Pentax Digital SLR Cameras
Pentax digital SLR cameras were late to arrive.
Canon and Nikon had already started the transition from film SLR cameras to digital, and owners of Pentax lenses were waiting in the wings.
The first Pentax digital SLR finally made its appearance in 2003, and it came with a rather odd name: the *ist D.
After that first camera, Pentax built up steam and has been rolling out new camera models ever since.
They have also introduced some new innovations that make the Pentax digital SLRs very tempting to new buyers.
A Quick History of Pentax Digital SLRs
Besides its unique name, the *ist D had something else going for it: it was the smallest and lightest digital SLR you could buy.
Don't get me wrong: it couldn't compete with the size of compact digital camera - no SLR can.
But compared to some of the other SLR cameras you could buy back then, the *ist D fit into a small-sized bag and didn't give you neck cramps when you carried for a day.
Pentax has made sure that every camera in their line continues this trend, which makes them great cameras for avid travelers.
Other camera manufacturers have followed suit: competition in the small-sized digital SLR category is heating up.
An Affordable SLR
In 2006, Pentax snuck in a first.
The *ist DL - the Pentax entry-level digital SLR - became the first digital SLR you could buy for less than $600. The previous price barrier was $1,000 and that was broken by the Canon EOS 300D Digital Rebel.
It was the beginning of a downward price trend, making high-end digital SLR cameras more accessible to the average consumer and not just reserved for professional photographers.
Built-in Anti-Shake
In May of 2006, Pentax had another surprise for the digital SLR camera market when they announced the arrival of the K100D.
This camera featured an innovation that at the time was only included on cameras made by Konica Minolta (now acquired by Sony): built-in image stabilization.
The K100D was the most affordable digital SLR you could buy that included this useful feature.
The Latest Pentax Digital SLR Cameras
Pentax K-x
Pentax K-r
| Release Date: October 2010 | ||
| Key Features | 12.4 megapixels, 720p video, built-in stabilization |  |
| Uniqueness | Weather sealing | |
| Great For | Travel | |
| Level | Beginner | |
| Competitors | Nikon D3100, Canon T2i | |
| Replacing the previous year's K-x, this entry-level DSLR from Pentax comes in the same rainbow of colors: black, white, red and navy. The main new feature is an expanded ISO range, which now runs from 100 up to 25600. Otherwise this camera shares a lot of features with the K-x: a 720p movie mode, 11-point autofocus, 6 photos per second and the ability to power the camera using either a rechargeable Lithium Ion battery or four standard AAs. | ||
| Price (With Lens): $730 USD | ||
Pentax K-7
Pentax K-5
| Release Date: October 2010 | ||
| Key Features | 16.3 megapixels, 720p video mode, built-in stabilization |  |
| Uniqueness | Huge ISO range | |
| Great For | Low Light | |
| Level | Intermediate to Advanced | |
| Competitors | Canon T2i (550D), Nikon D7000 | |
| Even though its number is smaller, the K-5 is really the next generation of the feature-rich Pentax K-7. What's notable about this camera is its vast ISO range: from a low of 80 to a high of 51200. As ISO 51200 you can take pictures hand-held in near dark. When you add the built-in image stabilization (which works with every Pentax K-mount lens ever made) you've got a camera that is ideally suited for people who take pictures in incredibly dim light without a tripod. | ||
| Price (With Lens): $1,600 USD | ||
Discontinued Pentax Digital SLRs
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