Pentax K100D

Reviewed February 2007

Characteristics

The Pentax K100D is equipped with a 6.31 million pixel CCD of which 6.1 million are effective when capturing images. The maximum resolution is obtained when the RAW format is used: 3008 x 2008 pixels. Three other image sizes are available when the JPEG format is used:

• 6M: 3008 x 2000 pixels
• 4M: 2400 x 1600 pixels
• 1.5M: 1536 x 1029 pixels

Moreover, three levels of compression are available, represented by stars as is always the case with Pentax cameras:

• (Best): the least compression with a ratio of approximately 3:1
• (Better): an average compression level with a ratio of about 6:1
• (Good): the most compressed, compresses at a ratio of around 12:1

Images captured in RAW format have to be interpreted by software, such as Pentax Photo Laboratory 3, which Pentax includes with the camera, as they use a proprietary format before they can be re-saved as TIFF or JPEG. RAW images contain all the data captured by the CCD, in addition to the camera settings when the image was captured, but are not processed by the camera.

CCD sensitivity starts at 200 ISO, and can be manually increased to 400, 800, 1600 or even 3200 ISO. An Auto ISO mode is also offered, and its maximum sensitivity can be specified (see further).

The K100D uses a Pentax KAF2 lens mount, allowing it to support KAF and KA lenses. The 7 lens contacts that ensure communication between body and lens can be seen on the mount itself, near the lens release on the lower left.

Worth noting, a mechanical compatibility is maintained as well, allowing the use of fully manual lenses.

Since the CCD is smaller than a full 35 mm frame, any lens mounted on the K100D sees its focal length multiplied by 1.5.

DA series lenses are designed specifically for Pentax digital SLR cameras, as they are suited to the APS-C size of the CCD.

The menu system of the K100D is composed of 4 parts, each identified by a tab at the top of the display. The first part is called Rec Mode and contains the following options:

• Image Tone serves to alter the way the camera records images:
  • Bright accentuates brightness, contrast, and sharpness.
  • Natural records images naturally, making them suitable for retouching.
• Recorded Pixel: serves to select the image size (see above). When the RAW format is in use, this option is not available.
• Quality Level: serves to select the RAW format of one of the three levels of JPEG compression (see above).

• Saturation: provides a range with minus (-) on the left and plus (+) on the right of ± 2 increments.
• Sharpness: provides a range of ±2 increments.
• Contrast: provides a range of ±2 increments.
• Auto Bracket allows setting the bracketing parameters:
  • Bracketing Amount: sets the bracket step over ±2 EV.
  • Shooting Images specifies the bracketing sequence: 0/-/+ or -/0/+ or +/0/-.

• AE Metering selects the metering mode:
  • Multi-segment: evaluates 16 segments of the frame to arrive at the appropriate exposure.
  • Centre-Weighted: meters the centre of the frame and the surrounding area, but gives more importance to the centre reading.
  • Spot: bases the exposure on the reading obtained at the centre of the frame.
• Swtch dst msr pt selects where focus occurs:
  • Auto: allows the camera to select the focus point.
  • Select: allows selecting one of the 11 available AF points.
  • Centre: focuses using the centre focus point exclusively.
• AF Mode: allows selecting whether the autofocus operates only when the shutter release is pressed halfway, Single Mode (AF-S), or Continuously (AF-C), which allows following a moving subject.
• Flash Exp. Comp.: serves to adjust flash exposure over a compensation range of -2 to +1 EV.
• Shake Reduction: serves to select a focal length for a lens, when the lens in use is not able to communicate this information to the camera. Focal lengths from 8 through 800 mm can be selected.

The second part of the menu contains options relating to the Playback mode:

• Plybk Dspl mthd offers choices in the way images are presented when under review: Standard, Histogram, Detailed Info, No Info Display or Last Memory, this latter option making it possible to memorize the last used display method. Worth noting, these options are also available by pressing the INFO button while the camera is set to the playback mode. A sub-option makes it possible to have the camera highlight zones in an image that are potentially overexposed by making them flash.

• Instant Review: decides if an image is immediately displayed on the monitor after its capture. Choices are: Off or 1, 3 or 5 seconds.
• Preview Display: Decides if a histogram, or if the potentially overexposed zones of an image blink during Instant Review, or Digital Preview.
• Digital Filter: allows modifying an image post-capture and saving it as a new image:
  • Black and White.
  • Sepia.
  • Colour: allows changing colours using the e-dial. Nine colours are available and each has two tones.
  • Soft: provides three levels for the effect that softens sharpness by lightly fading the entire image.
  • Slim: allows changing the vertical or horizontal aspect ratios.
  • Brightness: allows adjusting the image brightness over ±8 levels.
• Slideshow: starts a a slide show of the images on the memory card.

