Pentax K-x 12.4 Megapixel Digital SLR Reviews Roundup
Pentax has announced the launch of the K-x DSLR camera, which combines a variety of advanced features and user-friendly functions in a compact, lightweight body. The K-x replaces last year's K2000 model (aka K-m) in the company's lineup. The camera takes some of the impressive features from the K-7, and places them in a more consumer-friendly body whose design is almost unchanged from that of the K2000. The main changes are the 12.4 Megapixels new CMOS sensor, PRIME II imaging engine, Pentax's 11-point SAFOX VIII AF module, the addition of both live view and 24fps high-definition video capability, and increased maximum shutter speed at 1/6000, ISO sensitivity up to a boosted ISO 12,800 and 4.7fps burst-shooting capabilities.
The Pentax K-x digital SLR will initially be available from October 2009 in three different kit versions, and two body colors - either black or white. The most affordable kit version will include an smc Pentax DA L 18-55mm zoom lens for a total price of around $650. Two twin lens kits will couple this 18-55mm lens with either an smc Pentax DA L 50-200mm zoom lens for about $750, or with a new smc Pentax DA L 55-300mm zoom lens for approximately $850. As with the previously announced DA L lenses, the new lens is a variant of an existing lens with certain alterations made to reduce weight and cost, such as the use of a plastic lens mount. Two unusual limited edition Kx body colors - red or navy blue - will also be available in limited distribution, with details on those versions to be announced at a later date.
Pentax K-x Sample Photos on Flickr
Pentax K-x Camera Reviews Roundup
| SteveHuff: "The Pentax Kx has great image quality, and even better high ISO than the Pentax K7 and for the under $500 price point it is fantastic. I can not think of another DSLR for under $500 that gives you as much as the Kx does. The Canon Rebel is nice but if I were starting fresh, I think I would take a Pentax Kx over a Rebel. Just personal pref. Well, if you are looking for a SMALL DSLR that can give you great..." - Jul 24 2010 More » | |
| AlphaMountWorld: "Personally, I think the SR blur issue you may have seen on the internet forums is due to having the K-x too secure during exposure (simulating the same kind of blur you'd get if you had the K-x on a tripod with SR on), but that's just me. I've not experienced any blurring in images shot last night or this morning with varying focal lengths from shutter speeds ranging 1/25th of a second to 1/100th of a second. This i..." - May 10 2010 More » | |
| infoSync: "For a shooter's first DSLR, the Pentax K-x is packed to the brim with a decent set of shooting features. Various Digital Filters axed the need to drop a significant chunk of change on Photoshop, and the included Pentax image software provided just enough to get the DSLR newbie up and running. Color options were bountiful, thanks to extensive White Balance and Hue/Saturation/Sharpness options. We could also apply eff..." - Mar 21 2010 More » | |
| CNET: "For the most part, the K-x is very fast. It takes 0.7 seconds to turn on and shoot, which is quite slow but not too bad. The time taken to focus and shoot in good light is a zippy 0.3 seconds, increasing to only 0.5 seconds in low light. Two sequential JPEGs run at 0.4 seconds, with a slight bump to 0.6 seconds for raw. The camera's 1.2-second shot-to-shot time with flash is the only real cloud in the K-x's speed sk..." - Mar 20 2010 More » | |
| Digital Camera Resource Page: "Camera performance was very good. The K-x is ready to go as soon as you flip the power switch. If you're shooting with the viewfinder, you won't wait long for the camera to lock focus, courtesy of the K-x's 11-point AF system. Things change dramatically if you're using live view, most notably with the two modes that use contrast detect AF. Instead of a half a second delay with phase difference AF, the contrast detec..." - Mar 07 2010 More » | |
| NeutralDay: "Image quality is where the K-x really shows its value. Given its low cost and ample feature-set, the fact that the Pentax K-x also happens to take some of the best pictures you'll find in any APS-C sensor DSLR camera, regardless of cost, really impressed me. The 12.4 megapixel sensor is very similar to that found in the Nikon D5000, D300s, and D90, and image quality is well up to those standards. The K-x offers plen..." - Feb 20 2010 More » | |
