Photo : Pentax K20D 14.6MP Digital SLR Camera with Shake Reduction (Body Only) |
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Rating: - * K20D ... This is a great camera! At 400 ISO and below it takes amazingly detailed pictures without any visable noise even if photos are cropped. The learning curve to use the custom functions is a bit steep, however. It comes with a thick manual and I'm still learning all the functions. I already had a lot of 35mm pentax lenses and its compatiblity with my existing lenses are the main reason I chose this camera over another make. It works great with A series lenses with the lense set to the Auto setting. When the lense apeture ring is set to a F-stop setting manually or if you are using an older lense without the Auto setting, you have to go into the camera's custom setting program and enable the camera for use with the apeture ring set manually for the camera to function. As far as I can tell, when the camera is operated with a m lense the apeture is not stopped down when you take a picture- you have to shoot these lenses wide open. The camera's exposue info indicated when I took a photo of a landscape scene at ISO 200 with my 17mm tokina lense apeture set to F16 that the scene was exposed with a shutter speed of 1/4000 second which should have been way underexposed but the photo appears normal with the normal depth of field you'd expect from this small an apeture. The camera's live view and optical preview modes won't function when I have an M series lense mounted on the camera either. These are minor inconvienances though as the camera's function with A series and later lenses are flawless. In all, I would recomend this camera to anyone looking for a high quality D-SLR camera, especially if you already own one or more pentax 35mm lenses and you are looking to expand to digital photography. Rating: - * Amazing camera !!! ... I got this camera in Sep.2007, as a trade-in for my Canon Digital Rebel 8mp, which I had for two years. I wasn't very happy with Canon, although I have two powershots, which are excellent(A80,95) But Rebel wasn't. I explored at least 10 reviews on K20D, and all without exception were outstanding. Indeed, the camera is the best I had since Nikon F90X which I purchased in 1996, just at the beginning of the digital revolution. Most people are absolutely brainwashed by the media biased towards Pentax. Nikon and Canon invest astronomical amounts of money to advertise and buy the media.It's simply brainwashing. Pentax is THE BEST camera for the money you can buy. Pentax is also feature rich camera, produces stunning images without the need to photoshop at all. Highly highly reccomend! Rating: - * Excellent IQ ... Very nice upgrade to K10d. Better detail in shadow areas. Great sharpness and texture to objects. Rating: - * Surpassed All Expectations! Bought instead of Nikon 300 or Canon ... First, a quick disclaimer - I'm not a pro but probably fall into the serious amateur category after falling in love with my old Minolta Maxxum 7000 over 20 years ago. I'm the person behind the camera at all the parties and occassionally get the exceptional shot worthy of a few "oooh and ahhhs". I've also been holding out on buying anything more than a simple toss around digital until the cost and quality of dslr's were to my liking. As the price and quality of 10+ mp dslr's are now in the comfort range I decided to chuck the point and shoot junk I've been making do with and began shopping in earnest. After testing the Canon the speed seemed nice but I wasn't impressed so I narrowed it down to the Nikon 300 - it seemed to have everything I was searching for in a versatile camera. After adding decent quality lenses, storage, a few extras etc the price was going to come in at roughly $3,500 on sale...not bad but enough to make me take one last look around. On spur of the moment my better half said take a look at Pentax - they have been around forever and are known for making above average lens. So, the K20D pops up with a 14+ mp on sale for $800 or 1/2 the Nikon...so far so good but I was a bit nervous about ordering it despite the good reviews. I spent the better part of the day researching the camera and decided to give it a shot [sorry - bad pun]. Ordered the K20D ($800), 8 gb card ($35), battery grip ($120), extra battery pack ($20), remote ($20) tripod ($18 on special), camera strap (free promo) and the Pentax 18-250 mm lense ($350). For $1350 I now have a very versatile camera for almost a 1/3 of the price of the Nikon....suffice to say based on price alone I'm one happy shopper. UPDATE: also added the Tamron 90mm Macro with 1:1 for another $365 after rebate. Good additional lens with a few issues (see my review on it separately). Between the two - have a nice 1:1 macro and portrait lens with a terrific "all around" lens...also added several filters [uv, polarizing, close up] an inexpensive tripod and another inexpensive monopod plus some excellent books...all for less than the cost of the Nikon with one lens! Now, for the performance, look feel etc. The 14+ mp really make a difference - resolution is excellent and compares favorable to film. For the first time I don't feel like I'm missing anything major. This camera takes some beautiful shots even with my own limited testing. The weight and feel are very nice - everything is ergonomically correct at least for my hands, intuitive access on all controls, solid and best of all - sealed! Screen size is adequte and I really appreciate the ability to set colors, font size and other adaptations to fit my needs. Diopter is also adjustable. The lens is reviewed apart but was a great all around choice - responsive and adequate although I intend to purchase additional dedicated/primary lens options soon. One thing I REALLY like about