Pentax K100D with 18-55mm lens review

Pentax may not be the most popular camera manufacturer, but the K100D is likely to raise its profile.

It's a 6-megapixel camera that has much in common with Nikon's D40 (reviewed right). The key difference is that the K100D includes optical image stabilisation built into its sensor. Pentax also makes the K110D, which is the same camera minus the stabilisation and costs just £376 including VAT.

The plastic body seems reasonably tough, but this isn't the prettiest camera we've seen. It rattles slightly and its autofocus motor and shutter are noisy. It's powered by four AA batteries, which we find clumsy compared to a lithium-ion (li-ion) battery.

Battery life is decent, but the total of 778 shots we measured is slightly misleading. We normally test with the screen constantly illuminated, but the K100D doesn't have such a mode. Then again, it doesn't need one: Pentax is one of very few digital SLR manufacturers to still include a passive LCD screen on its entry-level model. This displays key settings, while more detailed information is available on the 2in 210,000-pixel LCD with a push of the Info button. There are few other single-function buttons, but a Function button switches the navigation pad for quick access to access drive mode, white balance, ISO and flash settings.

The menu includes a wide range of other options including exposure bracketing and the ability to lock exposure metering to the autofocus point. As with Nikon's D40, it's possible to set the ISO range in Auto ISO mode, although the ISO speed is raised when the shutter speed hits 1/50 seconds, which is rather conservative considering that image stabilisation is built in. Auto ISO stopped functioning when we adjusted the exposure compensation control.

Performance was the biggest disappointment. The autofocus was reliable but slow, and shutter lag was significantly longer than with the D40. In continuous mode, it managed five shots at around 2.5fps, but then fell to 1.2fps, despite using a fast SD card.

Image quality was excellent, but not without its problems. Images were seriously sharp and detailed with minimal noise, giving perfectly usable results at ISO 1,600. However, while the K100D and the D40 were hard to tell apart in these respects, the D40 nudged into the lead in most of our tests. For colour accuracy, the results were more conclusive. The K100Dfs colours were mostly excellent, but exposures weren't as flattering as from the D40 and the automatic white balance coped badly in anything but natural light.

If the D40 didn't exist, the K100D would get a five-star rating. Both cameras flaws are forgivable considering their low prices, but we prefer Nikon's superior performance and image quality to the K100Dfs better controls and image stabilisation.