PENTAX DIGITAL SLR

Black K-x body only

Code No. 16701

TheseareEuropeanCodes(excl.UK)
EAN 0027075159433 EAN 0027075159440 EAN 0027075159457

Black K-x + DA 18-55mmL

Code No. 16301 Code No. 16201
Black K-x + 18-55 DAL + 50-200 DAL
White K-x + White 18-55 DAL EAN 0027075159617 Code No. 16302 Navy Blue K-x + Black 18-55 DAL Code No. 16394 EAN 0027075160538 Red K-x + Red 18-55 DAL Code No. 16303 EAN 0027075159624

SUPPLIED ACCESSORIES

USB CABLE I-USBX LITHIUM AA BATTERIES STRAP O-ST53 SOFTWARE: S-SW99 : PENTAX DIGITAL CAMERA UTILITY 4.0
TREMELY COMPREHENSIVE AND EASY

MEGAPIXEL

SENSOR

- 23.6X15.8

MM, HIGH-

OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES

DA 55-300MM TELE-LENS AF200-FG FLASH O-ME53 MAGNIFYING EYECUP (1.2X) NEOPRENE CAMERA CASE LADYS CAMERA BAG SLR MULTIBAG KHAKI SLR BAG CROSSOVER BAG X-LARGE REMOTE CONTROL F NEOPRENE STRAP 2.7 PROTECTION FILMS AC ADAPTER KIT K-AC84H D-DC84 COUPLER AV CABLE I-VC28

39693 39262

PRIME II

IMAGING ENGINE PIXELS AT

HDTV-PROPORTION MOVIE 1280X720 LIVEVIEW

FACES AND DIRECT

FUNCTION, WITH FACE DETECTION OF UP TO
16 2,7 LCD SCREEN, 230 KDOTS
IN-BODY SHAKE REDUCTION 4.7

HIGH-SPEED

CONTINUOUS SHOOTING SEC MAX. TO

SHUTTER

1/6000

SENSITIVITY VERY

RANGE OF

ISO 122.5

FAST AUTOFOCUS,
SELECTABLE FOCUS POINTS X

COMPACT DESIGN:

DUST REMOVAL (DR)

SYSTEM

DYNAMIC RANGE ENHANCEMENT (DRE) ENERGY EFFICIENT CIRCUIT DESIGN FOR LIFE (1100 SHOTS ON ONE CHARGE) CREATIVE
AND EASY FUNCTIONS: LONGER BATTERY

37377 39761

CUSTOM IMAGE RANGE) FUNCTION, CROSS PROCESS AVAILABLE BLACK

TAL FILTERS,

AUTOPICTURE MODE, DIGIMODE, HDR (HIGH DYNAMIC

MODE AND

COLOURS:

NAVY BLUE, WHITE, RED

WWW.PENTAX.COM.AU
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION PENTAX K-x
Type Lens mount Compatible lenses TTL autofocus, auto-exposure digital SLR with built-in retractable PTTL auto pop-up flash PENTAX KAF2 bayonet mount Compatible with bayonet mount lenses KAF3, KAF2 , KAF, KAF, with power zoom KAF2, K-mount - with restrictions, M42 and medium-format with an adapter with certain restrictions* Compatible with the new generation of ultrasonic lenses (SDM, Super-Direct-drive Motor) Type Shutter speeds Flash Synchronization
Electronically controlled vertical-run focal plane shutter 1/6000 sec. to 30 seconds and Bulb 1/180 sec., P-TTL, high-speed-sync, wireless-sync

IMAGE SENSOR

Sensor Sensor size Number of pixels Stabilisation system Dust protection Colour depth A/D converter
Built-in flash Metering system Flash coverage Modes flash Synchronisation flash Exposure correction External flash
CMOS sensor 23.6 x 15.8 mm CMOS sensor with a primary colour filter 12.9 megapixels (total) - 12.4 megapixels (effective) Sensor shift system (4-stop shutter speed benefit when hand held) Sensor cleaning by vibration coupled with anti-dust Super-Protect (SP) sensor coating Dust detection system (Dust Alert) 3 x 12 bits in RAW, 3 x 8 bits in JPEG Image : 12 bits - Video : 10 bits
Manual opening, guide number 12 (at 100 ISO/m) Auto P-TTL retractable pop-up flash (RTF) Wide-angle lens (equivalent 28mm in 35mm format) Auto, manual (On/Off), rear curtain sync, slow sync, red eye reduction, high speed sync (with external flash) 1/180 sec, high speed, P-TTL, wireless +/- 2EV to +/- 1EV (in increments of 1/2) Hot-shoe flash, P-TTL flash sync available with dedicated wireless system, (Wireless, controlled by flash) with dedicated flash.