this Pentax is the backward compatibility - Pentax DSLR's allow the use of older Pentax lens so eBay and other options become a great way to find a quality lens at an affordable price. Since my old pricey Minolta lens' are no longer of any use that is a big bonus at least until Sony puts something decent on the market. In the meantime, this was a good starter lense [18-250 mm] that works well with the camera. The menu and pre-sets are easy to use and versatile although I quickly found myself preferring manual - that is just a personal bias however. Preview was easy to use. There are a lot of negative mention regarding the Live screen option...having been playing with slr's for 20+ years I've never used the screen to take photos with but tested it for a few minutes and found it easy enough to use - just not sensitive to take a quality photo. It is possible to zoom in the live preview mode (contrary to what a few have mentioned) but all in all - it's not a feature I use enough to make a valid statement about. The only other "flaw" that makes the camera less than perfect is the 3fps - it is substantially slower than other DSLR's on the market. Since I rarely shoot sports or have need for speed - it isn't a major consideration for me however, I would have gone with the Nikon if it were. This camera is able to shoot rapid series of shots in low quality settings of up to 21 fps - a fun little addition for playing around with but with a quality so low it isn't going to give more than email quality. A few things I REALLY liked about the camera - other than price, resolutoin and intuitive design were several of the upgraded features. In addition to sealing both the camera and battery pack, the ability to take shots in raw and jpeg format at the same time is a great option. Likewise, this is fully compatible with adobe format so saves need for changing formats or fooling around with various options - just set on dual use and go. The battery pack with an extended memory card expand this to a considerable level. I was able to get about 750 pictures off just one battery using a flash part of the time and high resolution settings. The battery pack is very ergonomic, adds a battery back-up that is easy to switch and also allows storage for an additional card and remote control. When fully charged I expect to put at least 1500 photos on the card and battery before changing out - easily. The camera comes with battery and charger, inexpensive camera strap - neigther were mentioned when I was buying so I ordered a battery charger that had to return. One additional note - in addition to 10% off the price of a decent/versatile lens - be sure to register before the end of the year. Pentax is offeringa FREE upgrade to 3 year warranty on this purhcase!!! That beats all others hands-down. In addition to the pentax 18-250 mm lens, I also purchased the Tamron 90 mm macro which has a $90 rebate AND 6 year warranty right now. Good stuff! Good deals - even if Amazon has lowered the price $35 since I bought this a week ago [argh] and offers a free camera case that I missed [double argh]. Still very pleased. Will try to review again after having owned/used but so far REALLY pleased with price, performance and resolution of the camera. Rating: - * Great RESOLUTION. ... I'm a Wildlife Photographer. This is a great Camera. A little too good for the standard Pentax lenses. The resolution that the Camera supports is wasted on the optics of standard lenses. If you buy this camera, spend the extra 3 or 4 hundred dollars for the Pentax SMC DA* Series 16-50mm f/2.8 ED AL IF SDM, or the Pentax SMC DA* Series 50-135mm f/2.8 ED IF SDM lenses. The standard lenses are great for the K20d's predecessor, the K10D, but not the K20D. If you want to get the most from the K20D, a very Sharp lens will take full advantage of the resolution it supports. I have an older Pentax 100mm Macro lens that is allot clearer than the Package lenses that are normally sold with the K20D. Regardless of the lens you use on the K20D, make sure you take advantage of the Camera's AF (Auto Focus) adjustment to fine tune each lens with the camera. I have several lenses so I keep a note pad with the camera lenses with the correct AF adjustment setting for each lens. I was able to tweak a little more sharpness from the 2 standard lenses I bought, but they still aren't as sharp as the above 3 lenses. I've shot over 3,000 pics from the Camera in just 1 month so far, and I'm ecstatic about the Camera's capabilities. Make sure you buy a SD card with enough space to meet your' requirements. I bought 2 Transcend 16GB SD cards, and I am so Glad I did. I love the large LCD on the camera, to review my pictures. The only cons I can see on this camera are; The LCD Viewer works poorly in outdoor lighting situations, even with the brightness at max. You need to find a well shaded spot to review your pics. Not a huge inconvenience for me, considering the camera's other advantages. Buy an extra battery too. I have 3 batteries total, since I am away from recharging sources for days at a time. If you're a Portrait Photographer, you'll like the camera's Bundled "Remote Assistant" Software that allows you to see your image on a Monitor as you shoot your pictures. |
 The nüvi 360 comes with hands-free bluetooth wireles technology. See side view. |
 Browse your stored pictures with an easy-to-use JPEG viewer. |
 The device sports a handy MP3 player, letting you play songs stored on SD memory cards. |
In addition, you can easily look-up and dial numbers from your personalized phone book or from your phone's call history log. Don't know the phone number for your destination? Simply find and dial it from nüvi's database of more than six million points of interest -- including hotels, restaurants, stores, and attractions.
