For first video and images of the Pentax K-x click HERE
First time DSLR users are the target for a new 12.4-million-pixel digital SLR from Pentax called the K-x, featuring ‘HD’ video and a top equivalent ISO expandable up to 12,800.
Though not designed to replace any other camera, Pentax UK has confirmed that the K-m – announced earlier this year – has been discontinued.
Featuring the same chassis as the K-m, the camera appears to take its name from the ‘Pentax KX’, a 35mm film SLR camera launched by the firm way back in 1975.
In a nod to the days of film, Pentax has installed a mode designed to simulate the effect of ‘cross-processing’, to create ‘eye-catching’ images. This function includes three preset options, plus the ability to set these randomly, according to Pentax UK.
Billed as an ‘entry class’ camera, the K-x DSLR houses a new CMOS imaging sensor and the same Prime II imaging processor as its higher end sibling, the 14.6MP K-7. This aims to boost AF speed and accuracy in low light.
The Pentax K-x will go on sale at the end of October, priced around £600, in a choice of black, white, blue and red. It will be available as a kit with an 18-55mm lens. We understand that the K-x will not go on sale body only.
The Live View-enabled model includes Face Detection to automatically detect up to 16 faces. The camera uses Contrast AF, and Phase Detection AF.
Like the K7, the K-x includes digital filter effects such as Star Burst and Fish Eye.
Image stabilisation comes in the form of a sensor-shift mechanism.
Photographers can shoot at a rate of up to 4.7 frames per second for up to 17 JPEG files and five raw format frames, says Pentax.
Also on board is a ‘dust-removal’ mechanism.
The ‘Pentax-only’ developed model weighs 515g and sports a 2.7in LCD screen carrying a resolution of 230,000 pixels.
The Pentamirror-equipped camera features 16-segment metering and an 11-point SAFOX VIII AF system (featuring nine cross-type sensors). The viewfinder is claimed to offer a field of view of 96%.
The K-x incorporates a built-in High Dynamic Range (HDR) function designed to create one composite image – with ‘extra-wide dynamic range’ – from three different exposures.
Boasting a top shutter speed of 1/6000sec the K-x aims to deliver 1280×720 pixel (24 frames per second) videos.
Though there is a built-in microphone, there is no option to add an external microphone.
The K-x will be launched alongside a new lens. The Pentax-DA L 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED is described as a ‘lightweight super-telephoto’ that delivers the 35mm viewing angle equivalent of a 84.5-460mm lens.
The zoom will be available as part of a twin-lens kit (which includes the 18-55mm lens), priced £749.99.
PENTAX K-x Specifications, as supplied by Pentax UK:
Type TTL autofocus, auto-exposure digital SLR digital-still camera
with built-in retractable P-TTL auto pop-up flash
Effective
Pixels approx. 12.4 megapixels
Image Sensor Total pixels approx. 12.9 megapixels
Type CMOS with a primary colour filter
Size 23.6mm x 15.8mm
Recorded
Pixels Still Picture JPEG: [12M] 4288×2428 pixels, [10M] 3936×2624 pixels,
[6M] 3072×2048 pixels, [2M] 1728×1152 pixels
RAW: [12M] 4288×2428 pixels
Movie [0.9M] 1280×720, 16:9, [0.3M] 640×416, 3:2
Sensitivity (Standard output sensitivity )
Auto, Manual: 200-6400 (1EV steps or 1/2EV steps or 1/3EV
steps)
Bulb mode: up to ISO1600, Could be expanded to ISO 100-
12800
Recording Format Still Picture RAW （Original/DNG), JPEG (Conforms to Exif 2.21),
Conforms to DCF (Design rule of Camera File system) 2.0
Movie Motion JPEG (AVI) 24FPS
Image Formats JPEG – Baseline (Three star: Best, Two star: Better, One
star: Good)
RAW (12bit) (PEF, DNG )
RAW+JPEG: available
Storage Media SD memory card , SDHC memory card
White Balance Auto, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Tungsten Light, Fluorescent
Light (W, D, N, L (Light Bulb) ),
Flash, CTE, Manual setting, with WB fine adjustment
Viewfinder Type Fixed moulded penta-mirror type
Focusing screen Natural-Bright-Matte II focusing screen
Field of view approx. 96%
Magnification approx. 0.85X (with 50mm F1.4 lens, infinity, -1m-1)
Diopter adjustment approx. -2.5 – +1.5m-1
Live View Type TTL by Image sensor
Display Enlargement (2X, 4X, 6X in case of AF mode, 2X, 4X, 6X,
8X, 10X in case of MF mode),
Grid pattern, white/black out warning display, Histogram
display
Autofocus Mode Contrast detection + Face detection / Contrast detection /
Phase difference detection
Monitor Type TFT colour LCD monitor, Brightness adjustable, Wide angle
view
Size 2.7 inch
Dots approx. 230,000 dots
Preview
Method Optical/Digital preview *This function can be allocated to
green button through Menu.
