The Pentax KM is a great digital SLR camera.
When comparing compacts to DSLRs you will often find that image quality
of some compacts is questionable. DSLR generally offer better quality,
but they look complicated at first glance. The Pentax KM is a
user-friendly DSLR and offers some decent DSLR features.
Do you want a new digital camera? And you do not have a huge background
in
photography?
Then you will most likely be recommended to get a cheap
point-and-click shooter.
These cameras undoubtedly look attractive due
to their small sizes and powerful features built-in.
The user interface is what matters to most and many of the compact
models do it right
which is why they remain popular even today.
However, image quality is questionable in some designs and while some
people may accept that, others may find themselves missing out when
they see their friends with DSLR cameras instead.
These cameras offer
better quality, but look complicated at first glance. The Pentax
K-m
aims to keep it friendly with the beginners, yet offer some decent DSLR-exclusive
features.
Pentax KM Highlights
The Pentax KM offers a very good impression with 10.2
effective megapixels which makes it not very suitable
for serious photographers, but great for any other enthusiasts.
It is
ultra-compact and very light to other entry-level cameras of different
makers.
It basically shares the size of other point-and-shoot cameras
with a lens sticking out.
It is powered by the Pentax Real IMage Engine
or PRIME which extends the dynamic range
and quality in high ISO settings.
The
dynamic range is one of the weak features of the camera, but the D-Range
option makes it efficient.
It also has a Shake Reduction technology
that is body-based and exclusively made by Pentax adding the
flexibility of shooting from 2.5 to 4 stops shutter speed range to
eliminate blur without negatively affecting the overall quality of the
image.
The image stabilization is good as well as the viewfinder for
its price and white balance features to ensure that each shot looks
great.
User-friendliness is a main focus of this camera as the on-screen
control
panel is nicely arranged on the 2.7-inch LCD
display and easy to use.
The LCD screen is customizable in terms of
color adjustment for better viewing when reviewing photos.
It even has a dedicated help button that can be used by beginners that
do not know the descriptions of each feature. The camera can be taken
to places with confidence even without the instruction manual.
Other Notable Features of the Pentax KM
Some entry-level models have a dust reduction system that adds some
life to the sensor, but the Pentax
K-m adds more to
the package by adding a "Dust Alert"
function as well which automatically detects dust and notifies the user
if there is any dust present after the camera activates.
All of the lenses manufactured by Pentax are compatible with this model
to greatly expand the entry-level photographer's options without
replacing their unit.
The AA battery compatibility
is also good for emergency situations and just as efficient allowing
over a thousand photos to be taken using the four AA batteries.
The Pentax KM costs below $600 making it
cheaper than even some of the high-end point-and-shoot compacts.
It is
a very light camera that is sure to impress people that are new to the
DSLR world. It lacks in continuous shooting features and the JPEG
quality isn't very good so taking RAW photos with this camera is
recommended.
Other than that, the Pentax KM offers a great package for
its price.