Pentax K-x Review, December 2009

Review based on a production Pentax K-x, firmware V1.01

The Pentax K-x sits in the slot previously occupied by the company's K200D - one of the best-specified entry-level DSLRs on the market in its time - though that position has now been elevated by the arrival of a new breed of simplified models below it. In Pentax's line-up that means the K2000/K-m designed to entice compact camera users into DSLR ownership with its easy-to-use interface and diminutive scale, and it's that camera the K-x is immediately reminiscent of (they share the same body).

Despite its compact size and use of AA batteries, there is more than a hint of the K-7 about the new model's specifications. It gains the K-7's 11-point AF system and PRIME II imaging engine, along with its abilities to correct for chromatic aberration and distortion when using Pentax DA and DFA lenses. It also features an orientation sensor.

While, unlike the K-m, on the K-x you can now at least select the active AF-point, it's still not displayed in the viewfinder. However, despite of all the shared features with the K2000/K-m and K-7 there is still plenty new about the K-x.

The camera is based around a 12.4 megapixel CMOS sensor with onboard A/D conversion (a system often associated with Sony), with output fast enough not only for the camera to shoot at 4.7 frames per second, but also for capturing 24 frames of 720p HD video per second. Along with the sensor come higher ISOs - now up to 6400, expandable to 12800. Plus there's a revised version of the K-m's shutter mechanism to allow the high continuous shooting speed, which ups the maximum shutter speed to 1/6000 sec. The camera also features a new 'cross-processing' mode on top of an already impressive range of filters and processing options.

Pentax K-x Key Features

• 12.4 megapixel APS-C-format CMOS sensor (total pixels: 12.9 million)
• PRIME II imaging engine
• 1/6000th maximum shutter speed
• 720p HD video (24 fps)
• 2.7" LCD monitor (230,000 dots)
• Image sensor cleaning (sensor shake)
• 11 selectable AF points
• IS0 200-6400 range (100-12,800 when expanded)
• 4.7 frames per second continuous shooting (for 17 frames)
  

How the Pentax DSLRs compare:

	K-7	K-x	K-m
Image sensor	14.6Mp CMOS	12.4Mp CMOS	10.2Mp CCD
Imaging engine	Prime II	Prime II	Prime
Sensitivity	100-3200 (6400 with expansion)	200-6400 (100 and 12,800 with expansion)	100-3200
Continuous shooting speed	5.2fps (40 frames)	4.7fps (17 frames)	3.5fps (5 frames)
AF	SAFOX VIII+ with superimposed points 11-points (selectable) AF-assist lamp	SAFOX VIII 11-points (selectable)	SAFOX VIII 5-points
AE	77-segment	16-segment	16-segment
Viewfinder	Pentaprism Coverage: 100% Magnification: 0.95	Pentamirror Coverage: 96% Magnification: 0.85	Pentamirror Coverage: 96% Magnification: 0.85
Movies	1024p 30fps	720p 24fps	No
Microphone	Mono internal or stereo external	Mono internal	No
HDMI output	Yes	No	No
Lens correction	Yes	Yes	No
HDR mode	Yes	Yes	No
Multiple exposure	Yes	Yes	No
Orientation sensor	Yes	Yes	No
Slow-sync flash	Yes	Yes	No
Weight	670g	515g	525g
Cold resistant to -10deg	Yes	No	No
Weather resistant	Yes	No	No