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Pentax K20D DSLR Gets Official With 14.6 Megapixels, Live View and Expanded Dynamic Range

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Pentax’s long-rumored $1299 K20D is a shot square at Canon’s 40D and the Nikon D300. Besides price, it bests both in pure megapixel count—14.6 effective, with a new CMOS sensor developed w/ Samsung—and rocks the same top 3200 ISO (6400 expanded) as the D300. (Is it as impressively noiseless though?) Expanded Dynamic Range promises more contrast-y shots, plus image stabilization is built into the camera’s body. Like the 40D and D300 it adds a live viewfinder, but it’s a bit tinier, 2.7 inches to their 3, with less than a third of the D300’s resolution, so the screen won’t be nearly as gorgeous. It comes up a little short against the competition in a couple of other ways, too. Update: If you’re really drooling over the K20D, have a look at the new Pentax-produced walkthrough video below.

https://gizmodo.com/pentax-k20d-and-k200d-digital-slrs-rumored-326846

For one, its continuous shooting mode tops out at 3 FPS at full quality, half of either the 40D or D300. Also, unlike what was rumored, its RAW A/D processor only 12-bit, coming in a smidge below their 14-bit processors. Still, it looks like a solid camera for the price. All of the dirty details for photo fiends below.

MODEL: K20D

TYPE: Digital SLR

PRODUCT CODE:

Body Kit: 19381, UPC: 027075130814

SENSOR

Type: CMOS with primary color filter and integrated Shake/Dust Reduction sensor movement system

Size: 23.4 x 15.6mm

Color depth: 8 bits/channel JPG, 12 bits/channel RAW

Effective pixels: 14.6 MP

Total pixels: 15.1 MP

Recorded resolutions: 4672×3104 (14.6M), 3872×2592 (10M), 3008×2000 (6M), 1824×1216 (2M)

Quality levels:  Premium,  Best,  Better,  Good

Dust Removal: Image sensor movement combined with SP coating

LENS MOUNT

Type/construction: Pentax KAF2 bayonet stainless steel mount

Usable lenses: Pentax KAF2, KAF, and KA (K mount, 35mm screwmount, 645/67 med format useable w/ adapter and/or restrictions)

SDM function: YES

Power zoom function: YES

FOCUS SYSTEM

Type: TTL phase-matching 11 point wide autofocus system (SAFOX VIII)

Focus modes: AF Single (w/ focus lock), AF Continuous, Manual

Focus point adjustment: Auto, User-selectable, Center

AF assist: YES, via built-in flash

VIEWFINDER

Type: Pentaprism

Coverage (field of view): 95%

Magnification: 0.95x (w/ 50mm f/1.4 at infinity)

Standard focusing screen: Natural-Bright-Matte II

Diopter adjustment: -2.5 to 1.5

Depth of field preview: Optical diaphragm stop down, Digital, Live View (FOV 100%, magnification 4x/8x available, grid pattern available)

LCD MONITOR

Type: 2.7″ TFT color LCD monitor, adjustable brightness/color, Live View available (TTL by image sensor, 100% FOV)

Resolution: Approx 230,000 dots

Wide angle viewable: YES, approx 160° horizontal/vertical

BUILT-IN FLASH

Type: Retractable P-TTL popup flash

Guide number: 13 (100/m)

Coverage: 28mm wide angle (equivalent to 35mm)

Flash modes: on, redeye, slow sync, slow sync + redeye, trailing curtain sync, wireless

Flash exposure compensation: -2 to +1 EV in 1/2 steps

EXTERNAL FLASH

Type: Hot Shoe (P-TTL, high speed sync available), Wireless with PENTAX dedicated flash, X-Sync socket

Synchronization speed: 1/180s

STORAGE MEDIA

Internal memory: n/a

Removable memory: SD, SDHC

INTERFACES

Ports: USB 2.0 hi-speed, video out, DC input, cable switch, X-Sync socket

Video out: NTSC, PAL

Printer interfaces: PictBridge

POWER SUPPLY

Power source: Rechargeable Li-Ion battery D-LI50, BG2 Battery Grip (optional) for second D-LI50 battery

Recordable images: Approx 740 (approx 530 with 50% flash)

Playback time: Approx 330 min

AC adapter available: YES (optional)

PHYSICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Body dimensions (W x H x D): 5.6 x 4.0 x 2.76″

Body weight

Without battery or removable memory: 25.2 oz

Loaded and ready: 28.2 oz

Construction material(s): Reinforced plastic polymer shell surrounding a rugged stainless steel chassis

Operating temperature: 32-104°F

IMAGE STABILIZATION

Type: Body-based, sensor shift Shake Reduction (4 stops maximum)

