The Great White Whale is here! Will the Pentax K2000 fill us with fear and loathing or will this radical entry-level DSLR take us on a nice trip to Quality Heights? Read the full Pentax K2000 review to find out.
Review summary of the Pentax K2000:
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 If you're just breaking into photography and want to attack innocent subject matter with a DSLR rather than a fixed lens, there's a sizable market of entry-level DSLRs out there to get the ball rolling. The Pentax K2000 is one of the more unconventional models, due to its optional all-white chassis. Love it or hate it, the K2000 is a great camera to learn on, offering oodles of shooting features and modes that will toss any budding photographer into the front row of Digital Imaging 101. The K2000 also captured some killer images in bright and low light, some of which we'd deem magazine quality, as long as they were snapped in the RAW format. Pentax also throws in two lenses, a wide-angle and telephoto, and tacks an impressive interface on the K2000, complete with an intuitive menu system and generous external controls. We loved shooting with the K2000 in all shooting environments and its Digital Filters and Color options were fun to play with. If you dare to be different and lust to be the next Ansel Adams, the Pentax K2000 is a great start. Release: November 2008. Price: $700.
Pros: Great RAW image quality. Impressive feature set and interface. Solid handling.
Cons: JPEG image performance was not the best. Lens cap kept falling off.
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Full Pentax K2000 Review:
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Design – Very Good
The Pentax K2000 looks like an Imperial Stormtrooper more than anything, but we think it's a nice visual hiatus from the monotonous tributary of generic black models characteristic of the current entry-level DSLR market roster. That's not to say the Olympus E-450 or Canon Rebel XTi EF-S are aesthetically soporific, but you can't really get any more nonconformist than a white DSLR in this industry. The Pentax K2000 is sure to garner a cult status that rivals the Rocky Horror Picture Show sans the gratuitous displays of sin, but that of course depends on your subject matter. We received covetous looks all day from tourists, neophytes and even seasoned photographers every time we brandished the K2000, so we'd like to give an official shout out to Pentax for daring to look outside the light box. If white is too frightening, the K2000 also ships in black.
In terms of handling, the Pentax K2000 felt a tad smaller than some of its competitors, but its weight was fairly standard for an entry-level DSLR, tipping the scale at just under 2 lbs. It can't touch the Olympus E-450, which hoists the "World's smallest DSLR" title bout belt, but the K2000 is not a space-chomping monstrosity either. The Nikon D50 had a nearly identical weight when we measured it with a comparable lens, so the K2000 is a few miles from the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 and any other Micro Four Thirds iteration that is geared to set sail later on this year. Pentax opted for a glossy plastic chassis, which felt slightly cheaper than the micro texture of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 or splotchy coating of the Olympus E-450. Regardless, the K2000 felt solid in our hands, and there was nothing cheap about its external controls or interface.
Speaking of which, Pentax did an admirable job attempting to mimic upper-tier DSLRs, mounting an ergonomically placed thumb dial in back, in addition to a chunky mode dial and Nikon-esque shutter button On/Off switch on top. The rubberized viewfinder eyecup was composed of a harder compound and sat a little too flush against the back of the camera's body, forcing us weld our nose into the LCD. The Pentax K2000 has a hot shoe for mounting an external flash, but the left side of its plastic shield broke off. We liked the fact that Pentax included two lenses with the K2000, an 18-55mm and 50-200mm, and swapping lenses throughout the day was not an issue. Our one major complaint was that the lens cap continuously dislodged every time we placed the K2000 back in our bag, so an aftermarket cap might be necessary. Overall, the Pentax K2000 is an architecturally sound entry-level DSLR.
Interface – Very Good
The Pentax K2000 uses a standard 4-way directional pad configuration as its primary Captain's wheel, with quick functions available on each quadrant. This is nothing extraordinary, but the ISO and White Balance quick functions were extremely helpful. A few miscellaneous controls are strewn about the K2000's chassis including an Auto Focus button, Exposure Compensation and Help button, which allowed us to select any option in the menu and attain a detailed paragraph on that function's purpose for existing. Although this setup is not particularly advanced, even when pinned against the Canon PowerShot G1 (which offers an independent ISO dial), it's the magic behind the glass of the 2.7-inch LCD that counts. Not only did the Pentax K2000's 230,000-pixel display provide a detailed, crisp picture, but its menu structure was surprisingly easy to navigate after a brief test drive.
