Product Description

The PENTAX K20D offers superb image quality, an array of advanced features and outstanding reliability and operability to meet the specialized and exacting demands of photo enthusiasts, including advanced amateurs. It incorporates a newly developed image sensor to bring out the optimum performance of PENTAX interchangeable lenses, while offering the features and functions needed to maximize the pleasure and excitement of digital photography. The K20Ds development was based on the popular PENTAX K10D, which not only attracted great interest and high acclaim from users around the world, but also swept prestigious camera awards across the globe in 2007.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #54938 in Consumer Electronics
• Brand: Pentax
• Model: 1938500
• Released on: 2008-03-07
• Dimensions: 3.98" h x 5.57" w x 2.76" l, 1.59 pounds
• Display size: 2.7

Manufacturer's Description
The K20D offers a completely new camera concept that clearly raises the standard for this class of digital SLR. With superb image quality, an array of advanced features, and outstanding reliability and operability to meet the specialized and exacting demands of the most advanced photographer

The new CMOS image sensor, exclusively developed for K20D, is designed to optimize the performance of PENTAX interchangeable lenses. Featuring approximately 14.6 effective megapixels and the latest noise-reduction technology, it assures superb image quality a step above its predecessors

The K20D also offers an array of advanced features and user-friendly functions, including: a new Custom Image function that lets the user select or adjust the image's finishing touches to their preference; an upgraded, more reliable SR (Shake Reduction) system; a comprehensive Dust Removal system; a multi-mode exposure system for faithful reproduction of the photographer's creative intentions; and a dependable dust-proof, water-resistant body construction. As a result, the K20D easily meets the diversified, exacting demands of discerning photographers

The K20D also incorporates the PENTAX-original PRIME (PENTAX Real Image Engine) as its imaging engine. Designed exclusively for PENTAX digital SLR cameras, it assures well-balanced, true-to-life images

The new Live view function allows the user to view the image on the large 2.7" LCD monitor on the camera's back panel during shooting. This comes handy when the photographer must move his or her eye from the viewfinder in specialized applications, such as low- and high-angle compositions. The K20D has added a dynamic-range expansion function, which allows the user to expand a dynamic range (or a range of gradation reproduction) while retaining the proper contrast to avoid white-washed areas. With an approximately 1EV expansion effect, it assures beautiful, rich-gradation images. Also its luminous sensitivity operates over an extended range of ISO 100 to ISO 640

Due to demand by photographers and the trade the K20D is equipped with finer compression stages. Now 4 JPEG compression levels are available providing for more highly detailed pictures. Most relevant for those in the know, the camera can store files as JPEG or as RAW or, depending upon user preference, simultaneously as both JPEG and RAW. The RAW selection may be either the Pentax "PEF" standard or the Adobe Photoshop "DNG" format. By pressing the RAW button the file format can easily be changed and the sequence individually specified

Additionally the K20D works with a precision 11-point autofocus system with 9 cross sensors (SAFOX VIII) and the AF is freely adjustable. With the "AF Adjustment" function the focal point can be uniquely optimized for each lens, or, when desired, for all lenses around a freely adjustable, correction factor. Front or back focus problems are now a thing of the past. The list of functions available on the K20D goes on, all with one aim in mind which is to generate the highest quality image possible

This K20D is accompanied with an 18-55mm II and 50-200mm Lens Kit

The 18-55mm II Lens has new optics specifically adapted for high quality DSLR's. This versatile standard zooms lens is suitable for numerous applications. With a zoom range of approx 28-85mm its always ready to go. It also has SP "Super Protect" coating technology makes it dirt resistant along with a "Quick Shift Focus System". The 55-200mm Lens

Box Contents

Customer Reviews

Pro camera for a great price
I'm a professional photographer and use the K20D for a wide range of photography including: products, landscapes, events, portraits and glamour. Event photography can challenge any camera because you are having to deal with constantly changing conditions. The settings you need quick access to are instantly available on dedicated buttons - so no hunting through the menus. Things like focusing modes, exposure compensation and shake reduction are all instantly to hand.

Functions you need less often have their own fast-access menu through the FN button.

So - for a professional who needs to get the camera in the right mode quickly, this is hard to beat.

Image quality is superb. With over 14Mp to play with, you still have the option to crop to the detail without losing quality. You can produce huge prints so even posters pose no problem.

The publicity boasts of the camera being sealed against the elements. It works. I recently took it to shoot at a waterfall where the air was full of dense mist. The camera got soaked but never showed any sign of suffering from it. Other camera owners were running for cover.

I use this camera just about every day and wouldn't be without it.

k20d a great bit of kit
The 14.6 MB and good lens resolution enables this camera to often capture detail that is simply not visible with the naked eye. The sensitivity setting at 3200 iso also has revealed interior detail (Italian church frescos) using only low levels of natural light better than I could actually see! - and the grain can be adjusted.
The large lcd screen and zoom by the rear dial enables quick review of images to check success or otherwise.
I upgraded to this camera from a Milota 6.5 MB digital (no longer produced) which performed well and had features in common. At first I wondered if I had done the right thing. I have now used the K20D for architectural photography and 2 weeks of snapping on holiday and I have no doubts - this camera is robust, intuitive in its menue layouts with button short cuts (you do need to learn these) and full of functionality (this makes it semi-professional - there is a lot you can do).
So far on enlargement of images I have seen no significant halo or interference along edges and colours appear natural.
The software and cable link to a laptop enables the camera to be drive remotely (useful for architectural photography).
A great bit of kit!
Niggles - not many -
It is rather heavy to carry around but I didn't want to be without it,
Sv on the function dial dosn't mean shutter priority but sensitivity (shutter priority is Tv I suppose this is best remembered as exposure time)
Live view nice idea but never use it.
It might be my camera but I have set exposure compensation to +0.5 or otherwise images are rather dark
The linked software for use on laptop dosn't enable zooming in on images to check focus etc.

Pentax K20D
Having been using Pentax since 1964 (spotmatic - still have it!) I am probably biased but this camera is the best I have had so far. Matches or exceed my expectations on every level. The live view which has come in for a lot of criticism is excellent for me when I have my slide copier attached. It is now so simple to convert the slides to digital (I have around 14000 so it will be a while yet).