Pentax K100D SLR Review

The camera's built-in P-TTL popup flash unit makes taking pictures with well-balanced foreground and background exposures simple. It has a Guide number of 15.6 (at ISO 200/m) with an 18mm lens angle of view coverage. Flash synch speed is 1/180 second and slower. Flash-On, Red-Eye Reduction and Flash-Off modes. When shooting the Auto Picture mode, the flash will open automatically when needed, in other modes the user needs to press a release button when flash is desired.

The K100D has an ISO hot shoe (but lacks a standard PC flash sync port) for connection to external flash equipment.

The K100D functions in full TTL with the Pentax AF-360 and AF-540 FGZ Power Zoom Flash units. When used in the advanced P-TTL mode a preflash allows for multi-segment flash metering for more accurate strobe photography. High speed on camera and wireless flash capabilities with the K100D. Both the AF-360 and AF-540 include an AF-assist beam for focusing in low light or low contrast situations.

Effective flash range for the AF-360 is from 2.3 to 17.7 feet, and for the AF-560 from 2.6 to 26.2 feet (both at at ISO 100, f/5.6). Power zoom head covers from 20mm (with wide angle panel) to 85mm. Vertical bounce possible, click stops of -10°, 0°, 45°, 60°, 75°, 90° are provided on the AF-360, and -10°, 0°, 30°, 45°, 60°, 75°, 90°, on the AF-540; a lock is provided preventing accidental use of -10°. Compatible film speeds are from ISO 25 to ISO 1600. Recycle time with NiMH batteries is approx. 6 seconds. Auto power-off after approx. 3 minutes of non-operation.

Flash exposure compensation (-3.0 to + 1.0 in 0.5 steps) is controlled through a simple control dial. LCD display shows the effective range of the flash in P-TTL, TTL and AUTO modes. Modeling light features strobes the flash so you can check for unwanted shadows or highlights. AF-540FGZ Manual mode power selections in seven steps from 1/1 to 1/64; the AF-360FGX six steps from 1/1 to 1/32. Leading shutter curtain sync, trailing shutter curtain sync, contrast control sync and high speed sync. Four channel wireless control with a range of approx. 13 feet. (AF-540FGZ shown)

The eyelevel viewfinder employs an optical pentamirror developed especially for the K100D and shows approx 96% of the captured image with 0.85x magnification (with 50mm F1.4 at infinity). There is a -2.5 - +1.5 diopter adjustment. Around the viewfinder is a soft rubber eyepiece (Eyecup Fo) that fits comfortably against your face or eyeglasses.

The optional Diopter Correction Lens Adapter M lets you choose one of the eight correction lenses from -5 to +3 m^-1 diopter.

The viewfinder uses a Natural-Bright-Matte II focusing screen. The indicators includes: (1) AF frame; (2) Spot AF frame; (3) AF Point; (4) Flash status; (5) Continuous mode; (6) Picture mode icon; (7) Scene mode icon; (8) Focus indicator; (9) Shutter speed; (10) Aperture value; (11) EV compensation indicator; (12) Number of recordable images/EV compensation value; (13) Shake reduction display; (14) Manual focus; (15) ISO sensitivity warning; (16) AE lock indicator.

Here is the layout of the 16-segment multi-pattern metering system. User-selectable Multi-Segment, Spot and Center-weighted options.