| RiceHigh: "Indeed, the K-x is a very good camera with very high Image Quality (characteristics of low noise and high details and accurate colour rendition, too.). I can say as long as IQ is concerned, it exceeds much both the K-m and K-7 and is just unbeatable, especially considered that it is just an APS-C DSLR with smaller sensor size than 135 Full Frame. But in fact, it is not much worse than my full frame 5D and I am reall..." - Jan 24 2010 More » | |
| Digital Camera Info: "This is not a camera for image-quality sticklers. In our lab testing for both stills and video, it came in behind the competition in most areas, with a wide dynamic range and relatively fast 4.2 shot-per-second burst rate notable exceptions. At the same time, there was nothing in our testing that was awful. We expect the consumer-oriented target audience will be satisfied in this area. And when features could..." - Jan 01 2010 More » | |
| dpreview: "In most shooting situations the K-x is capable of producing high quality image output. At base ISO JPEG images show very good detail and natural colors out of the box. The Pentax JPEG engine is doing a very good job at squeezing all captured detail into the camera's JPEG files and therefore shooting RAW does not produce a great amount of extra detail. While the image quality at base ISO is generally very good,..." - Dec 24 2009 More » | |
| Photocrati: "The manual that comes with the Pentax K-x is 300+ pages long. So you can see that there is a lot of functionality built in. No, not every feature was to my liking -- especially the part about requiring four AA cells, since the camera does not come with a rechargeable Li-Ion battery pack. Granted, the single-use lithiums that came with the camera do last a long time, but these batteries are costly to replace. Al..." - Nov 17 2009 More » | |
| DigitalCameraReview: "Image quality at default settings is very faithful to what the eye sees. There is also a cool manual tool for changing the image processing called Custom Image, which allows you to use sliders to change the saturation, hue, high/low key adjustment, contrast and sharpness of your image. Among these preset options with sliders are Bright, Natural, Portrait, Landscape, Vibrant, Muted, and Monochrome. Other in-came..." - Nov 17 2009 More » | |
| PhotoReview: "Pictures taken with the test camera were similar to the shots we took with the K-m. Contrast and saturation were restrained; out-of-camera sharpness was acceptable and colours were natural-looking. Autofocusing was acceptably fast and metering was accurate across a wide variety of subjects and with all metering modes. The body-integrated image stabiliser enabled us to use shutter speeds approximately two f-stop..." - Nov 09 2009 More » | |
| Photography BLOG: "K-x's image quality is excellent. The K-x creates noise-free JPEG images from ISO 100-800, only starting to become apparent at ISO 1600, with progressively more noise and colour desaturation at the highest settings of 3200, 6400 and the attention grabbing 12,800 setting. Although the top speeds don't produce very usable results, the K-x certainly holds its own against the main competition from 100-3200. Exposur..." - Oct 29 2009 More » | |
| TechRadar: "We liked: The K-x's image quality really stands out, and the kit lens is superb. We also like the build quality, which feels tough, and the ergonomics. And, while its video capabilities are a little hit and miss, the ability to fire off a 720p video with such gorgeous colours and depth of field makes the K-x versatile. The screen is bright and sharp, and easily visible in Live View mode. We also like the l..." - Oct 15 2009 More » | |
| ePhotoZine: "Portrait mode looks pretty good although I think it could be warmer. However, this could be down to the white balance interfering with the program as I selected a custom setting. There's plenty of detail in the hair and the exposure is pretty good. Adding flash has filled in the darker areas, added attractive catchlights and balanced out the tone. Getting on to the fun stuff and the Pentax K-x has had the digit..." - Oct 13 2009 More » |
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User Review of the camera - Pentax K-x
Great camera, jacko
For a beginner, it sure beats alot of the others. It has options other, more expensive cameras don't have!. Also an easy size, not big and bulky..
I love it!, devspack
After 2 years of use the camera is still working great. It was used in a variety of environments, ranging from freezing cold to jungle tracks, ocean sailing and mountainbiking, always carried on the shoulder strap or inside a backpack. Solid, light and efficient. I love it :)
A good choice for the beginner DSLR user, Mark Jones "T.A.G."