INTERFACES

USB Video output Other
RECORDING AND IMAGE FORMATS

Image formats

USB 2.0 High-speed, AV compatible with NTSC and PAL format Mains power input (optional AC adapter)

Image size Support

RAW (Original PEF, DNG) JPEG (Exif 2.21), DCF 2.0 RAW+JPEG simultaneously recordable Possible to convert from RAW to JPEG with in the camera (several image parameters can be changed during conversion) Photo : in JPEG : 12M (4288x2848 pixels), 10M (3936x2624), 6M (3072x2048), 2M (1728x1152). Quality levels : compressed JPEG (Good, Better, Best), in RAW : 12M (4288x2848) Compatible with SD and SDHC (high capacity) memory cards

DRIVE MODES

Modes Continuous shooting Image tone Image processing

VIEWFINDER

Type Coverage Magnification Eye relief Dioptre adjustment Focussing screen
Fixed molded penta-mirror 96% 0.85x (with a 50mm F1.4 lens, infinity, -1m-1) 21.5mm -2.5 to 1.5 dioptre Natural Bright Matt II focussing screen

Colour space

Single, continuous (Hi, Lo), Self-timer (2, 12 sec.), Remote control (0, 3 sec.), Auto bracketing, Over-impression High speed: 4.7 fps for 17 images in JPEG or for 5 frames in RAW Low speed: (2 fps in JPEG until the memory card is full, for 11 frames in RAW Setting to control the rendition of colour (Natural, Bright, Vibrant). Other appropriate options for landscape and portraits. Black and white function with different filter settings and a wide range of colours DRE (Dynamic Range Enlargement) which greatly increases the contrast range of the image for maximum highlight and shadow detail. Noise reduction for long exposures. Noise reduction in high ISO sRVB or Adobe RVB

WHITE BALANCE

Parameters

LCD SCREEN

Type Angle of view Coverage Brightness range Display
Auto, Day, Shade, Cloud, Tungsten, Fluorescent (white, day, neutral, L), Flash, CTE, Manual, Colour temperature (fine tuning available for specific control)
2.7 inch (6.91cm diagonal), dots, base colour temperature polysilicone TFT, calibratable screen Extra-wide angle viewing 170 horizontally and vertically. 170) 98% 14 settings Single frame or index screen (4, 9, 16, 36 images), zoom display (max 16x magnification with scroll possible), image comparison, rotating, folder, calendar, slideshow, histogram, file naming option (first 4 letters of file name), Bright/Dark area, resizing, trimming, real-time white-balance setting and preview, histogram

LIVEVIEW

Enlargement Autofocus Options
In AF mode : 2X, 4X, 6X In manual mode : 2X, 4X, 6X, 8X, 10X Contrast detection, face detection, phase difference detection Grid pattern, histogram display, blackout/whiteout exposure warning
Video format Video resolution
AVI (Motion JPEG) HD 1280 x 720 pixels24 frames/sec. Video : 0.9M (1280x720, 16:9), 0.3M (640x416, 3:2)

EXPOSURE CONTROL

Metering modes Metering Range Exposure modes
GB, F, D, ES, P, I, Dutch, Danish, Swedish, Finnish, Polish, Czech, Hungarian, Turkish, Greek, Russian, Korean, Chinese (Trad./ Simpl.), Japanese World time 75 cities, 28 time zones PRIMEII (Pentax real Image Engine) increases the number of shades of colour and contrast range to better manage the RAW data stored in the pre viewed image. DDR2 memory To optimise the processing and transfer of image data (800 MB/s) Pixels mapping To control each pixel and store each pixel defects to prevent them damaging the image quality AF adjustment To correct the K-x on the optical plane to prevent front and back focusing issues. This adjustment can be made for a specific lens or for all lenses. Customisation of the RAW button 22 Custom functions Digital filters Rec. mode: Toy camera, High contrast, Soft, Star burst, Retro, Extract colour, Fish eye, Custom Playback: Toy camera, High contrast, Soft, Star burst, Retro, Extract colour, Illustration (Pastel, Water colour), Fish Eye, HDR, B&W, Sepia, Colour, Slim, Miniature, Brightness, Base Tweaking, Custom Other functions Correction of lens features (distortion and chromatic aberration). Copy right information

OTHERS

Languages
TTL 16 segment metering Choice of multi-zones, centre weighted or spot metering EV0-20 (Standard output sensitivity ISO100 with 50mm F1.4 lens) Program AE, Sensitivity priority AE (Sv), Shutter priority AE (Tv), Aperture priority AE (Av), Metered Manual, Bulb, Video Picture modes AutoPicture*, Portrait, Landscape, Macro, Sport, Night Portrait, Flash off Scene modes Night scene, Surf & snow, Food, Sunset, Kids, Pets, Candle light, Museum, Concert, Night snapshot Exposure compensation +/- 3EV (in increments of 1/2 EV or 1/3 EV ) Exposure bracketing 3 images (in increments of 1/2 EV or 1/3 EV ) Auto exposure lock This function can be allocated to AF button in Menu Sensitivity Auto, Manual: ISO 200-6400 (1EV or 1/2EV steps or 1/3EV steps) Extension to ISO 100 to 12800 possible. Bulb mode: up to ISO1600.
* The AutoPicture mode automatically selects the scene mode from : Standard, Landscape, Portrait, Night Portrait, Night scene, Sport, Flower, Candle light

SPECIFICATIONS

Construction Dimensions Weight
Stainless steel chassis 122.5 (L) X 91.5 (H) X 67.5 (P) mm 515g body only, 580g loaded and ready (with Lithium batteries)

POWER SUPPLY

Battery Performance

Other sources

4 x AA batteries (lithium, alkaline, rechargeable Ni-MH ) approx 1100 images (with 4 Lithium batteries) or 420 images (with 4 Ni-MH 1900mAh batteries) (shooting with 50% flash) approx 25 min in video mode Optional AC adapter

