With the emergence of Digital Imaging, development of the now eclipsed film based SLR cameras has paused. The quality and convenient work flow of excellent digital equipment was made affordable for advanced users by the middle of the first decade of our Twenty-first Century. Offering excellent equipment of style and substance over the last half century, Pentax developed a huge pool of faithful SLR camera followers. From its series of time-honored classic Manual Focus bodies, such as the K, KM, and KA mount models, with almost three decades of cult-like devotion to its first true professional system camera--the great PENTAX LX professional SLR camera onward to achieving loyalties stimulated from user-sensitive auto focus camera designs: Pentax has earned a renowned place for Pentax system advocates' great expectations.

The Japanese camera industry recognized that Pentax had emerged as a true professional systems camera maker with the LX: as established from its overbuilt robust mechanisms; broadest of accurate range integral light meters (reading right up to the point of shutter closing through extremely long exposure readings); TTL flash measured off the film plane; full motor drive capacities; many viewfinder options; available extended system components; placed as extended in hand excellent hand-to-eye coordination ergonomics; orchestrated best possible shutter construction composition and lifespan; and well-developed lens system options. Great expectations then became a Pentax legacy, as with the other Japanese 35 mm system leaders well employed systems cameras.

After the LX stopped production, in the last years of the last century, and through special releases leading into 2000, the first question which arose in Pentax users' minds (as digital photography eclipsed film photography) was how would Pentax digital camera SLR offerings measure up to the LX?

Though consumer DSLR designs came forth from Pentax since 2003, only since the 2007 award-winning K10D, presented in 2006, has this question begun to be adequately answered. Thereby trusting Pentax total system reliability once more, advanced users returned to Pentax. With the 2008 release of the K20D instant classic, a unique imaging origination sensor developed of an engineering partnership with the Korean Samsung electronics conglomerate addressed the haunting optics image rendering CA error factors of past CCD sensor based DSLR images. The lens tests posted from past CCD sensor based Pentax DSLRs are corrected in large measure by the new CMOS K20D SLR imaging sensor. This Image Quality development accompanied ongoing planned Pentax DA professional series dust resistant optics true-to-format lens releases for advanced user requirements. Pentax has shown a commitment to the careful consideration of advanced user best interests by proving its long term DSLR systems goals since 2006.

The body design in particular, of the K10D and K20D, is to be coveted for its staunch photography-enabling presence in all environments. Pentax DSLR Body weather and dust seals are improved even over the LX classic film camera, as upgraded along with the K20Ds long life shutter, large 2.7 inch viewscreen, programmable user friendly technical options, on-camera dual RAW selections, in-camera RAW to JPEG or TIFF transfers, a wide range of JPEG quality options, hand reachable quick shooting mode change features, full information Pentaprism viewfinder, live-view and video out features, metal alloy body and stainless steel core, rugged camera finish, available flash systems, optional battery pack with second shutter release feature, unique editorial use JPEG 1.6MB render 21 fps high burst rate, and color constancy, noise reduction, and sharpness adjustment in camera processing. Horizontal and Vertical in-camera shake reduction is improved over the K10D (allowing the hand held use of many long lenses without special in lens focus motors or image stabilization), as are the dual dust removal and on sensor flagging for sensor cleaning alert systems. At 14.1 MP this camera IQ (Image Quality) outshines the competition in this pricerange, easily approaching the 3 to 6 times higher priced other manufacturer professional grade systems (in early 2008). These developments, from Pentax, represent DSLR systems classic camera foundations. There are other models too for price and hand size consideration. Kudos to Pentax. If your desire is to dispose of your Pentax cameras or their accompanying accessories and/or you are looking for a used model (or even for any of Pentax DSLR system components), please use a separate section of our PIM MIR-provided photographic sites, as is offered for a higher traffic volume for this purpose; please use the Free Trade Zone for such purposes, instead of this user forum. The Photography In Malaysia (PIM) on-line photography service organization has no Guestbook of its own, because its own foundation is an integral part of all MIR sites. But, if you want to leave a note on your experience visiting this site, you may use the MIR's (Malasyan Intenet Resources) Guestbook found at another server window: by clicking on this Guestbook Link.

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