METERING SYSTEM

Type: TTL open-aperture, 16 segment metering

Sensitivity range: EV 0-21 (ISO 100, 50mm f/1.4)

Multi-segment: YES, 16 segments

Center weighted: YES

Spot: YES

Exposure compensation: +/- 3EV (1/2 steps), +/- 2EV (1/3 steps)

Exposure lock: YES

Exposure bracketing: YES, 3 or 5 frames, up to +/- 2EV (1/2 or 1/3 steps)

ISO SENSITIVITY

Auto: 100-3200 ISO (1, 1/2, 1/3 steps), Bulb mode up to ISO 1600, expanded range ISO available to ISO 6400

Manual: 100-3200 ISO (1, 1/2, 1/3 steps), Bulb mode up to ISO 1600, expanded range ISO available to ISO 6400

WHITE BALANCE*

Auto preset modes: Auto, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent (W, D, N), Flash, Color Temperature

Manual mode(s): YES

* WB fine adjustment available

SHUTTER

Type: Electronically controlled, vertical run, focal plane shutter

Shutter speed: 1/4000 to 30 sec, bulb available

CAPTURE MODES

Mode selection: Green, Program, Sensitivity Priority, Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority, Shutter and Aperture Priority, Metered Manual, X Speed, Bulb, USER

Green simplified mode available: YES

P/A/S/M/B: P, A, S, M, B (extended modes include Sv, TAv)

Date stamp: n/a

Digital filters (capture): Custom Image Function includes Bright, Natural, Portrait, Landscape, and Vibrant modes, each with gamut radar and fine adjustment of saturation, hue, contrast, and sharpness. Monochrome includes adjustment for filter effects (green, yellow, orange, red, magenta, blue, cyan, infrared), toning (sepia warm/cool), contrast, and sharpness (regular and fine adjustment scales).

Data record: Folder Name (standard, date), File Name (standard, customizable)

DRIVE MODES

Mode selection: Single, Continuous (Hi, Lo), Burst (1.6M, JPG), Self-Timer (12s, 2s), Remote (0s, 3s), Remote Continuous, Auto Bracket, Extended Bracket, Multi-Exposure, Interval

Continuous FPS:

– 3.0 FPS (38 JPG and Continuous Hi, 14 RAW PEF, 16 RAW DNG)

– 2.3 FPS (unlimited JPG and Continuous Lo, 14 RAW PEF, 16 RAW DNG)

– 20 FPS in Burst mode (115 at 1.6M, , JPG)

Self-timer: YES (12s, 2s)

Remote control: YES, infrared (0s, 3s, continuous) and cable switch supported

PLAYBACK MODES

Mode selection: One shot, two shots, index (4, 9, or 16 thumbnails), magnification, image rotation, folder view, slideshow, histogram, bright/dark indicators, RAW to JPG

Magnification: Up to 32x, scrollable

Digital filters (playback): B&W (4), Sepia (3), Color (18), Color Extract (6), Soft (3), Illustration, HDR (3), Slim (+/- 8), Brightness (+/- 8)

FILE FORMATS

Still: RAW PEF/DNG, JPG (EXIF 2.21), DCF 2.0 (design rule for camera file system), DPOF, Print Image Matching III

CUSTOM FUNCTIONS

Functions available: 36

FILE STORAGE MATRIX (BASED ON 1GB MEMORY)

JPG **** *** ** *

4672×3104 (14.6M) 68 117 212 411

3872×2592 (10M) 101 168 296 616

3008×2000 (6M) 176 285 491 915

1824×1216 (2M) 461 737 1233 2238

RAW

4672×3120 (14.6M) 40

COMPUTER SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS*

*For device connectivity. Bundled software requirements may vary.

Windows: Windows XP/Vista, USB port

Mac: MacOS 10.2 or later, USB 2.0 port

KIT INCLUSIONS

K20D body, USB Cable I-USB17, Video Cable I-VC28, Rechargeable Li-Ion Battery D-LI50, Battery Charge Cradle D-BC50, AC Plug Cord, Strap O-ST53, Hotshoe Cover FK, Eyecup FP, Body Mount Cover, Finder Cap for ME, Focusing Screen LF-80 Frame Matte, Bottom Cap K10D, Software CD-ROM S-SW74/75

OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES

AC Adapter Kit D-AC50, Battery Charger Kit K-BC50, Battery Grip BG2, Cap D-BG2 (for battery grip), Focusing Screen LL-80 AF Divided Matte, Focusing Screen LI-80 AF Scale Matte, Remote Control F, Cable Switch CS-205, Magnifying Eyepiece O-ME53, DSLR Gadget Bag, DSLR Sling Bag

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