Pentax K-r Digital SLR Camera Review

The Pentax K-r is a mid-class SLR digital camera geared towards SLR beginners. The K-r combines a smaller body and easy to use layout as compared to the less expensive K-x model and also includes some advanced features found in the K-7 model. The most significant would be the auto-focus system and the LCD viewing screen. The 12.4MP Pentax Kr SLR camera also is equipped with its own stand-alone features. This includes the fastest continuous shooting rate of all Pentax digital SLR cameras at 6fps, the widest ISO range of 100-25600, infrared data transfer and last but not least, the ability to utilize AA or a lithium-ion battery.

Additional features found in the K-r include an 11-point AF system with the active focus point displayed in the viewfinder, 720p HD video clip recording ability, a high-resolution 3" LCD viewing screen, a built-in camera shake reducer, an anti-dust mechanism, a dynamic-range expansion, an in-camera High Dynamic Range along with digital filters and a complete range of automatic and manual shooting modes.

About the price and options: The Pentax K-r can be purchased in black, red or white and costs around $600 with the 18-55mm DAL kit lens and approximately $850 with the 18-55mm DAL and 50-200mm DAL double kit lenses.

Ease of use
There really isn't anything in regards to the K-r build quality that appears to be compromised - it's even built with a strong memory card door and a metal lens mount and metal tripod mount is in-line with the lens. Images may be saved to an SD or SDHC memory card along with a slot accessed via the right side of the camera. The included rechargeable Lithium-Ion battery or the optional, four AA batteries, which only work with an adapter, are placed in a separate area at the bottom of the handgrip.

The Pentax K-r isn't going to be your top pick of an SLR if you're going to use it outside during bad weather as is does not offer any weather proofing - you'll have to look upwards to the more expensive models for that.

Performance
It's the first Pentax digital SLR camera that offers the IrSimple high-speed infrared data transmission system, the sensor for which is built into the handgrip. The sensor allows users to wirelessly transfer photos from camera to camera or from camera to a site on the Internet via a cellular phone, which allows simple sharing amongst other K-r users and even more useful, uploading downsized photos to the Internet.

The shutter release may be too loud for some but others may find this to be quite pleasing. Up close subjects will actually hear the shutter release, but this does not pose an issue, unless you're looking for a quieter SLR camera. It's weight of about 600g should allow you to shoulder-strap it around with you all day while remaining comfortable. No need to worry about snapping enough photos - the K-r shoots up 1,000 photos using high-powered NiMh AA batteries and up to 470 photos with the lithium-ion. If you still think you'll need to take more photos than that, simply provide yourself with back-up batteries.

The K-r SLR camera utilizes an 11-point AF system which spreads out more widely across the frame and significantly illuminates them to display what the camera is focusing on.

As far as focusing, it's fast and reliable in decent lighting conditions while using the standard 18-55mm kit lens and also works well with faster moving subjects in the scene.

The K-r SLR camera is very fast to start up. Switch it on and it's ready to capture photos within a second. The K-r's shutter speed is impressively fast at 1/6000th of a second and should last through 100,000 shutter releases which is usually only available in the more expensive, professional models.

The K-r also features PRIME II imaging engine which allows the camera to store a JPEG photo file in less than one second, and at the same time, allows you to keep snapping photos as they're being uploaded to the memory card.