I think my interest in DSLR photographer came from wanting better quality shots than what a P&S can produce (though I admit had I known how bad a high ISO was for image quality I may not have ever made the plunge to DSLR). I was rummaging around looking for reviews about what was the best entry level DSLR. To my surprise, it was a camera from Pentax, a company which I had never even heard of. Even doing comparison shots to the Canon t2i, the shots looked much better on the K-X. That's not to say the K-X blows away the t2i feature-wise. The t2i has a far superior autofocus (good for action photography), 1080p video recording, and an optical viewfinder (which has been remedied with the K-R). However, using the stock lenses (despite the somewhat sluggish AF), you can still take some very nice photos.
The 18-55mm lens covers the average spectrum of zoom you'd find on a P&S, though it doesn't use any digital zoom (which is very good for image quality). However, the lens optics aren't spectacular. Barrel distortion is noticeable in every shot and the pictures tend to be on the "soft" side. That's not to say IQ is worse or equal to a P&S, but since you are paying a hefty sum of money when compared to a P&S, you expect a little bit more. The closer you get to the middle between 18mm and 55mm, the better your shots will look (I tend to stick to the 35mm). Overall, it doesn't disappoint as a kit lens.
The 55-300mm lens on the other hands is, in my opinion, a gem. Now I don't have any of the fast-primes or limited edition lenses other reviewers may have on here, and I bet in comparison to those lenses this is nothing fancy to them, but to me, a first time DSLR user, this is where high IQ is at. It's almost impossible NOT to take a good photo with this (barring your composition is at least adequate). Being near the Adirondacks, it is great for taking in nature scenes as well as macro photography of the vast amount of flowers and other plant life. Also, it is good for "unsuspecting" (not that way, perv) photography. By that, I mean if you have subjects who just can't act naturally while in front of the camera, this allows you to (in an outdoor setting of course... or a fairly large indoor setting) photograph them from a distance so they aren't constantly reminded you are there taking photographs.
Again I can't say enough about the image quality of the 55-300mm. Even if it doesn't have the optimal zoom for some situations, I tend to use my feet in conjunction with the zoom to frame my shot just so I can have the IQ from the 55-300mm and not the 18-55mm.
If you are like me and can't imagine spending almost as much money on 1 lens as you would on the camera itself, a welcome addition would be the Pentax 21987 DA 35mm f/2.4 AL Lens for Pentax Digital SLR cameras. Since it is a fixed-focal length, you can't manually zoom with it (your feet are the zoom). However, with the f/2.4 you would be able to take shots indoors (with some decent lighting of course) without having to use a flash. Using the flash washes out detail (unless you purchase a separate external flash and direct it at the ceiling instead of your subject) and takes away that edge of using a DSLR vs. a P&S. Best thing, it's priced around $175.
In regards to indoor photography with the stock lenses, unless you are using a tripod or the flash, the exposure time would be too long for hand held use. Keep this in mind if you were planning on taking family photos indoors.
One thing I have to knock the K-X for is the positioning and overall fickle nature of the AF/MF switch. Using MF alone with this viewfinder is almost impossible, you can't really tell when the whole image is popping or not (there are 3rd party viewfinder from Spyder Optics which remedies this and can be installed by a local electronics or photo store). So my technique was going to involve using the AF to get a pretty good lock on the subject, and then switching to MF for the final touches (subtle tweaks). That technique is very frustrating with the K-X. The slide is located on the very lower left side of the camera. However, the tab doesn't slide easily, in particular going up from AF to MF. There is a tab at the top which you can put a nail in to move it to AF. Unfortunately, there are no tabs in assisting getting it back up to MF, and as I said before, is already very stiff with the tab. So imagine it without the tab? Quite an annoying oversight.
Last but not least is IQ. At the time, compared to Nikon/Canon's entry level offerings, the K-X was the definitive winner. However, the K-R uses the same sensor as the K-X and really didn't make too many advancements. The newer Canon and Nikon models share price points that are similar to the K-X (though more expensive, its normally not by too much). You should check out some sites for comparison shots before you take the plunge on this or any other model.
Despite being almost 2 years old, the K-X is a very solid, entry level camera, that is capable of producing excellent images.
Awesome for DSLR beginner to enthusiast, A Customer
I have been using this camera for the past 2 years now and it has never failed to deliver - whether I am shooting landscapes, portraits or just plain walk-around shots.
