We Rate It |
| Camera: Pentax *ist DS |
| Category: Entry-level AF D-SLR |
| Autofocus Perfomance |
4 |
| Metering Performance |
5 |
| Feature Set |
4 |
| Ease Of Use |
4.5 |
| Image Quality |
4.5 |
| Value |
5 |
4.5 Overall |
It’s tiny, very easy for SLR novices to learn and use, and produces good
image quality. Pentax’s second digital SLR, the *ist DS, is an excellent
“move-up” camera for consumer digicam users who want to experience
the versatility and performance
of an interchangeable lens camera. It uses the SecureDigital (SD) memory cards
common to consumer digicams, rather than the larger CompactFlash cards common
to digital SLRs, so many consumer digicam users can use their existing cards
with this camera.
The Pentax *ist DS features the same 6.1-megapixel resolution as the original
*ist D (which remains in the Pentax line-up), along with the same 1.5x “crop
factor”
(a 100mm lens frames like a 150mm lens on a 35mm SLR). Despite its smaller size,
the new model sports a larger LCD monitor than the original *ist D.
The autofocus system employs the Pentax SAFOX VIII sensor with 11 autofocus
points, 9 cross-types providing a large central focusing “hot” area.
You can also select any of the points manually. However selected, the active
autofocus point(s) glow red in the finder when focus is achieved.
There are five drive autofocus modes: Single-shot, Self-Timer, Remote Control,
Auto Bracket, and Continuous. The latter is available only in the Moving Object
picture mode. Of course, you can also focus manually via the lens’ focusing
ring, and the bright 0.95x magnification glass penta-prism viewfinder makes
that easy.
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Pentax
lenses feature Super Multi Coating, a pioneering Pentax antiflare
innovation that really works. Here, contrast and color are maintained,
even though the sun appears in the frame.
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Exposure Controls
The three metering modes (16-Segment, Center-Weighted, and Spot) provide great
versatility, although the 16-segment one works so well that I rarely used the
others. You can link the 16-segment metering to the active autofocus point,
or keep it independent of the focusing area.
Exposure modes are numerous: For those who just want to shoot, there are the
Picture modes which automatically set camera and digital functions for shooting
such subjects as portraits, landscapes, close-ups, action, and more. For the
true novice, there’s the Auto Picture mode which automatically sets the
appropriate Picture mode for the subject and situation at hand. For serious
shooters, there’s Shiftable Program AutoExposure, Shutter-and Aperture-Priority
AE, and Metered Manual.
You can set exposure compensation (±2 stops in 1/2- or 1/3-stop increments),
lock the exposure with the AE-L button, and activate three-frame automatic bracketing.
Electronic Flash
The Pentax *ist DS has a built-in P-TTL autoflash unit with an ISO guide number
of 15.6 (150 200/m) and a wide enough beam to cover a 20mm lens (equivalent
to 30mm on a 35mm camera). Flash modes include Auto (pops up and fires when
needed), Manual (you pop it up when you want to use it), and either of these
modes plus redeye reduction. If you rotate the mode dial to the no-flash symbol,
the flash will not fire regardless of light level. You can apply +1.0 to –2.0
flash exposure compensation when using the built-in flash.
Atop the viewfinder is a hot shoe that accepts accessory dedicated Pentax flash
units (the AF360FGZ is recommended, providing such features as P-TTL flash with
pre-flash for optimal exposure accuracy, high-speed sync (at speeds above the
camera’s normal top flash-sync speed of 1/180), rear-curtain flash
(you also get rear-sync flash with the built-in unit when used in conjunction
with the AF360FGZ), and wireless off-camera flash with one or more units).
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The
DA 18–55mm f/3.5–4.5 AL zoom lens that’s included
when you buy the *ist DS as a kit will focus down to under 10”
(from the film plane—about 4” from the front of the
lens) at all focal lengths, great for close-ups.
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More Features
Shutter speeds range from 30 seconds to 1/4000, plus B. You can shoot
up to 8 frames at 2.8 fps. Mirror prelock lets mirror vibration die down before
you make a long exposure, and the camera also features a depth of field preview
function.
You can shoot RAW 2008x3008-pixel images, or JPEGs at 2008x3008, 1600x2400 or
1029x1536 pixels, each at three compression levels. You can fit about 90 RAW
images on a 1GB SD card, 330 highest-quality JPEGs, or more than 2100 lowest-quality
JPEGs.
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