Pentax Announces K100D and K110D Digital SLR Cameras

Pentax is announcing the introduction of two new Digital SLR cameras.  The 6.1 megapixel Pentax K100D and Pentax K110D also represent a new naming scheme (no more *ist cameras!).  Along with the two new cameras, Pentax is also announcing the PENTAX DA 21mm F3.2 AL Limited wide angle lens.  Look for the K100D, with the smc 18-55mm lens in July 2006 for $699 and the K110D with same lens for $599 in August.

Pentax K100D (view large image)

Back of Pentax K100D(view large image)

The only difference between the 6.1 megapixel cameras is that the K100D features the Shake Reduction system from Pentax, while the K110D does not.  The Shake Reduction system is a CCD-shift method of image stabilization where the sensor is adjusted according to the detected camera shake.  Since the image stabilization is not dependent on the lens, most Pentax interchangeable lenses are compatible with the new cameras (Pentax K-, K_A-, K_AF- and K_AF2-mount lenses; screw-mount lenses (with an adapter); and 645- are 67-system lenses (with an adapter)).  In fact, the "K" in the naming scheme is meant to reference the reverse compatibility with Pentax K-mount lenses.

As mentioned previously, the K100D and K110D are identical except that the K100D has Shake Reduction and the K110D does not.  Here are the rest of the features:

• 11 point wide frame AF system
• Sensitivity control up to ISO 3200
• Auto mode for "effortless" Point and Shoot photography
• 2.5 inch LCD with 210K pixels of resolution
• 23.5mm x 15.7mm 6.1 megapixel CCD
• Compact, lightweight body - stainless steel chassis and fiber-reinforced plastic body
• Optical viewfinder with 0.85x magnification that covers 96% of captured image area
• Top shutter speed of 1/4000 second
• Continuous mode capture rate of 2.8 frames per second
• SD memory card slot for image storage
• 19 custom functions
• 8 scene modes
• Choose between optical or digital depth-of-field preview
• Metering modes of multi-pattern, center-weighted, and spot
• Noise reduction system
• Powered by 4 AA-sized batteries
• USB 2.0 data transfer
• Capture JPEG and RAW formats

Pentax K110D (view large image)

Top of Pentax K110D (view large image)