Features

High-quality image

The K-m combines a large, high-performance CCD image sensor (23.5mm by 15.7mm) with the sophisticated PRIME (PENTAX Real Image Engine) as its imaging engine. With its approximately 10.2 effective megapixel resolution, it produces beautiful, fine-detailed images with subtle gradations and delicate texture description. It also features a Custom Image function, which lets you select one of six finishing touches to reflect your creative intentions with ease.

Compact, lightweight body

Despite the incorporation of a large-sized image sensor (23.5mm by 15.7mm), the K-m offers a compact, lightweight body to assure remarkable portability and maneuverability. The camera grip has also been redesigned to assure a firm, comfortable hold of the camera.

PENTAX-original Shake Reduction mechanism for sharp, blur-free images

The PENTAX-developed SR (Shake Reduction) mechanism effectively reduces camera shake for sharp, blur-free images even under demanding shooting conditions. This innovative SR mechanism offers an outstanding compensation effect, up to the equivalent of approximately four shutter steps. The K-m does not require special anti-shake lenses and can be used with almost all existing PENTAX interchangeable lenses.
*** Lenses compatible with this mechanism are: the PENTAX K-, KA-, KAF-, KAF2-, and KAF3-mount lenses; screw-mount lenses (with an adapther); and 645- and 67-system lenses (with an adapter). Some functions may not be applicable with certain lenses..

Comprehensive Dust Removal system

The user-friendly DR (Dust Removal) system prevents dust from appearing on captured images. Applied to the CCD image sensor surface (or low-pass filter) through the vapour deposition process of a fluorine compound, the PENTAX-original SP (Super Protect) coating effectively prevents dust and stains from sticking to the surface. Any dust that remains on the surface will be shaken off when the SR system shifts the image sensor at high speed. Dust that is shaken off the image sensor will fall onto an adhesive sheet positioned at the bottom of the SR unit, eliminating any possibility of it returning to the image sensor surface. This DR system also offers a Dust Alert function, which allows you to check for dust on the CCD before and after operating the DR system.

Auto Picture mode for automatic selection of optimum shooting mode

The PENTAX-developed Auto Picture mode is programmed to automatically select the most appropriate shooting mode (such as Portrait, Landscape and Macro and new with the K-m, Night Scene Portrait mode) for a given subject or situation. All camera settings, including aperture, shutter speed, white balance, saturation, contrast and sharpness, are automatically adjusted by the camera for optimum results, allowing you to concentrate on image composition and shutter opportunity.

High-speed continuous shooting at approx. 3.5 frames per second

The K-m lets you keep shooting images at the speed of approximately 3.5 frames per second (for a five frame burst in the JPEG recording format, 4 frames in RAW), allowing you to capture a sequence of shots of a fast-moving subject with great ease.

High-precision 5-point AF system

The K-m incorporates a five-point wide-area AF system (SAFOX VIII with five cross-type sensors, each sensitive to both horizontal and vertical subjects) to assure dependable, high-precision autofocusing.

Auto sensitivity control up to ISO 3200

The K-m’s auto sensitivity control function automatically sets the optimum sensitivity between ISO 100 and ISO 3200, based on such data as the subject’s brightness level and the lens’ focal length. This function lets you to take advantage of faster shutter speeds in poor lighting situations (such as indoor sports events and nighttime scenes) in order to effectively reduce image blur from both camera shake and subject movement.

Effective gradation compensation

The K-m’s dynamic-range expansion function allows you to expand a dynamic range (or a range of gradation reproduction) to minimize white-washed areas in the image while its shadow compensation function minimizes pitch-black areas lacking details. Combined, they help you to produce beautiful, rich-gradation images when shooting high-contrast subjects.

Large, easy-to-view 2.7-inch LCD monitor

The K-m has a large 2.7-inch colour LCD monitor with approximately 230,000 dots. The wide-view design allows you to check the on-screen image from approximately 170 degrees both vertically and horizontally. Digital zooming of playback images up to 16 times allows easy confirmation of the image’s focusing status and details.

Bright, clear viewfinder

Thanks to a combination of a lightweight penta-mirror prism, PENTAX-original finder optics and the acclaimed Natural-Bright-Matte focusing screen, the K-m’s viewfinder delivers a large, bright subject image with an approximately 96-percent field of view and an approximately 0.85-times magnification.

Digital filters for unique visual expressions

The K-m’s built-in digital filters let you effortlessly add some creative and artistic touches to recorded images without the use of a PC. You can select one of 14 different digital filters, including the new Toy Camera and Retro filters, to create your desired visual effect.

Other features

10 Scene modes, switchable with simple icon selection, make it easy for first time users to get great pictures of a range of shooting situations, like sunrises or sunsets, without requiring complex camera adjustments.
Energy-efficient power supply, recording approximately 1,650 images with four AA-size lithium batteries.*
Status screen, displaying camera settings on the LCD monitor on the camera’s back panel, offer at-a-glance confirmation
Index function for five different types of display and printing modes
Choice of 16-segment multi-pattern metering, center-weighted metering and spot metering to accommodate various photographic applications
Simultaneous recording of RAW- and JPEG-format images
Compatibility with SD and SDHC memory cards as external data-recording media
In-body development of RAW-format images using settings as taken or custom adjustment such as B&W Infrared
Compatibility with SDM-equipped lenses for quiet, smooth autofocus operation as well as having in body focus motor for compatability with older AF lenses
Full featured PENTAX PHOTO Laboratory 3 RAW data processing software and PENTAX PHOTO Browser 3 browser software included on the accompanying CD-ROM

*Under testing condition prescribed by PENTAX, when using AA Lithium batteries with no flash

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