Macworld has posted a great six-page article entitled “How to buy: DSLR cameras” written by Ben Long, author of “Complete Digital Photography” that gives a fantastic overview on what to look for and how to buy a digital SLR. Here’s a summary of the article:

“Camera manufacturers now recognize that hobbyists and other nonprofessional shooters have become more serious—and more skilled—at producing a wide variety of photographic images and are demanding more-affordable DSLRs to help them do it. While the $1,000 DSLR price barrier was broken several years ago, lower-priced cameras with more-extensive features have been released in the past year. If you’ve thought of switching to a DSLR, considered upgrading from the one you already have, or wondered what all the DSLR hoopla is about, read on to learn the differences between SLR and point-and-shoot cameras and to check out our reviews of five of the newest DSLR models:

• Canon Digital Rebel XTi; ; (Best Current Price: $649.00)
• Nikon D40; ; (Best Current Price: $519.95)
• Nikon D80; ; (Best Current Price: $909.99)
• Pentax K100D; ;(Best Current Price: $535.00)
• Sony Alpha DSLR-A100K; ; (Best Current Price: $641.00)

Macworld’s buying advice

Both the Nikon D40 and the Pentax have excellent lens selections, and both are fun and comfortable to use. The D40 wins the contest because of its many fine features and strong battery life.

Should I keep my point-and-shoot?

If you already have a point-and-shoot camera and are planning to buy a DSLR, you may be considering selling your current camera to help finance your new purchase. A better option, though, is to keep it. Point-and-shoots are smaller and easier to carry, so they’re ideal for situations in which carrying a DSLR is not possible or necessary.

Also, almost all point-and-shoot cameras provide excellent macro features for extreme close-ups. If you’re interested in macro photography, you’ll find that working with a point-and-shoot is usually easier and cheaper than investing in a DSLR macro lens. Finally, many point-and-shoots now include excellent movie modes, which make them a great resource for taking short video clips, something you can’t do with a DSLR.”

Website : MacWorld - How to buy DSLR cameras

Here’s the conclusion of the review by Imaging Resource: “The Pentax K100D is a capable digital SLR, perfect for consumers interested in stepping up from a basic consumer digital camera and into a world of better image quality. It’s also a smart choice for owners of Pentax film SLRs and lenses who want to go digital. With its full range of manual and preset automatic exposure modes, the Pentax K100D is suitable for the full range of experience levels, including anyone already owning a digital point-and-shoot, and it offers enough customization to keep more advanced users happy. The Pentax K100D has no trouble with exposure in low lighting, and produces only slightly high contrast under harsh lighting conditions (such as bright outdoor sunlight). Autofocus in low light is among the slowest we’ve seen, however. On the positive side, though the K100D more often makes a decision where other digital SLRs just give up. Color is quite good, though sometimes on the warm side, but both the built-in flash and accessory bounce flash eliminate this problem. The camera’s ISO setting only goes as low as 200, but noise levels are still quite good, and prints from the Pentax K100D are very impressive even at the highest ISO levels.

We were impressed with the Pentax K100D, as well as its widening array of accessories and lenses. It’s a small, well-conceived SLR design with solid image performance. Even the kit lens is good quality, and accessory lenses are worthy of serious photographic work. After all that, the Pentax K100D’s in-camera Shake Reduction is a welcome bonus in this surprisingly low-priced camera. Perhaps the best news is that it works better than most other in-body anti-shake systems on the market. Despite its shortcomings, the Pentax K100D offers more bang for the buck than competing systems in this range, and the money you save on the kit leaves room to pick up an accessory flash to make indoor photography a dream. Overall, the K100D is Pentax’s strongest offering to date. It’s a camera I’ve really enjoyed, and worthy of a Dave’s Pick.”

Website :  Pentax K100D Reviewed by ImagingResource

Announced on the 22nd of May 2006, the Pentax K100D is a 6.1 megapixel digital SLR camera with a 2.5″ screen and built in Shake Reduction sensor - it will accept any Pentax K-Series mount lens and is named after the popular Pentax K1000 film SLR released in the 70s. DigiCamReview tested the camera with the SMC Pentax DA 18-55mm lens which is equivalent to 27-82mm on a 35mm camera. Here’s the conclusion from the article:

“Image Quality: Image quality is excellent, the images have very good colour, with good contrast and detail, with low noise except at the highest ISO settings (ISO1600 and ISO3200). Images were slightly smoothed but this is adjustable within the camera, and detail was very good. Purple fringing was very low with the kit lens, and red-eye was not a problem. The camera was very competent at focusing (except on very plain or dark surfaces). Vignetting in photos was very mild and I did not notice barrel or pincushion distortion. There is a good range of image sizes, and the compression options include a RAW mode. Auto white balance, metering, and exposure seemed to be good to very good, although auto-white balance did struggle in doors (as with most DSLRs). The camera gives very good control over image quality - pressing the menu button lets you change saturation, sharpness, contrast, gamma curve etc. Shake Reduction adds image stabilisation to every lens attached to the camera, and helps acheive blure free photos in low light meaning that the camera has a very good photo success rate. (9/10)

Summary: The Pentax K100D Digital SLR is a great digital camera.  It feels very comfortable in hand, and produces very natural pictures with little noise and rich pleasing colours. This camera is very easy to use (in auto mode), and would definitely suit a beginner. The camera offers good battery life, with very good controls and good build quality. The addition of Shake Reduction through an anti-shake CCD sensor means more photos are likely to come out blur free - image stabilisation is an excellent feature to have and is especially useful indoors in low light. Professional photographers might want to compare the camera with other DSLR cameras before purchase, as some may find the camera’s features and options slightly limiting. The K100D with kit lens is available for around £369 making this camera excellent value for money and definitely one of the best budget Digital SLRs available today!” 