SYSTEMS REQUIREMENTS

PC Macintosh

FOCUSING SYSTEM

Autofocus AF points AF modes AF assist
Windows XP Home Edition/ Professional or Vista Mac : OS x 10.3 or more recent
SAFOX VIII with TTL phase detection 11 AF points individually selectable, automatic or centre A: Auto; AF-S: single, with focus-lock; AF-C: continuous; manual available via built-in flash

SOFTWARE

sensibilit ISO leve
PENTAX Digital Camera Utility 4.0 (PENTAX Photo Browser 3 & PENTAX Photo Laboratory 3)
WWW COM.AU WWW.PENTAX.CO.UK

HOTLINE: 8299

Table of contents and Foreword
This e-book is intended to be read on a computer screen. You can print the e-book for your own use.

Page. I

Table of contents and Foreword I am pleased that you purchased one of our Pentax K-x Everything you need to know and then some. book. As an enthusiastic photographer for many years, I have had many Pentax cameras. My first new camera was a Pentax Spotmatic, purchased when I was still in Junior High. When Pentax stepped into the Digital SLR market, I was delighted. Their first few DSLRs (The *ist series) were the smallest DSLRs on the market but were not particularly special with the 6MP CCD. When the K10D was introduced, everything changed and Pentax was suddenly a major player. The K10D was a breakthrough, in my opinion. It had the capabilities of Professional DSLRs with the price of entry-level DSLRs. It had some unique features found nowhere else at any price. In January of 2008, Pentax announced the K20D. It was not a revolution as the K10D was, but it certainly was an evolution of the revolution. The K200D and the K2000/KM followed with no exceptional or marginal improvements. On May 20, 2009, Pentax made history again by introducing the Pentax K-7. Four Months later, September 16, 2009 the K-x was introduced. Once again, Pentax engineers have pushed the envelope and designed an entry-level DSLR with more features than any camera in its price range. This book is not about me as a photographer. It is about you and what information you will need when using this marvel of engineering that the K-x is. The book complements the Pentax users manual and explains in simple terms how to use the camera. It contains techniques, shortcuts, explanations, tips, examples and photographic information applicable to the K-x as well as other DSLRs in general. We opted to publish the book ourselves, just as we published the previous books. This time we offered the K-x book in a downloadable form only. We save production costs and you save money, and get you book much quicker.

Page. II

CHAPTERS
Foreword Chapter 1 Chapter 2

Table of Content

Know your K-x

How to use your K-x

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5
Processing your K-x images

The Pentax System

Photography Techniques

Chapter 6

Appendix

HD Video Recording

Glossary

Page. IV

Table of contents and Foreword Yvon Bourque Pentax K-x Everything you need to know

and then some.

Foreword

Page. V

All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this book may be used or reproduced on any form or by any means, or stored in database or retrieval system, without prior written permission. Making copies of any part of this book for any purpose other than your own personal use is a violation of the United States and International copyright laws. Text 2009, Yvon Bourque Photography 2007, 2008, 2009, Yvon Bourque except where noted This book is sold as is, printed or in e-book format, without any warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, respecting the contents of this book, including but not limited to implied warranties for books quality, performance, merchantability, or fitness for any particular purpose. The author nor dealers or distributors shall be liable to the purchaser or any other person or entity with respect to any liability, loss, or damage caused or alleged to have been caused directly or indirectly by this book. All terms or Company names mentioned in this book that are known to be trademarks or service marks have been carefully and appropriately noted. The author cannot attest to the accuracy of this information. The contents of this book are strictly the view of the writer. The explanation and suggestions, as to the operation of the equipment as such, is derived from the authors own experience and conclusions. The accuracy of the instructional articles has not been verified by the respective manufacturers. This book is not associated with Hoya - Pentax or its affiliates. The author is not endorsing any equipment manufacturers nor is the author being compensated by any manufacturer for the editorial content of this book. Any text resembling any other published material is coincidental as this book is focused on the teachings of the use of the equipment, which is derived from the manufacturers instructions. The book is written, whenever possible, in a nontechnical manner and is geared toward entry-level and amateur photographers, although some material may be useful to professionals. Hoya and Pentax are a trademark of Hoya - Pentax Corporation and its affiliates Photoshop, Lightroom and Elements are trademarks of Adobe Printed in the USA All rights reserved Copyright 2009 Yvon Bourque

Page. VI

About the Author:
Back when most of his classmates were dealing with growing up; the author was nurturing a serious enthusiasm for photography. Son of a Montreal carpenter, he enrolled in photography courses, soaked up theory, bought his first camera, shot rolls of film, and learned how to develop and print. All this was before leaving junior high school. He had many dreams and like many aspiring young photographers, he dreamed of getting assignments from National Geographic and traveling the world over. Decades later, the road has led him into other directions. With the responsibilities of a career and family, his plans were altered, but only slightly. The enthusiasm of the young boy and the love of photography are still strong. He never abandoned his photography dreams. One of his biggest frustrations is that he does not have enough time for more. He has used all types of photography formats, but now, uses Digital SLR cameras almost exclusively. He states Technology is good. The freedom to unleash ones creativity has never been greater. You either follow the flow of progress, or you are left behind. His work has given him the opportunity to travel across the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. His photography career never took-off as he had dreamed, but as a second career, he has spent countless hours during the past decades capturing not only the beauty and the people of America but other countries as well. He has won numerous awards, written articles and books on his beloved subject, and sold his work throughout the places he lived. Where does a tireless hobbyist go from here? Like all other areas of our modern life, photography has gone digital. As an artist, he is fascinated with all of the new digital possibilities. He is finally contemplating the idea of replacing his present career shingle for one stating Yvon Bourque, Photographer. With perseverance, all is possible.

