Pentax K110D 6.1MP with a host of advanced technologies to deliver high-quality digital SLR photography and user-friendly operation to all levels of photographers. The ease of use, advanced features, and attractive price also make the Pentax K100D digital SLR a perfect choice for users moving up from a point-and-shoot camera. Both the K110D and the K100D reflect a new digital SLR naming system that references the reverse compatibility that each body has with the legacy of Pentax K-mount lenses.
The K110D’s sophisticated SAFOX VIII autofocus system features 11 sensor points (with nine cross-type sensors) to automatically focus on the subject with utmost precision, even when it is positioned off center. The in-focus sensor point is automatically superimposed in red in the viewfinder for at-a-glance confirmation. This high-precision AF system offers a choice of two AF modes: the conventional single AF, and the continuous AF, which maintains focus on the moving subject as long as the shutter release button is pressed halfway down. (The continuous AF mode is selectable by the user only when P, Tv, Av, M, or B is selected as a shooting mode on the mode dial. This mode is automatically activated by the camera when the Auto Picture Program, or one of the Picture or Scene modes, is selected.)
The K110D features a lightweight penta-mirror viewfinder, which combines Pentax-original finder optics with a Natural-Bright-Matte II focusing screen to deliver bright, clear subject images with a 0.85x magnification and a 96 percent field of view.
Helpful consumer’s review
I did what I always said I’d do when deciding on a DSLR–buy the cheapest thing out there and never worry about new models trumping the old ones. It made sense for me to consider Pentax, since I have several K-mount as well as older screw mount lenses, the latter of which can be used on this body with a $15 adapter. It may come as a jolt to Nikon owners, but Pentax has FAR more reverse compatibility than Nikon. I can meter a 50 year old screw mount lens on my entry-level body. Try that with a D50.
As for features, I can’t attest to the accuracy of the multipoint autofocus or the multizone metering, because I don’t trust “multi” anything. For me it’s single point AF and spot metering (knowing that my primary camera is an Olympus OM3 may help you understand). As for the RAW vs jpeg war, let somebody who cares argue that one. Everything I shoot is jpeg and it looks just fine to me–I never used the zone system, either. And noise/grain? If you’ve shot GAF 500 or 3M/Ferrania 640T slide film, you can talk to me about this issue. This camera does spectacularly through ISO 800, and even looks impressive at 1600. I’ve shot several images at 3200 and they look like TMAX 3200 to me. Pentax wisely kept the lid on noise reduction, so things may look noisy or grainy, but they do not lack for detail.
The fifth star? For the bargain price? No, that would be condescending. I discovered, after the fact, that the camera provides some image-tweaking features, such as conversion to monochrome; or to sepia (it does look just a touch too yellow for me–but still quite acceptable). But the fifth star goes to the “soft” setting, which produces a gorgeous Gaussian blur, which could not look better if I’d custom-designed it myself. I know–it’s jpeg, and I lose a little info when I use these things–that’s my business.
