Pentax announces a new DSLR, the K20D
Pentax has launched the replacement to its popular K10D DSLR, the K20D, aimed at enthusiasts and semi professional users.
Pentax launches a new DSLR, the K20D Pentax has launched the replacement to its popular K10D DSLR, the K20D, aimed at enthusiasts and semi professional users. PENTAX Corporation is pleased to introduce the PENTAX K20D lens-interchangeable digital SLR camera. This medium-class model offers superb image quality, an array of advanced features and outstanding reliability and operability to meet the specialized and exacting demands of photo enthusiasts, including advanced amateurs. It incorporates a newly developed image sensor to bring out the optimum performance of PENTAX interchangeable lenses, while offering the features and functions needed to maximize the pleasure and excitement of digital photography. The K20D's development was based on the popular PENTAX K10D, which not only attracted great interest and high acclaim from users around the world, but also swept prestigious camera awards across the globe in 2007. The new CMOS image sensor, exclusively developed for K20D, is designed to optimize the performance of PENTAX interchangeable lenses. Featuring approximately 14.6 effective megapixels and the latest noise-reduction technology, it assures superb image quality a step above its predecessors. The K20D also offers an array of advanced features and user-friendly functions, including: a new Custom Image function that lets the user select or adjust the image's finishing touches to their preference; an upgraded, more reliable SR (Shake Reduction) system; a comprehensive Dust Removal system; a multi-mode exposure system for faithful reproduction of the photographer's creative intentions; and a dependable dust-proof, water-resistant body construction. As a result, the K20D easily meets the diversified, exacting demands of discerning photographers. Major Features High-quality image reproduction Newly developed CMOS image sensor The K20D features a newly developed CMOS (complementary metal oxide silicon) image sensor measuring 23.4mm x 15.6mm. After a thorough review of previous image sensors, PENTAX greatly reduced the area of circuitry around the pixel field to expand the light-sensitive area, while narrowing the camera's depth to nearly 60%, it achieved overall downsizing. Since it can detect diagonal light with great accuracy, the sensor can bring out the optimum performance of PENTAX interchangeable lenses. It also keeps annoying digital noise to a minimum by automatically raising its own sensitivity, allowing users to increase the sensitivity from ISO 100 to the highest level of ISO 6400 (via a custom function). Approximately 14.6 effective megapixels for true-to-life, rich-gradation images The K20D's new CMOS sensor features approximately 14.6 effective megapixels. Coupled with a high-performance imaging engine incorporating PENTAX-original image-processing technologies programmed to yield natural, true-to-life descriptions, it assures fine-detailed, rich-gradation images. In addition, the K20D features a new Custom Image function, which lets the photographer select one of six finishing touches to reflect his or her creative intentions with great ease. The K20D incorporates the PENTAX-original PRIME (PENTAX Real Image Engine) as its imaging engine. Designed exclusively for PENTAX digital SLR cameras, it assures well-balanced, true-to-life images with faithful colour reproduction by efficiently controlling digital signals transmitted by the CMOS image sensor and other photographic factors, including white balance. This imaging engine also features a DDR2 (Double Data Rate 2) memory to assure speedy image processing and high-speed data transfer. The K20D is equipped with the PENTAX-developed SR (Shake Reduction) mechanism, which effectively reduces camera shake for sharp, blur-free images even under demanding shooting conditions, such as when using a telephoto lens, shooting in the dark or at night without supplementary flash illumination, or using extended exposures for sunset scenes. This innovative mechanism offers an outstanding compensation effect equivalent to approximately 2.5 to 4 shutter-speed steps. In addition, the lighter image sensor unit and refined data-control algorithm realise further image stabilization. Since it does not require special anti-shake lenses, this extends outstanding shake-reduction benefits to nearly all existing PENTAX interchangeable lenses. Lenses compatible with this mechanism are: PENTAX K, KA, KAF and KAF2-mount lenses, screw-mount lenses (with an adapter); and 645 and 67-system lenses (with an adapter). Some functions may not be applicable with certain lenses The K20D features a new Live View function, which allows the user to view the image on the LCD monitor on the camera's back panel during shooting. This comes handy when the photographer must move his or her eye from the viewfinder in specialized applications, such as low and high-angle compositions. This function also allows the user to confirm the shake-reduction effect on the monitor during the shooting. The K20D has added a dynamic-range expansion function, which allows the user to expand a dynamic range (or a range of gradation reproduction) while retaining the proper contrast to avoid white-washed areas. With an approximately 1EV expansion effect, it assures beautiful, rich-gradation images. The K20D features the user-friendly Dust Removal (DR) system to prevent dust from sticking to the surface of the CMOS image sensor (or low-pass filter). Applied to the