Every shooting mode is accompanied by a manual adjustment menu screen that prominently displays the Aperture and Shutter Speed, in addition to a cluster of additional options that could be accessed via a single press of the OK button. We considered this to be the Pentax K2000's Function menu, containing ISO, White Balance, Filters, Color, Quality and Flash options, amongst a handful of others. It was so easy to select a particular option and adjust it right on the LCD and the 4-way directional pad was highly responsive. The buttons are a bit small, so we really had to mash them at times for a particular option to take hold, but we loved using the Function menu in addition to the viewfinder.
The optical viewfinder was no slouch either, providing us a nice wide view and displaying Shutter Speed, Aperture, ISO, Flash, Metering and Auto Scene information. The Pentax K2000 does not have a light meter, but it has an Exposure meter that displays positive and negative exposure steps, depending on the composition of the image. Though we miss the functionality of a digital light meter, the Exposure meter was a close second, allowing us to set the exposure steps to 1/2 or 1/3 increments.
The Pentax K2000's Main menu seemed to ramble on like the Torah at first, but we soon grew acclimated to its plethora of options. The menu graphics could use a bit of an upgrade, but functionality was still top notch. Playback allowed us to fly through images at a rapid pace, and the ability to zoom in and out with the thumb dial was a major bonus, compared to other DSLRs that require another button to be pressed in conjunction with the dial. The Pentax K2000's interface will welcome beginner photographers with lens wide open.
Features – Very Good
It's no mystery that the Pentax K2000 is a tall Red Oak in the forest of manual adjustment. We can't expect the K2000 to tower over all, like the Sequoias indigenous to the high-end DSLR grove, but this Stormtrooper will provide plenty of soil for those looking to grow within the realm of photography. The K2000 has an electronic Shutter Speed range of 1/4000 – 30 seconds and is capable of a manual Bulb speed, which allowed us to hold the shutter for as long as we wanted. The two included lenses provided stellar Aperture ranges, thanks to the f/4.5 – f/32 capability of the 18 – 55mm wide-angle and f/3.5 – f/22 capability of the 50 – 200mm telephoto. So, macro shots and night scenery were never a problem for us with the K2000, as long as we used a tripod.
In addition to an Auto Scene mode that automatically chooses a Scene preset based on the composition of the subject matter, the Pentax K2000 offers Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority and Sensitivity Priority, as well as a balls-to-the-wall Manual mode. We never felt like we were at a loss for controls while shooting with the K2000, and we continuously unearthed new discoveries throughout the day, such as the K2000's manual White Balance system. The level of control offered by the manual White Balance system was excellent, allowing us to shift color temperature on a green-magenta/blue-amber 225 color grid, even after we snapped an image. We could also set the color space to sRGB, which suits most computers and monitors, or AdobeRGB, which is an ideal color space for prints. ISO sensitivity ranged from 100 to 3200, and we could even apply Noise Reduction to images captured with a slow shutter at a higher ISO.
Not only was the Pentax K2000 a manual control power plant, but the white wonder also offered plenty of built-in digital filters to answer the Olympus E-450. Toy Camera, Retro and Illustration were just a few filters we dabbled with, all of them available in Playback mode. Most filters were also available in Camera mode, but we found it was easiest to apply them after snapping a neutral image and going to town. A slew of Color presets were also available on the K2000, including a manually adjustable hexagonal R-Y-G-C-B-M color chart that enabled us to fiddle with saturation, hue, sharpness and contrast. Although nearly all of these functions can be carried out in Photoshop, Pentax provides plenty of post options for the beginner right out of the starting gate.
