Pentax *ist DL with 18-55mm kit lens review

Here's my hands on review of my new Pentax *ist DL with DA 18-55mm kit lens I got for my birthday.

PRICE.
Can't be beat! Got this photo taking machine for $480 online and could not pass up the deal. I originally was pining for a new Nikon D200 with 18-200mm VR lens, but then had major repairs required in my house. Now on a budget, I started looking online at all the DSLR's, including Pentax. Pentax stumbled out of the gate with their initial DSLR offerings (no digital lenses, no IS lenses, istD more expensive than Canon Rebel) but has rapidly put their act together. I could not pass up this deal for under $500, with the ability to work with my old bag of lenses and gear. Perhaps the marketing agreement with Samsung has infused Pentax with much-needed cash to focus on its roots- a great optics company. PENTAX IS BACK, BABY!

PACKAGING
Nice box. The cam and the lens are in individual boxes, put together in one larger 'kit' box about the size of a shoebox.


MANUAL
Not too bad, but obviously suffering from the fact that it is translated from Japanese rather than written by a technical writer from PENTAX USA. Example: it lists the fact that you can use 'K' and 'M' mount lenses in a chart, but does not give you any useful information as to HOW. Information on how to use old-school manual lenses with your DL can be found here.
Also cannot figure out how the AF spot focus works. Is it on during AE-Lock by default? If you choose AF-spot in settings, does this carry over to all modes? I'll have to figure this one out b/c the manual on this topic reads like a choose-your-own-adventure novel from when I was a kid.

BODY
Solid. Feels like a substantial tool in the photographer's hand, rather than a flimsy plasticy toy. A lot smaller than the D70s, and can fit into a jacket pocket or purse with a normal prime lens (DA 40mm f/2.8 review to follow soon!).

Pentax *ist DL. Lens hood and hand model not shown.

CONTROLS. Nice layout. I was originally a bit put off by the fact that there is no 'one touch' control of ISO, White Balance, and Quality settings. However, all you have to do is touch the function button once and one more touch of the four way button (north for Drive Mode, west for WB, east for ISO, south for Flash mode) and you are there.
DOF Prievew lever has moved to the outer ring of the shutter. I liked having it to the right of the lens but this location is ok, too. Kudos to Pentax to include this function on their entry-level SLR. They are the only ones to do this under $500 that I am aware of.
Flash control position is awkward. Pentax was the first SLR manufacturer to put a TTL flash on its SLRs with the SF1/SF10 back in the 80's, and for this reason my first SLR was the SF10. The flash popup button was right above the lens where your left thumb could find it without taking your eye out of the viewfinder.



I'm sure it saved some cost and weight by putting it on the back with the rest of the control buttons on the back panel, but C'MON, having the flash-up button on the back panel is CLOWN-SH!T, MAN! I expect this on a point-n-shoot, but not an otherwise fully capable SLR (note that Nikon D70 has the flash button right where the left thumb can reach it above the lens). In Pentax's defense, the flash pops up on its own in most Auto modes and you don't need to touch this button anyway.

SCREEN.
It's HUGE (2.5 inches)! I've already put a palmpilot screenprotector on mine to prevent scratches and schmutz from my greasy nose from ruining the LCD screen. Totally dwarfs the D70S.

BATTERIES
Love the AA's! I hate having to carry an extra battery and charger whenever I go on the road for my gadgets. Bravo to Pentax for sticking with AA's and not forcing the consumer to buy another $80 spare battery and charger.

VIEWFINDER.
The DL viewfinder is ok, but rather dim when compared to my workhorse KX with its pentaprism and ground glass viewfinder optics. I compared this to a friend's Nikon D70S and it is about the same quality. I also got my hands on a DS the other day and the DS is somewhat brighter (bot not $200 brighter!).
I found it tough to manual focus up close on pets/people with the matte screen on the DL (test shots with manual 50mm/f1.4 lens to follow in a few days). The DL lets you know with the familar Pentax 'double beep' and green hexagon indicator if it thinks you are in focus. However, shooting with my old M50/1.4 lens up close showed less than satisfactory results. On one shot, it said I was in focus, but I had focused on the top of the pet's head (rather than the eyes).