Page. VII

Table of contents and Foreword TABLE OF CONTENTS
FOREWORD CHAPTER 1 KNOW YOUR K-x Nomenclature Viewfinder Available Information K-x Technical Specifications What is special about the K-x? Most Significant Features Compact, lightweight body Wide Screed HD recording Shake Reduction SR High Speed Shooting Prime II imaging engine Face detection Innovative Image Processing Functions Digital filters Cross Processing Mode High-Precision 11-Point AF sensor Additional features Sony CMOS sensor, why? High Resolution Sensor Dust Removal System Shake Reduction System File Formats Viewfinder Focusing System Metering System Exposure Modes AUTO PICT SCN Mode Movie Mode Program Mode Sensitivity Priority Mode Shutter Priority Mode Aperture Priority Mode Manual Mode Flash Off Mode Night Scene Mode Moving Objects Mode Page. IX XVI 50

Macro Mode Landscape Mode Portrait Mode CHAPTER 2 HOW TO USE YOUR K-x How to use your K-x Battery Battery Installation / Removal Installing / Removing SD/SDHC Cards Installing / Removing Lenses Turning Camera ON Focusing Adjusting Viewfinder Diopter Language Date and Time Taking Pictures Picture Quality Shake Reduction White Balance AUTO PICT Mode Taking your first picture Instant Review Setting Playback Display Histogram Preview Method Digital Preview Optical Preview Rotating Images Image (File) Format JPEG File Sizes and Quality RAW Files In-camera conversion RAW Button Setting Sensitivity (ISO) Setting ISO Incremental Steps White Balance Adjustments in Detail White Balance Menu White Balance Settings Setting to AWB Setting to Daylight White Balance Setting to Shade White Balance Page. X 76 76
Setting to Cloudy White Balance Setting to Fluorescent White Balance Setting to Tungsten White Balance Setting to Flash White Balance Setting to CTE White Balance Setting to Manual White Balance Fine tuning White Balance Metering System in detail Multi-Segment Center-Weighted Spot Metering Linking AE and AF Points Meter Operating Time Built-in Flash Flash Compensation Output Allowing Flash Shooting while Charging Built-in Flash Distance and Aperture Calculating Max Flash Distance Calculating Aperture for Flash Flash Modes Flash On Flash On + Red-eye Slow-Speed Sync Slow-Speed Sync + Red-eye Trailing Curtain Sync Wireless Mode Multiple Flashes Using the Flash in (Tv) Shutter Priority Mode Using the Flash in (Av) Aperture Priority Mode P-TTL Mode External Flash Daylight-Sync or Fill Flash Focusing System in Details Selecting AF Point Color Space Exposure Bracket Mode Multi-Exposure Mode Using Multiple Exposures on the K-x instead of Neutral Density Filters Remote Control Drive Modes Single-Frame Shooting Continuous Shooting ( Hi & Lo) Self-Timer (12 seconds) Page. XI 101 102
Self-Timer (2 seconds) Mirror Lock Remote Control Unit Shake Reduction Dust Removal Pixel Mapping Alphabetical List of Menu Based Functions and Settings The Exposure Modes in details (P) Program Mode Program Line (Sv) Sensitivity Priority Mode (Tv) Shutter Priority Mode (Av) Aperture Priority Mode (M) Manual Mode Action in Manual Mode Bulb Mode Picture Mode Portrait Mode Landscape Mode Macro Mode Moving Object Mode Night Scene Mode Flash Off Mode SNC Mode Night Scene Surf & Snow Food Sunset Stage Lighting Kids Pet Candlelight Museum Night Snap Movie Recording Mode HDR Copyright embedded Lens Correction Live View 118 119

Page. XV

Table of contents and Foreword Foreword This book was written for all users of the Pentax K-x. No matter what your experience level is, you will find something useful in this book. A few years ago, most amateur and professional photographers alike, were using film cameras for their picture taking. Within the film cameras, several formats were used. The general public and a good number of professionals used the 35mm format. A select few preferred using medium and large format cameras mainly because of the size of the negatives. Larger negatives rendered better pictures, better colors and fantastic enlargements. Film cameras were very sophisticated and took great pictures. Its no wonder that almost every family owned a 35mm camera. When the first digital cameras started to appear, the quality was less than desirable, but the potential was certainly there. For several years, many photography magazines were debating whether or not the digital cameras would replace film based cameras. Over time, the quality has so improved, that today, in our opinion, digital cameras exceed the quality of film based cameras. Of course, we are comparing the 35mm and medium format film cameras with the new breed of Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR) cameras. It has taken more than a decade to get where we are today, but digital is here to stay. It wasnt all that long ago when a top DSLR with a sensor in the 2 megapixels range was costing the consumers nearly five thousand dollars or more. For a while, as soon as you spent thousands of dollars for a top-of-the-line digital camera, it was replaced within months with a new and better model. I am sure that some of you remember these times of tribulation. The market, as this book is written, has stabilized, and the norm in a nonprofessional DSLR is now around the 12 to 15 megapixels, 20 megapixels and above for professional DSLR cameras. All are enough to produce very good enlargements up to about 16 x 20 and beyond. Full size (roughly 36mm x 24mm, or the same size as a 35mm frame) sensors are available on many DSLRs. The perceived advantage of full frame is that you can use your 35mm format lenses without any correction factor. Pentax is using a smaller sized sensor (APS-C roughly 24mm x 16mm) requiring a correction factor of around 1.5 to 35mm format lenses. If you shoot with telephoto lenses, it works to your advantage as a 200mm f/2.8 lens acts

