Pentax K2000 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 DA L Lens and AF200FG Flash
by Pentax
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Digital Photo Product Details
Manufacturer: PentaxModel: K2000 w/ AF200FG Flash & 18-55mm Lens
Product features:
- 10.2-megapixel resolution captures enough detail for poster-sized prints
- Includes 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 DA L lens and AF200FG flash
- 2.7-inch wide-view LCD panel; Shake Reduction Technology
- Dedicated, reprogrammable Help button displays information on LCD
- Capture images to SD/SDHC memory cards (not included)
- Adobe Photoshop CS5 Upgrade [Old Version]
- Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3 [OLD VERSION]
- Serif PhotoPlus X3
- Adobe Photoshop CS4 Upgrade [OLD VERSION]
- Transcend 8 GB Class 6 SDHC Flash Memory Card with USB 2.0 Card Reader TS8GSDHC6-S5W
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Pentax K2000 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 DA L Lens and AF200FG Flash
Customer Review: Excellent DSLR
Summary: 5 Stars
This is my first DLSR, I upgraded from a point-and-shoot. Just handling the Pentax K2000 you can feel a significant construction quality difference versus the Canon XSi or Nikon D40. Of course, the D40 has no auto-focus motor and the Canon Rebel series doesn't have the in-body shake reduction, but on top of that, the Pentax has a nicer build and more logical button layout.
DPReview.com has a great in-depth review of the K2000 that shows the sensor noise is quite good at high ISO speeds compared to other cameras in its class. The default setting works well - the camera will auto-select an ISO between 100 to 800. At 1600 there is visible degradation that I think starts to ruin the photo. There is no auto-select setting between ISO 800 and 1600 but if you switch over to Sv mode (sensitivity priority) you can shoot at ISO 1100 and it is still acceptable IMO.
The built-in flash has a nice color temperature. I pop it outdoors when shooting sunny scenes and faces get darkened by shadows. You can dial -2.0 to +1.0 on the flash power which is very handy: trimming back to -2.0 or -1.5 faces are lit but it doesn't look like flash was used at all.
The external AF200FG flash isn't too useful to me. I don't like the harsh shadows of any flash when it is a primary light source. Outdoors in direct sun when subjects are more than 15 feet away and you want to light up faces the built-in flash is useless, so the AF200FG can throw more light BUT the flash sync speed is max'd at 1/180 sec. This means the shutter can't open, fire the flash, and close any faster than that. In direct sun a 1/180 exposure means you either have to shoot pin-hole apertures like F22 or use a 4-stop neutral-density filter to get down around F5.6-F8.0. Lack of high-speed flash sync is a drawback IMO.
The camera produces extremely well-toned, bright photos right out of the box. Color saturation, white balance, and accuracy are all superb. Like most digital photos, they are somewhat soft (google: demosaicing if you are curious why) so I generally bump up the contrast and sharpness in my post processing. But even untouched, the photos look great.
The recommended Lithium Ion AA's work for about 1000 photos as promised. For me, I have been taking 1000 photos a month, so after 2 sets of $11 batteries, I bought rechargeable NiMH, which work equally well - so far they last as long as the Lithiums.
I highly recommend getting the Pentax FA 50mm F/1.4 lens. The viewfinder will be much brighter, you can autofocus in very low light, and take some stunning portraits with beautiful bokeh. I bought the lens and camera at the same time and the 50mm 1.4 has been on 99% of the time. The kit lens just doesn't produce as impressive of photos and I only attach it to do a wide-angle shot in tight spaces. The 50/1.4 is THE best of the "fast fifties" according to LuminousLandscape.com and I think it would be a shame to plunk down $500 for a camera and not spend the $200 for a truly excellent lens to compliment. I tell people who compliment my photos that it is 75% due to the lens and 25% camera.
Lack of autofocus points (only 5) and indication (which one is active) is the biggest drawback on this camera. I have ruined a couple photos because I didn't compose the subject right in the center and instead got a pin-sharp wall and blurry faces. The technique I have to use to compensate is I now reprogram the AF button to "cancel AF". I point at the subject, depress the shutter halfway to focus, then lock the AF with my thumb on the AF button, then compose the shot and release. There is NO indication in the viewfinder which AF point is selected, so I find its best to program it to always use the center.
The big LCD screen is nice, and I really like Pentax's layout of the camera settings on the status screen. MUCH nicer looking than the competition. The look and feel of a Pentax is just so much nicer than a Nikon or Canon, I will never regret doing my homework and selecting a Pentax.
More Pentax K2000 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 DA L Lens and AF200FG Flash reviews:
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1 2 3 4 5
Description of Pentax K2000 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 DA L Lens and AF200FG Flash
FEATURES 10.2 effective megapixels - 10.2 megapixel CCD sensor offers superior image resolution with maximum control over noise. Ultra-compact, lightweight design - One of the smallest and lightest available designs makes the K2000 perfect for spontaneity. Easy one-handed operation with a comfortable carrying weight makes transitioning from a point and shoot trouble-free. PENTAX Auto Picture - Expect the right exposures with the settings you want. Auto Picture mode automatically calculates photographic factors to pick the best picture mode, optimizing the camera settings for any situation. Scene modes - Ten intuitive Scene modes offer point-and-shoot ease by further optimizing the camera for common situations and subjects. 2.7 inch LCD monitor - A 2.7 inch high-resolution, wide-view LCD monitor beautifully displays your pictures, and provides intuitive, easy-to-read menus. PENTAX-developed body-based Shake Reduction - With body-based Shake Reduction, the PENTAX SLR system will stabilize your shots, providing maximum flexibility with no compromise in optical quality. It increases your handheld shooting shutter speed range by 2.5 to 4 stops for blur-free pictures, and is compatible with every PENTAX lens ever produced. Help Button - Leave the manual at home. The dedicated and reprogrammable Help Button on the K2000 is like having a built-in user?s guide. It clearly explains camera settings to ease the transition from compact photography to DSLR mastery. Dust Alert function - Dust Reduction and Dust Alert features eliminate the need for time-consuming retouching by minimizing dust and determining if and where any dust remains after the system is activated. Pentax Real IMage Engine (PRIME) - PRIME image processing engine maximizes image properties and allows custom adjustment of image parameters, such as truer color tones, a wider dynamic range, and natural-looking high ISO images. Full backward lens compatibility - PENTAX has manufactured ...Digital SLRs
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