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Photograph: Rick Rizner
Pentax *ist DS Digital Camera with Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL Digital SLR Lens (6.1MP, 3008x2008)
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- Spec Navigator
- Digital Format
- Display
- Exposure
- Image Processor
- Included Software
- Lens
- Shutter
- Storage
- LCD Screen
- Exposure Controls
- Dimensions
- Power
- Flash
- Lens Features
- Connectivity
- Other Features
Image Processor
| Number of image sensor pixels | 6.1 megapixels |
| Image sensor | CCD |
| Maximum horizontal image resolution | 3008 |
| Maximum vertical image resolution | 2008 |
| Image sensor quantity | 1 |
| Image format |
|
| White balance | 0 |
Lens
| Accessory Lens | No |
| Lens Model | SMC Pentax-DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL |
| Telephoto Aperture Maximum | 5.6 mm |
| Wide-Angle Aperture Maximum | 3.5 mm |
Exposure Controls
| Maximum shutter speed | 4000 |
| Minimum shutter speed | 30 |
| Bulb setting | 0 |
| ISO equivalencies |
|
| Exposure settings | 0 |
| Exposure compensation range | 0 |
| Number of scene modes | 7 |
3
5 User Reviews Add your own »
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- Lab Tested
- How We Test Cameras »
Pros
Shoots well in auto mode
Cons
Smaller-size CCD
Bottom Line
A no-brainer if you own Pentax lenses, this smallish camera shot well in auto mode, but its smaller-size CCD is a drawback.
Pentax *ist DS
*ist DS Digital Camera with Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL Digital SLR Lens (6.1MP, 3008x2008) Review, by Tracey Capen August 1, 2005
If you've looked longingly at digital single-lens-reflex cameras but have been put off by their size and weight, you'll want to check out the Pentax *ist DS ($900 with an 18mm to 55mm lens; $800 without). It's the smallest SLR I've seen to date--just a hair smaller than the Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT--and, at 17.8 ounces (body only, without battery), it weighs about the same. With its largish right-hand grip and nicely placed controls, the Pentax feels solid and comfortable in your hand.
As with the other digital SLRs in our September roundup, the *ist DS has a slew of creative features; once you master those--particularly the exposure controls--you can take some truly fine photos. But where the Pentax falls behind its competition is in the lack of dedicated control buttons: It has almost none. A function button, combined with the four-way navigation thumb button, lets you quickly change the ISO, white balance, flash setting, or drive mode (single-shot, self-timer, or exposure bracketing). But for everything else, you have to step into the menu system; though working through the menus is fairly quick, most of the other SLRs I've reviewed are faster to set because they have lots of buttons. One plus is a Custom Setting menu that lets you fine-tune many of the *ist DS's controls. I'd be a lot happier, however, if I could customize the Function button to the controls I use most frequently.
Like the original Canon EOS Digital Rebel and the Nikon D70s, the Pentax has a 6.1-megapixel CCD. That number seems a little behind the curve, however, as most digital SLRs are moving to 7 or 8 megapixels. Whether it was the pixel count or the image processing technology Pentax gave the *ist DS, image quality was below the average for SLRs cameras run through the PC World Test Center's formal tests. In particular, the *ist DS earned low scores for the sharpness of its images.
Along with six scene modes, it has an Auto Picture mode that turns the *ist DS into an expensive point-and-shoot, choosing all the settings for you. In this full automatic mode, the Pentax produced accurate exposure values. Colors looked bright--even slightly oversaturated, in some cases. It captured pure whites and neutral grays especially well. Like the other SLRs we tested, the *ist DS earned higher scores for its color accuracy once we made manual adjustments to exposure settings.
The *ist's burst mode seemed a little rough, compared with the competition. Writing to a high-speed SD Card, the camera sped up and slowed down as it recorded a sequence of shots, for an estimated average frame rate of about only 1.5 fps (our chart lists the manufacturer's spec of 2.8 fps for burst mode). By comparison, the 8.2-megapixel Olympus EVolt E-300 impressed me by consistently shooting at 2.5 frames per second at its second-highest JPEG setting until it ran out of space on its CompactFlash card.
This Pentax does have one distinct advantage over most of today's digital SLRs: While the vast majority of them employ proprietary rechargeable batteries, the Pentax uses two disposable CR-3Vs or four AAs. That means you can buy your own rechargeable batteries, and in a pinch you can switch to disposable AAs.
Upshot: The *ist DS is best suited for hobbyist photographers on very tight budgets, but $100 more will get you the Canon Digital Rebel XT and its better image quality.
