World Image issue 11 October 2014

There are all the usual settings for exposure
methods but I confess I only ever used the Tv,
Av, M and Flash Sync options. I never used full
auto with this camera.
The menu controls are also easy to use, clear to
see in the rear screen. There are only four main
subsections in the menu unlike the Canon 7D
which has seven in auto and eleven in manual
mode.
The lenses used with the K10 were Pentax 28 -
80mm, and the 135mm, and the Tamron
500mm mirror lens. The latter needs a tripod or
a wall to steady the camera, but so do most long
lenses.
The camera is robust and easy to use. And gives
good sharp images with all of the lenses used
with it. The pictures shown in the article were
taken with this camera (except the camera).
Overall, the K10 is an instinctive camera. You
do not need a degree in computer science to get
to grips with the technology unlike some other
cameras.
In good lighting the picture quality is
outstanding. Many of the pictures, including the
tiger, taken with the K10 were enlarged and
printed to two meters on the longest length and
still looked excellent from the normal viewing
distance.
I now use the Canon 7D but if you ask the
question ‘would I use the K10D again?’ the
answer would have to be, ‘well I do still use it’.
If you were to ask me which camera I prefer …
honestly … it would have to be the Pentax. The
only thing I felt that let it down was the image
quality in low light conditions. After changing
to canon I realised that this problem with low
light was not confined to the Pentax.
I hope this is useful to those considering the
Pentax K10d as a starter camera. They are still
available and, like all equipment, if you get a
good one and look after it, they will last for
years.
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