikon D7000 or Pentax K-5. I do not agree that this is “for home and family.” But this is my personal opinion.
    I do not defend Pentax - from Nikon itself. But I talked with professional pentaxists. And here is their literal motivation in favor of Pentax if you take a serious glass: “Pentax has been producing K30 for a month now. it is the same as d730, however, the prices for lenses are sky-high, but the world price for them is still less than that of Nikon, I have a pair of 7000-50 / 135 and 2.8-16 / 50 I bought them for 2.8 and 850, respectively. Together with k750 30 Since the pentax has an intra-chamber stub, it is necessary to compare Nikon's lenses with the herd, and he has 2330-70 with a stabilizer + 200-17 without a stabilizer + d55 = more than 7000. Budget glasses do not look at this garbage. Absolutely all lenses that have ever been produced are suitable for pentax, because all pentaxes have a screwdriver, and nikon only have older mules. My lenses in conjunction with k3500 waterproof can be removed in the pouring rain and kept under a tap with water "
    Even if we take that the K 5 is more expensive, all the same mathematics does not lie and Pentax turns out to be cheaper. I agree with you that Nikon has a better choice, especially if you have shot before and you have a whole collection of lenses. And if you just jump from the entry level to advanced ????. Thank you for withstanding my entire novel to the end, but I really face a dilemma and 2 or 3 thousand difference is not 200-300 difference. You wrote “I would take D7000, my own lenses and bells and whistles more. "Argument your choice if possible in more detail. I really need a qualified approval. Plizzzz !!!! Thanks in advance!

    • Arkady Shapoval

      Most likely you write for the Pentax SMCP-DA 50-135mm f / 2.8 ED (IF) SDM Autofocus Lens and compare it with the Nikon 70-200mm f / 2.8G ED VR II AF-S Nikkor - and this is heaven and earth. All K-mount lenses are suitable for Pentax, but no one writes that half of these lenses are old manual, which a screwdriver will not help in any way. The same goes for Nikon, for more details in the AI-S section.
      Advantages of Nikon D7000 over Pentax K-5: more focus points, more native lenses, 2 memory card slots, autofocus when shooting video, a real opportunity to switch to a full-frame system in the future
      Advantages of the Pentax K-5 over the Nikon D7000: stabilizer, faster burst shooting.
      The image quality most likely differs a little. Sorry, I did not use the Pentax K-5.
      As for the gadgets: if you take it not for home use, the camera is far from the main criterion for good photos, a lot depends on other parameterssuch as light, optics. Among the flashes, the Nikon model range is wider, there is more choice, Pentax has to choose between two models from the native flashes, + there is no analogue SU-800.
      Choosing between the Pentax K-5 and the Nikon D7000 is the first thing you choose. Therefore, I opt for the Nikon D7000, as in my opinion this is a simpler system for further development.

  • Igor

    Hello! Well, I bought it (Pentax K10D).
    While getting used to, mastering, so to speak. First impressions - the pictures are really beautiful, the leaves are green, the sky is blue, the faces are of a normal color (in my former Sonya 290 it was impossible to look at the pictures without photoshop).
    Autofocus is quite tenacious, in vain many people write that it is slow. It clings confidently and quickly (again, compared to Sonya), I had Nikon D40 even earlier - autofocus is no worse, and no better, IMHO.
    JVI is light, and it is convenient to focus on it manually.
    Ergonomics are generally at their best - for a couple of hours of “clicking” I got used to buttons.
    In general - for this money (and I got it with a whale for a ridiculous $ 360) - THING! Especially colors - now you will have to sit at the editor less. I advise everyone.

  • Eugene

    Hello Arkady! Thank you very much for your site, it is very accessible and interesting! I, like many people, have the choice of flour. The experience of photography is quite large, but superficial. I took off for a very long time on ZENIT-E, then, about 5 years ago I switched to a soap dish (presented), but I always wanted something more. After many hours on the internet, the choice was between Nikon 7000 and Pentax K5. I don’t want simpler devices, because I take for a long time (zenith fotkal for almost 20 years). I rent a lot (travel, home, parties). It would be nice if you tested the Pentax K5.
    Yours!

    • Arkady Shapoval

      As soon as I fall into my hands, I will definitely write a review.

