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Pentax K-x 12.4 MP Digital SLR with 2.7-inch LCD and 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL and 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED Lenses (Black) | 
| Brand: Pentax
Category: Photography
List Price: $849.95
Buy New: $794.99
as of 7/31/2010 13:40 CDT details
You Save: $54.96 (6%)
New (7) Used (1) from $647.99
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Seller: Buy.com
Rating:  24 reviews
Sales Rank: 1376
Media: Electronics
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Floppy Disk Drive: None
Optical Zoom: 3
Display Size: 2.7
Maximum Focal Length: 55
Minimum Focal Length: 18
Maximum Resolution: 12.4
Has Red Eye Reduction: Yes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.3
Dimensions (in): 4.8 x 3.6 x 2.7
Legal Disclaimer: We do not in any way represent that any part we sell is legal to possess in your jurisdiction. Check with you local authorities to ensure it is legal for you to possess before buying!
MPN: K-x 18-55mm & 55-300mm Kit
Model: K-x 18-55mm & 55-300mm Kit
UPC: 027075158917
EAN: 0027075158917
ASIN: B002OEBTCS
Shipping: Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Features:
| • | 12.4-megapixel CMOS sensor with Pentax Shake Reduction; HDR image capture | | • | Kit includes 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL and 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED lenses | | • | Capture widescreen HD 720p video at 24fps; 2.7-inch LCD with autofocus and Face Detection Live View | | • | 4.7fps capture rate with 1/6000 sec max shutter speed; 11-point wide-angle autofocus | | • | Powered by AA lithium batteries; capture images and video to SD/SDHC memory (not included) |
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Product Description
The K-x camera design is a compact, lightweight body and simple, user-friendly operations. With the addition of a newly designed CMOS image sensor and an upgraded high-performance imaging engine, the K-x offers outstanding photographic performance at nearly the same level as upper-class models. This includes high-resolution, fine-detailed images delivered by approximately 12.4 effective megapixels, super-high-sensitivity photography and high-speed continuous shooting. The K-x also features an array of advanced functions, including Live View shooting and movie recording. It also provides a pair of handy functions designed to produce highly personalized images with great ease: an upgraded digital filter function to accommodate more sophisticated image processing, and a new cross process mode to produce unexpected, eye-catching finishing touches with unique, intriguing colors. The K-x is not only the perfect camera for first-time digital SLR camera users, but also serves as the ideal backup camera for more experienced photographers. True HDR image capture blends 3 bracketed images into a single picture with outstanding shadow, highlight, and midrange detail Responsive 11 point wide angle SAFOX VIII autofocus system focuses quickly and accurately, and can easily track moving subjects Expanded ISO range covers sensitivities from 100-12800 for extreme low light photography Capture up to 1900 shots with easy-to-find AA lithium batteries Specifications Effective Pixels - approx. 12.4 megapixels Image Sensor - CMOS with a primary color filter Lens Mount - PENTAX KAF2 bayonet mount Monitor - 2.7 TFT color LCD Live View - TTL by Image Sensor Viewfinder - Fixed molded penta-mirror type Storage Media - SD memory card , SDHC memory card Image Formats - JPEG, RAW (12bit) (PEF, DNG), RAW+JPEG File Size - Up to JPEG or RAW - (12M) 4288x28; Movie - (0.9M) 1280x720,
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 24
 great camera July 26, 2010
Frank J. Busbey (Canton, GA)
I checked many on line reviews. For my purposes the K-x sounded fairly equal with the Nikon D-5000 (both sounded like they produce a better picture than the Canon T1i). Both cameras had a handful of negative reviews and handfuls of positives. The K-x won out due to price combined with the fact my Pentax K-1000 lasted 20 years before needing repairs and I have lenses from it that will work with the K-x. I've used it extensively for a month and I am completely happy with the handling and results of this camera. I invested a little more and got a kit with the 18 - 55 lens and the 55-300.
 I did not buy this camera because it was not in stock June 24, 2010
Mike (Texas)
0 out of 10 found this review helpful
Although Amazon showed the item as In Stock, I received an email from the supplier informing me that they were out of stock. They were VERY courteous when I cancelled the order. The money, which had been sucked out of my account almost immediately, was refunded the same day. Kudos! I then hopped in my car and drove less than 10 minutes to my local Fry's and bought a different brand (Canon T1i AND an extra lens) because Fry's was running a sale that made the items cheaper (even with tax) than I would have paid had I ordered them from Amazon. Now. Please leave me alone. Stop sending me emails requesting that I review a camera I never bought. The End.
