Pentax K20D Review

The Pentax K20D is a very good digital SLR that offers the same resolution, build quality, and feature set of cameras costing hundreds of dollars more. Its highlights include a 14.6 Megapixel CMOS sensor, built-in image stabilization, and a weather-sealed, sturdy body. While the K20D needs work in certain areas, it's a definite improvement over its predecessor, and a D-SLR that I can recommend.

Side-by-side, the K20D looks almost exactly like the K10D that came before it. The only real differences are in terms of LCD size and I/O ports. The K20D is very well put together, with a polycarbonate shell covering a metal frame. The camera has over seventy different seals, so this is one camera you can use in inclement weather without concern. The K20D has a good-sized grip for your right hand, with a "sticky" rubber surface for your fingers. I wasn't a huge fan of the shutter release button, which seemed a little too sensitive. The camera supports nearly every Pentax lens ever made (with a 1.5X focal length conversion), with most of them having image stabilization courtesy of the K20D's sensor-shift IS system. The camera has a built-in flash, and you can attach an external flash via the hot shoe or flash sync port, or cut the cord entirely with built-in wireless support.

On the back of the camera is a 2.7" LCD display. While larger than the 2.5" screen on the K10D, it's smaller than the 3-inch displays found on most of the competition these days. The K20D supports live view, though it's arguably the most poorly implemented version of this feature out there now. While the view is sharp and fluid, no information is shown on the screen (aside from a composition grid and focus area map), and if you need to change any settings, live view is turned off. Focusing is accomplished by flipping down the mirror and using the camera's AF sensor, which is fine by me, as contrast detect AF on digital SLRs tends to be very slow. The camera can enlarge the image on the screen (which is handy when manually focusing), but the image isn't remotely sharp, which kind of defeats the purpose. While outdoor visibility was okay, I found it difficult to see what was on the screen in low light situations.

Jeff Keller

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