Page. XVI

Table of contents and Foreword like a 300mm f/2.8 telephoto at no additional cost. We know that a 300mm f/2.8 telephoto lens is very expensive. The downside is that wide angle lenses will no longer perform as such, but the maximum aperture will remain. Today most companies manufacture super-wide lenses that, when converted to a 1.5x factor, still gives you a nominal wide angle comparable to a 20mm on up in the 35mm format. Wide angle lenses are cheaper than telephotos. In our opinion, full-frame sensors are overrated. The K-x uses a Sony developed APS-C 12.4 megapixels CMOS sensor, adapted for the K-x, drastically reducing the digital noise at high ISO. It also allows sizeable cropping. Unless you want to print your pictures billboard size at 300dpi resolution, the current CMOS sensor will be sufficient to produce stunning pictures and enlargements that were only dreamed of a few years ago. The CMOS sensors use less power and produce very little digital noise at higher ISO. In the past few years, we have seen many brand names in the camera field disappear. Some acquisitions and mergers took place and some companies just abandoned the competitive digital photography market altogether. In the past decade, two companies appear to have dominated the market; and indeed still do. There is no doubt that they manufacture good products, but the brand loyalty and recognition may have played an important role in their success. With Pentax introducing the K-x, the gap between these two giants has been reduced and there is no doubts that Pentax will once again take a greater share of the market with good products. Pentax took a while before producing its first Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR). Some changes are about to happen. Pentax is not new to changing the photographic world. Pentax pioneered the Single Lens Reflex (SLR) camera in 1952 with the introduction of the Asahiflex I camera. In 1954, the Asahiflex II was introduced with the first instant mirror return. In 1964, Pentax did it again by introducing its Pentax Spotmatic camera featuring the first through-the-lens (TTL) metering system in a Pentax camera. A version of the Pentax TTL system is now found in virtually all 35mm SLR cameras and applied to the design of DSLR as well. Many of us learned photography by using the ever popular Pentax K1000. Aimed at entry-level photographers, the new Pentax K-x can certainly be used by more experienced photographers as well. Its a camera that will help expand your

Page. XVII

Table of contents and Foreword photographic talents. It can be as easy to operate as a point and shoot, but it also has many of the professional features that you will demand as your experience grows. All Pentax lenses ever made will work with the K-x. It is often said that the glass are the most important factor in taking great photographs. There are many reasons to choose the K-x for your digital photography endeavors. We have dedicated a whole section on the cameras features alone. This book is organized in the following way: Foreword and Table of contents Chapter 1 Know your K-x is dedicated to the general specifications of the K-x and the review of the many functions of the camera in general. Chapter 2 How to use your K-x explains the multiple functions of the K-x, and includes many pictures and illustrations. It clarifies the use of the cameras functions from screen menus to actual buttons and switches. There are several icons on this camera such as scene mode, night mode, etc, as found on most entry-level cameras. We think that you will find these icons productive although you may want to have more control of the camera after a short period. The advantage of the camera is that you can tailor its operability to your liking or photographic skills. The three basic shooting elements; Aperture, Shutter Speed and the Sensitivity (ISO) are all adjustable with the K-x in ways that will make the competition rethink their approach. It will not be long before other manufacturers try to mimic the K-x. Chapter 3 Processing your K-x Images is a brief review on how to manipulate your images within the camera as well as with a computer. This topic alone is worthy of a book by itself, and there are indeed many books on Digital Imaging readily available. Pentax software and other digital imaging software such as Photoshop CS3, Lightroom, and Elements are briefly visited. The possibilities are endless and are only limited by your ability or desire to manipulate and post-process your images. Chapter 4 The Pentax System is dedicated to the Pentax System. Pentax is truly the only manufacturer with 100% backward compatibility. It includes all lenses ever manufactured by Pentax, both 35mm and medium formats. There are about twenty

Page. XVIII

Table of contents and Foreword four million genuine Pentax lenses out there. There are probably that many more lenses manufactured by companies such as Tamron , Sigma , Tokina and other brands. Currently available accessories are also covered and explained in this chapter. Chapter 5 Photography Techniques is full of techniques and example pictures along with some suggestions on how to take great pictures. Chapter 6 HD Video recording is dedicated to the new HD video capabilities of the K-x. This new generation of DSLRs with still pictures and HD video capabilities is changing the digital photography landscape. It opens up new possibilities. It is going to be very popular for documenting and photojournalistic approach to your undertakings. Appendix section includes menu setting tables, factory default tables, lens compatibility chart, mount types, and an index to guide you through this book.