image sensor surface through the vapour deposition of a fluorine compound, the PENTAX-original SP (Super Protect) coating effectively removes dust and stains from the surface. In the next step, dust that still remains on the surface will be shaken off when the SR system shifts the image sensor at high speed. Finally, the dust that is shaken off the image sensor will fall onto an adhesive sheet positioned at the bottom of the SR unit, eliminating any possibility of its returning to the image sensor surface. This upgraded DR system even offers a new Dust Alert function, which allows the user to confirm the dust-adhesion status of the image sensor in advance. The K20D is equipped with a new Custom Image function that lets the users select one of the six modes and adjust the image's finishing touches to their presence. Allowing a minor adjustment of tone, saturation, contrast, and sharpness, this function enables the user to take photographs with their intend image. The user easily operates the selection and adjustment process by recording a preview images and checking the effect. The K20D's Hyper Program function allows the user to instantly switch to the Shutter- or Aperture-Priority AE mode from the Programmed AE mode, with a simple turn of the electronic dials on the grip. To return to the Programmed AE mode, simply press the green button positioned next to the shutter release button. When shooting in Manual mode, a single push of the green button allows the user to instantly set the proper exposure for the subject. The K20D features a unique Sensitivity-Priority (Sv) mode, which is designed to automatically select the optimum combination of aperture and shutter speed for a user-selected sensitivity. The sensitivity can be shifted instantly in 1/2 or 1/3 steps by turning the electronic dial on the back panel. Taking full advantage of the unique capability of digital cameras permitting automatic shift of sensitivity at any time, the Shutter/Aperture-Priority (TAv) mode automatically selects the most appropriate sensitivity for a user-selected shutter speed/aperture combination. It allows the user to experiment with a greater range of photographic expressions with great ease. Featuring a glass pentaprism, the K20D's viewfinder offers an approximately 95 percent field of view and an approximately 0.95-times magnification for easy viewing of the subject and effortless confirmation of focus and composition. Coupled with the acclaimed Natural-Bright-Matte II focusing screen, it delivers a large, bright subject image. The K20D boasts an extremely reliable dust-proof, water-resistant construction, with special seals applied to 74 different parts of the camera body, including the shutter release button and all the switches, levers, dials. This dependable body makes it possible to use the K20D in the rain or dusty locations without worries. To trace the movement of an active subject or capture a sequence of the subject's expressions, the K20D offers a continuous shooting mode that allows the photographer to capture as many as 38 images in succession (in JPEG recording format) at a maximum speed of approximately three images per second. When switched to the new high-speed advance mode, the user can take up to approximately 115 images at the speed of approximately 21 images per second. The image size is fixed at 1.6megapixels in the Burst Shooting mode. The K20D features a large 2.7in colour LCD monitor with approximately 230,000 dots on its back panel. Its wide-view design allows the photographer to check the monitor image from approximately 160 degrees both vertically and horizontally. Since it assures effortless image viewing from a diagonal position, it facilitates low and high-angle shooting using the Live View function. The K20D's sophisticated SAFOX VIII autofocus system features 11 sensor points (with nine cross-type sensors positioned in the middle) to automatically focus on the subject with utmost precision, even when it is positioned off centre. When the subject is captured in focus, the in-focus sensor point is automatically superimposed in red in the viewfinder for at-a-glance confirmation. The K20D features new, large capacity lithium-ion rechargeable batteries, which can capture approximately 740 images, approximately 50% more compared with conventional one, when fully recharged. Drastic improvement of battery capacity is realized with through energy saving design. Under testing condition prescribed by PENTAX, when using D-LI50 lithium-ion rechargeable batteries with no flash. Other features Choice of 16-segment multi-pattern metering, centre-weighted metering and spot metering to accommodate various photographic applications Reliable, durable shutter unit assuring more than 100,000 shutter releases High-rigidity stainless-steel chassis 36 custom functions to personalize camera operations Universal-type X-sync socket (new feature) RAW button for single-action image-file switching Digital Preview for recording images in addition to checking Optional Battery Grip (D-BG2) for extended shooting sessions Nine digital filters to add creative and artistic touches In-body RAW data development for image filing in JPEG and TIFF formats Compatibility with SDM equipped lenses for quiet, extra-smooth autofocus operation PENTAX PHOTO Laboratory 3, RAW data processing software, PENTAX PHOTO Browser 3, browser software and PENTAX REMOTE Assistant 3, camera control software, included on the accompanying CD-ROM The Pentax K20D will be available from March, and has an rrp of £900 body only or £1000 with the new 18-55mm II kit lens.
