The *ist DS is
a consumer version of the *ist
D, Pentax's first digital SLR, introduced in late 2003.
While the *ist DS is a competitor to Canon's Digital Rebel/EOS300D
and Nikon's D70, it is a much more compact and lighter dSLR than either
of these.
The *ist DS is powered on with
a ring-shaped switch around the shutter release, on the
top right of the body. The switch also offers an added function
as the Depth of Field Preview when pressed and held to
the position.
Directly behind the shutter release, a small black button ()
serves to select exposure compensation over a range of ±2EV in steps
of either 1/3 or 1/2 EV; or adjust the aperture when the camera is set
to the Manual mode.
Placed directly below the display,
on the back top right side of the *ist DS, the e-dial is
the control that serves to make changes to the exposure compensation
or apertures in the Manual mode when the is
pressed. In addition, when the *ist DS is in playback mode, the
e-dial serves to display thumbnails of the captured photos (9
per screen) or to magnify an image being displayed on the monitor
up 12X.
The (Auto
Exposure Lock), to the right of the e-dial, is positioned to be easily
maintained while the image is recomposed. In Playback, the button provides
a secondary use, ,
serving to protect images against an accidental erasure.
The Pentax *ist DS is equipped with
a high resolution TTL optical viewfinder that includes a diopter
corrector mounted above its exit pupil, a soft rubber eyepiece,
and a green information display below the prism's image.
The pentaprism viewfinder offers
a 95% field of view and 0.95 magnification, and has a crisp image.
Superimposed on the image are AF sensor point indicators which
light up red when the camera has selected the AF point, or which
can be manually set to any one of 11 points.
The information in the display area covers aperture and shutter speed,
exposure compensation, the number of photos remaining, focus lock, scene
shooting mode, manual focus, ISO warning, and user-set white balance.
The top left side of the Pentax
*ist DS supports the Mode dial, and immediately below, the release
for the pop-up Flash. The Mode Dial has a total of 13
positions, 8 of which are assigned to Scene modes, 1 to a Full
Auto mode and the others standard shooting modes:
Program Mode: apertures
and shutter speeds are automatically selected by the camera.
Shutter Priority: shutter
speeds are set using the E-dial while the camera selects
the aperture. A shutter speed range of 1/4000 second to
30 seconds is available.
Aperture Priority: shutter
speeds are chosen by the camera to work with the aperture
selected by the user. When using the 18 to 55 mm lens included
in the kit version of the *ist DS, an aperture range covering
from f3.5 to f22 is possible at the wide angle end of the
zoom.
Manual Mode: lets the
user adjust the shutter speed using the e-dial and the
aperture, as noted earlier, by pressing the button
while rotating the e-dial. Moreover, should the be
pressed, the aperture and shutter speed are automatically
adjusted.
Bulb Mode: allows selecting
apertures with the e-dial. The Bulb mode is unlimited and
noise reduction is available, and the optional Cable
Switch CS-205 should be used to avoid blurring the
image.
The Auto Picture mode, with its big green label, separates these
modes from the Scene modes:
Automatically selects the appropriate
Scene mode based on a focus distance, brightness and contrast. It
selects from Normal, Portrait, Landscape, Macro and Moving Object
mode, indicating its choice in the viewfinder display.
Normal Mode is a basic
picture taking mode that is equivalent to the Auto mode
of many other cameras. Should it be needed the flash is
released automatically.
Portrait Mode selects
a wide aperture to blur the background behind the subject.
The flash is automatically released and set by default
to perform red-eye reduction by strobing before firing
the main flash.
Landscape Mode gives
preference to a smaller aperture so as to increase the
depth of field. Greens and blues are slightly emphasized.
Macro Mode automatically
searches for a close focus point, and the minimum distance
depends on the lens mounted on the camera. The flash is
automatically released if the camera finds the ambient
light too low to guarantee a shake-free image.
