Pentax K10D

    60
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    Highlights

    • 10.2 MP APS-C CCD Sensor
    • 100 - 1,600 Native ISO
    • 11 Focus Points
    • Image Stabilization
    • 2.5" 210k dot Fixed Screen
    • Optical (pentaprism) Viewfinder
    • 3.0 fps Continuous Shooting
    • Built-in Flash
    • Wheather Sealed Body
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    Disclosure: We earn money from the affiliate links to products associated with content in this article.

    Overview

    Pentax K10D was announced in 2006 and is an APS-C (23.5 x 15.7 mm) DSLR camera with 10.2 Megapixel CCD sensor. Its native ISO ranges from 100 to 1,600. The camera has a Fixed 2.5" screen with 210k dot resolution and built-in Optical (pentaprism) 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 K10D.

    PROS

    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Built-in Flash
    •   Environmental Sealing
    •   Orientation Sensor

    CONS

    •   No Video Capture
    •   Low Resolution Sensor - 10.2 Megapixel
    •   1,600 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 - 3.0 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

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

    AVERAGE

    •   100 Lowest Native ISO
    •   Screen Size - 2.5"
    •   Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain) - 1/4000 sec
    •   Max Flash Sync Speed - 1/180 sec
    •   DxO Overall Score - 66
    •   Weight - 793 g (1.75 lb / 27.97 oz)

    Successor

    In 2008 Pentax K10D was replaced by Pentax K20D. Let us now have a look at some important differences between Pentax K10D and its successor.

    UPGRADES Pentax K20D vs Pentax K10D
    Higher Sensor Resolution 14.6 Megapixel vs 10.2 Megapixel
    Higher Native ISO 3,200 vs 1,600
    Max Image Resolution 4672 x 3104 vs 3872 x 2592
    Timelapse Recording vs
    Larger Screen 2.7" vs 2.5"
    Higher Resolution Screen 230k dot vs 210k dot
    Live View vs
    Higher DxO Low Light ISO 639 vs 522
    Higher DxO Color Depth 22.9 vs 22.7
    DOWNGRADES Pentax K20D vs Pentax K10D
    Multi-Segment Metering vs
    Average Metering vs
    Spot Metering vs
    Lower DxO Dynamic Range 11.1 vs 11.6
    Lower DxO Overall Score 65 vs 66
    Heavier 800 g (1.76 lb / 28.22 oz) vs 793 g (1.75 lb / 27.97 oz)

    For more detailed comparison between the models please visit Pentax K10D vs K20D.

    Screen and Viewfinder

    Fixed screen

    Pentax K10D has a 2.5" Fixed screen with 210k dot resolution which is quite low by today's standards.


    Optical (pentaprism) Viewfinder

    Camera has a built-in Optical (pentaprism) viewfinder. It has a 95% coverage and 0.95x (0.63x 35mm equivalent) magnification.

    Sensor

    Pentax K10D features a 10.2 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 100 - 1,600.


    Here is a sensor size comparison chart where you can see how Pentax K10D'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 3872 x 2592 resolution. It can also take pictures with lower resolutions like 3008 x 2000, 1824 x 1216 with 3:2 aspect ratios.


    Lens Mount

    Pentax K10D has Pentax KAF2 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 K10D.

    Pentax K20D
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    APS-C

    14.6 MP

    Canon 7D II
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    APS-C

    20.2 MP

    Sony DSLR-A230
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    APS-C

    10.2 MP

    Canon Rebel SL1
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    APS-C

    18.0 MP

    Canon 70D
    Image cannot be found

    APS-C

    20.2 MP

    Nikon Z8
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    Full Frame

    45.7 MP

    Sony a6300
    Image cannot be found

    APS-C

    24.2 MP

    Nikon D1
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    APS-C

    2.66 MP

    Canon Rebel T5
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    APS-C

    18.0 MP

    Canon 5DS R
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    Full Frame

    50.6 MP

    Fujifilm X-S20
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    APS-C

    26.1 MP

    Canon 5DS
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    Full Frame

    50.6 MP

    Connectivity, Battery and Storage

    USB Input

    Pentax K10D has a USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) input for data transfer.


    External Storage Slots

    The camera has a single SD/SDHC card slot.

    Other Features

    Shutter

    Pentax K10D has Electronically controlled Vertical Run Focal Plane shutter. Shutter speed can go up to 1/4000 sec. Camera can shoot continuously up to 3.0 fps.


    Flash

    Pentax K10D 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 K10D has dimensions of 142 x 101 x 70 mm (5.59 x 3.98 x 2.76"). It weighs 793 g (1.75 lb / 27.97 oz) which is neither heavy nor lightweight.

    142 mm (5.59")

    101 mm (3.98")

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    101 mm (3.98")

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    70 mm (2.76")

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    Pentax K10D dimensions

    Pentax K10D 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 K10D is suitable for six different types of photography.


    Landscape Photography

    GOOD
    76

    Pentax K10D gets a score of 76 and is GOOD choice for Landscape photography.

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

    Sports Photography

    AVERAGE
    61

    Pentax K10D gets a score of 61 and is AVERAGE choice for Sports photography.

    •   1,600 Highest Native ISO
    •   11 Focus Points
    •   No Face Detection
    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 210k dot
    •   No Live View
    •   Low Max Continuous Shooting - 3.0 fps
    •   Orientation Sensor

    Wildlife Photography

    AVERAGE
    63

    Pentax K10D gets a score of 63 and is AVERAGE choice for Wildlife photography.

    •   1,600 Highest Native ISO
    •   11 Focus Points
    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 210k dot
    •   No Live View
    •   Low Max Continuous Shooting - 3.0 fps
    •   Environmental Sealing
    •   Orientation Sensor

    Portrait Photography

    GOOD
    75

    Pentax K10D gets a score of 75 and is GOOD 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
    •   Orientation Sensor

    Street Photography

    GOOD
    80

    Pentax K10D gets a score of 80 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
    •   Environmental Sealing
    •   Weight - 793 g (1.75 lb / 27.97 oz)

    Travel Photography

    GOOD
    82

    Pentax K10D gets a score of 82 and is GOOD choice for Travel photography.

    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Fixed Screen
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 210k dot
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   Environmental Sealing
    •   Weight - 793 g (1.75 lb / 27.97 oz)

    Pentax K10D Evaluation

    We evaluate Pentax K10D and give score of 60 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
    60

    Sensor

    GOOD
    70

    We give Pentax K10D a score of 70 for Sensor parameters.

    •   Low Resolution Sensor - 10.2 Megapixel
    •   100 Lowest Native ISO
    •   1,600 Highest Native ISO
    •   DxO Overall Score - 66

    Photo

    AVERAGE
    69

    We give Pentax K10D 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 - 3.0 fps
    •   Max Flash Sync Speed - 1/180 sec

    Video

    BAD
    0

    We give Pentax K10D a score of 0 for Video parameters.

    •   Image Stabilization

    Focusing

    AVERAGE
    69

    We give Pentax K10D a score of 69 for Focusing parameters.

    •   11 Focus Points
    •   No Face Detection

    Screen and Viewfinder

    AVERAGE
    68

    We give Pentax K10D a score of 68 for Screen and Viewfinder parameters.

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

    Connectivity

    POOR
    40

    We give Pentax K10D 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

    GOOD
    77

    We give Pentax K10D a score of 77 for Battery, Storage and Physical parameters.

    •   Environmental Sealing
    •   Weight - 793 g (1.75 lb / 27.97 oz)


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

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