DSLR – Pentax Body

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. . This is a summary of a comprehensive review (details at the bottom).

The K200D was announced in January 2008 as a straight replacement for the K100D (actually the K100D Super which itself was a minor upgrade of the K100D launched in June 2007). The new model is aimed at the entry level segment of the market where it will have to compete with the likes of the Nikon D60, Olympus E-520 and the Canon EOS 450D.

Despite of a fairly tempting price point the K200D certainly does not compromise on features. It comes with a CCD-shift type ‘Shake Reduction’ system, Dust Removal and Pentax’ 11-point Safox VIII AF system. Very unusually for this class of camera it also sports a weather-sealed body and a relatively large viewfinder with 96% coverage and a magnification of 0.85. What you won’t get though is a live view system.

Did Pentax get the feature mix right? What about image quality? Click through to the following pages and read our in-depth review which will give you an answer to all these questions.

Compared to K100D – key differences

The Pentax K200D replaces the K100D which was introduced back in May 2006. From a specifications point of view the most notable difference is, as usual, the increase in megapixels from 6.1 to 10.2 MP. But the new model also features a CCD cleaning system, Dynamic Range Optimization and a larger screen along with some more, rather minor, changes.

	Pentax K200D	Pentax K100D
Body material	Plastic, stainless steel chassis, weather-sealed	Plastic, stainless steel chassis
Sensor	• 23.5 x 15.7 mm CCD sensor • 10.7 million total pixels • 10.2 million effective pixels	• 23.5 x 15.7 mm CCD sensor • 6.31 million total pixels • 6.1 million effective pixels
Image sizes	• 3872 x 2592 pixels • 3008 x 2000 pixels • 1824 x 1216 pixels	• 3008 x 2000 pixels • 2400 x 1600 pixels • 1536 x 1024 pixels
Dust reduction	CCD-shake	No
Flash	• Built-in P-TTL electronic pop-up flash • Guide number: approx. 13 (ISO100/m) • Angle of view coverage: 28mm wide-angle (35mm equivalent) • Flash sync 1/180 sec • Wireless flash capability	• Built-in P-TTL electronic pop-up flash • Guide number approx 11 (ISO 100/m) • Angle of coverage 18 mm (27 mm as 35 mm equiv.) • Flash sync 1/180 sec
Shooting modes	• Auto Picture mode • Picture mode • Scene mode • Program AE • Sensitivity-Priority AE • Shutter-Priority AE •Aperture-Priority AE • Metered Manual • Bulb	• Auto picture mode • Programmed AE Mode • Shutter-Priority AE • Aperture-Priority AE • Metered Manual • Bulb • Picture modes • Scene modes
Drive modes	• 2.8fps for 4 frames (JPEG and Continuous (Hi), RAW • 1.1fps until the memory card is full (JPEG and Continuous (Lo))or for 4 frames (RAW)	• Single shot • Continuous (2.8 fps, up to 5 JPEG frames)
LCD monitor	• 2.7 ” TF LCD • Approx. 230,000 pixels	• 2.5″ TFT LCD • 210,000 pixels
Custom functions	23 functions	18 functions
Dimensions	133.5mm x 95mm x 74mm (5.2 x 3.7 x 2.9 in)	129 x 93 x 70 mm (5.1 x 3.7 x 2.8 in)
Weight	With lithium batteries and SD card: 690g (24.3oz.)	660 g (1.5 lb) (reduced by approx. 20 g if using CR-V3 batteries)

LCD panel

	The K200D is the only camera in the entry-level segment that feature a top LCD panel. It provides a wide range of information about the current camera settings and exposure. The panel is not backlit though.

A breakdown of information displayed on the LCD panel can be found on the diagram below.

Back view:

Conclusion – Pros

• Superb build quality for the class, weather-sealed body
• Efficient image stabilization (not as good as Pentax claims though)
• Top LCD (but no backlight)
• Largest and brightest viewfinder in its class
• Reliable flash exposure
• Wireless flash
• Intuitive menus and displays (but slightly dated design)
• Optional battery-grip improves handling
• In-camera RAW-development (but limited options only)
• Good range of JPEG customization options
• 11-point AF, Accurate and fast auto-focus
• White Balance fine-tuning
• User-controllable High ISO noise reduction (4 levels)
• Sensitivity Priority shooting mode
• Excellent white balance presets (but poor Auto WB results in tungsten light)
• Efficient long exposure noise reduction
• Excellent, sharp and clean image results when shooting RAW
• D-Range gives you about one stop additional highlight range (ISO 200 – 1600 only)
• Occasionally useful ‘digital preview’ allows you to take a test shot which isn’t saved
• Customizable Auto ISO (200 – 800/400/1600/3200)
• Mirror lock-up implemented as part of the self-timer
• Comprehensive software package (Silkypix RAW converter and browser)
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Conclusion – Cons

• Default JPEGs too contrasty, oversharpened and smeared
• JPEG engine not making the most out the camera’s RAW data
• No live view
• Few direct buttons (but Function menu sort of makes up for it)
• Dynamic range in the highlights slightly below average (but efficient D-Range tool)
• Limited continuous shooting capability, slower than average and small buffer
• Flash must be raised for AF assist (although AF works even in very low light)
• No Kelvin white balance option
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Overall conclusion

The Pentax K200D is competing in a very crowded segment of the marketplace. All manufacturers have been increasing the number of features and the quality of their cameras over the past couple of years or so and the entry-level segment is characterized by fierce competition. So, was the step that Pentax made from the K100D to the K200D enough to stay a serious alternative to the big boys in this bracket of the market?

As usual there is no simple answer but the K200D certainly looks like a well-rounded package. The build quality is superb and a nice contrast to the Fisher-Price plastic you sometimes hold in your hands when testing a ‘budget’ DSLR. The K200D is also the only entry-level camera that comes with a top LCD display and a dust- and splash-proof body. Combine this with the largest viewfinder in the segment and there’ll be very little to complain about.

In terms of features the Pentax is a bit of a mixed bag. It comes with a CCD-shift type ‘Shake Reduction’ system, Dust Removal and Pentax’ 11-point Safox VIII AF system. What you won’t get though is a live-view system. Most of the K200D’s direct competitors nowadays offer this feature but you’ll have to decide yourself if live view is essential for your photography or just another gimmick that you can do without.

The K200D’s image output is a bit of a double-edged sword. When we first looked at the JPEG images we weren’t exactly thrilled. In its default settings the Pentax produces oversharpened and a little oversaturated images with visible artifacts and jagged diagonals. To be fair, the JPEGS are not unusable (I’ve shot almost 1000 of them and most of them are pleasant enough to look at) but they are just not quite as good as some of the competitors’ output.

Luckily there are two ways of working around this limitation though. You can either modify the default settings or, even better, shoot in RAW. If you do the latter you’ll be very pleasantly surprised. With the right processing the K200D is actually capable of producing clean, very detailed and pin-sharp images that should satisfy even the most dedicated pixel-peepers.

All in all, the excellent image quality you can get out of the camera’s RAW files, the build quality and good overall feature-set are enough to let the K200D slip into our Highly Recommended category. Before you now go out and buy one though, make sure you can live without a live-view system and, if image quality is paramount, you’ll be willing to shoot in RAW.

Highly Recommended (if you shoot in RAW)

You find the full review at DPReview.com

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