Moving Object Mode is
designed to prioritize the shutter speed and therefore
to freeze rapidly moving subjects such as would be the
case at a sporting event, and focus is continuous. If the
flash is released it can be used.
Night Scene Portrait Mode pops
up the flash to illuminate the foreground while capturing
the background with a longer exposure. Red-eye reduction
is used.
Flash Off mode is similar
to the Normal mode (see above), but forces the flash
off.
Displays the menu, opening it
to either the Rec section or the Playback section depending
on the camera's current mode.
The next button down is to Delete unwanted
photos when the camera is in Playback, or when a photo is
displayed immediately after capture.
Displays detailed information
about the current state of photographic settings in the
capture modes; or the shooting data in Playback.
Starts the Playback mode
when the Power switch is set to On, and leaving
the Playback mode is as simple as lightly pressing on the
shutter release.
On the right side of the LCD monitor a large 4-direction button serves
to navigate menus, select photos in playback, and control the precise
position of the focus point. While at its centre, the button
confirms choices made in the menu.
Below, the button
displays a 4-option screen on the LCD monitor. The Function button
provides a fast way to set:
Drive mode selects the Continuous Shooting mode,
the Self-Timer, the Remote Control, or Auto bracketing:
Continuous mode locks focus and exposure at
the first frame and captures up to 8 images consecutively
at up to 2.8 frames per second;
Self-Timer provides delays of either 2 or
10 seconds, with the 2-second delay offering mirror
lock-up;
Remote control operation (the remote control is
optional), with or without a 3-second delay;
Exposure Bracketing over 3 frames and a range
of ± 2EV in either 1/3 or 1/2 EV increments. The
exposure sequence can be selected in the Custom menu (see
the Characteristics section of the review for more information
about the menu of the *ist DS).
ISO: sets the CCD sensitivity. The settings available
are 200, 400, 800, 1600 and 3200 ISO.
Flash Mode: Auto, Manual (forced on), Auto with
Red-eye Reduction, Manual with Red-eye Reduction (Forced
on with red-eye reduction). Forced off is assumed if the
flash is kept closed while the camera is set to Program,
Tv, Av, or Manual. Set to the Scene modes, to the Auto Picture
mode, or to the Normal mode, the flash is automatically released.
Manual (allows setting the white balance according
to a white surface under ambient light).
When the camera is set to the Playback mode, three other options
are presented when the button
is pressed. (See the Characteristics section of the
review for more information.)
The *ist DS is equipped with
a pop-up flash that is automatically released when the camera
is set to Auto Pict or one of the Scene modes — with the
exception of the Flash Off mode — or which can be released
with a small button on the upper left side of the camera's back.
The Flash has a Guide Number (GN) of 15.6 meters at 200 ISO,
a coverage angle of 20mm, and a synchronization speed of 1/180
second.
In addition the *ist DS offers a hot shoe that is compatible with Pentax
AF360FGZ, a external flash unit designed for use with digital cameras,
but can also be used with Pentax flash units AF500FTZ, AF330FTZ, AF400FTZ,
AF240FT and AF140C.
In terms of its ergonomic design,
the strengths of the Pentax *ist DS lie in its size and weight.
This is currently the lightest dSLR available and its compact
size makes it as practical to carry around as many of the larger
compact fixed-lens cameras. Equipped with its kit lens — an
18 to 55mm — the *ist DS is a great companion on a outing,
and is unlikely to tire anyone.
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Ergonomics
position.
)
serves to select exposure compensation over a range of ±2EV in steps
of either 1/3 or 1/2 EV; or adjust the aperture when the camera is set
to the Manual mode.
(Auto
Exposure Lock), to the right of the e-dial, is positioned to be easily
maintained while the image is recomposed. In Playback, the button provides
a secondary use, 
,
serving to protect images against an accidental erasure.
button
confirms choices made in the menu.
button
displays a 4-option screen on the LCD monitor. The Function button
provides a fast way to set:
