Pentax K200D SLR Review

In the photo above you can see the controls on the grip side of the K200D. Around the silver Shutter Release button you can see the Power switch/DOF Preview dial. The small "Green" button sets the Exposure mode to Auto and resets all settings to the defaults. There is also the AV button used to set the EV compensation and aperture value. The monochrome data LCD displays valuable shooting info.

The data LCD display indicates: (1) Shutter speed, (2) Aperture value, (3) White balance, (4) Battery level, (5) Flash mode, (6) Drive mode, (7) Focusing area, (8) AE metering, (9) Recordable image number, (10) File format.

The Mode Dial has positions for: AUTO PICT which sets optimal capture mode automatically from 5 of the Scene modes (Portrait, Landscape, Macro, Moving Object or Normal). The individual Scene modes available from the Mode dial are Portrait, Landscape, Macro, Moving Object, Night Scene Portrait, Flash Off and SCN. SCN mode allows you to select from 8 additional Scene modes: Night scene, Surf & Snow, Food, Sunset, Kids, Pets, Candlelight or Museum - after setting the Mode dial to SCN you use the 4-way controller and the rear LCD to select the desired mode.

The 2.7-inch color LCD is slightly larger than the display found on the K100D and is used for accessing the menus and reviewing captured images. The K200D does not offer a Live View mode. To the right of the eye level finder is the e-dial which in playback functions as the Index and Zoomed View dial. The AE Lock button in playback is the image Protect button. The 4-way controller/OK button lets you navigate menus and select images during playback. The Fn button call up the onscreen Function menu. The MENU button enables the onscreen menu system. The DELETE (trash can) button is for erasing images. The INFO button in record displays camera and exposure settings, in playback it toggles display of exposure data or histogram. The PLAYBACK button puts the camera into review mode.

On the front next to the lens is the RAW button that lets you quickly change from JPEG to RAW image capture mode. Below that is the Auto Focus Mode selector switch.

Images are stored on any size SD or SDHC flash memory cards. Shown here is a Kingston Elite Pro 50x 2GB SD card.

Approximate storage

Input /output ports reside on the left side of the K200D, behind a hinged, hard plastic door. I have to say that the door that PENTAX uses is much easier to work with than some other cameras that have a soft, springy door that is hard to keep open.

On top is a port for the Cable Switch CS-205 optional wired release.

In the middle we can see a combination connector for USB 2.0 (high-speed) or Video Out (selectable NTSC or PAL format), both cables are supplied with the K200D.

On the bottom is the jack for the optional AC Adapter Kit D-AC76, a complete AC adapter kit that includes both AC adapter and AC plug cord to connect the adapter to an electrical outlet.

The K200D is powered by 4 AA batteries. Our camera came with 4 Energizer Lithium Power Cells. The camera accepts lithium, alkaline, NiMH rechargeable batteries. PENTAX reports that approximately 1,100 images can be captured with lithium batteries (550 w/flash) or a playback time of approximately 700 minutes.

The BG3 grip will hold an additional four AA batteries to double your shooting time with the K200D, up to an impressive 2,200 shots with Lithium AA batteries. Additionally, the grip has a shutter release button to comfortably accommodate vertical shooting.