Pentax has been a strong name in the burgeoning budget DSLR market for a long time. The Pentax K-m, for instance, is a surprisingly good 10.2MP camera that can be had for as little as £330.
The £599 Pentax K-x continues in a similar vein. Indeed, hold both cameras at the same time and it's only the branding that allows you to tell them apart.
Their outward specifications are identical - they're the same size and almost exactly the same weight, and they both have a 2.7-inch LCD on the back. The layout of the buttons on the back of the cameras is the same as well.
That means all the changes are internal. The K-m's PRIME (Pentax Real Image Engine) has been replaced by the PRIME II engine, and where the older camera has a 10.2MP CCD sensor, the new K-x has a 12.4MP sensor.
It isn't just the pixel density that has gone up - the K-x's sensor is a CMOS chip, and that means the headline act isn't bigger pictures, but HD video.
Like most of the HD-capable DSLRs we've seen, such as the Nikon D300S, the Pentax produces excellent quality video. It records in Motion-JPEG AVI format, like Nikon's HD-capable cameras, and you can choose from 1,280 x 720 (720p) at 24 frames per second or 640 x 480 (480p).
Your comments (7) Click to add a new comment
tommycwleung
June 15th 2010
7. Thank for the review on k-x.
One question, I saw tons of review(s) regarding canon 550D as intermediate DSLR while K-x is normally as entry level.
If kx is excellent entry DSLR, is it a moderate intermediate ?
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fekish
May 11th 2010
6. Hi, for the video recording, how much space does a 3 minute let's say video would take?
I want to see if you really can take some video during holidays or not.
thanks
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kweksma
March 8th 2010
5. Thank you for this review. I think that the AA-battery is an advantage, not a disadvantage, at least for those who already own a good charger. During the lifetime of the camera you can enjoy the improvements of battery development (Imedion 2100 low discharge for example). If these batteries indeed keep the camera running for a 1000+ shots, that would be amazing!
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shan_o
February 3rd 2010
4. I just ordered mine. [A fair bit cheaper than £550!] Can't wait to get my hands on it!
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avata58
January 18th 2010
3. I am swimming in deep waters as I try to make my mind between dslr's different but close abilities. Also between Megapixels and Lense capabilities. One think is for sure, your reviews of the cameras are excellent, well analysed and help me stay afloat untill I decide which one is the most suitable for my expectations. Cordially, thank you.
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bobt
December 21st 2009
2. I changed to the k-x from an Olympus E500.
I think the k-x is far better and the quality of shots great.
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ikalujny
October 27th 2009
1. I`m going to get myself one.
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