Page. XIX

Not all colors are available outside Japan

Page. XX

Table of contents and Foreword Check our Pentax Blog; we constantly post articles about Pentax products.
http://pentaxdslrs.blogspot.com/ The Blogspot
Our blog site was created in July of 2007. To date, we have published more than five hundred articles and have reached more than one million visitors and rapidly approaching our second million visitor. It is a rendezvous for all Pentax users. Please come and say Hi.
We also have our website where you can purchase our books and download important information or samples.
http://www.pentaxdslrs.com/ Website

Page. XXI

2009, Yvon Bourque - Ms. J. Peggy
This is probably the best tool I have, other than the Pentax DSLRs, lenses and equipment. It allows me to get to places I wouldnt be able to get to otherwise. If you ever owned a Keep, you already know that it is customary to name it, just as you name a boat. Her name is Ms. J. Peggy. Here is how she got her name: My two principal hobbies are photography and four wheeling. I wanted a name that would reflect both hobbies. The Jeep came unaltered from the factory and we worked on improving it and finishing it the way it is today. We lifted the whole Jeep 6"; put a new motor, new coil-spring suspension, 35" monster tires, etc. It's sort of parallel to digital photography, whereas your original pictures can be taken in "RAW" format and after working on the images, they can be saved in "JPEG" format. My Jeep was originally in "RAW" form from the factory but after altering it, it became like a "JPEG". So I decided to name my Jeep Miss" J. Peggy". This is an acronym for "Jeep Photographer Environmentally Going Green.Yes!. For short, her nickname is really Miss Peggy. It fits both of my hobbies and my views about the environment. I always drive on assigned trails, and usually pick up the trash that other people left behind. It's our only earth and we better take care of our little planet.

Page. XXII

2009, Yvon Bourque Big Bear Lake, California
2009, Yvon Bourque Joshua National Park, California Page. XXIII
Chapter 1 - Know your K-x

Chapter 1

Page 24
Chapter 1 - Know your K-x Nomenclature 2 6
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12.
Self-timer lamp Main Switch Shutter release Mode dial Hot shoe Built-in Flash AF/MF switch Mirror AF coupler SDM contacts Lens info contacts Lens unlock button
Blinks for self-timer. Serves as remote control receiver. Rotate to turn camera on or off and for depth of field preview. Press halfway to compose image, press fully to take picture. Changes the exposure mode. Camera also uses external flash and wireless flash unit. Allows flash photography Changes focus mode; Auto or Manual Focus Allows Through The Lens (TTL) metering and focusing Handles the AF drive between the lens and K-x. Allows AF with the Supersonic Drive Motor (SDM) lenses. Exchanges information between the lens and the K-x. Press to install or remove lens.

Page 26

Chapter 1 - Know your K-x What Is Special About the K-x? The most significant features of the Pentax K-x include: The K-x incorporates a newly developed 12.4 megapixels CMOS image sensor to assure high-speed image data readout and more flexibility with varying ISO sensitivity levels. With approximately 12.4 effective megapixels, this image sensor accurately reproduces true-to-life images with fine detail and rich color depth. The K-x offers a wide sensitivity range between ISO 200 and ISO 6400 and allows users to expand the sensitivity range between ISO 100 and ISO 12,800 via a custom function to offer greater creative freedom to photographers. Compact, lightweight body The PENTAX K-x is one of the most compact, lightweight digital SLR cameras in its class. The stainless-steel chassis and overall design offer a spaceefficient layout. Widescreen HD movie recording at 1280x720 pixels at a cinematic 24 frames per second (720p24) The PENTAX K-x movie recording function captures true-to-life movie clips in 16:9 high-definition TV proportions (1280 x 720 pixels) at a frame rate of 24 frames per second. Compatible with every PENTAX interchangeable lens ever made, the Video Capture mode opens a new world of creativity for PENTA K-x owners. When the PENTAX K-x AV output terminal is used, movie clips are viewed at normal resolution. The data must be transferred to a PC for the playback of movie clips at high-definition TV proportions (1280 x 720 pixels). PENTAX-original SR mechanism for sharp, blur-free images The K-x features the PENTAX-developed Shake Reduction mechanism that effectively compensates for the adverse effects of camera shake by as much as four shutter steps. This innovative mechanism extends its benefits to all Page 39
Chapter 1 - Know your K-x Movie Mode: The new Movie mode allows the recording of High Definition video. This new kind of hybrid DSLRs opens up a completely new way to look at photography. The K-x does not only produce spectacular still images, it can document events or even record the making of your still pictures. Program Mode: Automatically sets shutter speed and aperture to the proper exposure according to the Program Line * when taking pictures. While maintaining proper exposure, it allows the use of the rear edial to change the shutter speed or aperture. The ISO can be changed by pressing the ISO setting button. (Sv) Sensitivity Priority Mode: Automatically sets shutter speed and aperture to the proper exposure according to the set sensitivity. What a concept. Pentax is the first to use such mode. Sv stands for Sensitivity values. 1 (Tv) Shutter Priority Mode: This lets the user set the shutter speed. This is useful for freezing action, or shots expressing movement. Tv stands for Time values, not Television.