When it came to Focus, we had Manual and Auto, and both methods functioned very well. It was important to make sure we were using the correct lens, for we experienced difficulty focusing macro shots with the telephoto lens due to its longer focal length. The Automatic focus was fairly loud, mocking a hyperactive shop drill, but it was quiet as a shickered mouse when we employed manual Focus. We don't have a huge success story to tell about the built-in flash, so we recommend opting for a good aftermarket model. For the beginner, the Pentax K2000 is more than meets the eye.
Hardware – Very Good
The motherbrain lurking within the Pentax K2000 is a 10-megapixel APS-C CCD (23.5 x 15.7mm) with an 8 bits/channel JPEG and 12 bits/channel RAW color capability. The K2000's CCD has a Shake/Dust Reduction sensor movement system and a primary color filter. There are a few incarnations of APS-C sensors out in the wild, and the Pentax K2000 utilizes the slightly larger version, characteristic of Nikon DSLRs. What's interesting is that the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1's smaller Four Thirds sensor produced beautiful images that rivaled the K2000 down to the very last pixel. However, the K2000's RAW performance was substantial and the ability to shoot in RAW+ (RAW and JPEG simultaneous) was a great thing.
The Pentax K2000 ships with two separate lenses, a 50 – 200mm telephoto and 18 – 55mm wide-angle. This is a great start for beginners, and both lenses saw equal use during our adventures. The lenses also support Auto Focus and performed adequately throughout the duration of our shoot. Shake Reduction is also offered on the K2000, but we neglected to use it due to our penchant for lower shutter speeds and tripod shooting. The K2000 runs on 4 AA batteries rather than a rechargeable Lithium Ion battery, which is a common power option for beginners who don't plan on stocking up on backup battery packs and want instant power on the fly. SD/SDHC cards are the recording media supported by the K2000, and the camera captures JPEG, RAW and RAW+ in Best, Better and Good qualities. The Pentax K2000 also fires a first shot off at about 1 second from initial power-up, with the next image riding its coattails at a slightly quicker time, so fleeting action was never an issue with the great white whale.
The Pentax K2000 also ships with Pentax Photo Laboratory and Pentax Photo Browser software, which allowed us to edit, develop and convert RAW images to Highest Quality JPEGS. The software was intuitive and simple to use once we got the hang of it, but the K2000 can capture RAW files in two different formats: PEF (a proprietary Pentax formula) and DNG (universally recognized by most applications), therefore omitting the need to use the Pentax software in the first place. We shot in PEF just to give the software a whirl and we have minimal complaints in the end. The Pentax K2000 has an impressive fleet of hardware and software options to get any shooter off the ground.
Image Quality - Very Good
The Pentax K2000 has the ability to capture exceptional images, and some of our favorite shots in infoSync history were snagged with this camera. There are a few caveats, though, the first being the fact that this is a manual control-thirsty machine that required a lot of Shutter Speed and Aperture surveillance. However, this is characteristic of any DSLR with advanced functionality, so if you're planning on picking up a K2000 just to shoot in Auto mode, you'll be cursing in your britches. We shot all night scenes with a tripod at very low shutter speeds, and daylight shooting involved a nice little sporadic Aperture tango and lens change intermission. We kept ISO at the minimum 100 level and relied on the Auto White Balance in most instances. However, we had to manually change the White Balance a good deal of the time when the light was too warm, especially at night.
All images were also captured in the RAW format at the highest quality setting and converted to top quality JPEGs. The Digital Filters could only be captured in JPEG format, so those images were an exception. As far as JPEG vs. RAW, there was a significant image quality boost in all of our RAW shots, especially when lined up next to their JPEG counterparts. We strongly recommend shooting in RAW with the Pentax K2000, as the JPEG performance just can't ante up to its omnipotent detail and color performance. We also experienced a dash of moiré patterns in certain images with intricate textures and highly contrasted patterns. A few images were also plagued by minute traces of fringing, but these instances were minimal and the K2000's overall performance was dynamite for an entry-level DSLR. However, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 gave the K2000 a run for its money, and we found certain images to be comparable, if not more impressive than the K2000's. For that reason, the K2000 remains to be a killer pole vault into the DSLR world, but the Lumix DMC-G1 is also worth taking a gander at.
