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Pentax *ist DL Digital SLR
The Pentax *ist DL is a slighly smaller, slightly cheaper version of the Pentax *ist DS which was announced on June 1st 2005.
The anticipated release date is August 10th 2005. Most of the camera
remains the same as the DS, but there are some differences among which are:
- The pentaprism is replaced by a pentamirror, giving a somewhat smaller
viewfinder (now 0.85x)
- The LCD is larger (2.5")
- The DL has 3 AF zones (the DS has 11)
- The buffer is now 5/3 (Jpeg/Raw) [vs. 8/5 for the DS]
- The DL has an auto ISO model
- The DL is 7% lighter (ca. 565g vs. 605g)
- The DL is about 12% cheaper (ca. $700 vs. ca. $800)
- The DL has no high speed flash sync
To me it looks like the size and weight (and cost) aren't that much less, but you do lose the large viewfinder
which sets the *ist D and DS apart from most of the other DLSRs selling at under $1000 (or even under $1500). You
also lose 8 AF zones and get a smaller buffer. I think I'd be tempted to stick the *ist DS if I were in the
market for a Pentax DSLR at under $1000. Your mileage may differ of course!
According to Pentax, the DL features the following:
- Simple, accessible operation, from the multi-function four-way controller to the large,
easy-to-use mode dial, all switches and dials are efficiently and functionally positioned.
- Compact design with high-rigidity stainless-steel chassis Body measures just 4.9 x 3.6 x
2.6 inches.
- Large 2.5-inch LCD monitor remains easy to view, even on sunny days. Power saving mode
extends battery life.
- 6.1 megapixel CCD and sophisticated 16-segment multi-pattern metering delivers
outstanding image reproduction.
- Convenient SD media Card storage and High Speed USB 2.0 data transfer.
- Versatile multi-source power supply operates on AA batteries, 2CR-V3 lithium batteries,
or optional AC adapter.
Specifications
| Camera Type: |
Auto-exposure digital SLR still camera with TTL
auto focus and built-in retractable P-TTL auto flash |
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6.1 megapixels |
| Sensor: |
Interline interlace CCD with primary color
filter. Size: 23.5mm x 15.7mm Total pixels: 6.31 megapixels |
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JPEG: [6M]3008x2008 pixels, [4M]2400x1600 pixels,
[1.5M]1536x1024 pixels RAW: 3008x2008 pixels |
| Sensitivity: |
ISO Auto Manual (200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200) |
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Still: JPEG (Exif 2.21), RAW, DCF (Design rule
for Camera File system), DPOF (Digital Print Order Format), PRINT Image Matching III |
| Quality Levels: |
Compressed: JPEG-baseline ***Best, **Better and
*Good Non-compressed:RAW |
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SD memory card |
| Color Composition: |
Color Depth - 8 bit (JPEG) or 12 bit (RAW) x 3
colors |
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Auto, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Tungsten light,
Fluorescent light ((W,D,N), Flash, Manual |
| Lcd Monitor: |
2.5 inch, low temperature polysilicon TFT color
LCD (low reflection) Approx. 210,000pixels |
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Image rotation, slide show, digital filter |
| Delete Function: |
Single, all |
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Compatible with NTSC and PAL formats |
| Interfaces: |
Type - USB 2.0 high speed; Video Output -
Compatible with NTSC and PAL formats |
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PENTAX KAF mount compatible with PENTAX KAF2, KAF
and KA mount lenses; Power Zoom Function - Not available; K-mount Lenses - usable with
restrictions; S-mount Lenses - usable with adapter and restrictions; 67/645 Lenses -
usable with adapter and restrictions |
| Exposure Modes: |
Program AE, Auto Picture Mode, Picture Mode,
Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority, Manual, Bulb; |
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Type – Electronically controlled
vertical-run focal plane shutter; Shutter Speed - 1/4000 - 30 seconds and Bulb |
| Viewfinder: |
Penta mirror with Natural-Bright-Matte II
focusing screen; Viewfinder Coverage - 96%; Viewfinder Magnification - 0.85x (with 50mm
f1.4 lens, -1-1); Diopter Adjustment - -2.5m-1 to +1.5m-1 |
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(1) Flash information; (2) Picture mode
(Standard, Portrait, Landscape, Macro, Action, Night scene portrait); (3) In-focus; (4)
Shutter speed; (5) Aperture value; (6) Exposure compensation factor; (7) Manual white
balance; (8) Manual focus; (9) Sensitivity warning;(10) Auto exposure lock signal; (11)
AF.C (AF-continuous |
| External Lcd: |
(1) Shutter speed; (2) Aperture value; (3) Flash
Information (Auto, Flash-On, Flash-Off, Red-eye reduction); (4) Single frame
advance/Continuouse advance; (5) Self-timer; (6) Remote control; (7) Metering Information;
(8) Focus point indicator; (9) Auto bracketing; (10) AUTO/ manual white balance
information; (11) Battery information; (12) Exposure compensation factor;(13) Exposure
frame number |
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TTL open-aperture metering with choice of:
16-segment, Center-weighted & Spot meter; Metering Range – EV1 - EV21.5 (At ISO
200 with 50mm F1.4 lens); |
| Exposure Compensation: |
Exposure Compensation - +/-2 EV (1/2 or 1/3
steps) |
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Auto Bracketing - 3 frames +/-1.5EV (1/2 steps)
or +/-1EV (1/3 steps) |
| Ae Lock: |
Push button type with approx. 20 sec. timer |
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Single-shot, Continuous (2.8 fps), Self-timer
(12sec, 2sec), Auto bracketing, Remote Control (0 sec, 3 sec) |
| Autofocus: |
TTL phase-matching 3-point autofocus system
(SAFOX VIII); Autofocus Modes - AF-Single (with focus lock), AF-Continuous, Manual;
Illumination Range - EV1 - EV19 (at ISO 200 with 50mm F1.4 lens) |
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Built-in series-control retractable P-TTL pop-up
flash; Operation Modes - Auto, Flash-off, Flash-on, Auto + Red-eye reduction, Flash-on +
Red-eye reduction; Guide Number - 15.6 (at ISO 200/m); Angle of View Coverage - 28mm
(equivalent to 35mm); Flash Exposure Compensation - +1 to -2 (1/2 steps); |
| Synchronization: |
Flash Synchronization - With RTF and via hot
shoe; Synchronization Speed - 1/180 sec. |
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12 sec., 2 sec. |
| Remote Control: |
0 sec., 3 sec. |
| Power Source: |
Four AA (Lithium, Alkaline, and rechargeable
NiMH) batteries, or two CR-V3 Lithium batteries (optional AC adapter also available) |
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Depth of Field Preview - Via main switch |
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(W x H x D) - 4.9 x 3.6 x 2.6 inches (125 x 92.5
x 66mm) |
| Weight: |
16.6 oz. (470g) without battery and SD memory
card; 19.4 oz. (550g) loaded and ready |
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Mac Requirements - OS: Mac OS 9.0 or later,
standard equipped USB port; PC Requirements - OS: Windows Me, 2000, XP Home edition /
Professional, standard equipped USB port |
| Operating Temperatures: |
32 degrees to 104 degrees Fahrenheit (0 degrees
to 40 degrees Celsius) |
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Modes - dd/mm/yy, mm/dd/yy, yy/mm/dd; World Time
- Displays the time in 72 cities (28 time zones) |
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www.bobatkins.com
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