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Chapter 2 - How to use your K-x As you turn the camera on, a similar screen appears for a few seconds. It shows the current Exposure mode and the Date and Time, in this example; the Mode is (P) Program with Automatic Exposure. This initial screen is a cursory view of the current settings. You can quickly decide if this mode will work for your next picture, or change the mode using the Mode Dial (4).
The next screen to appear is the Status Screen. The settings shown here are accessible without getting in the Menus. The highlighted settings can be changed right from this screen. Av or Aperture Priority is shown in the example to the left.
It doesnt stop there. You can get in the heart of the settings by pressing the INFO button (26). This brings another screen, the Control Panel. You can navigate through this screen with the four-way controller (20), (21), (22), (24) and changes the parameters shown. If you noticed, we did not have to go through any of the menus yet. With the K-x, the menus are mostly used to change overall settings. That is a big improvement over the previous Pentax DSLRs. Its almost like having dedicated buttons for all settings. When taking pictures, the scene conditions can change rapidly. You may need to modify some setting quickly to adjust to the scene condition. This faster method of activation can make the difference between getting and missing a great photo opporPage 54
Chapter 2 - How to use your K-x off and set by using the four-way controller until the box is check marked. The Quick Zoom option can be set to off or x2, x4, x8, x16, x32. This sets the initial magnification when enlarging images. When the Playback button is pressed, the last image taken appears on the LCD monitor. Turn the rear e-dial to the right to start magnifying the image. As an example, if the Quick Zoon is set to x8, the image magnification will jump to x8 as soon as the rear e-dial is turned. Histograms Histograms are a digital way to see if an image is properly exposed, shown as a graph. The gadget-oriented and technical photographers will not keep an image if the exposure histogram is not perfect. An image with a less than perfect histogram may still be a prize winning picture because of its composition or subject. With that said; use the histogram as a tool to learn how to take properly exposed pictures. The composition, in our opinion, is much more important. Essentially, the exposure histogram shows the overexposed and underexposed area of your image, but in a different way than the Bright / Dark area settings as described in the preceding page. The histogram horizontal scale measures the brightness, from totally black (0) on the left to totally white (255) on the right. The vertical scale measures the amount of pixels of any given shade. There is no perfect histogram as images in nature are not perfectly lighted. There are shadows and bright areas. What is important is that if the black areas of the picture create a spike on the left side, part of the image is underexposed. If a spike occurs on the right side, part of the image is overexposed. The human brain is better equipped to distinguish a good image from a bad image, many times better than a digital histogram. The K-x also shows RGB (red, green and blue) histograms. This is a way to show the distribution of color intensity. Again, humans can decipher colors much better than any digital device invented thus far. So the bottom line is that it is good to use histograms to check your image quality, but we would recommend using exposure bracketing instead as the extra shots wont cost you anything but time and space on your memory card. You can instantly delete the pictures you dont like. Page 66

Chapter 3 Processing your K-x images
Processing your K-x Images

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Chapter 3 Processing your K-x images In-Camera Processing of Images RAW and JPEG images can be processed and manipulated in-camera. This enables you to process your images without the use of a computer. Furthermore, you can print your pictures without the use of a computer with a PictBridge compliant printer. These are great tools for when you are away from home, on assignment, on vacation, or simply if you do not have access to a computer. The process is easy. Editing Images (One image or multiple images) Make sure that you have images recorded on the memory card. Press the Playback button [] to activate the Playback screen. Using the four-way controller ( ), navigate to the image you want to edit until displayed on the LCD monitor. Press the four-way controller down. The camera displays the Playback mode palette. The Playback mode palette is one of the most powerful features of this DSLR. Working without a computer or external software, you can perform the following enhancements and modifications to one image or to multiple images. Image Rotation Digital Filter ** Resize ** Cropping Slideshow Image comparison RAW development * Index Protect DPOF ** Rotate your image(s) Add various digital filter effects to your images Change the number of recorded pixels or quality Crop you image to your desired taste Play the images sequentially as a slide presentation Display two images side by side for comparison Convert RAW image(s) to JPEG or TIFF format Joins multiple images to create a photo montage Protect image(s) from being erased Digital Print Order Format Set image(s) for printing
* - Indicates that the effect is available for RAW files only. ** - Indicates that the effect is available for JPEG files only.

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Chapter 4 The Pentax System

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Chapter 4 The Pentax System One-Page Pentax history
ver since Pentax introduced their first 35mm SLR in 1952, the Asahiflex I, backward compatibility has been a strong reason for owning a Pentax camera. This is still true today. Here is a partial list of Pentax innovations: In 1952, the Asahiflex I was the first Japanese camera introduced to the world. Unlike its competitors, the camera was not a replica of German technology. In 1954, the Asahiflex II was the worlds first instant return mirror system. In 1957, The Asahi Pentax model used a pentaprism in the viewfinder of a Pentax single lens reflex (SLR) camera, introducing the concept of eye-level viewing. It was the first camera to be marketed under the Pentax name. In 1964, Pentax introduced its Spotmatic camera featuring the first through-the-lens (TTL) metering system in a Pentax camera.

In 1971, the Pentax ES SLR camera, the world's first SLR camera with a TTL aperture-priority AE control, was introduced. Pentax also introduced the Super-Multi Coating (SMC) system for the Asahi Optical Takumar lens series. Other manufacturers followed suit. In 1981, Pentax introduced the first through-the-lens autofocus camera, the Pentax ME-F. In 1984, Pentax produced the worlds first multi-mode medium format camera, the Pentax 645. In 1987, Pentax introduced the SF-1, an autofocus camera with the worlds first AF SLR with a built-in auto flash.