Website : Pentax K100D Reviewed by DigiCamReview

Pentax has posted a firmware update for its K100D DSLR on their website. Version 1.01 now offers support for SD-HC cards (SD type cards with a capacity of 4 GB or greater). Another update includes the focal length input into the Shake Reduction menu is now displayed accurately in Pentax Photo Browser 3. The firmware can be easily installed by loading the BIN file onto an SD card and starting the camera holding the MENU button.

Website : Pentax K100D Firmware Update Version 1.01

[newline]

Sigma has issued a notice to Pentax customers that are using either the Sigma EF-500 DG Super or EF-500 DG ST Flashguns. According to the notice from Sigma, these flashguns for Pentax mount will not operate with the recently introduced Pentax K100D D-SLR camera. Sigma will be supplying a free-upgrade service to their customers starting, August 1, 2006.

We regret any problems this may cause our customers who own Pentax K100D D-SLR cameras and we will take all necessary steps to minimize inconvenience to these valued customers.

• This problem occurs with the Pentax K100D D-SLR camera only.
• List of flashguns requiring update for the Pentax K100D D-SLR camera: EF-500 DG Super Pentax fitting, EF-500 DG ST Pentax fitting
• Update service is not available for the non-DG version (EF-500 Super Pentax fitting and EF-500 ST Pentax fitting) of above flashguns.

For further information, please contact your nearest authorized Sigma Service Center or go to www.sigma-photo.com.

Pentax announced the new PENTAX K100D ($699 estimated retail, with 18–55mm f/3.5–5.6 Pentax DA lens) in May which is compatible with any PENTAX lens ever produced and featuring Shake Reduction. It is an easy-handling 6-megapixel digital SLR that achieves image stabilization by using a moving CCD sensor. PopPhoto has a hands on review of the camera and here’s the conclusion:

“In appearance, the K100D is very nearly a clone of the Pentax *ist DS2; aside from the image stabilization on/off switch on the back of the camera, only slight differences in body contours and button shapes set the new camera apart from the DS/DL series. The body weighs less than an ounce more than the *ist DS2.

Functionally, the K100D borrows from both the *ist DS2 and the *ist DL2 (not marketed in the U.S. as a Pentax, but available as the Samsung GX-1L). From the DS2, the new camera gets the 11-zone autofocus array. From the DL2, the K100D inherits a cost-cutting penta- mirror rather than a glass pentaprism, as well as a feature called Digital Preview.

While the K100D uses a 6MP CCD like the *ist DSLRs, Pentax says that the processing engine and firmware are new, and that the camera will ship with improved software.

Still, we were more than a little surprised that Pentax didn’t opt to move up to 8MP or 10MP capture with the new camera; 6MP DSLRs are getting very old at this point. The company was clearly determined to hew hard to a low price point with the K100D, and it certainly succeeded. For the even more frugal, a K110D—the same camera but without Shake Reduction—will be available for $599 with the kit lens.”

Website : Pentax announced K100D and K110D in May

Website : Pentax K100D Hands On Reviewed by PopPhoto

The new PENTAX K100D is compatible with any PENTAX lens ever produced and featuring Shake Reduction. Picture a large 2.5 inch LCD monitor with 210,000 pixel resolution and a friendly Mode Dial offering Auto Picture and Picture modes as well as new Scene modes for even simpler photography. The 6.1 megapixel APS-C size CCD and sophisticated 16-segment multi-pattern metering delivers outstanding image reproduction, while the bright, high-precision PENTAX mirror viewfinder features with 0.85X magnification. All these features combine in a compact design with high-rigidity stainless-steel chassis that is built to last. Here’re the detail features:

• 6.1 MP APS-C size CCD with high-performance imaging engine and advanced image-processing technologies
• High-precision SAFOX VIII 11-point auto focus (9 cross-type sensors) system with single and continuous AF
• Sensitivity equivalent to ISO 200 to 3200 with an auto mode that takes advantage of the entire range
• Mode Dial includes the standard Exposure Modes, Auto Picture Mode, Picture Modes, and now Scene Modes
• Large 2.5-inch LCD monitor with 210,000 pixel resolution, wide viewing angle and 12 time zoom
• Sophisticated 16-segment multi-pattern metering determines the optimal exposure settings

Website : Pentax K100D product information

Website : Pentax K110D product information