Tracey Capen
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PCWorld Lab Results
- Rating Breakdown
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76
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68
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80
- See Complete Lab Results »
Performance Comparison with Similar Cameras
76
78
78
76
Performance
| Battery Life (minutes) | 273.5 |
| Image Quality Score | Good |
| Image Quality, Color | 51.5 |
| Image Quality, Color--Adjusted | 59 |
| Image Quality, Color--Auto | 44 |
| Image Quality, Distortion | 58.6 |
| Image Quality, Distortion--Noise | 59.3 |
| Image Quality, Distortion--Noise Reduction | 79 |
| Image Quality, Distortion--Sharp Interpolation | 52 |
| Image Quality, Exposure | 40.3 |
| Image Quality, Exposure--Flash | 41 |
| Image Quality, Exposure--Normal | 40 |
| Image Quality, Overall | 46 |
| Image Quality, Sharpness | 25 |
| Number of Batteries | 2 |
| Number of Shots | 500 |
User Reviews
Review Now! Already own it? Tell us What You Think
User Reviews From Around the Web
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Reviewed by: aslatter
Strengths: Don't know. Have not been able to use camera.
Weaknesses: Needed repair within 24 hours of purchase. Warranty not honored by Pentax.
Overall: I bought this camera partly on the basis of the reviews posted here but also on my past experience with Pentax products.On a recent trip to Singapore I bought an *ist DL camera and was looking forward to rekindling my interest in photography on my return to Indonesia, where I live.Within 24 hours of owning camera the electronic controls and display had gone haywire and the camera was unusable.I took the camera to the Pentax agent in Jakarta and was informed that they do not honor warranties on products bought in Singapore. They said they would repair the camera at my expense. The dealer in Singapore was equally unhelpful offering to "look at the camera" if I took it back to Singapore!With no alternative I have left my brand new Pentax in the repair shop and await it's return. Not a very good start to my digital SLR experience!I have tried to seek recourse from Pentax but cannot find a service or customer relations contact.I am bitterly disappointed with Pentax and this product.Andrew Slatter
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Reviewed by: hyattdk
Strengths: The autofocusing is great. It produces beautiful photos. There are lots of perks with this camera.
Weaknesses: The only thing I don't like is how you have to push two buttons to see an enlarged version of your photo.
Overall: This is a great digital slr. All of my old lenses fit and work wonderfully with the Ds. I am still playing with the camera to see what all it can do and am still amazed at times at how good it is. I can print large prints from the SD card and they are beautiful. The natural lighting looks great on my subjects and that makes me happy. I am so glad I have it!
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Reviewed by: mrbmarco
Strengths: Forgot
Weaknesses: The Worst Customer Sevice EVER
Overall: Last March I bought the ist ds kit on line from J&R. I bought it from them because I have bought electronics from them for over 20 years. I loved this camera--The images were breathtaking. I was so happy, all my old pentax lenses worked perfectly. In June 2005, I set up the tripod and started to take close ups of flowers on the patio. The pictures were the best yet, all of a sudden the camera started to act up, all the lights, bell and whistles started to go on and off. I shut the camera off, and the problem continued. I took out the batteries, put them back in and the problem continued. I shipped the camera back to Pentax in Colorado since it was still under warranty. After 6 weeks in the last days of August, the camera came back still broke. Pentax said they found either water or motor oil or sticky substance in the camera, when they opened it up. It could not be fixed, the warranty was void. I was floored, I never opened the camera. Why would any one open an 800.00 digital camera still under warranty. I called several times with no luck. The camera still looks brand new. I checked the front where the lens and mirror are and I could not find any substance. Called Pentax Monday November 14th. Finally spoke to the supervisor of Customer Service a Mr Phil Kerswill. He told me the same bull I've heard before. They found liquid in the camera, and I said I did not abuse the camera. So, it's me against Pentax. We just kept arguing back and forth. He told me there are no regional offices, only the office in Colorado. Finally I asked for the name of his boss, and he told me he reports to the president, Jim Kast. I told him I was going to write him a letter with a cc to Popular Photography. He told me in a few words that the letter would be given to him, so why bother--I then reported this to The Denver Better Business Bureau and got nowhere. So it looks like I now have to spend around 480.00 to get the new Pentax DL body. I haven't had a digital camera since June of 2005--
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Reviewed by: hero1117
Strengths: Size, Price, Picture, Ease of use
Weaknesses: Would have liked an ISO of 100, Jpeg + Raw Feature
Overall: excellent Production Value. Backward compataible to my old Glass. Great Veiw. Overall Excellent Camera. Fun to use Great Customer Support. good solid feel. Pictures are sharp and Clean. Get the new firmware
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Reviewed by: fredigolo
Strengths: use of SD memory and 4xAA batteries, allows the use of old Pentax lenses (even manual lenses from the 70's). Great sensitivity to low-light situations (up to ISO 3200)
Weaknesses: Some functions are a bit difficult to use. Quite Grainy images on ISO 1600 and 3200)
Overall: Easy to use camera for those upgrading from point-and-shoot (specially if you have a point-and-shoot Pentax, as many buttons and options are the same). It presents an Auto Mode similar to the ones on point-and-shoot, easing the transition (you can leave it in auto and increasingly try new settings). I choose it over the Canon Rebel as it uses SD memory (the same as my Palm and Point-and-shoot) and AA batteries (in an emergency on the road, you can just buy new batteries). Some functions are quite hidden, and demand reading the manuals.
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