The Pentax K-x is a giant killer! May 29, 2010
Edgar_in_Indy (Indianapolis, IN USA)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
I recently upgraded from my beloved Olympus e-510 DSLR with the 14-42mm and 40-150mm kits lenses in order to get a DSLR with better low-light performance and HD video capabilities. I loved my Olympus, but image quality took a nose-dive at ISO 800, and I liked the idea of having an HD camcorder built into my camera to capture high quality family photos and home videos in one device. I eventually settled on the Pentax K-x after first buying, and then returning, a Canon T2i.
I know that the T2i costs almost twice as much as the K-x, and they're not direct competitors, but I think my experience illustrates what a great camera and bargain the K-x is and how, for me at least, it was a giant killer.
I initially pre-ordered a T2i for the $900 MSRP after reading the glowing reviews in the press about the 18MP sensor, the high-ISO performance and the killer 1080p video. When I received the T2i, I was surprised by how cheap and plasticky it felt. It's not that the T2i was likely to fall apart, but my Olympus felt and looked like a higher quality camera, even though it was about $200 less than the T2i when I bought it. I realize that the T2i is a Rebel, but for almost $1000, I expected something more solid.
Even worse was the Canon 18-55mm kit lens, which felt like a toy compared to my Olympus kit lenses. It looked cheap, and the zoom action felt very cheap, and you could hear plastic-on-plastic as you zoomed in and out. There was no lens hood included, and the optional lens hood was only about an inch deep and looked ridiculous. The front element rotated when auto-focusing, which makes using some filters problematic, and you had to switch off AF to manually make focus adjustments. My Olympus lenses did not rotate the front element, and allowed full time focus override without turning off AF. And build-wise, they looked and felt like a higher end lens. But worst of all, Canon kits lens's optical performance was lacking, rendering the 18MP sensor moot.
I could live with the cheap feel of the T2i body and the ugly jelly-bean design, but I came to realize that in order to get a lens that would match the performance of the body, I would need to shell out another $500 or more, and as a hobbyist I just didn't have the budget.
The real deal-breaker with the T2i though, was the use of Quicktime format for the HD video. Quicktime is a proprietary Apple video format, and while I must assume it works well on a new Mac, the QT videos often gave PCs problems. I'd read about this from other users, but I figured that with my high-end PCs and my computer knowledge, I would be okay. But both my new Sony Vaio laptop with Windows 7, ATI 4650 graphics and 4GB of RAM and my desktop computer with Windows XP, dual-core processor, 4GB of RAM, Raptor 10K HDD and nVidia 8800GT graphics would stutter on playback of the 1080p files. And finding affordable programs to edit Quicktime HD video files is another headache. I wasn't about to buy a new Mac just to be able to work with the video from my new camera.
So back went the T2i, and my quest for a new camera continued. I was just about to pull the trigger on a Nikon D5000, when I came across the Pentax K-x.
The first thing that grabbed my attention was the styling. I thought the red was killer, but I wasn't that brave. And the camera looked dead-sexy in navy blue, but when I saw the white version, I was in love. One thing I liked about my Olympus was that it was something DIFFERENT than all the Nikons and Canon Rebels you see every other parent carrying to school or sports functions. I would often get questions about it from people who didn't realize that Olympus even MADE DSLRs. With this Pentax, I would again have something out of the ordinary.
Then I started reading reviews of the K-x. One of the great things about the T2i is the high ISO image quality, and according to the reviews and the sample images I was looking at, the K-x was right there with it.
And the K-x also did HD video. There were some limitations, such as 720p and lack of full control over exposure while shooting video, but I didn't really mind since the samples I downloaded looked great, even on my 110" 1080P home theater projector. And 720p files take less space than 1080p and require less processing power to playback and edit. And best of all, the K-x uses Motion JPEG video format, which plays back great on PCs and is compatible with almost any Windows video editing program. The MJPEG format does use more disk space than the equivalent QT file, but hard drives and SD cards are cheap these days, so it's not a big deal.