Playback Single frame, 4-image display, 9-image display, 16-image
display, 36-image display,
Zoom display (up to 16 times, scrolling possible), Image
comparison, Rotating, Folder,
PENTAX INFORMATION Page. 6
Calendar, Slideshow, Histogram, Bright/Dark area, Resize,
Trimming, Index
Digital Filter Rec. mode: Toy camera, High contrast, Soft, Star burst,
Retro, Extract colour, Fish eye, Custom
Playback: Toy camera, High contrast, Soft, Star burst, Retro,
Extract colour, Illustration(Pastel, Water colour),
Fish Eye, HDR, B&W, Sepia, Colour, Slim, Miniature,
Brightness, Base Tweaking, Custom
Focusing
System Type TTL phase difference detection, 11-point wide autofocus
system (SAFOX VIII)
Focus Mode AF.A(auto), AF.S(single, with focus lock), AFC(
continuous)*, Manual focus
* Auto Picture and Picture mode: only when the Action mode
is selected.
* Scene mode: only when the Kids, Pet, Stage lighting and
Night snap mode are selected.
* P/Sv/Tv/Av/M/B: AF.A, AF.S or AF.C selectable
Focus Point 5-point auto, 11-point auto, AF point select, Centre
AF assist lamp available (by Built-in Flash)
Exposure
Control Metering System TTL open-aperture 16-segment metering (coupled with lens
and AF information)
Metering Mode (1) Multi-segment metering (2) Centre-weighted metering (3)
Spot metering
Exposure Range EV1-21.5（Standard Output Sensitivity 200 50mmF1.4）
Modes (1) Auto Picture mode (2) Picture mode (3) Scene mode (4)
Program AE (5) Sensitivity-Priority AE
(6) Shutter-Priority AE (7) Aperture-Priority AE (8) Metered
Manual (9) Bulb
Picture mode Portrait, Landscape, Macro, Action, Night scene portrait,
Standard Flash-Off
Scene mode Night Scene, Surf & Snow, Food, Sunset, Kids, Pet,
Candlelight, Museum,
Stage lighting*, Night snap* *The image is fixed to only
JPEG.
Exposure
Compensation ±3EV (0.5EV steps or 0.3EV steps)
Auto-bracketing 3 frames within range of ±0.5EV, ±1.0EV, ±1.5EV (0.5EV
steps) or ±0.3EV, ±0.7EV, ±1.0EV (0.3EV steps)
AE Lock This function can be allocated to AF button in Menu.
Shutter Shutter Type Electronically controlled vertical-run focal plane shutter
Shutter Speed Auto: 1/6000 – 30 sec. and bulb, Manual: 1/6000 – 30 sec.,
and bulb
Drive Modes Continuous
shooting
Single-frame , Continuous (Hi, Lo), Self-timer (12s, 2s),
Remote control (0s, 3s), Auto bracket
approx. 4.7 fps, sequence: 17 frame (JPEG and Continuous
(Hi)) 5 frame (RAW)
approx. 2 fps , sequence: until the memory card becomes
full (JPEG and Continuous (Lo)) 11 frame (RAW)
Built-in Flash Type Built-in retractable P-TTL pop-up flash
Guide number approx. 16 (Standard Output Sensitivity 200/m) 12 (Standard
Output Sensitivity 100/m)
Angle of view
coverage 28mm wide-angle (equivalent to 35mm)
Flash Exposure
Compensation -2 EV – +1EV (1/2EV steps)
Flash
Synchronisati
on
Hot shoe, sync-speed: 1/180 sec., P-TTL, high-speed-sync,
wireless-sync with PENTAX dedicated flash
Image
Stabiliser Type Image sensor shift mechanism, Max 4 steps
Dust Removal Type Image sensor moving mechanism and SP Coating
Time World Time 75 cities (28 time zones)
Data Folder Folder Name Date (100_MMDD･･･), PENTX (100PENTX, 101PENTX･･･)
Power
Sources Four AA (lithium, alkaline, and rechargeable Ni-MH)
batteries
Optional AC adapter also available.
Battery Life
Number of
recordable images
(Lithium)
approx. 1900 (Normal Recording)*2 , 1100 (50% use
Flash)*1
Playback time approx. 680 minutes*2
Number of
recordable images
(Ni-MH 1900mAh)
approx. 640 (Normal Recording)*2 , 420 (50% use Flash)*1
Playback time approx. 390 minutes*2
Number of
recordable images
(Alkaline)
approx. 210 (Normal Recording)*2 , 130 (50% use Flash)*1
Playback time approx. 350 minutes*2
Interfaces USB/Video
USB 2.0 (HI-SPEED)
Video Output Compatible with NTSC and PAL formats
Lens Mount PENTAX KAF2 bayonet mount
Usable Lens PENTAX KAF3-, KAF2-, KAF-, and KA-mount lenses
* Power zoom function is not available. K-mount lenses
usable with restrictions.
S-mount lenses, 67/645 lenses usable with adapter and with
restrictions.
Dimensions approx. 122.5(W) x 91.5(H) x 67.5(D)mm (4.8 x 3.6 x 2.7
inches)
Weight approx. 515g (18.2 oz.) without battery and SD memory card
approx. 580g (20.5 oz.) loaded and ready with lithium battery
and SD memory card
approx. 615g (21.7 oz.) loaded and ready with alkaline
battery and SD memory card
Included
accessories USB cable I-USB7, Strap O-ST53, AA lithium battery 4pcs. ,
CD-ROM S-SW99
Eyecup FQ , Hot shoe cover FK, Body mount cover
Bundle
software PENTAX Digital Camera Utility 4.0
*1 Recording capacity shows approximate number of shots recorded during CIPA-compliant testing.
Actual performance may vary depending on operating conditions.
*2 According to the result of PENTAX in-house testing.
