Pentax *ist DL

Opinion: I Purchased this camera in early 2009 as a do it all camera for Portrait and outdoors. The IST DL came out in 2005 and any pro would know in that year the mega pix were lower then they are today with most boosting over 10.1 MP.

I do not recommend this IST DL for studio portraits if you plan on croping because of large prints. This camera in not a disapointment. It is very sturdy, great solid construction and definetly pro grade and looks like its becoming ICON for a collector like myself.

Like other older models from four years ago that are becoming a collector, the IST D, DL, DL2, DS and the DS2 are already a collector to The DSLR Lover. Other makes and models I can not mention on this page.

Opinion: Still very nice entry level DSLR.
Very good JPEG output.
Bright viewfinder.
Works with old K bayonet lenses.
Compact body.
Good battery life with rechargeable AA type.

Opinion: The *istDL is my first DSLR and happy return to SLR after frustration in handling
digicams. It was a great deal when I purchased it a year ago and I haven't looked
back.

Opinion: Decent camera. Nice IQ. Ok high ISO performance. Ok build, but not great.

Opinion: This camera is brilliant for a first time buyer. The value you get for the money you pay is fantastic. The auto mode is fast and accurate I believe, and my wife is even starting to feel comfortable using this camera as well. The photos in RAW are Brilliant, and the software that comes with the package is very user friendly as well. I also feel that the continuous mode is excellent as well. The SIGMA Lens does the job perfectly, however I think I will splurge on a polarising filter for it. GREAT CAMERA.

Opinion: I bought the istDL last september for A$700 with two lenses. I've since taken close to 10,000 shots, and it has not skipped a beat. The Build of this camera is great, it feels perfect in my hands ( I have fairly large hands) all the buttons are within easy reach, some of the scene modes can be handy too.

I really like the fact that Pentax isn't falling to the megapixel race yet, 6mp is more than sufficient for most photographers.

The features on the camera are excellent compared to the Nikon/Canon or other brands products, you get so much more bang for your buck with Pentax, I too love the fact i can pick up a 50 year old Pentax lens and use it! There isn't many other brands you can do that is there? The fact that it takes 'everywhere' SD cards was another bonus for me, and the fact it uses plain old AA batteries is excellent, because if my NiMh rechargables die, i can pick up lithium ones for $15!

It's a really simple camera to use, and it's simple to master the 'professional' side of the camera. With my Sigma 18-125mm I can produce excellently exposed, sharp, nice rich coloured photographs. Imagine if I had an f2.8 or prime!

You really can't go past this camera if you are looking for a secondhand camera to start out with and evidently the K100D- K100D 'super' are similar so i'm sure many of these observations apply.

Opinion: I bought a lightly-used *ist DL for $360, after carefully studying the DSLR market for many years.

I was shooting 35mm on a Nikon F80, and assumed that I would jump to the D50 or it's replacement... unfortunately the D80 was very overpriced, and the D40 wouldn't work with most of the autofocus lenses I was interested in. The disappointment of the D40 led me to seriously consider other options.

The whole Pentax DSLR line is worthy of consideration -- Pentax have resisted "crippling" their cameras to make them cheaper, they will just use simpler construction (like the pentamirror instead of pentaprism). The ergonomics are similar across the line, and the newer cameras are not radically different or better than the *ist line. I test-drove a K100D and K110D in the store, determined that I didn't really need the shake reduction, and really enjoyed the ergonomics. The camera is tiny, but has a solid grip and well-placed buttons. The K100D really identical to the *ist DL in handling. The big beautiful LCD is the same, the interface is identical. The only real difference is the SR.

The real advantage of the Pentax over a similar Nikon is the features. Consider what the *ist DL (or any Pentax) offers over Nikon:

- the ability to fully utilize ALL of the Pentax K lenses, going back decades.
- seamless support for even more lenses with the M42 screw-mount (I paid $6 for an adapter.) I love shooting with these lenses -- metering is simple, focussing is a joy.
- mirror-lock up (to get the sharpest possible landscape or night exposures.)

If I went for the latest models (K10D or K100D) then I'd also get SR...

Pentax offer a well-made camera, with features that don't appear in Nikon's lineup until the (EXPENSIVE) D200. The Sony sensor is the same one that Nikon uses. Shooting RAW, there is really no difference between any of these cameras. So why would I pay the premium for a Nikon price tag? I am so pleased with the *ist DL, that if I ever have need for "more" camera I will be happy to purchase the K10D (or whatever the top camera is then.)

Two topics seem to come up all the time regarding Pentax -- first is lens selection. This is kind of a non-issue for me because I love having 50 years worth of Pentax Takumar glass available for use. Also, the latest rumblings from Pentax suggest there will be a much broader selection of digital-only lenses coming out very shortly. (My guess? Pentax were holding off on new D lenses, thinking that full-frame DSLRs might take over. But the market seems to have settled into APS-C sized sensors, and larger-format sensors seem to have receded somewhat -- witness Pentax cancelling their planned MF digital.)

The other topic is batteries. I LOVE using AA NiMH batteries in my *ist DL! The batteries last a long time, and are so cheap that I have lots of them. No-name cheapy 1600 MAH batteries are giving me 450 shots, half with flash. If I bought better batteries, I'd get even better performance. The AA's are small and light -- I wrap four of them in a rubber band, drop them in my pocket, and have backup power anywhere I go. I know that in an emergency (or 20 years from now) I can always find AA power (even lithium) and not worry about finding an exotic one-off battery from the manufacturer.

Opinion: Opinion after 4000+ pictures in one year: Great little camera; high success rate.

Brings fun back in photography like in the 'old' film days with the MZ-50 and MZ-5N.

Opinion: I picked the Pentax istDL because I have owned Pentax equipment before and liked the quality. Additionally, it's one of the few SLR cameras that doesn't have a proprietary battery you have to use; since it uses AA batteries, I can get those anywhere if I've forgotten to charge the NiMH ones. Great quality, very solid. I wish Pentax had a few more lenses.