Pentax istDL 6 1MP Digital SLR Camera with DA 18 55mm f3 5 5 6 AL Digital SLR Lens

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Amazing
I was looking for a Cheap beginner SLR, and this one is GREAT. Its not that much more then a point and shoot (actually, its the same price as my point and shoot) and it takes GREAT images. Im going to spain next friday, and Cant wait to use it. I will buy again instantly.

4 Stars Solid entry level DSLR
The Pentax line has consistently offered the best ‘bang-for-the-buck’. This machine feels much better built than comparative offerings from the other DSLR big guys, and has a feature set that’s pretty well rounded. If you have any old Pentax SLR equipment around, this is a real bargain; Pentax is the only current DSLR manufacturer whose offerings can use any Pentax lens ever made. I’ve got an old Pentax 135mm f2.5 that I couldn’t stand to give up; it clicks right on my *ist DL and takes beautiful pictures. The kit 18-55 is not bad at all. Just generally this camera is hard to beat for the money. If you have a few extra bucks, though, upgrade to the newer Pentax machines like the K200D (10 MPixel and shake reduction, along with a host of new features).

5 Stars Great SLR
This is a great camera. It is a great buy: simple to use, takes great pictures, the speed is a little on the slow side (I have not had a digital camera that wasn’t), and it has some heft to it.

Again a great all around camera for someone who wants to take great pictures of the family, vacations, and life in general.

5 Stars Easy to use AND Takes great pictures – Who could ask for more?
This camera will give you clear crisp pictures with bright colours as well as capture sequential action shots. I have been using this camera for personal use and have won several local photo contests with my pictures. Would suggest that you invest in another telephoto lens (75mm – 300mm) which can be picked up for about $140 (on Amazon).

With the wide angle and the telephoto lens, you will have a camera that is a good as it gets.

5 Stars Really Great Digital SLR at a Nice Price
I am a 35mm and Medium Format (6cm) film photographer converted to digital by this camera. I love this camera. I am used to Pentax LX, MX, ME, and K-1000 35mm cameras and (a huge collection of) M-series and A-series lenses, along with Rolleiflex medium format. Some tripod work, but mostly hand-held. I hike a lot (photos: landscapes of all sorts, natural details, sky drama) and also take candids of family and friends outdoors and indoors (the 50-200 zoom is great for candids.)

I had basically stopped doing any photos except business work and snapshots with a 2MP digital ELF (Canon Powershot 110). The ELF was fine for basic snapshots but has very little flexibility.

Since my wife gave me this camera a year ago, I’ve re-discovered the fun of making photos. I felt restricted by film costs (and environmental impact) and the limits of the ELF. Now, I have amazing creativity and flexibility at my fingertips. I am enjoying this camera more than any other, even the LX and Rollei. It does everything I ask of it, easily and well. The auto focus is really great and so are the auto-exposure modes (I was previously an ALL-MANUAL guy.)

Laundry list of things I like:

Manual or auto-focus

Manual or multiple auto exposure modes

Depth of field preview

Delay timer for tripod work without cable release (or remote control)

Uses all Pentax K-mount lenses including my old M-series and A-series lenses that I love

Wonderfully ergonomic — all the buttons where you want them, great grip (for right-handers)

Fast continuous shooting mode

Easy to use and logical menus and functions (I’ve only rarely needed to consult the manual)

Display screen is wonderfully large, bright, and clear; and you can zoom (to 12X) and pan the images — so you can really make a good judgment about deleting an image

Viewfinder is bright and clear, seems to be about 95% of final image

I love the 18-55 zoom and 50-200 zoom lenses (I still want the 14mm)

Download is fast and simple

Everything is small and lightweight

I put Li-I batteries into the camera last August and they still read as fully-charged (this is after ballpark 2000 photos, 20+ downloads, and hundreds of flashes — amazing!)

I get all the flexibility I want AND my techno-phobic wife can easily use it (!!!)

The only feature I’ve even considered that it doesn’t have is mirror lock-up.

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