Come meet the Pentax K 200D, an entry-level
digital SLR camera. Plenty of features, looking pretty solid and with a
friendly price tag!
The Pentax
K200D is pentax's
new entry level D-SLR.
Some of the benefits of this camera are:
Uses 4 AA batteries which is great when you
need extra power quick, since you can get them just about anywhere
Batteries are included with camera
Batteries last for 1,100 shots
Weather and dust proof
Less than $800
Built in shake reduction sensor to stop blur
Self timer lamp
LCD display on top of camera
While this camera isn't perfect, it has many nice features typically
not found on cameras in this low price range.
The LCD screen
found at the top of the camera is not something
that is generally seen in cameras like this.
It is quite handy, since you need to only look down and your settings
are right there.
In Auto you can view the amount of
pictures left on the card, the battery life, flash mode, and many other
useful things.
Via the dial, you can access other features of the camera like various
scene modes, such as portrait, landscape, macro, sports,
night, flash off, and things of that nature. This is great for
beginners who may feel a touch out of place with this formidable
camera.
There isn't live view with this camera, but it does have a 2.7
inch LCD screen rated at 230k pixels.
There is also a viewfinder with diopter adjustment
with a nice rubber cushion.
The Pentax
K200D comes with a
really good kit that has three 18-55 mm f/ 3.5-5.6 ALII lens,
strap, four lithium AAs, and cables. You get an
owner's manual, a CD ROM with Pentax photo browser 3,
as well as Pentax photo library 3, so you can
download and develop RAW files.
In use, the Pentax K200D is very responsive. When you use Auto
Pict mode, the camera is quick to focus and save pictures. It
has 2.8 frames per second. This speed is fine
unless you plan on shooting sporting events with your camera, and in
that case, you will have to step up to a more expensive camera.
This camera is well suited to beginners, and people
that don't need all of the bells and whistles found on more expensive
cameras. It does what it says it does, and then some.
There was really no reason to feel disappointed at all in the camera's
performance, and the extra features it had were a
very welcomed surprise.