Posted to Digital SLR 2009-07-31
The Pentax *ist DL2 Digital SLR was the first new DSLR offered by Pentax after they announced their alliance with electronics giant Samsung. The *ist DL2 featured 6.1MP resolution, used the popular Pentax KAF lens mount, and featured a 5-point autofocus system. The camera also featured a 2.5" color LCD display, 16-segment metering and shutter speeds from 30-1/4000 seconds. The *ist DL2 also offered an ISO range of 200-3200, 10 user-selectable white balance modes and eight automatic scene modes. The camera used SD or MultiMedia cards for storage and operated on 4 AA batteries. The camera measured 4.9"x3.6"x2.6" and weighed 16.6 ounces. It also featured exposure compensation of +/- 2.0 EV and a bright eyelevel optical viewfinder. Exposure modes included Program, Shutter-priority, Aperture-priority and Manual. Value
ValueThe Pentax *ist DSLR represented an excellent value for the time at its street price. And it included added value because of its compatibility with almost any lens Pentax had ever made. This was a big plus to previous Pentax owners. In addition, used lenses from earlier Pentax film cameras were available at very reasonable prices. This is still a good reason to go with a Pentax camera today - the availability of reasonably priced, quality lenses. FeaturesThe Pentax *ist DL2 had most of the features offered by the competition at the time. The specs on this camera were excellent when compared to similarly priced competitors, and the 6.1MP resolution was substantial for its time. The 5-point autofocus system, 16-segment metering and wide ISO range made for a very versatile camera. And it was one of the smallest and lightest DSLRs on the market for its time. SummaryThe Pentax *ist DL2 was a very well designed camera. It quickly became a bestseller for Pentax, and plenty of used units are available today. The fact that Pentax retained compatibility with virtually every Pentax lens ever made was a big plus, and still is today. If you're in the market for a used DSLR, the *ist DL2 would make an excellent choice. It compares favorably with the current Nikon D40, and the availability of lenses at a reasonable price makes it a real bargain in a used camera. Pros
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