The third part of the menu contains the Setup options. These are covered in the Interface and Software section of the review.

The fourth section is called Custom Setting, and it contains options to adapt many of the K100D's default settings:

• Setting: On or Off, controls whether or not the following options are displayed.
• Noise Reduction: On or Off. Controls the noise reduction system of the K100D.
• Expsr Setting Steps: decides whether exposure steps are in 1/2 or 1/3 EV.
• ISO Corction in Auto serves to select the Auto ISO range: 200-800 ISO, 200-400 ISO, 200-1600 ISO or 200-3200 ISO.
• ISO Snstvty Wrn Dspl: serves to set the sensitivity threshold at which point the camera will warn that Auto ISO has increased sensitivity beyond it (Off, 400, 800, 1600 or 3200 ISO).

• Link AF Point and AE: serves to select whether the Multi-segment metering takes the AF point into account or not.
• Meter Operating Time: serves to set the length of time the K100D's meter operates (10, 3 or 30 seconds).
• AE-L with AF Locked: decides whether both Auto Focus and Auto Exposure are locked when the shutter release is held at the halfway point.
• Recordable Image No.: On or Off. When set to On, the number of remaining shots displayed in the viewfinder and on the LCD panel switches to the number of shots that can fit in the buffer memory when the shutter release is maintained at the halfway mark.

• OK Bttn when Shooting: controls the way the OK button behaves:
  • It can be used to display the sensitivity setting in the viewfinder.
  • Return the AF point to the centre.
  • Start the autofocus, removing that function from the halfway point of the shutter release.
  • Or set it to Cancel the autofocus so that the camera can be manually focused.
• AE-L Bttn on M Expsr: when the camera is set to the Manual mode, AE-L button can be used to automatically set the exposure. This option allows selecting the way the exposure is established:
  • Program Line: sets both the shutter speed and aperture.
  • Tv Shift: locks the aperture and adjusts the shutter speed.
  • Av Shift: locks the shutter speed and adjusts the aperture.
• Superimpose AF Area: decides whether the AF points light up in red when active.

• AF in Remote Control: On or Off. Set to Off, the AF does not operate when the remote control is used. Set to On, the AF operates before the shutter is released when the remote control is used.
• Fl with S Lens used: provides focusing assistance with the Focus Indicator when a purely manual lens is used.
• Using Aperture Ring: allows the use of the aperture ring for lenses that have them.
• Release when Charging: On or Off. Decides whether or not the shutter release will operate when the flash has not finished charging.

• Preview Method: offers the choice of Optical Preview (Depth Of Field Preview through the lens in the viewfinder), or Digital Preview, which captures an image without saving it and shows it on the monitor, making it possible to ascertain the quality of the exposure, the white balance, etc.
• Mag to Strt Zm Plybk: Decides the magnification applied to the image when it is shown in playback (1.2X, 2X, 4X, 8X, 12X).
• Man. WB Measurement: decides whether the entire frame is used to decide the manual white balance, or only the Spot area.
• Colour Space: sRGB or Adobe RGB. The camera changes the file name prefix depending on the colour space used.
• Reset Custom Fnction: returns all custom settings to their defaults.

The Pentax K100D is compatible with SD (Secure Digital) cards and with SDHC (Secure Digital High Capacity) cards. The card compartment is located on the right side of the camera, and covered by a solid door that must be slid back to be opened. The K100D is not sold with a memory card in North America. The chart below provides approximate capacities using a 1 GB SD card:

The K100D has three external connections, all located on the left side of the camera, behind a spring-loaded door:

• At the top is a jack for the optional 50 cm Cable Switch (CS-205).
• The gold-plated connection below is to connect either a USB cable (2.0 High Speed) or the Video cable, the function of the port being determined by the cable used. Both cables are included with the camera.
• At the bottom is a jack for the optional AC Adapter (K-AC10) that allows powering the K100D from household current.

The K100D is powered by 4 AA-size batteries that are housed in the grip. In North America the camera is supplied with 4-AA alkaline batteries, but it can be operated with Ni-MH (Nickel Metal Hydride) batteries.