Pentax K100D

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    Highlights

    • 6.1 MP APS-C CCD Sensor
    • 200 - 3,200 Native ISO
    • 11 Focus Points
    • Image Stabilization
    • 2.5" 210k dot Fixed Screen
    • Optical (pentamirror) Viewfinder
    • 2.8 fps Continuous Shooting
    • Built-in Flash
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    Disclosure: We earn money from the affiliate links to products associated with content in this article.

    Overview

    Pentax K100D was announced in 2006 and is an APS-C (23.5 x 15.7 mm) DSLR camera with 6.1 Megapixel CCD sensor. Its native ISO ranges from 200 to 3,200. The camera has a Fixed 2.5" screen with 210k dot resolution and built-in Optical (pentamirror) viewfinder. It has a built-in Sensor Shift in body image stabilization.

    Table of Contents
    1. Overview
    2. Pros and Cons
    3. Successor
    4. Screen and Viewfinder
    5. Sensor
    6. Photography Features
    7. Connectivity, Battery and Storage
    8. Other Features
    9. Physical Parameters
    10. For Different Types of Photography
    11. Evaluation
    12. Specifications  

    Pros and Cons

    In this section we present pros and cons of Pentax K100D.

    PROS

    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Built-in Flash

    CONS

    •   No Video Capture
    •   Low Resolution Sensor - 6.1 Megapixel
    •   200 Lowest Native ISO
    •   3,200 Highest Native ISO
    •   Timelapse Recording
    •   11 Focus Points
    •   No Face Detection
    •   Fixed Screen
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 210k dot
    •   No Live View
    •   Low Max Continuous Shooting - 2.8 fps
    •   No HDMI Output
    •   No Built-in Microphone
    •   No Microphone Input
    •   No Headphone Output
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   No Built-In Wi-Fi
    •   No Built-In Bluetooth
    •   No Environmental Sealing

    And here are some specifications which fall into average criteria and are neither in PROs nor in CONs category:

    AVERAGE

    •   Screen Size - 2.5"
    •   Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain) - 1/4000 sec
    •   Max Flash Sync Speed - 1/180 sec
    •   Weight - 660 g (1.46 lb / 23.28 oz)

    Successor

    In 2007 Pentax K100D was replaced by Pentax K100D Super. Let us now have a look at some important differences between Pentax K100D and its successor.

    UPGRADES Pentax K100D Super vs Pentax K100D
    Lighter 646 g (1.42 lb / 22.79 oz) vs 660 g (1.46 lb / 23.28 oz)

    For more detailed comparison between the models please visit Pentax K100D vs K100D Super.

    Screen and Viewfinder

    Fixed screen

    Pentax K100D has a 2.5" Fixed screen with 210k dot resolution which is quite low by today's standards.


    Optical (pentamirror) Viewfinder

    Camera has a built-in Optical (pentamirror) viewfinder. It has a 96% coverage and 0.85x (0.57x 35mm equivalent) magnification.

    Sensor

    Pentax K100D features a 6.1 megapixel APS-C CCD sensor with dimensions of 23.5 x 15.7 mm and a total area of 369 mm2. Its native ISO range is 200 - 3,200.


    Here is a sensor size comparison chart where you can see how Pentax K100D's APS-C sensor compares with other types of sensors:

    Sensor size chart
    Sensor Dimensions Area Aspect Ratio Crop Factor
    Image cannot be displayedMedium Format44 x 33 mm1452 mm24:30.79x
    Image cannot be displayedFull Frame36 x 24 mm864 mm23:21x
    Image cannot be displayedAPS-H27 x 18 mm486 mm23:21.3x
    Image cannot be displayedAPS-C23.5 x 15.7 mm369 mm23:21.5x
    Image cannot be displayedAPS-C (Canon)22.3 x 14.9 mm332.3 mm23:21.6x
    Image cannot be displayedMicro Four Thirds17.4 x 13 mm226.2 mm24:32x
    Image cannot be displayed1-inch13.2 x 8.8 mm116.2 mm23:22.7x
    Image cannot be displayed1/1.7-inch7.44 x 5.58 mm41.5 mm24:34.7x
    Image cannot be displayed1/2.3-inch6.17 x 4.55 mm28.1 mm24:35.6x

    Photography Features

    Camera can take pictures up to 3008 x 2008 resolution. It can also take pictures with lower resolutions like 2400 x 1600, 1536 x 1024 with 3:2 aspect ratios.


    Lens Mount

    Pentax K100D has Pentax KAF lens mount. Due to APS-C sensor its crop factor (also called lens multiplier) is 1.5x. This means that a 35mm equivalent focal length of the mounted lens will be equal to its actual focal length times 1.5.


    In-Body Image Stabilization

    The camera has a built-in Sensor Shift in-body image stabilization (IBIS). This means that you are still getting vibration reduction when camera is paired with non-image stabilizied lenses. It also works with lenses with optical image stabilization and in combination can achieve even better compensation.

    Check out the cameras which are frequently compared to Pentax K100D.

