Features And Design

The K20D replaces the K10D of 2007. The new camera follows Pentax’s current business model by collaborating with Korean electronic giant Samsung – the electronics are produced by Samsung, while design and camera know-how comes from Pentax’s photographic expertise. Samsung, incidentally, has also produced an almost identical model, the GX20, which we’ll review separately in a forthcoming issue of WDC. At the K20D’s heart is Samsung’s newly developed CMOS sensor, with an effective resolution of 14.6 million pixels in APS-C format. This makes the K20D the highest-resolution enthusiast DSLR on the market, along with the Samsung GX-20, surpassing that of the recent models from Nikon, Canon and Sony. In fact the only current DSLR with a higher pixel count is Canon’s EOS 1DS Mk III, but that comes at the much higher price of around £5,000.

That resolution translates to images sized 4672×3120 pixels. In print terms this equates to approximately 15.6 x 10.4 inches at 300dpi. Be aware though that this produces large file sizes of approximately 45MB when opened and around 6MB for a closed JPEG, depending on the subject and amount of detail contained in the image. Files are saved with a choice of Raw options – either Pentax’s PEF (Pentax Electronic Format) format or Adobe’s universal DNG (Digital Negative) format – as well as JPEG. There’s also the obligatory Raw+JPEG option, still allowing the choice of PEF or DNG Raw formats. Incidentally, one of the few differences between this camera and the Samsung GX20 is that the Samsung only offers DNG as the Raw option.

Like its predecessor the K10D, the new camera has an optomagnetic 3D-Sensor image stabilisation system, which Pentax claims to have improved upon. This in-body system allows you to use standard Pentax K-mount lenses at slower shutter speeds, thus reducing the risk of camera shake. The company claims that shutter speeds up to four stops slower can be used with the newly improved system.

Furthermore the sensor’s sensitivity covers ISO 100-6400, allowing photography in a broad range of lighting conditions, especially useful for low light and without a tripod. In default mode, the ISO offers ISO 100-3200, with the ISO 6400 setting available in an extended mode. This top speed is set via bit-shifting (by using mathematical calculations) rather than the signal amplification of the standard ISO range.

A new Dynamic range function allowing +2EV extension for improving highlight and shadow details has been added, competing with the systems used by Nikon and Sony, for example. This is fast becoming a standard feature and is similar to using the Curves or Levels controls in Adobe Photoshop to extend the tonal range by retaining highlights, opening up the shadow detail and balancing the midtones. In contrasty lighting, such as when the sun is low or when the subject is backlit, the feature allows better retention of detail across the image.

The moving sensor cradle that corrects for camera shake also allows dust to be shaken from the sensor, by momentarily vibrating it at high speed. Any debris that is dislodged from the sensor is then caught on an adhesive pad in the base of the sensor chamber. This is backed up by an anti-static coating on the sensor’s low-pass filter to reduce the chance of dust adhering to the sensor in the first place. The LCD screen has been enlarged, now at 2.7 inches with a 230,000dot resolution, and incorporates live view so images can be composed via the screen. Being fixed, it lacks the multi-angle hinge found on models such as the Panasonic L-10 or Sony A350, which I prefer as this allows you to shoot from lower or higher angles such as at waist height or over crowds’ heads. A fixed LCD really requires the use of a tripod which is not always practical, and shooting handheld as you would with a compact camera is tricky and greatly increases the chances of camera shake.

On a more positive note though, the live view system also works with the Pentax Remote software, allowing images to be composed and taken via USB connection to a PC or Mac (again using a tripod or some sort of support). As an added bonus, this software is included with the camera, where other manufacturers can often charge extra for similar packages.

The body of the camera is extremely well made with a steel chassis and 72 weatherproof seals, yet remains small and light, weighing just 800g with its battery and SD card. As with all other Pentax DSLRs since the Pentax *ist, the K-mount is compatible with older Pentax lenses, as well as the new DA range, while an adaptor is available for using Pentax 645 and 67 series lenses. It is also compatible with the new range of Samsung’s K-mount Schneider lenses. However, there will be some loss of functionality on older lenses, such as no autofocus, or a lack of body-based aperture control, for example, so you should check with Pentax or consult the camera manual for more detail on specific lenses.

