Full K10D Review in AP

Sure some of you will have spotted this already but the full review is out in AP - my copy landed in my letter box on Sat but I chucked the mag on the back seat of the car on the way out to chase some sunshine in East London (a fruitless task in itself!!!) - I didn't see the contents as the address sheet covers the front page in the plastic wrapping! Only got round to opening it late last night and have just finished reading it sat in the carpark at work....

Anyway... the review seems to rather positive, gaining 87%.
Positive points = Great Handling / Excellent WB and colour control / Lots of good features.
Negative = AF sensitivity in low light / Highlight blotches look ugly / Needs better system support

Other positive remarks are regarding the colour flexibility of RAW files. Dual PEF & DNG files. Clear viewfinder.

The reviewer sums up by saying "With it's effectiveanti-shake and anti-dust systems, its excellent colour, good noise control and great user experience, the K10D is a unique model that has put Pentax back where it belongs"

I have to say that I am a little surprised about the comments regarding lack of system support (he seemed a little annoyed that his AF500 wouldn't give full func!) and he also comments on a lack of available Pentax lenses. I'd say that the back-up system of lenses is a huge strong point and with the new DA* lenses on the way what more do you need? Other than support for TTL flash (as we've all touched on in another thread) I can't think of any accessories that are lacking.

Will

I think to be fair to Damien Demolder, he has been doing this test under the spotlight of Pentax Users everywhere and has done his very best to cover all the points he was asked to on the AP forum, and maybe he has looked in here as well - I certainly sent him the link.

I read the test and it seems to be a thorough review indeed, as much as anyone could expect.

But the AF500FTZ came out in 1992. Does he really think that Pentax should provide backward compatibility for every product ever made?

And as for system support, it's a fair point, today, but perhaps he needs a link to the lens roadmap. Within a few months there will be digitally-enhanced lenses for everybody except millionaire bird-watchers. And they can still order the old FA* 600mm.

G

Don't dispute any of that for a moment, George. I was just thinking that he did a fair job and he did try to cover all bases. He's not a Pentax specialist, but I think he did better than Ivor Matanle did when covering older ranges.

The AF500FTZ is of course compatible to the extent it could be used, we just don't get all the functions available. The same goes for the ring flash, which works happily in manual mode. I'm not a flash fan, so it's not a big deal for me.

The lens roadmap is a good point - there's plenty to come. But for the amateur there's probably enough already. I have a 12-24, 16-45, 18-55, 50-200 and an older 100mm macro. What else would I need unless for a specific purpose. Oh, OK, the fish-eye zoom would be nice!

In in total agreement with John - what more is there that we really need in terms of system support. Hey... it's not like the LX system but then how many of those different finders and countless winder options did anyone really need. I also wonder how the system support differs greatly when compared to Canon & Nikon as that's obviously who Pentax are being compared to here.

Yes, there isn't a P-TTL ringflash. We don't have a current shift lens that lots of pro landscape and architecture photographers would enjoy. But that's about it in terms of gaps in the system.

There is however a great grip, interchangeable finder screens and Pentax lenses from 10mm - 600mm - agreed that at this moment in time some of those lenses aren't 'Pro' spec fast f/2.8 optics but they are on the way. And if you go looking outside of the pure Pentax system then some of those fast optics can be found from the likes of Sigma and Tamrom and despite what some people might think lots of those 3rd party lenses are very good indeed!

Will

Can someone tell me what what AP stands for as i would like to read it if its a magazine also do they have a website ??

Pete

A is for Amateur
P is for Photographer

It's a well-known weekly magazine.

G

Thanks

Ive just looked at there site. Perhaps i could be really cheeky and ask the guy who as brought the mag or anyone if they could kindly scan the review pages on the K10D and email or post it.

Yes i know its cheeky but ive brought so many magazine this month and only want to read the review on the K10D

Pete

Posting it here would not be good because of the copyright issues - we can't just lift and display other people's property without permission.

Some hope. When I was fourteen I used to go to WH Smith (a shop that sells books and newspapers) and "browse". I suggest you do the same.

G

My brain is only in first gear this morning i was on duty last night (im a part time police officer)

I never thought of that i will pop to WH Smiths today.

PS i own the K10 and love this camera just wish i had more time for taking pics

Pete

I have to agree on the system support point. Although Pentax have a lot of the bases covered, there's not currently a huge amount of choice and it's difficult to find a definitive list of what FA/FA* lenses are still available. Every Pentax website gives you different results.

While Pentax do have a 18-55, 16-45, Nikon have an 18-55, an excellent 18-70, a cheap 18-135 and a highly regarded 18-200. True, there's a fast 16-50 on the way, but there's no convenient and high quality travel lens like the Nikon 18-200. I'm a K10D owner, by the way, not a Nikon owner.

Pentax also need to do more work getting dealers to stock lenses other than the 18-55 and 50-200. This is exactly why 2 friends just bought D80s, even though they said the K10D was better on paper.

You mean like the Tamron 18-200? Or the Sigma 18-200mm f3.5-6.3 DC? They're both available for Pentax K-mount, and I suspect is pretty reasonable (or as reasonable as any massive zoom range lens can be!)

I've also read a couple of reviews - in the "Digital SLR User" and "Digital SLR Photographer". Both were favourable, more so in the "Digital SLR User". The DSP mag had a shoot out against the Samsung too and said the Samsung "out-of-the-box" shots were slightly better than Pentax. They did mention that firmware was slightly different... given the speed of Pentax's update for the K10D I'm glad I stuck with Pentax

Matt

The supply situation has been a bit of a problem, although to be faiur Nikon and Canon have both had their own issues.

I've just had to be patient (not easy!) and I waited several months for my 12-24mm...

I had a 28-300 for 35mm and it wasn't good. These may be better, I don't know. The Nikon is usefully faster and I'm sure significantly better quality, which is reflected in its £500 price.

Very true - Nikon's 18-70 has supply problems.