Pentax K20D

The Cameras advanced 16-segment metering and 11-point AF, with 9 cross sensors, ensure perfectly exposed and focused images, and unique exposure modes, such as hyper-program, Sv and TAv, offer greater shooting versatility along with fully customizable features and advanced functions for advanced photographers. All of these impressive features are controlled by the cameras PRIME image processing engine which maximizes image properties and allows custom adjustment of image parameters. Plus the customizable features for shooters who demand complete control include the Expanded Dynamic Range function that allows users to gain more contrast/detail in bright settings and Custom Image modes, with six preset options, offer superior control of how the PRIME processor develops images.

Dust Reduction and Dust Alert features eliminate the need of time consuming retouching, and the cameras 2.7 inch high resolution, wide view LCD monitor of the K20D gives a Live View of your subject for more precise composition by allowing the photographer to see the image on the camera's back panel LCD monitor while shooting. And all of these features are contained in a dependable dust-proof, weather-resistant body that allows photographers to shoot anytime, anywhere, even in dusty or rainy environments.

Key Features

• 14.6 Megapixel CMOS Sensor
The K20D Digital SLR uses a 14.6 megapixel CMOS Image Sensor, which does not produce as much waste heat as other types of sensors (resulting in less noise) and give longer battery life. CMOS technology also allows a high density of circuitry at the pixel level allowing sensitivity adjustments on the sensor, rather than at the A/D converter. Additionally, the low heat, low power consumption of the CMOS sensor allows the K20D to offer the Live View function, and improved battery life over previous models.

• Compatible with All Pentax Interchangeable Lenses
Pentax has manufactured over 24 million lenses in the last six decades, and the K20D can use them all. The camera provides backward compatibility with K, KA, KAF and KAF2-mount lenses directly and is also compatible with screw-mount 35mm-format lenses and Pentax 645- and 67-system lenses with an appropriate adapter (optional). You can also choose from the assortment of the latest DAH, DA Limited and DA lenses specifically designed for use with Pentax Digital SLRs. Whichever lens is used, whether the most recent lenses or a classic screw mount, it will faithfully capture the image desired.

• PRIME Image Processing Engine
The K20D incorporates the PRIME (Pentax Real Image Engine) imaging engine designed exclusively for Pentax digital SLR cameras to meet the performance requirements of higher resolution sensors. this imaging engine produces well-balanced, true-to-life images through efficient control of CCD signals, saturation, brightness, white balance, sharpness and contrast. Its fast memory (DDR2: Double Data Rate 2) also serves to enhance speedy image processing and high-speed data transfer. Ultimately, PRIME provides beautiful, natural results similar to what you see shooting with film.

• Shake Reduction Technology
The Pentax Shake Reduction (SR) feature is an electromagnetically controlled system built into the body to detect handheld camera shake and compensates by moving a free floating image sensor, and unlike other DSLR optical anti-shake systems, this SR system delivers shake reduction with all Pentax lenses ever manufactured without requiring a special series of bulky, expensive optics. Furthermore, the Pentax SR system is superior to other sensor-moving systems because it uses no guide rails, allowing the sensor to oscillate in three directions - horizontally, vertically, and rotationally. The SR system is particularly helpful in situations where camera shake is an issue, such as with telephoto lenses, indoors without a flash, or other low light conditions at dawn, dusk or at night.

• Enhanced Dynamic Range
The Enhanced Dynamic Range mode of the K20D allows you to better emulate the results you typically find only with images captured on film. It does this by increasing the baseline dynamic range of the camera by 200 percent to better capture details in highlight areas of an image.

• Advanced White Balance
The advanced white balance of the K20D offers a selection of seven pre-set options, with three options just for fluorescent lighting, plus a manual white balance setting, and three preset color temperatures. Additionally, each setting can be further fine-tuned to balance even the most difficult lighting conditions, and all settings can be verified through the digital preview function.

• ISO Adjustment & High Sensitivity Noise Reduction
The auto sensitivity control function automatically sets the optimum standard output sensitivity - up to ISO 6400 in the Expanded Sensitivity setting, based on such data as the subject's brightness level and the lens focal length. You have full control of the range of auto sensitivities available. Or, you can manually select the desired sensitivity from ISO 100 to 6400. As the sensitivity increases with any camera, so does the possibility of noise. However, Noise reduction does have an effect on the look of an image, and once noise reduction has been applied to an image, it cannot be reversed; so Pentax give the ability to apply four levels of noise reduction to meet your needs, from no adjustment to strong control of noise.

• Weather and Dust Resistant Body
Whether you're shooting in a misty, tropical rain forest, on a snowcapped peak, or along a dusty desert trail, the seals around the durable Pentax DSLR body reliably protect the inner components against humidity, moisture and dust particles, and allow you to keep shooting even in harsh conditions. In total, the K20D is protected by 72 seals and the optional battery grip with an additional 38 seals. Furthermore, the fiber-reinforced polycarbonate body surrounding the high-rigidity, stainless steel chassis provides plenty of strength for every day use.

• Dust Reduction and Dust Alert features
The Dust Removal System of the K20D encompasses several technologies to minimize or eliminate the effects of dust in your images. The surface of the low pass filter is sealed with a nanotechnology based fluorine coating so that dust has a difficult time adhering to the sensor surface. Dust that may get on the surface of tyhe filter is then shaken off when the SR system shifts the CCD at high speed. The dust that is shaken off the CCD, then falls onto an adhesive sheet eliminating any possibility of its returning to the CCD surface. Occasionally, especially when shooting in humid conditions, the Dust Removal system will not purge all dust specks; that's when the cameras Dust Alert system will save you from time consuming retouching. This system analyzes the sensor to determine if and where any dust remains after the Dust Removal system is activated, and the results are displayed on the LCD screen, showing exactly where any dust remains.

