The Pentax K10D is a 10-mega pixel camera with a 2.5-inch LCD screen. Cnet has rated it 7.7 (almost a great big 8 ) out of 10, saying: “A great feature set for the price, pro-level customization, and excellent photo quality make the Pentax K10D a bargain amateur dSLR. Only unremarkable performance holds it back from joining the pack leaders”.

They have also written a review of the K10D where they write: “If you’re looking to start afresh with a dSLR system but don’t have a lot of cash to plunk down, the Pentax K10D may be your budget’s dream come true. True, there are a lot of sub-$1,000 dSLRs out there today, but the K10D offers features that you don’t normally see in this price range: a 10-megapixel CCD with integrated lens-shift Shake Reduction technology; a solidly built dust- and weather-resistant body; a full set of exposure modes, including Bulb and external sync; interchangeable focusing screens; and an 11-point selectable autofocus.”

“On the other hand, though the K10D performs well for its class, it doesn’t really stand out. Its time to first shot and typical shutter lag of about half a second come in around the average, and difficulty autofocusing in dim light results in a 1.6 second lag in suboptimal environments. At half a second, JPEG and raw shot-to-shot speeds also fall in the middle of the pack, though its 3.1fps continuous-shooting clip elevates it a bit above the budget crowd. Occasionally I ran into focus lock issues–usually during close-ups–where it would rock back and forth quickly for a few iterations, as if trying to decide whether or not it was satisfied. Most of the time I fell into a rhythm with it, as you do with any good camera, but occasionally missed a shot waiting for it to catch up.

As with most LCDs, the color and exposure reproduction on the K10D’s 2.5-inch screen can’t be trusted; it’s so contrasty, in fact, that I couldn’t really judge whether the flash was operating the way I wanted. You just have to close your eyes and trust the histograms.

If you’re looking for a first dSLR or a no-brainer kit, the Pentax K10D may be too much for you, as in too much power and too expensive. But if you want to buy into an inexpensive system with a really good amateur dSLR at its hub, the K10D hits the mark. “