    Pentax K100D Super
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    APS-C

    6.1 MP

    Canon Rebel T5
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    APS-C

    18.0 MP

    Pentax K-01
    Image cannot be found

    APS-C

    16 MP

    Leica M9
    Image cannot be found

    Full Frame

    18.0 MP

    Canon 70D
    Image cannot be found

    APS-C

    20.2 MP

    Sony a3500
    Image cannot be found

    APS-C

    20 MP

    Pentax K-3 III Monochrome
    Image cannot be found

    APS-C

    25.73 MP

    Samsung NX mini
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    1-inch

    20.5 MP

    Nikon D3000
    Image cannot be found

    APS-C

    10.2 MP

    Sony a6300
    Image cannot be found

    APS-C

    24.2 MP

    Canon 5DS
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    Full Frame

    50.6 MP

    Canon 1D C
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    Full Frame

    18.1 MP

    Connectivity, Battery and Storage

    USB Input

    Pentax K100D has a USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) input for data transfer.


    Battery

    Pentax K100D comes with 4 x AA battery pack.


    External Storage Slots

    The camera has a single SD/SDHC card slot.

    Other Features

    Shutter

    Pentax K100D has Electronically controlled Vertical Run Focal Plane shutter. Shutter speed can go up to 1/4000 sec. Camera can shoot continuously up to 2.8 fps.


    Flash

    Pentax K100D has a built-in flash and also accepts external flash which can be connected via Hot Shoe. The fastest flash synchronization speed is 1/180 sec.

    Physical Parameters

    Pentax K100D has dimensions of 129 x 93 x 70 mm (5.08 x 3.66 x 2.76"). It weighs 660 g (1.46 lb / 23.28 oz) which is neither heavy nor lightweight.

    129 mm (5.08")

    93 mm (3.66")

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    93 mm (3.66")

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    70 mm (2.76")

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    Pentax K100D dimensions

    Pentax K100D for Different Types of Photography

    We give scores to the camera for different type of photography based on its features and specifications. Let us see how Pentax K100D is suitable for six different types of photography.


    Landscape Photography

    AVERAGE
    56

    Pentax K100D gets a score of 56 and is AVERAGE choice for Landscape photography.

    •   Low Resolution Screen - 210k dot
    •   No Live View
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   No Environmental Sealing

    Sports Photography

    AVERAGE
    57

    Pentax K100D gets a score of 57 and is AVERAGE choice for Sports photography.

    •   3,200 Highest Native ISO
    •   11 Focus Points
    •   No Face Detection
    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 210k dot
    •   No Live View
    •   Low Max Continuous Shooting - 2.8 fps

    Wildlife Photography

    AVERAGE
    55

    Pentax K100D gets a score of 55 and is AVERAGE choice for Wildlife photography.

    •   3,200 Highest Native ISO
    •   11 Focus Points
    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 210k dot
    •   No Live View
    •   Low Max Continuous Shooting - 2.8 fps
    •   No Environmental Sealing

    Portrait Photography

    AVERAGE
    69

    Pentax K100D gets a score of 69 and is AVERAGE choice for Portrait photography.

    •   11 Focus Points
    •   No Face Detection
    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Screen Size - 2.5"
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 210k dot
    •   No Live View
    •   Max Flash Sync Speed - 1/180 sec

    Street Photography

    GOOD
    77

    Pentax K100D gets a score of 77 and is GOOD choice for Street photography.

    •   11 Focus Points
    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Fixed Screen
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 210k dot
    •   No Live View
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   No Environmental Sealing
    •   Weight - 660 g (1.46 lb / 23.28 oz)

    Travel Photography

    GOOD
    79

    Pentax K100D gets a score of 79 and is GOOD choice for Travel photography.

    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Fixed Screen
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 210k dot
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   No Environmental Sealing
    •   Weight - 660 g (1.46 lb / 23.28 oz)

    Pentax K100D Evaluation

    We evaluate Pentax K100D and give score of 54 out of 100. We also give separate scores for 7 different categories according to the available features and specifications some of which are listed below. These evaluations are relative and may change each time a new camera is added to the database.


    OVERALL
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    Sensor

    AVERAGE
    59

    We give Pentax K100D a score of 59 for Sensor parameters.

    •   Low Resolution Sensor - 6.1 Megapixel
    •   200 Lowest Native ISO
    •   3,200 Highest Native ISO

    Photo

    AVERAGE
    69

    We give Pentax K100D a score of 69 for Photo parameters.

    •   Timelapse Recording
    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain) - 1/4000 sec
    •   Low Max Continuous Shooting - 2.8 fps
    •   Max Flash Sync Speed - 1/180 sec

    Video

    BAD
    0

    We give Pentax K100D a score of 0 for Video parameters.

    •   Image Stabilization

    Focusing

    AVERAGE
    69

    We give Pentax K100D a score of 69 for Focusing parameters.

    •   11 Focus Points
    •   No Face Detection

    Screen and Viewfinder

    AVERAGE
    64

    We give Pentax K100D a score of 64 for Screen and Viewfinder parameters.

    •   Fixed Screen
    •   Screen Size - 2.5"
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 210k dot

    Connectivity

    POOR
    40

    We give Pentax K100D a score of 40 for Connectivity parameters.

    •   No HDMI Output
    •   No Built-in Microphone
    •   No Microphone Input
    •   No Headphone Output
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   No Built-In Wi-Fi
    •   No Built-In Bluetooth

    Battery, Storage and Physical

    POOR
    41

    We give Pentax K100D a score of 41 for Battery, Storage and Physical parameters.

    •   No Environmental Sealing
    •   Weight - 660 g (1.46 lb / 23.28 oz)


    For a full specification list please go to the specifications page:

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