Just a few of the things I like most:
- Value for money - no other camera provides the combination of features, quality and price that the K-x does. At a sub-$700 price you get two extremely good kit lenses (the 55-300 especially is a real gem), class leading low-light capability, in camera HDR, IR remote compatibility (you can easily get a $5 generic IR remote and it will work - has for me), high customizability, etc. etc.
- Low-light capability - over 60% of my shots are indoors or in low-light, and the ability to go up to ISO6400 and get extremely usable shots is a boon (add noise reduction and you literally cant tell pics have been taken at those high ISO's, what little noise it introduces is that easily manageable). And combine it with a fast lens and you are clicking away while others are fumbling with their flash, tripod and missing shots.
- In-body stabilization - this alone is a big reason I took to Pentax. As you build up your lens kit, you don't need to shell out big bucks for every lens as the in body stabilization means the lens just has to put good glass and the rest is taken care of by the camera. I have been able to take completely shake free shots at 1/5s.
- Backward compatibility - the k-mount can take quality lenses from over the last 2-3 decades that Pentax has been making stellar glass. I have the Pentax-M 50mm f1.4 and it is a beauty. And given the in-body stabilization, all the glass is now available with full shake reduction. Try this with any other brand.
I can keep going, but from personal experience, just the above should comfortably take you from beginner to enthusiast and beyond while keeping enough greenbacks in your pocket to add more lenses!
Good luck!
Awesome for DSLR beginner to enthusiast, direr
I have been using this camera for the past 2 years now and it has never failed to deliver - whether I am shooting landscapes, portraits or just plain walk-around shots.
Just a few of the things I like most:
- Value for money - no other camera provides the combination of features, quality and price that the K-x does. At a sub-$700 price you get two extremely good kit lenses (the 55-300 especially is a real gem), class leading low-light capability, in camera HDR, IR remote compatibility (you can easily get a $5 generic IR remote and it will work - has for me), high customizability, etc. etc.
- Low-light capability - over 60% of my shots are indoors or in low-light, and the ability to go up to ISO6400 and get extremely usable shots is a boon (add noise reduction and you literally cant tell pics have been taken at those high ISO's, what little noise it introduces is that easily manageable). And combine it with a fast lens and you are clicking away while others are fumbling with their flash, tripod and missing shots.
- In-body stabilization - this alone is a big reason I took to Pentax. As you build up your lens kit, you don't need to shell out big bucks for every lens as the in body stabilization means the lens just has to put good glass and the rest is taken care of by the camera. I have been able to take completely shake free shots at 1/5s.
- Backward compatibility - the k-mount can take quality lenses from over the last 2-3 decades that Pentax has been making stellar glass. I have the Pentax-M 50mm f1.4 and it is a beauty. And given the in-body stabilization, all the glass is now available with full shake reduction. Try this with any other brand.
I can keep going, but from personal experience, just the above should comfortably take you from beginner to enthusiast and beyond while keeping enough greenbacks in your pocket to add more lenses!
Good luck!
Great entry level dslr!!!!!, Waakk
I'm going to make this short and sweet. I looked and looked for a great dslr read tons of reviews, and when it came down to it for the price I could not pass up this amazing camera. It does everything and so much more than any entry level dslr camera owner needs, plus the two lenses it comes with take great pictures. I have used this camera for about 6 months now, and love it. Using this camera is super easy and you can go from a simple point and shoot to manual settings with this camera, while learning and experimenting along the way. The image quality is great with this camera, the fps is great, hd video looks awesome, lenses are easy to find, AA batteries can be found anywhere if you lose yours and can be used in a bunch of other electronics if needed.
So all and all this is a great entry level dslr camera!!!
Great entry level dslr!!!!!, Waakk
I'm going to make this short and sweet. I looked and looked for a great dslr read tons of reviews, and when it came down to it for the price I could not pass up this amazing camera. It does everything and so much more than any entry level dslr camera owner needs, plus the two lenses it comes with take great pictures. I have used this camera for about 6 months now, and love it. Using this camera is super easy and you can go from a simple point and shoot to manual settings with this camera, while learning and experimenting along the way. The image quality is great with this camera, the fps is great, hd video looks awesome, lenses are easy to find, AA batteries can be found anywhere if you lose yours and can be used in a bunch of other electronics if needed.
So all and all this is a great entry level dslr camera!!!