On the subject of autofocus, a welcome improvement is the new 11-point AF with nine cross-sensors. The previous model only had a central cross-sensor, so the new system will, theoretically, allow faster focusing across the frame on both horizontally and vertically placed focus lines. However, the camera fails to match the AF specification of rivals such as the Nikon D300 and Canon EOS 40D which have a greater number of focus points across the viewfinder frame.

The menu has also had a makeover, with a larger typeface and much clearer labelling of some of the functions. One of my criticisms of previous Pentax cameras has been their confusing, or downright annoying, esoteric naming conventions. The sensor-cleaning function for example, is no longer named ‘Switch dst msr pt’ but the much clearer, shorter and more obvious ‘Sensor Cleaning’ – I would have loved to have been at that design meeting!

Within the playback menu there are several direct image manipulation options including a High Dynamic Range (HDR) function. As far as I am aware this is the first camera to specifically include HDR in its functions, and so may prove popular with the growing subset of photographers who use the technique. It should be noted though, that this is a digital filter and doesn’t combine images like true HDR photography. Other unusual digital filters include a slimming filter to make fat Aunt Betty happy, colour extraction tools to leave a single colour in the image, while the rest convert to monochrome, and a soft focus tool to get rid of Aunt Betty’s wrinkles.

There’s also an illustration tool to convert images to line drawings, and the usual array of monochrome, sepia and colour filters.

The camera follows the K10D’s lead by providing incamera Raw processing, something now being mimicked by Nikon. Whenever any of these functions are performed, a new image file is created and saved, leaving the original file untouched. Of course, Raw files are automatically processed in the course of making a JPEG, but having the ability to edit on the go, and set your own parameters and so forth is quite useful, especially if you intend to upload to the web or make prints from the camera via PictBridge.

Among the last of the new features, and a very welcome one at that, is the X-sync or PC socket, allowing you to now sync the camera with an external flash or studio light set up. While this is always a good thing, the lack of a PC socket on recent cameras has seen a growth in hotshoe-based wireless flash sync accessories and it’s worth pointing out that this has become a better way to control off-camera flash. Not only does it allow better freedom of movement, but it completely removes the risk of high trigger voltage flash units frying your camera’s circuit boards. However, I’m still happy that the PC socket is included.

Design:
Thanks to the steel chassis and rubberised coating the camera is a very solid-feeling bit of kit. It’s still not a big camera compared to the Nikon D3, for example, but it looks and feels like a real camera. The design is traditional, aided by a left-hand mode dial where the old rewind lever would have been on a film SLR, while the grey LCD on the left maintains a link to cameras from the 1980s and onwards.

The placement of the button follows a similar pattern to that of the K10D, with easy access to the main functions, and a function button to quickly open the menu and change flash modes, WB and ISO. A rotating scroll wheel around the four-way controller is used to change the 11 AF point options, either auto, selective or centre. The four-way controller is used to select the AF point in Selective mode. In conjunction with the new standard 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 kit lens, the AF speed and accuracy shows an improvement over the previous models.

A pair of front and rear command dials offer natural and quick exposure control of shutter and aperture, which I personally prefer to the single-wheel operation found on some other cameras. The dials are also used to scroll other settings such as exposure compensation, though most settings can be adjusted via the function menu or directly through external buttons. Overall, the controls are well laid out and don’t intimidate or confuse.

Like other cameras at this level, the K20D lacks scene or subject-based modes but does offer a decent range of picture options settings, which can also be customised in the menu.

It’s not a hard camera to use, and feels very comfortable with all of the main functions one would require of a semi-pro model. I thoroughly enjoyed using the camera and found it natural and instinctive to use.