GX10 / K10D reviewed
Jeff Keller in his Samsung GX10 review merely described the differences between GX10 and K10D: the same conclusions you can find here. He wasn’t able to find any differences in image quality so his advice “is to buy the one you can get the best deal on. Right now, that’s the K10D, but since the GX-10 is just now hitting the market, that may change.“
TrustedReviews contributor Cliff Smith, however, did not have the opportunity to play with K10D before his GX10 test but it’s not affected the overall positive impression: “The Samsung GX-10, and presumably by extension the Pentax K10D as well, proves yet again that the digital SLR market isn’t a two-horse race… …Add the rugged durability of the weatherproof body and you have a photographic tool that any keen photographer will quickly learn to love.“
PhotographyBlog reviewer complains on K10D’s lack of dedicated ISO and WB buttons, noisy shutter and poor AF, but concludes that Pentax K10D “not only does it have an attractive price-tag, but it is also a solidly-built, intuitive and responsive digital SLR that will meet the needs of the serious photographer.“
In their very thorough review at German website Photozone Klaus Schroiff and Sebastian Milczanowski points their view at so called phantom pixels phenomenon. They have provided an explanation: “The Pentax K10D has an extremely weak vertical AA (Anti Aliasing) filter. An AA filter is a low-pass filter that smooths the discrete “steps” caused by the sensor pixels. A weak or non-existent AA filter results in Moire-effects - this is where the “false” colors come from. The reason for the phantom pixels is a bit more mysterious. It could originate in the pixel layout on the sensor or in the pre-processing by the camera in conjunction with the demosaic algorithm.” Despite this issue, their verdict is “Highly recommended” except for lack of telephoto lenses in the K system.
Chinese blogger and photo enthusiast Yellowapple has tested his Pentax K10D under “heavy rain” conditions (extremely heavy, I’d say).
Pentax K10D waterproof test. Photo courtesy by Yellowapple
You can find more photos and experiment description at the original page in Chinese or at DPReview forum in English.
The canon cameras have always remained numero uno. The latest digital camera reviews prove that. However, the nikon digital cameras are steadily closing in on the competition due to regular introduction of new deals.
