Pentax K-m announced

Today, more and more people are turning to digital SLR, sometimes without even being passed through the box compact or bridge. Each brand must adapt to this trend by offering reflex "simple" and not too expensive, to agree to a home user.

It is in this segment that is the new Pentax Km, a unit dedicated to first-time SLR users. And with this model, Pentax will take it to the play of light initiated by Olympus? One might think the manufacturer to see clearly its position on this feature Km, to the point of having reviewed the construction of two optics available in kit to make it more lenient. The most compact cabinet has then been obtained through a reduction in size of the stabilizer, a change of place of the battery compartment and a redesigned grip. The location of orders was revised in the aftermath, and each now has a help function that displays instructions to guide the novice.

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122.5 mm x 91.5 mm x 67.5 mm for 525 grams

To facilitate the shooting, the Km buys mode "Auto Picture" familiar to users of the brand compact and designed to analyze the scene and automatically switch the device in the most appropriate (macro, landscape, portrait, landscape and night ...). Another device: the mode "ISO auto" in which the camera automatically adjusts sensitivity between 100 and 3 200 Iso according to the focal used and the brightness of the subject, and so have a speed shutter high enough to allow the shooting of hands. The Miles can also count on the stabilizer implanted in series in the reflex of the mark and is now able to earn up to 4 shutter speeds. This device comes with a second for his part intended to prevent the deposition of dust through a system consisting of an antistatic coating, with a vibration sensor actioned in which each switching off and a tape that prevents them. It notes that, despite the emphasis on simplicity of use, the reflex is able to save files Raw (ie free processing software) and to deal directly from the device.

That is what is the strengths of the unit. What compromises have been made to enable positioning to less than 500 euros? Nothing any more money than it is accustomed to seeing in this range of equipment, namely a viewfinder type pentamiroir instead of a pentaprism, a 5-point autofocus and fast image acquisition in the order of 3.5 frames per second, or nothing for penalizing the shooting every day. Perhaps inevitably in the eyes of some device increasingly aware of Live View (referred through the rear screen) and video mode whose reflex taking up smoothly.

Its basic specifications:

Sensor: CCD 23.5 x 15.7 mm 10.2 million pixels
Conversion factor: 1.5 x
Display: LCD 2.7 "230 000 pixels
Viewfinder: coverage to 96%, magnification x 0.85
Sensitivity: 100 to 3 200 Iso
Shutter speed: 1 / 4 000 - 30 sec
Cadence Image acquisition: 2.8 fps, up to 5 JPEG images and 3 Raw
Flash: guide number 11, sync up to 1 / 180 sec
Recording media: SD / SDHC
Compatibility Optical mounts PENTAX K, KA, KAF, KAF2 and KAF3
Power: 4 AA alkaline batteries
Interface: USB 2.0

The Km will be available in late October at least 499 euros kit with a 18-55 mm and 599 euros in double kit with a 18-55 mm and a 50-200 mm. Who are its competitors? The Olympus E-420 kit offered from € 444.00, the Canon 1000D proposed kit from € 499.90, the Nikon D60 from 459.70 € and the Sony Alpha 300 from 508 , 90 €.