Check the dedicated Pentax *ist D interactive forumThe dpnow Pentax *ist D interactive feature is now open
Welcome to this dpnow interactive feature on the new Pentax *ist D digital SLR. An interactive feature is an idea we have borrowed from our friend, Vincent Oliver, over at
Photo-i.
What is an interactive feature?
Instead of presenting you with a finished article, fait-accomplis, an interactive feature is updated over time. An interactive feature has its own dedicated forum for feedback and discussion. This means you can comment on the article and help influence its direction as it unfolds. The author of an interactive feature will also use the forum to announce the latest additions to the article.
So what's new?
13th October: A production Olympus E-1 has just arrived and so I'm now embarking on a series of
comparisons of the E-1, *ist D and Canon EOS-10D. The earlier sole comparison with the 10D only is now being updated to include comparisons with the E-1 as well.
25th September: Our camera only arrived yesterday. It was supplied with a 24-90mm f/3.5-4.5 Pentax SMC FA zoom. I've been quite busy doing other scheduled work, but I have been able to grab some time today to shoot some initial photos using the camera in the afternoon autumn sunshine we've had the fortune to enjoy here in southern England for the last couple of days.
I also currently have a Canon EOS-10D in the office. This is probably
the camera the Pentax *ist D will be compared with the most. So to start the ball rolling, I've produced some back to back comparison shots for you to peruse.
The cameras are shipping now!
dpnow regular and experienced hobby photographer and software engineer, Sophie Wilson, is a very welcome contributor to this interactive feature. Sophie's own *ist D camera arrived a day before ours did and she has very kindly offered to provide some independent hands-on feedback. This will be in several instalments.
So don't forget, this feature is all about interactivity. YOU can dictate how the feature develops. Get your questions answered on the dedicated discussion forum (see link below) and suggest what you'd like us to cover as the feature develops and new sections are added!
Check the dedicated Pentax *ist D interactive forum
A look at the Pentax *ist D back to back with a Canon EOS-10Da and an Olympus E-1
Check the dedicated Pentax *ist D interactive forum
Here is a collection of sample images and a comparison with Canon's EOS-10D and the Olympus E-1. Scroll down to see pictures of the 10D, E-1 and *ist D side by side, high ISO comparisons between the *ist D and 10D and some general outdoor sample shots.
All the *ist D shots were taken using a Pentax 24-90mm f/3.5-4.5 SMC FA zoom and the 10D shots were taken using a 10 year old Canon 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 USM II zoom.
E-1, 10D and *ist D side by side
Here, to start with, as requested by
John, I've compared some views of the the E-1, Canon EOS-10D and the Pentax *ist D - from left to right in that order:
Above are the three cameras fitted with various lenses supplied. The Olympus E-1 has a 14-54 (28-108 equiv) f/2.8-3.5 zoom, the Canon EOS-10D has a 50mm (80mm equiv) f/1.4 standard lens and the Pentax *ist D is fitted with a 24-90 (36-135 equiv) f/3.5-4.5 zoom.
Here are the three cameras sans lenses. The E-1 has a marginally taller body than the EOS-10D, but the 10D is easily the widest. The *ist D is just, well, small! Despite having a substantially smaller sensor than either the 10D or *ist D the E-1 has a lens mount almost as large as the *ist D's.
Viewed from the grip side, the E-1 has the most sculpted hand grip of all, helped by the height of the body. Both the 10D and *ist-D fit less naturally into the grip of my right hand.
From the opposite side, you can see that the E-1 has the deepest body and it looks like the 10D is slightly slimmer than the otherwise diminutive *ist D.
This top view shows the relatively massive pentaprism/pop-up flash bulge on top of the 10D. The E-1's highly sculpted grip is also shown well here. Notice the relatively small status LCD of the *ist D.
Moving slightly back to reveal more of the rear of the camera. You can see the *ist D has an anti-reflection coating on its LCD viewscreen, while the EOS-10D doesn't. The E-1 has a removable plastic viewscreen protector, though the view through it when attached is acceptable.
And here is a full-on rear view, again accentuating the tall but narrow nature of the E-1 and it's highly sculpted grip.
ISO range Noise comparisons
Above is a 1:1 (100%) crop from the centre of the frame taken on the *ist D at ISO 200 (the lowest ISO setting possible with the *ist D, incidentally). No sharpening has been applied to the image out of the camera.
Here the same image crop has been sharpened with Photoshop USM at 100%.
Now the ISO has been boosted to 1600. No sharpening has been applied.
Again, this is ISO 1600, but the image has been sharpened.
Here is a Canon EOS-10D version of the same scene at ISO 1600, sharpened. The scene is slightly closer because I had to guess the matching field of views between the two cameras and the Pentax view turned out to be slightly wider than the Canon's zoom setting.
With and without auto-levels
Above you can see side by side shots of the same church steeple from each camera. In this instance, no levels adjustment has been applied at all.
Here we have the same scenes but with Photoshop auto-levels applied (individually to each image before they were joined).
Finally, a couple of general shots
The following have been re-sized and slightly sharpened by FSoft's Resize Magic, but otherwise no level alterations have been made.
This flower box was shot in direct late afternoon sunlight. The lens was zoomed to 68mm (102mm equivalent), f/9.5, 1/350th sec, ISO 200.
In portrait mode this time, the lens was set at 29mm (43.5mm equivalent), f8, 1/500th sec, ISO 200.
If you have any comments, click on the link below and share your thoughts with all of us on the dpnow *ist D dedicated forum!
Check the dedicated Pentax *ist D interactive forum
