The Pentax *ist DS has a CCD
that measures 23.5 x 15.7mm, smaller than a 35mm frame size,
which causes a 1.5X focal length multiplier for any 35mm lens
mounted on the camera. This provides 6.31 million pixels of
which 6.1 million are effective to capture a maximum
image size of 3008 x 2008 pixels.
CCD sensitivity starts at 200 ISO, and can be increased to 400, 800, 1600
or even 3200 ISO.
The *ist DS offers a shutter speed range that covers from 1/4000 second
to 30 seconds, and which is unlimited when the camera is set to the Bulb mode.
The Pentax *ist DS provides
3 autofocus systems. The first is the default and is fully
automatic. With it the camera selects the focus point or points
and briefly flashes its selection in the viewfinder. The second
system lets the user select the specific focus point from any
of 11 specific points in the frame, with the help of the 4-direction
control. The third forces the auto focus to take place at the
centre of the frame. Finally, a switch on the lower right of
the camera allows switching to manual focus.
In addition to a RAW format that yields an 11 MB
image which can be read and converted using the software
included with the camera, the *ist DS provides a JPEG image
format that can be set to any one of three compression levels:
Best: represented by ,
compressing images with a ratio of 1:3 or more
Better: represented by ,
compressing images with a ratio of 1:6 or more
Good represented by ,
compressing images with a ratio of 1:12 or more
While the RAW format yields an image size of 3008 x
2008 pixels, the largest image size available with
the JPEG format is 3008 x 2000 pixels. Including the slightly
larger image size of the RAW format, a total of 4 image
sizes are available:
6M: 3008 x 2000 pixels
4M: 2400 x 1600 pixels
1.5M: 1536 x 1029 pixels
The lens mount of the *ist DS is compatible with the Pentax
KAF bayonet, Pentax KAF2, KAF and KA lenses. In addition,
screw-mount 35mm-format lenses and Pentax 645- and 67-system
lenses can be used with an adapter, but it should be noted
that some functions may not be available with certain lenses.
When the Pentax is purchased as a kit, an 18 to 55mm zoom lens is included.
The lens is composed of 12 elements in 9 groups, and is equivalent to a
27 to 82.5 lens in the 35mm film format. Apertures start at f3.5 at the
wide angle end, closing down to f5.6 at the telephoto end. A flower shaped
hood is included along with a lens cap.
The *ist DS menu system consists of 4 sections: the Rec Mode section,
the Playback section, the Set-up section, and the Custom
Settings section.
Image size, along with a number of other parameters, is set in the first
section:
Image Tone: Bright which is the default
and enhances saturation, contrast and sharpness slightly,
or Natural which leaves the image so it can be retouched
with the software.
Recorded Pixels: selects the image size as indicated
above.
Quality Level: RAW, Best, Better, Good (see
above.)
Saturation: provides a range with minus (-) on
the left and plus (+) on the right of ± 2 increments.
Sharpness: as above.
Contrast: as above.
Instant Review: sets the time during which a just
captured image will be displayed on the LCD monitor (1,
3, 5 seconds or Off).
Auto Bracket decides the exposure bracketing increments
and the bracketing sequence:
Bracketing amount: in 1/2EV or 1/3EV increments
over ±2EV, as set in the Custom Settings.
Shooting images: 0 - +; - 0 +; or + 0 -.
AE Metering selects the metering pattern, and
can be linked to the focus point (see Custom settings):
Multi-segment: calculates the exposure by
metering 16 segments of the frame.
Centre-weighted: meters the entire frame but
with emphasis on the centre.
Spot meters only the centre of the frame
Swtch dst msr pt: serves to select the auto focus
system. Three options are available:
Auto: lets the camera automatically select
the focus point(s)
Select: allows selection of the AF point using
the 4-direction control from one of 11 points in the
frame.
Centre: forces the focus point to the centre.
Flash Exp. Comp.: serves to select flash compensation
from a range of +1EV to -2EV in increments of 1/3 or 1/2
EV as determined by the setting in the Custom Settings
section (see further).
As noted above, the second section of the menu is for the Playback mode,
and is the section that appears first when the camera is
in Playback and the menu button is pressed:
Plybk dsply mthd: decides if the playback image
is displayed with shooting information, or with a histogram.
The options are Images only, Image + Histogram, Image +
Detailed Info, Last Memory (recalls the setting from the
last time an image was reviewed).
Hot Spot Wrng On or Off. When On the camera displays
the image and makes any potentially overexposed area of
the frame flash.
Digital Filter allows changing a captured image
with an effect and re saving it as a new image:
Black and White: transforms the image to a
black and white image.
Sepia: transforms the image to sepia tone.
Soft: adds a softening effect to the periphery
of the frame, leaving the centre sharp.
Slim: allows modifying the aspect ratio of
the image by squeezing or stretching it horizontally
or vertically.
Slide Show: starts a slide show of the photos
on the memory card with a selectable interval (3, 5, 10,
or 30 seconds).
The third section of the menu is the Set-up section
and an overview of its content can be found in the Interface
and Software section of this review.
The fourth and last section is called Custom Settings. This section
makes it possible to adjust the way some of the basic functions of the
*ist DS work:
Setting: On or Off. When On, the option allows
using the Custom settings. When Off, all other options
but this one disappear.
Noise Reduction: On or Off. When turned on, noise
reduction is applied to all photos captured at a slow shutter
speed.