  • serega

    As the owner of the K10D, I’ll say that for my money the camera is just super! With manual optics of the times of the USSR excellent portraits.

  • Alexey

    Big ATP for excellent, informative reviews. Tell me, it's worth the deal - K10D or Fujik S3PRO. I would like to hear your opinion about these cameras, maybe even subjective. THX

  • Alexey

    And yet, Arkady, I want to hear your comparative opinion about the two cameras (nevertheless, your experience is significantly more significant) (let S5 and K10).

    • Arkady Shapoval

      In my opinion, I wrote quite transparently about my preference for S5.

  • Ivan

    I really like the Pentax optics - often with their unusual, bright and warm colors in photographs. But it is not often necessary to praise engineering solutions, albeit unique ones. With regards to this camera: at one time it was the built-in image stabilizer that made me not look in the direction of this cute machine. The fact is that the built-in image stabilizer is not such a “nice” idea as it seems at first glance. Indeed, we see savings - no need to buy expensive optics with optical stabilizers.
    However, the built-in stabilizer in all the cameras I know is implemented on piezo actuators - probably the best demonstration of the operation of these two engines is seen in old "minolts". So, we have two piezoceramic packet actuators - but these fast "motors" are extremely fragile! I have had cases when when a camera falls or even hits it (alas, this is inevitable, when you often use photographic equipment!), It is the piezo actuators that fail. I know from the repairmen forums that this is an extremely common “disease” of all cameras with built-in image stabilizers. Of course, in this case it is possible to “block” the matrix if it is not possible to replace the “engines”, even with glue, which is what other craftsmen do, but the “reliability” of such cameras, as we understand it, generally decreases.
    However, apart from the unreliability of these devices, in all other respects they work great. Although some people argue, they say, the forced light matrix, “hanging” on the suspension, cools worse: after all, it is no longer possible to make the matrix heavier with radiators.

    • kotofei

      Piezo motors are used by sony. And, - yes, they break when they fall.
      Pentax has a magnetic gimbal stabilizer. More voracious but also more accurate. And, in theory, more efficient.

  • faiter22

    yes the diaphragm would be nice to point
    as a teaching aid

  • Alexander

    Good day ... I'll put in my 5 kopecks .... changed Nikons (D5000, D80) to a K100D stump, then on K20D .... there is no review on it, but very similar to 10ku ... ..Arkady! what do you think??? You are now like an angel ,,, do not leave the altar :) ... call the old one for the lyrical digression ....

  • Vasil

    I just want to share a picture with Pentax K10D (:
    http://www.photoforum.ru/photos.0.0.0.0.0.4.1806.award.desc.a.0.0.0.0.0.0.1.ru.html

    • Andron

      Looked at your photos, super picture !!!!!!

  • Yuriy75

    Thanks for the review. from the review concluded that for 400 cu it’s wiser to buy a Canon 1100D, or 450D.

  • evidence

    the camera is much better than you wrote

  • Vadim

    Please tell me what adapter is needed for the PENTAKS Kr camera for the TAMRON 80-210MM lens

  • Fedor Efremov

    Dear Arkady, thanks for the detailed review.

    However, I want to add and correct a little.

    1) If you increase the brightness of the LCD screen in the menu (for example, I set “+2”), then it becomes much easier to evaluate the result from it, even on a sunny day (from the direct light of the sun, of course, this does not help).

    2) It is not the camera, but the owner who decides which ISO values ​​to mark in yellow (and display the “ISO” warning on the upper black-and-white screen): a separate setting in the menu is responsible for this.

    3) Entering the manual white balance (“white sheet”) is extremely slow (for this you need to use the menu on the big screen and make 6-7 clicks on different buttons). But after the test frame, you can manually select the reference white zone in the picture.

  • Sergey F

    A year and a half owned this camera. Color rendering really liked. Convenience of management at height. Pentax optics are generally out of competition.
    But autofocus is something!
    I could not make friends with him. He lived a life of his own, completely independent of the camera and of me. The hit did not exceed 30%.
    And one more bug with this camera is matrix skew. Strained great. Constantly had to edit the horizon in FS.
    In general, after a trip on vacation and watching the footage, the nerves could not stand it and I sold it. In exchange, I bought a Nikon D90 and began to enjoy shooting. We can say that K10D autofocus, in comparison with the D90, is simply not there.

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