• 11-point AF System
The K20D features an 11-point AF system, with 9 cross sensors to ensure perfectly exposed and focused images, and in automatic operation (AUTO) the camera recognizes which object is nearest and chooses that object as the main focus point. For more direct control, select any of the 11 points individually. It is also possible to simply select the center of the image as your main point of focus. With continuous autofocus, the focus adjusts as your subject moves within the frame, or should you prefer more direct control, you may always focus manually. Furthermore the K20D's AF Adjustment function allows you to adjust the focus position for 20 different lenses, so older lenses will focus as accurately as the latest ones.

• Advanced 16-segment Metering
With its 16-segment metering system the K20D will accurately assess the balance between the bright and dark areas within the segments automatically, or you may opt for center weighted or spot metering. Also, all K-Series lenses easily handle even the most difficult lighting conditions with the 16-segment metering system.

• Unique Exposure Modes
The K20D has the exposure modes you'd expect from any full function SLR including a Shutter-Priority (Tv) mode that lets you choose the optimal shutter speed and an Aperture-Priority (Av) mode lets you select the appropriate aperture. Plus, you may choose from Manual (M), Bulb (B) and X-sync (X) settings for even more versatility, or the USER setting that allows you to preset your preferred parameters. However, the K20D also has some exposure modes you won't see anywhere else. The Program Automatic mode offers Hyper Program to instantly change the shutter speed or aperture on the fly. The Sensitivity-Priority AE (Sv) mode is designed to automatically select the optimum combination of aperture and shutter speed for a user selected sensitivity, and in the SV mode, you may shift the sensitivity simply by turning a dial. Another exposure mode offered by the K20D is Shutter & Aperture- Priority AE (TAv), which is designed to automatically select the most appropriate sensitivity for a user-selected shutter speed and aperture combination. All exposure adjustments are accessible through two ergonomically placed dials on the front and the back of the camera. Furthermore, if you are working with PENTAX F-, FA-, DA- or DFA-series lenses, you can benefit from the MTF data: a microchip in the lens passes information to the camera regarding the optically optimal and lens-specific aperture to use.

• Custom Image Modes
The Camera has six preset Custom Image modes that offer superior control of how the PRIME processor develops images and apply saturation, hue, contrast and sharpness settings to JPEG images, and give a starting point for RAW image development. The six available modes include Bright for increased saturation, hue, sharpness and contrast for images that are a bit more elaborate or colorful; Natural for photographers who want to maximize an image for post capture manipulation; Portrait to decreases contrast and sharpness and give soft, natural skin tones; Landscape to increases saturation, contrast and sharpness for beautiful images of the natural world; Vibrant which maximizes all parameters to give the brightest colors and enhanced sharpness for the most vivid scenes; and B&W to mimic the effects of black and white photography, including the effects of color filters. The B&W mode even adds an infrared filter effect for dramatic monochrome scenes. Plus, each of the Custom Image modes can be further modified to meet your specific needs.

• Continuous & Interval Shooting
In normal, high speed situations, the camera will capture at 3 fps for 38 JPEGS and 14 RAW images, ant there is the option to have the continuous shooting mode with a slower capture rate of 2.3 fps but allows you to shoot an unlimited number of JPEG images (to your card's capacity); perfect for extended capture sequences. The camera is also capable of recording extended time lapse sequences with an interval timer that can be set to capture images at a specific time interval, and starting at a specified time.

• Bright Pentaprism Viewfinder
The viewfinder in the K20D provides a 95 percent field of view and 0.95X magnification so you can see as much of the image as possible before capture. The viewfinder also provides all the important image information in a concise manner including a focus point indicated in red, in-focus indicator, focus mode stats, shutter speed, aperture, exposure compensation, number of images remaining, Shake Reduction status, and with a press of the OK button on the back of the camera, the current ISO setting. Additionally, the focusing screen is interchangeable so you can use an optional grid screen or scale screen for more precise image framing.

• 2.7" LCD Panel
The Pentax K20D incorporates a large 2.7 inch color LCD monitor with a wide-view design, allowing the photographer to see the monitor image over 160 degrees vertically and horizontally. It also offers digital zooming of playback images up to 32X for easy confirmation of the image's focus status and details, and, due to its large size, you can even review two images side by side. The large monitor allows for large letters, digits and icons on the menu screens to facilitate menu confirmation and camera operations. Furthermore, the LCD has a Color Adjustment feature to compensate for viewing under changing lighting condition, much like having a white balance feature specifically for your LCD to allow better confirmation of your captured image.

• Live View Mode
The CMOS sensor makes a Live View possible on the large, 2.7 inch LCD monitor. This allows you to see the full image area and confirm your composition. A grid display can be engaged to help assure the perfect arrangement of your image. Auto focus can be activated by simply pressing the AF button on the back of the camera, and then details can be verified with a 4X or 8X zoom function.

• Fully Customizable Features
The K20D is fully customizable to meet your individual shooting needs. You have access to 36 options with 93 settings to give you complete control over your camera. These include the ability to reprogram the e-dials to your shooting style − the type of preview, whether Live View, Digital Preview, or a traditional depth-of-field preview − and the program line used by the camera's metering system.

• Powerful Software Package Included
The K20D includes Pentax Photo Laboratory 3.5 which features the reliable SILKYPIX image-processing engine for RAW data processing, and the Pentax Photo Browser 3.5 that offers faster data processing speed and better operability than the previous version, and can convert RAW images to the DNG format.

• Direct Print Capable
The K20D Digital Camera is compatible with PictBridge, DPOF, Exif Print and PRINT Image Matching III systems, so you can print quality images using PictBridge supported printers - without the need for a computer.