Pentax K-x Digital SLR Camera (Single Lens Kit 18 - 55mm)

This is my first dslr and was an upgrade from the fantastic Fujifilm s9600. Being particularly interested in sports photography, the continuous shooting speed of 4.7 on this model was the main feature that attracted me. This is considerably faster than one of it's main competitors, the Canon EOS d500.

Still learning my way around the camera, I took it to the Dubai Rugby Sevens tournament last weekend. Lighting conditions ranged from bright sunshine, bright floodlights to low-lit nighttime. Steering away from the automatic exposure setting, I found the camera extremely responsive with very intuitive menus, the most important of which can be easily modified during use with your right hand.

There are many more modes and features on the camera, including HD video which I have not yet played with, but judging by the experience I have had so far I'm sure they will be easily accessible and produce stunning results.

The lenses I used were the kit lenses 18-55 and the 55-300 from the dual lens kit. Auto focus was speedy and accurate.

Having gone through the results on my computer after getting back I could not have been happier with the results.

I had a Nikon FE in the days when we used to boast about how old our cameras were; still got it in fact. I never really took digital photography seriously, but couldn't live in the 21st century without a digital compact. This packed in recently, so I thought it time for me to take the plunge and get a DSLR. Did a lot of research, and this is the one that ticked most of my boxes and was within my price range. It arrived this week and I love it. Had to wait a while because I'd ordered the special edition in red; well, it's more of a dark pink really but I still love it. This is a beautiful camera.

If you're right handed and have hands that are not too large, then one handed operation is a pushover; all of the controls are within reach of your right thumb or forefinger. There are the usual scene and exposure modes, including a sensitivity mode, plus a number of digital filters that can be deployed at the picture taking or editing stage, not to mention the various shooting modes. The screen is big, bright and sharp enough for me. The information screens and menus are not 100% intuitive, so I've spent some time studying the operating manual, and I think it will be a while yet before they become second nature. I suppose this is the price you pay for having a camera with so many creative possibilities. Still don't know why they call it 'entry level'. I chose it because it was the camera I wanted, and not with a view to 'upgrading' in a year or two. Barring accidents it should last forever, and thus earn the designation 'exit level'. It certainly looks and feels as though it will last a long time, though does not boast weatherproofing. (I would have liked weatherproofing, but all of the cameras that have it are both too expensive and too big and heavy. The first manufacturer to realize that there are a large number of us who lug our cameras up mountains, and who would therefore place a high value on a combination of light weight, small size and weatherproofing rather than technical gadgetry will make a killing.) I think the advertised weight of the camera must be for the body only. Body + lens + batteries + strap weigh a total of 836g according to my kitchen scales.

There has been a lot of discussion about the use of AA batteries in a DSLR, and a suggestion that battery life in the K-x is poor. The answer seems to be to use low self discharge batteries such as Sanyo Eneloops. I was pleased to find a set of these bundled with the K-x when it arrived. So far battery life doesn't seem to be as good as that on my old Canon Powershot, but it's too early to pronounce judgement on it yet.

Pictures I have taken so far have been excellent. I can heartily recommend this camera, and would also like to add a word of appreciation for Amazon partner Binoculars UK Ltd for their excellent service. Lastly, if you're looking for a bag for your new DSLR check out my review of the Tamrac 5531, which fits the K-x perfectly. Please regard this as an interim report; I hope to return to it when I've put the camera through its paces in various conditions.

As promised, here is the update. I've had the chance to use the camera in a variety of conditions over the festive season, including taking it to the tops of the Brecon Beacons in deep snow and sub-zero temperatures on New Years Day, and my admiration for it just grows and grows. Had fun using the built in filters, especially colour subtraction and high contrast. The controls and displays are becoming more logical and quick to use. (They are really very logical; it's just me that's a bit slow.) Pictures are great, though noisy at the higher end of the sensitivity scale (as you would expect), and the camera performs particularly well in low light situations, with or without flash. I've also appreciated that fast continuous shooting mode and the exposure bracketing mode. Still haven't taken any movies, except for one just to try out the movie mode. With regard to the batteries, please do not be put off from buying the K-x because of those tales of short battery life. I haven't done an exact count, but must have taken three or four hundred shots including some with flash with one set of Sanyo Eneloops, and they're still going. Still lots more to explore with this camera. I'd give it a couple of extra stars if I could.

Having upgraded from a Pentax Super ME 35mm SLR with a collection of lenses I decided my first DSLR would be Pentax, (or a Samsung - their compatible partners). I couldn't be more pleased the various modes don't take long to learn. I can use all my old Pentax lenses; with the one caveat that the focal length of a 35mm lens is around 1.5 longer due to the physical size of the sensor compared to the exposed film. A benefit for my old 300mm telephoto that now shoots at 450mm. Change one setting in the menus to allow the camera to use non-automatic aperture lenses, (which can be kept left on with no side effects), then simply tell the camera what the 35mm focal length of the lens is and you now have your DSLR using an old lens with full anti-shake!

Now consider most Cashconvertors shops have old lenses from a tenner. And you can shoot HD video onto larger SDHC cards with any lens.

If you upgrade the camera's firmware from the official site you can also unlock the higher 12800 ISO mode for stunning low light photography, as well as allocate the green button next to the shutter to various modes. I opted to assign the Raw function so if I'm framing a shot that will need extra work done to it I can avoid Jpegs noise and use the Raw format with its better colour depth.

Invest in a decent bag though as the Pentax K-x is not as weather proof as the more expensive Pentax DSLRs, and of course put filters on your lenses to avoid scratches happening directly to them. A decent tripod is needed to use the two built in HDR modes.

My only regret is the coloured bodies offered by Pentax are not available in the twin lens kits.