Great entry level dslr!!!!!, Waakk
I'm going to make this short and sweet. I looked and looked for a great dslr read tons of reviews, and when it came down to it for the price I could not pass up this amazing camera. It does everything and so much more than any entry level dslr camera owner needs, plus the two lenses it comes with take great pictures. I have used this camera for about 6 months now, and love it. Using this camera is super easy and you can go from a simple point and shoot to manual settings with this camera, while learning and experimenting along the way. The image quality is great with this camera, the fps is great, hd video looks awesome, lenses are easy to find, AA batteries can be found anywhere if you lose yours and can be used in a bunch of other electronics if needed.
So all and all this is a great entry level dslr camera!!!
Still learning, but really like it, Lisa
I've owned the Olympus 565-UZ for a couple of years and really liked it, but it has its limitations, especially for low-light photography. So I struggled with the decision to get one of the new megazooms with CMOS sensors, like the Fuji HS20 or the Kodak Easyshare Max, or to take the plunge and get a DSLR.
I actually did buy the HS20, but found it clunky and awkward to use, and the picture quality was kind of erratic. It was just not enough of an improvement over my Olympus to justify a $500 investment, so I sent it back.
A professional photographer advised me to get a DSLR if image quality is my concern. This camera was an easy choice for me because it takes rechargeable AA batteries. I might be in the minority, but I don't want to bother with proprietary rechargeables. I want to be able to walk into a drugstore and pick up some AAs if necessary. And then there was the matter of price - as many reviewers have stated, the K-X offers a huge bang for the buck.
Although it's a DSLR, the K-X has been an easier transition from my Olympus in terms of size and weight. It just fits well in my hand. I went with the kit with 18-55mm and 55-300mm lenses, based on the reviews. I've been largely pleased with both, although the telephoto lens does add some heft to the camera!
The same photographer who suggested a DSLR advised me to get a 50mm f/1.7 lens for low-light situations. I found a good used one on eBay for about $130.
I am far from a professional photographer, but I have found the leap to a DSLR has not been as traumatic as I feared. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the 55-300mm lens goes about the same distance as the Olympus 20x lens - I can still take Manhattan skyline photos from my window. The 18-55mm lens works fine for most shots.
The f/1.7 lens has acquitted itself well under a variety of conditions once I figured out how to use it. I have to get used to "zooming" by positioning myself in a lot of cases, but I like the results.
I bought my K-X from Beach Camera, which was very efficient. I got it the day after I placed the order, and it was well-packaged. They also seem to have a very liberal return policy, although I intend to hang onto this camera.
Pentax K-x, Mike
Consumer Reports rates this camera a "CR Best Buy", which means it's a very good camera and a very good value. I concur, and would recommend this camera.
Pentax K-x, Mike
Consumer Reports rates this camera a "CR Best Buy", which means it's a very good camera and a very good value. I concur, and would recommend this camera.
Pentax K-x, Mike
Consumer Reports rates this camera a "CR Best Buy", which means it's a very good camera and a very good value. I concur, and would recommend this camera.
New to photography but...., blonde
I am fairly new to photography but I received the KX for Christmas last year. Actually, sons said you pick the one you like. Didn't know anything but after several months of researching I decided on the KX. I am so pleased I picked Pentax. After many friends with other brands giving rave reviews I am now ready to purchase another lens. I've read that if someone says your pic looks like a postcard then it's really good. I've had many people rate some of my pics as calendar and postcard quality. Since I am so new to this I give the good ratings to the camera. I even won a national contest of a landscape, which I think is what I enjoy the most. I get out often to take landscapes. It has been described as good in low light and I totally agree. I am very happy that my sons gave me such a great gift but also that I chose the Pentax K-x.
Amazing little camera...., Sahil Patel
This is amazing camera the price to feature ratio can not be beat.... I compared to Nikon D5000, Canon T1i, Olympus E620 before making my decision.... this is the best camera hands down... it blows the competition out of the water..
I will attempt to compare this against the legendary Nikon D90... note that Nikon D90 is almost twice the cost of a regular Pentax K-x kit
1) D90 does 3200 ISO, expanded to 6400, K-x does 6400 ISO expanded to 12800.
2) K-x does 1/6000 second shutter.. D90 1/4000.