Expsr Setting Steps: selects the EV increment
step, either 1/3 EV or 1/2 EV.
Senstvty Corction: effectively turns on the Auto
ISO function commonly found on most cameras, allowing the
camera to increase sensitivity past the current setting
to maintain a reasonably high shutter speed:
Off: sensitivity is set manually.
ISO 1600: the camera automatically adjusts
sensitivity up to 1600 ISO.
ISO 3200: the camera automatically adjusts
sensitivity up to 3200 ISO.
ISO Snstvty Wrn Dspl: serves to set a threshold
past which the information display will indicate that the
camera is currently set to an sensitivity setting at or
above:
400 ISO.
800 ISO.
1600 ISO.
3200 ISO.
Link AF Point and AE: On or Off. When On the auto
exposure is linked to the auto focus point.
Meter Operating Time: decides how long the exposure
meter operates (3, 10, or 30 seconds).
AE-L with AF Locked: On or Off. When On the auto
exposure is locked at the same time as the focus is locked.
Recordable Image No.: decides whether the displays — viewfinder
and top mounted — indicate the number of images that
can be stored on the card at all times, or whether the
displays will, in addition, show the number of sequential
images that can be captured in a burst when the shutter
release is pressed halfway.
OK btn when shooting sets the function of the
OK button while shooting:
Centre of AF point: relocates the AF point
to the centre should it have been moved elsewhere in
the frame.
Enable AF: disables the AF with the shutter
release at the halfway point replacing it with the
OK button.
Cancel AF: temporarily suspends auto focusing
when the OK button is pressed, allowing the camera
to be focused manually without having to change the
AF/MF switch position.
Superimpose AF Area On or Off. When On the selected
AF point flashes red in the viewfinder.
AF in remote control On or Off. When On the remote
activates the auto focus system prior to releasing the
shutter. When Off, the remote control releases the shutter
without auto focusing.
Fl with S lens used: On or Off. Decides if the
focus indicator will operate when a Pentax screw lens mounted
on an adapter is used.
Using Aperture Ring: Prohibited or Permitted.
Controls whether or not the shutter will operate when a
lens with an aperture ring is set to a position other than A.
Release when Charging: On or Off. When On the
shutter release will operate even if the flash has not
finished charging. When Off the shutter will not release
until the flash is charged and ready for use.
Instant Review Dsply: decides whether or not a
histogram will be superimposed on the image during instant
review.
Mag to Strt Zm Plybk: sets the initial magnification
when the e-dial is first turned to magnify an image in
Playback (1.2X [default], 2X, 4X, 8X, or 12X).
Man. WB Measurement: decides whether the entire
frame is used to establish a user-set white balance, or
the spot area.
Colour Space: selects the colour space for the
camera, either sRGB or Adobe RGB.
Reset Custom Fnction: resets all the settings
in this Custom Settings section of the menu to their factory
defaults.
As noted in the Ergonomics section of this
review, when set to Playback mode the button
overlays three functions, two of which can also be accessed
within the Playback section of the camera's menu (see
above).
Each of these functions is selected by pressing the corresponding arrow
on the 4-direction control:
DPOF: is selected with the up arrow.
The number of prints of the image currently on screen can
be set, as well as whether or not the date should be printed
atop the image. In addition the *ist DS is PictBridge compatible
and can be connected directly to a similarly compliant
printer to make prints, by-passing the need for a PC.
Slide Show: is selected with the right arrow,
and starts a slide show of the images on the card.
Digital filter: is chosen with the left arrow,
and calls up the digital filter options (see above).
While it is omitted from the options displayed on the screen,
the down arrow also has a function:
Rotation of the image under review in 90° increments.
Furthermore, when the *ist DS is in Playback mode the button
makes it possible to show all the shooting data or a histogram
of any image.
By default the *ist DS simply
displays an image with the type of image it is (JPEG or RAW)
at the upper left of the screen, the file number at the upper
right and a graphic showing what the arrow buttons will do
at the lower left. With a press of the INFO button however,
a large histogram gets overlaid on the lower portion of the
image while pressing the button a second time displays the
image as a thumbnail and adds all the shooting data.
The Pentax *ist DS uses SD (Secure
Digital) cards exclusively. The card slot is located on the
right side of the body, and its cover is released by a small
mechanism that needs to be pushed up to open the spring loaded
card door. A memory card is not included with the camera, even
with the kit version that is sold in North America.
However, SD cards are relatively
inexpensive and easily available so the table below shows how
many photos can be captured with a 1GB card using either the
JPEG image quality or the RAW format:
Image Size/Quality
RAW
Best
Better
Good
3008 x 2008
90
—
—
—
3008 x 2000
—
330
607
966
2400 x 1600
—
459
807
1397
1536 x 1029
—
880
1397
2151
The top jack is to connect the optional 50 cm wired remote shutter release
cord (Cable Switch CD-205).
Below is the USB connection (USB 2.0 High Speed compatible), which can
be set to PC, PictBridge, or PC-F.
And nearest the bottom is a jack for the optional AC adapter (D-AC10) to
power the camera from household current.
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Characteristics
,
compressing images with a ratio of 1:3 or more
,
compressing images with a ratio of 1:6 or more
,
compressing images with a ratio of 1:12 or more
button
overlays three functions, two of which can also be accessed
within the Playback section of the camera's menu (see
above).
button
makes it possible to show all the shooting data or a histogram
of any image.
