Pentax *ist D Digital SLR Camera
$1,399; (800) 877-0155; www.pentaxusa.com
(shown with digital 16-45 mm lens [$549.95])

It’s no secret that the digital revolution has impacted the world of photography. Digital cameras have given photographers of all levels advantages in their quest for the perfect shot. Thanks to memory card storage, you can click away without worrying about film costs. Settings on most modern digital cameras can emulate different types/speeds of film and you can play around with the standard aperture and timing settings to preview your shots. Photo editors on your computer can enhance, alter, or balance your pictures and high quality printers can give you hard copy prints of almost any size.

This isn’t to say digital photography hasn’t had growing pains. Early models were very expensive and lacked high-quality resolution. As the technology improved, cameras became smaller and cheaper but were still lacking in certain important areas such as shutter speed and exposure control, extended battery life, and computer interface.

As of today, the standard digital camera prototype that has risen to replace 35 mm film cameras has improved in almost all areas: optical zoom has replaced digital zoom, pixel size and quality has improved, shutter speeds are faster and more versatile, cameras are lighter and more durable, and most importantly, they are affordable.

The final frontier for digital photography has been the perfection of an affordable, high-quality camera that can use interchangeable lenses and filters. To do so, manufacturers had to translate SLR (single lens reflection) technology into the digital realm. The challenge was to create not only a camera body capable of handling different lenses but to create the digitally compatible lenses themselves.

Early attempts rendered cameras that were functional but incredibly expensive. Most amateur photographers had to pass on the complex and often unpredictable early SLR models. Building on the archetypes of those early cameras, photographers knew it was only a matter of time before an affordable SLR camera would be available for the serious photographer.

Enter Pentax’s *ist D.

Representing the culmination of years of digital SLR technology, Pentax has created a camera that is incredibly user friendly, versatile, and powerful enough for photographers of all levels. Constructed of a lightweight ergonomic body, the *ist D is a dream come true for those waiting for a versatile digital camera.

For starters, the *ist D is easy enough for anyone to use. The interface is easy to learn yet has all the features professional photographers look for in a camera. Images are recorded with 6.1 megapixels of resolution, high enough quality for professional web sites and most print publications. At this level of resolution, photographs you print at home will look just like film prints. Storage on the CompactFlash or Microdrive cards can be expanded by altering picture quality, with three levels of JPEGs, TIFF, and RAW format data available. A pop-up flash tucks neatly away when not being used and the 1.8 inch color LCD monitor lets you review your shots.

Perhaps most exciting of all is the fact the *ist D is compatible with both newly developed digital lenses and most of Pentax’s existing SLR lenses. This is a blessing for photographers who have already invested in Pentax lenses. The sophisticated metering system performs extremely well and the auto-focus capabilities make fast picture taking a snap. Self-timer and remote control compatible, the *ist D offers a vast array of picture taking modes and settings, from long exposure still-shots to portrait, sunny, and cloudy condition settings. The fast shutter is capable of 2 shots per second and there are several modes to control shot taking options: an all-purpose automatic setting known as “Green” mode, Aperture priority AE mode, shutter priority AE mode, Bulb mode, and Hyper exposure mode (for easily altering settings between pictures).

For hands-on and advanced photographers, there are tons of adjustable modes and functions to play with. 22 custom settings come preloaded into the camera to help you set up your camera if you know the type of shot you are going for. Playback modes include a slideshow feature, 9-multi images on screen at once, and of course a single shot that can be magnified up to 12x on the LCD screen. You can power you camera with 4 AA batteries, 2 CR-V3 batteries, or an optional AC adapter to plug directly into a wall socket.

Getting your pictures onto you computer is easy thanks to the standard USB interface and photo editing software included with the camera. For advanced photographers, the RAW mode captures all the subtleties of your photos and is compatible with the latest versions of major photo editing programs such as Adobe Photoshop and Macro Media’s Fireworks MX.

So for all those features, how does the *ist D perform in the field? Beautifully. Backcountry enthusiasts will appreciate the ultra light camera body (just over 22 ounces with batteries) and lens versatility. The auto focus and light metering systems are extremely efficient and take crisp, detailed photos. When switched into manual mode, the longer exposures and versatile pre-settings help vividly capture the contours of a running stream or the deep hues of the setting sun. Perhaps most importantly, the interface is easy to use and execute. In this, Pentax has a huge edge over its competitors. A help mode is even available if you get confused far away from your owner’s manual. The optical zoom afforded by the digital 16-45 mm lens looked great in our photos. For those pictures that weren’t up to par, the playback system easily lets you delete unwanted shots.

One downside to the *ist D is the durability of the lightweight body—you’ll want to be careful not to bang this one around on the rocks. While the CR-V3 batteries are the ideal power source, if you are using AA’s be prepared to go through a lot because the *ist D eats them for breakfast. If you invest in a camera of this quality, it goes without saying a sturdy case should be used to protect it when traveling (we used the Pelican 1200 padded case here at Hooked).

It is safe to say Pentax’s *ist D has ushered in a new, exciting age for photographers. No other digital SLR on the market offers such versatility and quality combined with ease of usability. The pictures look great and the camera feels good in your hands. Because of the wonderful world of imaging Pentax has created, we proudly endorse the *ist D as our Hooked Gear of the Month for November 2004.

For more information, visit Pentax online at www.pentaxusa.com

Last Updated: Feb 24th, 2006 - 14:18:11
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