3) D90 4.5 frames per second.. K-x 4.7
4) K-x has built in image stabilization, lens based in D90 (expensive lenses)
5) K-x does HDR. D90 doesn't .
6) HD video? K-x does it, same resolution.
7) D90 has larger 3inch screen with higher resolution than K-x's 2.7 inch screen.
8) K-x doesn't show focusing points in view finder, this is probably the biggest omission.
Amazing little camera...., Sahil Patel
This is amazing camera the price to feature ratio can not be beat.... I compared to Nikon D5000, Canon T1i, Olympus E620 before making my decision.... this is the best camera hands down... it blows the competition out of the water..
I will attempt to compare this against the legendary Nikon D90... note that Nikon D90 is almost twice the cost of a regular Pentax K-x kit
1) D90 does 3200 ISO, expanded to 6400, K-x does 6400 ISO expanded to 12800.
2) K-x does 1/6000 second shutter.. D90 1/4000.
3) D90 4.5 frames per second.. K-x 4.7
4) K-x has built in image stabilization, lens based in D90 (expensive lenses)
5) K-x does HDR. D90 doesn't .
6) HD video? K-x does it, same resolution.
7) D90 has larger 3inch screen with higher resolution than K-x's 2.7 inch screen.
8) K-x doesn't show focusing points in view finder, this is probably the biggest omission.
Amazing little camera...., Sahil Patel
This is amazing camera the price to feature ratio can not be beat.... I compared to Nikon D5000, Canon T1i, Olympus E620 before making my decision.... this is the best camera hands down... it blows the competition out of the water..
I will attempt to compare this against the legendary Nikon D90... note that Nikon D90 is almost twice the cost of a regular Pentax K-x kit
1) D90 does 3200 ISO, expanded to 6400, K-x does 6400 ISO expanded to 12800.
2) K-x does 1/6000 second shutter.. D90 1/4000.
3) D90 4.5 frames per second.. K-x 4.7
4) K-x has built in image stabilization, lens based in D90 (expensive lenses)
5) K-x does HDR. D90 doesn't .
6) HD video? K-x does it, same resolution.
7) D90 has larger 3inch screen with higher resolution than K-x's 2.7 inch screen.
8) K-x doesn't show focusing points in view finder, this is probably the biggest omission.
SLR to DSLR, ges "ges"
This is my first DSLR. It replaces a Minolta x570 and augments a digital point and shoot. It seems to meet my expectations from the reviews that I read. In the short time that I have been using the Pentax, I have been impressed with its ease of use, picture quality especially in low light and handling. For the price, I would recommend that anyone new to DSLR photography check out the Pentax line of cameras.
SLR to DSLR, ges "ges"
This is my first DSLR. It replaces a Minolta x570 and augments a digital point and shoot. It seems to meet my expectations from the reviews that I read. In the short time that I have been using the Pentax, I have been impressed with its ease of use, picture quality especially in low light and handling. For the price, I would recommend that anyone new to DSLR photography check out the Pentax line of cameras.
SLR to DSLR, ges "ges"
This is my first DSLR. It replaces a Minolta x570 and augments a digital point and shoot. It seems to meet my expectations from the reviews that I read. In the short time that I have been using the Pentax, I have been impressed with its ease of use, picture quality especially in low light and handling. For the price, I would recommend that anyone new to DSLR photography check out the Pentax line of cameras.
Much Better than Expected, Frank Forrest "Quasar"
The Search Is On
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One of the first things I do before making a major purchase is to comb the Internet for as many user and editorial reviews on the product that I can find. There is an up and down side to this. On one hand you get a nice feel of how good a product may or may not be. On the other hand you can go crazy with TMI (too much information). In my initial search for a good digital camera I gravitated towards the upscale point and shoot ones and purchased one.
While I wasn't expecting DSRL results from these upscale P&S cameras, the performance of these models was less than what I wanted for the price points they were selling at. If it wasn't one thing, it was another that caused some hair-pulling on my part in order to get these models to produce acceptable images. I finally had to bite the bullet and move on to the realm of real DSLRs.
I Bite the Bullet
-------------------
After I decided to make the jump to true DSLR status there were several models that I considered from camera manufacturers such as Nikon, Sony and of course Canon. But lurking in the shadows was the Pentax k-x. Pentax k-x? What was that? After burying myself in Pentax k-x reviews I finally purchased one. With each passing week I become more impressed with this little wonder camera.
