Note: this camera was first sold in
Jan 2008.
There may be newer versions available.
Pentax K20D
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HQ Grade: B
| A | is outstanding and exceptional, rated in the top 10% of digital cameras. |
| B | means they are good, with some standout features. |
| C | means they are mediocre, and probably more trouble than they are worth. |
| D & F | mean they are absolutely awful or old. Avoid at all costs. |
- 5 out of 5
- 5 out of 5
Submit your own Pentax K20D review!
This camera is ranked
- 18th of 50 in SLR/Professional
- 3rd of 6 in 14 Megapixels
- 2nd of 29 in Pentax
- 24th of 105 in $200 - $300
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November 20, 2008 2:43 AM
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November 20, 2008 9:08 AM
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That is not an easy answer.
First of all... battery life. All the cameras but the K200 use lithium batteries... and all of them can fire at least 500 shots with one charge, but the K200 use AA batteries, that will allow you to shoot up to 1400 photos, and you can always have some extra AA you can buy anywhere for emergencies. You can't with the other ones, unless you buy another 40 dollars battery.
About image quality. Nowadays the best cameras are the Pentax K20 and the Nikon D90. That doesn't mean that the other cameras are bad, but it means that they are a tad worse. Don't decide just because image quality, because there's little difference, specially if you shoot RAW (as I assume since you would be shooting landscapes and wildlife). From a sharpness point of view, you will love the K20's 14 megapixels, as I do. But in normal printing situations, they are useless. High ISO... difficult to say. The Canon 40D is quite good... but it's only better than the Pentax K200 (which is the worst... but by a very low margin). In third place, it come the Canon 450D... it's not that it has a lot of noise, but that it loses colors when reaching ISO 1600... while the Nikon D90 and Pentax K20 do not. I cannot say which one is the best of those two... but still, there is not much difference even between all of them.
The important thing here... is the strong body. The Canon 450 is a toy... move on. The other ones, are more or less the same. The Canon 40D is made out of magnesium... but it has only seals in the battery door. The Nikon D90 is not weather sealed... and the Pentax K20 and K200 are both weather sealed. The last three are made of high quality plastics, and trust me... you wouldn't tell the difference between this plastics and the Canon 40D (if you can... go to a store and feel the quality materials). But... for a fully weather sealed body, you will have to buy a weather sealed lens... if not, sand, dust or water can enter via the mount. But, if you don't... it still gives you more protection.
Hope this is helpful,
Alan Schamber.
First of all... battery life. All the cameras but the K200 use lithium batteries... and all of them can fire at least 500 shots with one charge, but the K200 use AA batteries, that will allow you to shoot up to 1400 photos, and you can always have some extra AA you can buy anywhere for emergencies. You can't with the other ones, unless you buy another 40 dollars battery.
About image quality. Nowadays the best cameras are the Pentax K20 and the Nikon D90. That doesn't mean that the other cameras are bad, but it means that they are a tad worse. Don't decide just because image quality, because there's little difference, specially if you shoot RAW (as I assume since you would be shooting landscapes and wildlife). From a sharpness point of view, you will love the K20's 14 megapixels, as I do. But in normal printing situations, they are useless. High ISO... difficult to say. The Canon 40D is quite good... but it's only better than the Pentax K200 (which is the worst... but by a very low margin). In third place, it come the Canon 450D... it's not that it has a lot of noise, but that it loses colors when reaching ISO 1600... while the Nikon D90 and Pentax K20 do not. I cannot say which one is the best of those two... but still, there is not much difference even between all of them.
The important thing here... is the strong body. The Canon 450 is a toy... move on. The other ones, are more or less the same. The Canon 40D is made out of magnesium... but it has only seals in the battery door. The Nikon D90 is not weather sealed... and the Pentax K20 and K200 are both weather sealed. The last three are made of high quality plastics, and trust me... you wouldn't tell the difference between this plastics and the Canon 40D (if you can... go to a store and feel the quality materials). But... for a fully weather sealed body, you will have to buy a weather sealed lens... if not, sand, dust or water can enter via the mount. But, if you don't... it still gives you more protection.
Hope this is helpful,
Alan Schamber.
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November 20, 2008 10:56 PM
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March 8, 2009 6:18 PM
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