FPS
I've shot about 3 fps in Manual, JPEG mode (don't wait for AE/AF). Pretty quick, but leaves a bit to be desired if you are trying to shoot fast changing action (kids hitting tee balls). Fortunately it is digital, so you can burn as many shots as you need and delete the bad ones later.

AF
Pentax still uses body-driven worm gear AF unlike Nikon and Canon who place the motor on the lens. This may be a bit slower but I cannot complain on the speed available on the kit lens. Did not miss the 11-point (or whatever) AF system available on the DS/DS2. I always pick the one spot I want in focus, meter off of it, and pan around to recompose. 3-point is more than enough for me. Otherwise I am always worried about my composition being 'outsmarted' by the camera.


Pentax SMC DA 18-55mm kit Lens.
Feels good in the hand. Solid build quality with metal lens mount and plastic body. 52mm lens thread. Front element does NOT rotate. The build quality and workmanship are very good for a 'kit' lens under $100 (with the body). Some manufacturers sell you an SLR kit with a junk lens that has a plastic body mount and rotating front element. I'll have to get a step-up ring to use my 58mm polarizer filter from my old Pentax lenses, though. 5.6 maximum aperture at the tele end is a bit slow, but these new DSLRs supposedly allow you to shoot up to ISO 400 and 800 with minimal lost resolution. Should not be an issue. In a probable cost-saving move, Pentax has gone the way of all other SLR manufacturers and ditched the aperture ring on its DA- series lenses. I guess I'll get used to the scrollwheel to change aperture :(

TEST SHOTS

(notes: 1 - EXIF data embedded in each shot in the file if you wish to view it. Click on each image to enlarge.
2 - I am pointed just to the left of the afternoon sun in most of these shots.
3 - I shoot pix of landscapes, kids, and pets, so these are what my somewhat subjective test shots reflect. Pix of 3AM-tv-station-test-patterns or a box of crayons can be found elsewhere if you need them.)



18mm f/3.5 1/3000s

Looks good, some light fall-off, one flare spot (L Center).

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18mm f/22 1/60s

Sharp, but FLARE CITY! I'll have to use the inclluded tullip bulb hood (or my hand) if I shoot wide angle, wide open into the sun.

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35mm f/4.5 1/3000s

Sharp in center, soft lower left corner (see palm trees)

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35mm f/22 1/125s

Sharp, no flare, palm trees in LL corner sharp.

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55mm f/5.6 1/2000s

No flare, AF chose cherry tree focus, not infinity.

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55mm f/22 1/180
Minimal light fallof, no flare, sharp all around.

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BOKEH
I'm a bit of a bokeh snob. When I look at a close-up photo I expect blurry discs and circles in the background, not double-vision, ellipses, and out-of-focus donuts.



55mm f/5.6 1/120s Nice and smooth, a bit elliptical on the edges (see zoom box). Overall good bokeh at the 55mm telephoto end.

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18mm f/3.5 1/500s
Bokeh good in the center, not so good beer-goggle/double vision (see chair zoom) and donuts (see cherry blossoms) on the edges. Conclusion: Not so good at the wide macro end, but I cannot think of any time I have desired to compose a shot using wide macro.

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BARREL/PINCUSHION
Cannnot tell from my test shots b/c there is no horizon or leading vertical line. Don't really care, though, b/c barrel/pincushion can be easily post-processed out.

CONCLUSION
What a great kit! Sure, there are some things I would prefer Pentax had done differently, but no complaints for fully functional DSLR kit for under $500! I'm sure some compromises were necessary to achieve this price point. Coming soon: Tests with my old-school metal MF lenses and the new DA 40mm f/2.8 lens!