PCPhoto
Top D-SLRs Under $1,000Six cameras that deliver hot shots for a fistful of dollars |
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PENTAX K200D The K200D shares many features with the top-of-the-line K20D, including effective weather- and dust-resistant construction, a sensor-shift shake-reduction system that works with all lenses, a sensor-dust removal system and a handy RAW button that lets you switch from JPEG to one of two RAW formats (Pentax PEF and Adobe’s DNG). It has an excellent 11-point AF system, 16-segment metering (plus center-weighted and spot) and expanded dynamic range (which brings out detail in highlights while maintaining it in the shadow areas). Shutter speeds range from 30 to 1⁄4000 sec,. plus B, and you can capture action at up to 2.8 fps. TTL flash is built in, but you have the option for wireless off-camera flash possible with Pentax accessory flash units. The K200D features a 10.2-megapixel CCD sensor (vs. the K20D’s 14.6-megapixel CMOS unit), a pentamirror viewfinder (the K20D has a pentaprism) and AA battery power (instead of the K20D’s rechargeable lithium-ion unit, though the four Energizer AA lithium batteries provided with the K200D are good for some 1,100 shots). While the K200D lacks the K20D’s multiple exposure/intervalometer capability and unique shutter- and aperture-priority AE mode, the K200D offers a host of consumer-oriented Picture and Scene modes, which quickly and automatically set the camera for shooting many popular subject types. Pentax has produced many lenses over the years, and the K200D can use them all, including old screw-mount and medium-format versions (via adapters). For maximum operation, it’s best to stick with the current lenses, which range from a 10-17mm fisheye zoom and 12-24mm wide zoom to a 300mm ƒ/4 super-telephoto. With the sensor’s 1.5x focal-length factor, that means focal lengths equivalent to 15-450mm on a 35mm camera. The newest DA*, DA Limited and DA lenses provide the best performance.
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