Navigation and Entertainment with Ease
For starters, the nüvi 360 includes a high-sensitivity integrated GPS receiver that offers exceptional performance and reception. The unit's flip-up antenna includes an MCX-type connector for optional external GPS antenna connection. Preloaded software features maps of Europe or North America, and it includes automatic routing, 2D or 3D map perspective, turn-by-turn voice directions that speak street names, and a fingertip touch screen interface -- making navigation as easy as it gets.
But navigation is just the beginning. Like the nüvi 350, the nüvi 360 also includes many entertainment and travel tools including an MP3 player, audio book player, JPEG picture viewer, travel alarm, and currency converters.
The nüvi 360 features a bright, 2.8 x 2.1-inch TFT display with white backlight for easy readability. At 3.87 x 2.91 x 0.87-inches (WxHxD) and just 5.1 ounces, the unit is small enough to be placed on the dashboard with the included suction mount, or into your pocket for easy transportability. The unit also features Garmin Lock -- an advanced anti-theft feature that disables the unit from performing any functions until you type in a specific four-digit PIN or take the unit to a predetermined location. A built-in lithium ion battery will give you up to eight hours of power, and an included 12/24 volt adapter cable will let you run the navigator off your vehicle's power. An AC battery charger is also included.
A built-in Travel Kit that includes sample MP3s and audio books will get you started with entertainment, and with the unit's SD memory card expansion slot you can add optional software, such as language and travel guides. A USB port is also included for loading and updating data.
What's in the Box
Gamin nüvi 360, Preloaded City Navigator NT North America or Europe (full coverage), vehicle suction cup mount, AC charger, 12/24 volt adapter cable, dashboard disk, USB interface cable, carrying case, owner's manual, and quick reference guide.
 This pocket sized personal travel assistant has a super bright, sunlight-readable color screen. See side view. |
 Easy control via the simple touch screen. |
 Weather reporting available with bright, colorful graphics. |
Speaking of keeping you safe, the nüvi 680 lets you make hands-free calls so you can talk freely during your worry-free driving. By integrating Bluetooth wireless technology with a built-in microphone and speaker, you can pair your nüvi with any compatible Bluetooth phone and talk hands-free while staying focused on the road. You no longer have to fumble with your phone's handset to answer a call or dial a number, just tap the 680's screen and you're instantly connected. And with 1-touch dialing for your POIs, you can quickly and conveniently call ahead to make reservations or get needed information.
 Simply insert a memory card to enjoy pictures, songs, and audiobooks. |
 You can also use the mini-USB port for tranferring files directly to the memory card. |
In additional to all this functionality, the nüvi 680 includes many must-have entertainment and travel tools such as an MP3 player, an audio book player (subscription to Audible.com required), and a JPEG picture viewer so you can take your favorite music and pictures with you wherever you go. This unit also features a world travel clock with time zones, a currency converter, a measurement converter, and a calculator so that wherever you travel it will be easy to know what you are getting and keep track of your costs. The MP3 player lets you browse music by artist, album, and/or song, while the optional audio books may be purchased from Audible.com which features over 70,000 hours of audio programs. What's more, the nüvi 680 allows further customization via optional software such as a travel guide, savings programs and language translation on plug-and-play SD cards for all your travel needs.
The Garmin nüvi 680 comes with a built-in, high-sensitivity, WAAS-enabled GPS receiver, and lets you view and operate it via its bright, LCD TFT touch-screen, wide-screen display that measures 4.3 inches (diagonal) and has a resolution of 480 x 272 pixels with 64,000 colors and a white backlight. As a whole, the nüvi 680 measures 4.9 x 2.9 x 0.9 inches (W x H x D), and weighs only 6.2 ounces for easy portability. This unit provides you with from three to seven hours of battery life (depending on use) via its rechargeable lithium-ion battery, and comes with Garmin Lock, which is an anti-theft feature to protect your investment. While you can add software via the SD card slot, the Garmin nüvi 680 also lets you interface via high-speed USB for loading data, though users should note that, like most USB mass storage devices, this unit is not compatible with Windows 95, Windows 98 or Windows Me.
 The nüvi 680 comes ready to go right out of the box with preloaded City Navigator NT street maps, including a hefty points of interest (POIs) database with hotels, restaurants, fuel stops, ATMs, and more. |
