We Rate It |
| Camera: Pentax *ist DL |
| Category: Entry-level AF D-SLR |
| Autofocus Perfomance |
4.5 |
| Metering Performance |
4.5 |
| Feature Set |
4 |
| Ease Of Use |
4.5 |
| Image Quality |
4.5 |
| Value |
5 |
4.3 Overall |
With a street price under $800 including an 18–55mm zoom lens, Pentax’s
third digital SLR offers surprisingly good autofocusing performance and dynamic
range, and incorporates a host of features including a depth of field preview
and even a mirror pre-lock. Designed for the photo enthusiast who wants to move
up to the performance and interchangeable lens versatility of an SLR, the new
*ist DL is a capable camera that will take that user as far into serious shooting
as he or she wishes to go.
Like all Pentax D-SLRs, the *ist DL provides 6.1-megapixel resolution and a
1.5x “crop factor,” but it has a larger LCD monitor than the original
*ist D or the *ist DS, a very easy-to-read 2.5”. The DL records images
on the SecureDigital (SD) memory cards common to consumer digicams, rather than
the larger CompactFlash cards common to many digital SLRs.
Focusing
The DL’s AF system utilizes the Pentax SAFOX VIII sensor, like the *ist
DS, but with 3 autofocus points instead of 11. You can choose between all points
or center-spot autofocus, or let the camera pick the most appropriate point.
I found letting the camera do it worked quite well. As with the DS, there are
two autofocus modes: Single-Shot, and Continuous. But where Continuous autofocus
was available only in Moving Object Picture mode with the DS, you can choose
it in any mode with the DL. You can also focus manually by rotating the lens’
focusing ring. The DL has a penta-mirror finder rather than the DS’ glass
penta-prism finder, but I found it easy to focus manually when necessary.
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With
its small size, lightweight and good performance, the *ist DL
is a great hiking companion. In fact I carried it as a second
camera on several hikes along with my “pro” D-SLR.
(Changing D-SLR lenses in dusty field conditions guarantees dust
on the image sensor, so was nice to be able to take two cameras,
each with a different focal-length range, on hikes.)
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Exposure
The *ist DL shares the DS’ three metering modes (16-Segment, Center-Weighted,
and Spot). I found the 16-Segment default so accurate that I rarely used the
others.
A variety of picture modes automatically set camera and digital functions for
shooting such subjects as portraits, landscapes, close-ups and action. For the
true novice there’s Auto Picture mode, which automatically sets the appropriate
picture mode for the situation at hand. For the serious shooter, there’s
Nonshiftable Program Autoexposure, Shutter- and Aperture-Priority AE, and Metered
Manual. I did most of my test shooting in Moving Object (action) Picture mode,
and Program mode, with very good results. Other exposure features include ±2
stops of exposure compensation (in 1/2- or 1/3-stop increments),
autoexposure-lock, and three-frame automatic exposure bracketing.
Flash
The built-in TTL autoflash unit (ISO 200 guide number of 50.7 in feet, 15.6
in meters) covers the field of view of an 18mm lens (equivalent to 27mm on a
35mm camera). Flash modes include Auto, Manual, and either of these modes plus
redeye reduction. Rotating the mode dial to the No-Flash symbol prevents the
flash from firing, regardless of light level—handy in situations where
flash use is not allowed. You can apply +1.0 to –2.0 flash exposure compensation
when using the built-in flash.
A hot shoe 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, rear-curtain flash, and wireless off-camera flash with one
or more units.
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The
18–55mm SMC Pentax-DA zoom lens sold with the DL focuses
extremely close— down to about 4” from the front of
the lens—at all focal lengths, very handy in the field.
The lens manual recommends stopping down at close distances to
maintain edge sharpness.
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