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Chapter 4 The Pentax System In 2008, Pentax announced the Pentax K20D and the Pentax K200D The Pentax DSLRs Pentax joined the digital revolution in 2001 and demonstrated the MZ-D at PMA (Photo Marketing Association) in Orlando, Florida. The first attempt at a DSLR failed to enter the market when Pentax realized that the sensor, a joint venture, would not achieve the high quality that Pentax products are known for. In February of 2003, Pentax announced the *ist-D, a 6.3 megapixels DSLR. The camera was a success and was the smallest DSLR on the market, making it a first for Pentax again. The *ist series of cameras have gone through several mutations, first with the *ist-DS which won an international award in 2005. It was followed by the *ist-DL. The K100D and K110D were introduced in the latter part of 2006. It rivaled all of the competitors models in its class. It was an entry-level to advanced amateur camera. The revolutionary Pentax K10D followed. It was a huge success. The replacement for the K20D arrived with a revised CMOS sensor packing 14.6 megapixels. This is still the Pentax flagship DSLR model; the K-7 was everything you dreamed forand then some. The future was so bright that Pentaxians had to wear shades. The Pentax K-x was introduced at the end of September 2009. Although it is an entry-level camera, the new Sony 12.4 CMOS sensor is giving the K-x the best image quality at high ISO thus far in a Pentax Camera. The evolution continues.

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SMC PENTAX DA Star 50135mm F2.8 ED (IF) SDM
SMC PENTAX DA Star 60250mm F4 ED (IF) SDM
SMC PENTAX DA Star 55mm F1.4 SDM
The Pentax DA Series delivers the highest level of optical quality. Bringing together advanced optical technologies, including aspherical elements, special optical-glass elements and original lens coatings, these new interchangeable lenses are superior to any existing lens series in terms of contrast, clarity, and edge-to-edge sharpness.
SMC PENTAX DA Star 60-250mm F4 ED (IF) SDM

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Chapter 5 Photography Techniques

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Chapter 5 Photography Techniques Apeture scale explained The aperture, being the lens diaghphram opening, lets more or less light pass through the lens. The f/number (aperture opening) is proportional to the ratio between the lens focal length and aperture diameter, which is proportional to the square root of the aperture area. Big lingo, but what does it mean for you? Well, lenses are usually marked with the f/numbers ranging from the largest aperture to the smallest aperture. For example, a typical lens could have an aperture range of f/2.8 to f/16. The lens would be marked as follow : f/ 16, f/11, f/8, f/5.6, f/4, f/2.8. In this example, the largest aperture would be f/2.8 while the smallest would be f/16. Have you noticed something a little surprising here? The larger the number is, the smaller the aperture is. You need to remember that. Furthermore, each (f-stop) number to the right lets twice the amount of light in as the (f-stop) number to its left and each (f-stop) number to the left lets half the light in as the (f-stop) number to its right. For example, f/4 lets twice as much light in as f/5.6 but only one half the light of f/2.8, and so on. One unit of increment in aperture is called a stop. Numbers to the right are letting twice as much light in. ( f/stop f/16 f/11 f/8 f/5.6 f/4 f/2.8 f-stop) Numbers to the left are letting 1/2 (or twice as less) light in. )
Shutter Speed scale explained In photography, shutter speed is the length of time the shutter takes to open and close. The total exposure is proportional to the duration of light reaching the image sensor. Similarly to the aperture, a standardized 2:1 scale was adopted for shutter speed so that opening one aperture f-stop and reducing the shutter speed by one step resulted in the identical exposure. The agreed standards for shutter speeds are typically 1 sec, 1/2 sec, 1/4 sec, 1/8 sec, 1/15 sec, 1/30 sec, 1/60 sec, 1/125 sec, 1/250 sec, 1/500 sec, 1/1000 sec, and so on. A shutter speed of 1/125 sec lets twice as much light in as a shutter speed of 1/250 sec, but half the light of a Page 164

Lens Shade A collar or hood at the front of a lens that keeps unwanted light from striking the lens and causing image flare. Lens Speed The largest lens opening at which a lens can be set. A fast lens transmits more light and has a larger maximum aperture than a slow lens. Long-focus Lens of relatively long focal length designed to provide a narrower angle of view. M Macro Lens A lens that provides continuous focusing from infinity to extreme close-ups. Micro lens A lens for close-up photography. Macro photography The process of taking photographs of small objects with regular photographic lenses at reproduction ratios of 1X or greater. Matrix Metering system An exposure metering system using a multisegment sensor pattern. Maximum aperture The widest aperture which the diaphragm is capable of opening up to.
K20D Revolutionary Digital camera
introduced by Pentax in 2008. Kelvin A scale use to measure the color temperature. L LCD Liquid Crystal Display. An electronically generated text, numeric, symbols and images. Lens One or more optical glass or similar material designed to collect and focus rays of light to form a sharp image film or CCD.
Multi-coating The depositing of multiple coats of anti-reflective materials on a lens surface. Reduce ghost images and flare produced by internal rePage 217