Scene Test - We Built This City
Scene Test - Someday, all this…will be yours…
Scene Test - Central Park
We decided to emulate the ultimate NY tourist and hike the NBC building for an unparalleled view of the maniacal concrete beehive. We chose a wide-angle lens for most scenarios, but the telephoto lens helped us get up close and personal with the Empire State Building. Detail is wonderful in all three images, and colors are accurate and true, despite the foreboding haze in the sky. We do experience a little lens distortion throughout all three of these images, so serious shooters will most likely want to get a few aftermarket lenses to remedy this situation. If you look closely, you can see small posses of moirés attacking certain building windows in the first image, but it's barely noticeable. On the whole, this is a great scene performance from the Pentax K2000.
Color Test – Flags
Contrast Test – Times Square
Sharpness Test – Graffiti Van
Motion Test – Fire Hydrant
Colors were vibrant and natural with the Pentax K2000, as evidenced by the first image. The detail and palette are very impressive and colors excel in maintaining their boundaries. Dynamic range was also impressive with the K2000, as we can see in the second image. Usually this setup is a camera's worst nightmare, but the K2000 renders the blue sky and Times Square building very nicely, allowing us to discern clean edges and lines. Detail in the shadows is even noteworthy, and we have minimal complaints with this image. Sharpness was usually spot on with the K2000, and the graffiti truck is rendered with excellent detail. However, we begin to see some fringing along the tail of the truck and the front bumper. Also, the blown-out sky exhibits some minor bluish fringing within the trees, so there are times when you'll need to watch the backgrounds and exposure levels. Thanks to the great Shutter Speed range, we were able to capture the fire hydrant in mid gush, and the detail of the tiny water droplets is awesome.
Detail Test – Daffodils
Macro Test – Feet
Edge Test – Encroaching Buildings
We had a lot of luck with the Pentax K2000 up close, and the near flawless detail and color of the first image is testament. There's really nothing much to complain about here, so we'll move on to the nest image, which was captured by mistake when an accompanying girl jumped in front of the lens at the last second. If anything, the hasty move shed light on K2000's ability to quickly focus and snap an impressive macro shot in a matter of seconds. Detail is stellar and we're blessed with another solid closeup performance. The third image is probably where we saw the most fringing in this lot, creeping up the buildings on the left and right sides of the image. However, the rest of the image is great, handling contrasts and shadows with ease. This was a spur of the moment shot, taken without a tripod, so with a little more time we would have dialed the exposure up a tad. Not too shabby for an on-the-fly image though.
Night Test – Betwixt Bridges
Night Test – Kawasaki ZRX1200
Night Test – Times Square
Flash Test – Lick It
The Pentax K2000 excelled at night, and the first image is the ruler of the land in terms of low light performance. Between the colors dancing along the East River, the detail within the Manhattan skyline and faint stars in the sky, we couldn't be happier. If you look closely, you can catch a modicum of noise meandering around the night sky, but it's minimal and the in-camera Noise Reduction performed well throughout most of this image. This shot was taken with a 30-second Shutter and f/4.0 aperture and the level of detail is still monumental. With a Bulb shutter and a smaller aperture, this image would be out of sight, so the possibilities with the K2000 are highly promising.
The picture of the Rex was captured at 2 AM, believe it or not, with a 30-second shutter speed and the detail is off the hook. After shooting at night, there was no doubt in our mind that the K2000 could be used for certain professional applications if used properly. We were able to attain a nice starburst effect in Times Square with the cacophonous light sources, and the image is surprisingly devoid of hefty noise. We shot the last image with the flash just to test it out, but the K2000 is best off with an aftermarket flash.
Toy Camera Test
High Contrast Test
Soft Test
Retro Test
Extract Color Test
Star Burst Test
Here are some Pentax K2000 Digital Filters to entertain you.
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