Here are a few images that accurately reflect the abilities
of any given camera model. The images are altered only in
terms of size and sharpness after reduction and by the JPEG
compression used. Unless otherwise mentioned, assume that
any marbling or artifacts visible in the images are due to
the compression required to display them here. We feel however,
that they still faithfully represent the results we experienced.
STILL LIFE PHOTO
This subject is photographed in a room that has a mix of fluorescent and
incandescent light, but which is not brightly lit. The camera's flash is
used to add fill light. The backdrop is 1.95 m (6.5 ft) from the camera.
To base the observations made here on the best image quality
the K100D can produce, most of the images were captured using
the RAW format. The RAW images were then brought into Pentax
Photo Laboratory, the software supplied with the camera, without
any alteration.
The K100D's pop-up flash provides even lighting for the subject,
while the Auto white balance yields accurate colours.
Photo
Information
Format:
RAW
Aperture:
f3.5
Exposure:
Program
Shutter Speed:
1/30 sec.
Resolution:
3008 x 2008
Flash:
On
Quality:
Uncompressed
ISO:
200
File Size:
RAW: 10.0 MB
TIFF: 17.3 MB
Focal Length:
27 mm (35 mm Eq.)
The image is sharp and reveals a
lot of detail and there is no visible noise.
ZOOM
PHOTO
Now we zoom in on a specific area. The intent is to test the sharpness
of the image at the zoom's maximum setting. The camera remains at the same
distance as with the preceding photo.
Zoomed in, the observations made for the wide angle image
could apply for this one as well. Sharpness is excellent,
and the shadow areas of the image are completely noise-free,
as can be seen in the lenses of the old Yashicaflex camera.
Similarly, the definition of the image is high enough to
show the weave of the felt of the old reddish-brown negative
carrier very clearly.
Photo
Information
Format:
RAW
Aperture:
f5.6
Exposure:
Program
Shutter Speed:
1/80 sec.
Resolution:
3008 x 2008
Flash:
On
Quality:
Uncompressed
ISO:
200
File Size:
RAW: 10.3 MB
TIFF: 17.3 MB
Focal Length:
82.5 mm (35 mm
Eq.)
Aperture: f16, shutter speed: 2.5,
200 ISO, Av mode.
MACRO PHOTO
The lens sold with the Pentax K100D in the kit version is
an 18 to 55 mm f3.5-5.6 zoom, allowing for a minimum focus
distance of 25 cm (9.75 inches) from the subject to the focal
plane of the CCD at all focal lengths of the zoom. This translates
to a minimum distance of 15 cm (5.85 inches) from the front
element of the zoom to the subject. At this distance, and
using the maximum magnification of the zoom, the camera captures
a field of view of 6.5 cm (2.6 inches).
With the camera on a tripod, and
with the stabilization system turned off so as to avoid any
interference, the Av (aperture Priority) mode can be used to
maximize the depth of field.
BUILDING PHOTO
This image
is our "outdoor" test. The architecture of the building,
in particular the angled girders, immediately show the presence
of jaggies.
The shadowed entrance can also often reveal the quality of the exposure.
Winter light tends to create harsh shadows, and in this
case the Multi-segment metering seems to give a slight preference
to the highlights when presented with this subject. Nevertheless,
the shadows contain a high level of detail.
The image shows no trace of barrel distortion, and sharpness
is homogeneous from edge to edge and corner to corner.
Photo
Information
Format:
RAW
Aperture:
f7.1
Exposure:
Program
Shutter Speed:
1/320 sec.
Resolution:
3008 x 2008
Flash:
Off
Quality:
Uncompressed
ISO:
200
File Size:
RAW: 10.4 MB
TIFF: 17.3 MB
Focal Length:
27 mm (35 mm Eq.)
Similarly, there is no visible noise,
nor is there any chromatic aberration.
ZOOM PHOTO
Zooming in on the entrance of the building,
the shadowed entrance takes on a greater importance for the
metering and can cause an overexposure of sections that are
directly lit.
With an equivalent of 82.5 mm, the maximum optical magnification
available with the kit lens still falls short of what is normally
considered "telephoto", and the area of the building
captured by the camera is still quite large. Moreover, benefiting
from sunshine, there is little chance that camera shake will
affect the sharpness of the photo.
Photo
Information
Format:
RAW
Aperture:
f8
Exposure:
Program
Shutter Speed:
1/125 sec.
Resolution:
3008 x 2008
Flash:
Off
Quality:
Uncompressed
ISO:
200
File Size:
RAW: 10.6 MB
TIFF: 17.3 MB
Focal Length:
82.5 mm (35 mm
Eq.)
Nevertheless, the CCD-level stabilization
offered on the K100D can be extremely useful when the shutter
speed drops to a point where camera shake can affect the image,
as is the case under adverse weather conditions.
As can be seen here, the telephoto image reveals no pincushion
distortion, nor any chromatic aberration. Moreover, when the
image is inspected at 100% scale on a monitor, it is also
apparent that there is no noise in the shadows.
NIGHT PHOTO
This camera is capable of long exposures, and a photo
taken at night is presented here to give an idea of its capabilities.
Aperture: f6.3; shutter
speed: 25 s. 200 ISO, 57 mm (35 mm eq.).
Offering a maximum exposure
time of 30 seconds when the Manual mode is used, the
B (Bulb) mode is not required to capture an urban night
scene such as the one shown here, even if there is very little
ambient light. Furthermore, as the the K100D has a starting
sensitivity of 200 ISO, it is capable of capturing a very
detailed image under very low light.
This is the case with the image shown here, in which the
stones lining the shoreline, or the wooden piles supporting
the quay are completely invisible to the naked eye, even after
it has grown accustomed to the dark.
Indeed, the camera is able
to capture the red colour of the old dockyard roofs, and,
more impressively, yields an image that is devoid of noise.
When activated, the K100D uses a dark frame noise reduction
system, capturing a second frame after the primary exposure
with a similar exposure time, and then uses the noise gathered
over the course of the second exposure to delete it from the
first before saving it.
The process is effective and results in a sharp image that
shows little loss of detail.
Test Photos