The Good Stuff
----------------
Some professional reviewers criticized the menu system of the Pentax k-x as too retro. I found this to be a matter of taste and not a negative. The menus are well thought out and easy to navigate through. Because the menus are so extensive, the simplicity of the menus is just the right approach. The lens, image quality, and lack of ISO noise in the yonder regions of 1600 to 3200 is very good. And if you have a noise removal image feature on your photo editing software, you can remove any of the existing noise. After post processing, you should be pretty happy with results even using ISO 6400. There is also an available 12,800 ISO setting and with some image manipulation and a small print size, you'll be able to capture images in very low light or freeze motion with a high shutter speed.
The camera also has some very nice presets related to sharpness of your images, color balance, special image filters, and the ability to shoot in very fast continuous mode. This lens kit (28-55/55-300) fits just about all my zoom needs. I personally purchased the kit from Amazon because of their excellent hassle free return policy. (Note that other vendors will charge you at least a 10% "restocking fee if you return your purchase. I felt that the extra few dollars in buying my camera was worth it for peace of mind regarding returns. I have never had a problem with Amazon return policies.)
Focusing is nice and quick, the viewfinder is relatively bright, and there are a wide range of camera settings from manual to automated scenes and everything in between.
Reported Issues
-----------------
You've probably heard of the infamous "mirror slap" problems some owners have reported regarding double images when using shutter speeds between 1/60 to 1/100. I have not experienced this issue at all and this may have been a bug in the earlier versions of the Pentax k-x that were actually related to shake removal (SR) performance or in many cases, user error. Some images that were posted of the mirror slap issues were evidently caused by individuals not having a steady hand when shooting.
After some experimentation my take on all of the mirror slap issues are that a good majority may be just user error in not understanding the functions of the Pentax k-x. I was able to duplicate the "problem" exactly by having the Pentax k-x set on Auto-scene mode or Program mode. The reported double imaging showed up due to the automatic selection of a slow shutter speed and low pre-selection of an ISO at around 400 or less plus camera movement by me. The issue of double imaging was especially apparent when using high zoom.
Bottom line, the camera automatically selects the exposure/shutter speed in Auto Pict and Program modes but the user couldn't hold the camera steady enough, thus producing double imaging. The auto modes can only do so much. You have to figure out the details on whether the auto selections are appropriate and if you need to bump up the ISO, use a tripod or use the manual override, etc. I guess the 5 pound processor in our heads needs to get involved in using the camera too. ;D
A lot of coverage has been centered on the Pentax k-x's lack of lighted focus dots in the image view finder. I did not find this to be an issue at all since most of my shooting experience has been with cameras that did not have this function. If knowing your depth of field or focus point is really a deal breaker you can always use the focus optically option to preview the scene. If you have had any experience at all with focusing, you know that using the focus sensor in your head is vital. Even focus dots cannot replace your on-board sensor. Automation is fine, but we don't have to be crippled by it, right? :D
Conclusion
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There is a camera that is the best choice for each individual. It may be a Nikon, a Canon, Panasonic, Fujifilm, Sony or Pentax. I found that in my case the Pentax k-x is the best match for me. It offers great image quality, excellent high ISO performance, and an easy to use interface. If you are looking for a good, relatively inexpensive DSLR, you may want to put the Pentax k-x on your list of cameras to check out.
UPDATE 12.3.2010
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I put the Pentax k-x through a real-life assignment last weekend and the camera performed like a champ. I covered a charity event where there were many vendors and hundreds of visitors in a very large meeting hall. There was sufficient lighting but even so, a flash was needed to brighten up the scenes I was shooting. There were lots of candid product shots.
I set the camera on "Auto-Pict" mode, set my flash at .7 power, and off I went. All the shots turned out brilliantly and after the end of the day and over 300 shots using the flash at all times, I still had an orange bar (approximately half full charge) left in the camera. I was using PowerEx 2700Mah rechargeable NiMh AAs.
Previously I was already impressed by the functionality and creative aspects that the camera would allow a photographer through its low light capabilities and special on-board effects, but after this weekend's photo shoot, it also proved to be an excellent workhorse for general event photography.