Another great thing about the K-x is that it has sensor-based image stabilization in the body, so any lens you stick on the camera is stabilized. My Olympus used a similar system, and I was very happy with it. The big advantage is that you can be non-stabilized lenses so they'll be smaller, lighter, and less expensive.
I ended up buying the K-x in white with the 18-55mm lens. The K-x looks and feels like a higher quality camera than the T2i, and matches my Olympus in this department. The kit lens is also a very worthy piece of hardware.
With the money I saved on the Pentax, I was able to buy the legendary Tamron 28-75mm F2.8 lens, a Pentax 55-300mm zoom lens, and a Sigma speedlight. The flash was new, but I got great deals on the slighty-used lenses on eBay and Craigslist.
I've been using the Pentax for a couple months now, and have taken hundreds of pictures. I am absolutely thrilled with the camera and couldn't be happier with the photos and videos I'm getting. The T2i did have just slightly more detail, but other than that I would say the K-x has equal image quality. And the 12MP RAW image files of the K-x are faster to work with than the 18MP files of the T2i and take up much less space on SD cards, so you don't have to worry about filling up nearly as fast.
That's not too much negative I can say about the camera. I would like it to have a mini-HDMI port and a standard mini-USB port, and continuous auto-focus would be nice in video mode, but no other DSLR has that yet. Stereo mics would also be nice.
I suspect that the image stabilization system may not be as good as the one in my Olympus, but I can't say for sure since my 300mm is longer than the telephoto I had with the Olympus and will therefore be more prone to shake.
I get compliments on the Pentax everywhere I go, and it's been a joy to use and own. I could not be happier with my purchase.
In the future I'll probably add a Sigma 30mm F1.4 prime and a Sigma 10-20mm ultra-wide zoom to my lens kit.
Just for the record, I'm not trying to bash on the T2i. It is an amazing camera that is currently without peer in its price range. But if you're like me and you only have about $1000 to spend, I think you will get much more value by going with a less-expensive but almost-as-capable camera like the K-x, and using the extra money on high quality lenses. My F2.8 constant-aperture lens has been a revolution for me, and I recommend every budding photographer make room in their budget for something similar.
Like it more all the time - Nikon guy Buys K-X # 2 May 7, 2010
Blue Jay
7 out of 8 found this review helpful
Shooting with a borrowed Nikon D40 convinced me it was time to augment my pocket-friendly point and shoot (P&S) with a digital single lens reflex (dslr) APS format camera.
My favorite film SLR was a Nikon FM2.
Out of habit, I wanted to buy a Nikon DSLR.
I tried HARD to buy a new Nikon - D3000 / D5000 / D90.
Instead - I bought the Pentax K-X from Amazon.
And two weeks later, I bought the K-X -- again.
Here is why...
(Updated comments added at bottom.)
1. ACTUAL EQUIPMENT PERFORMANCE DIFFERENCES ARE SMALL IN THIS CLASS OF CAMERA.
Camera reviews are written by experienced professionals with a critical eye and sophisticated evaluation tools. They work hard to find, explain, and magnify nuances.
My photo needs & tastes are generally simple ones. This class of camera is priced for people like me, upgrading from a digital point & shoot (P&S). Professionals expect to spend thousands for a camera body, and thousands for a lens.
2. PRICE DIFFERENCES ARE REAL.
The Pentax K-X is an above-average, entry-level dslr.
You can spend less, and get less performance.
Unless you spend significantly more, you will not get better performance.
A Nikon D90 and a K-X are both very nice 12mp cameras.
BUT- they don't cost the same.
3. AA BATTERIES - My Favorite Feature!
Some people cringe at the AA batteries in the K-X. I've chased proprietary batteries for my P&S before. I was drawn to this camera because it has a simple power needs. Who wouldn't prefer an inexpensive, accessible power source, easy to find, at a good price?
The Eneloop rechargables are working out very well for me.
4. SD CARD - My Next Favorite Feature!
I have a bunch of these already, and can easily find more, at a good price.
5. LONG KIT LENS - Try to find a kit that includes a 300mm zoom...
I wanted a 300mm lens. The nice K-X kit lens makes friends for Pentax. The Canon XS 300mm zoom lens seems to be a source of irritation/disappointment for its owners.
6. LIVE VIEW - SO WHAT?
As useful (to me) as a cigarette lighter in a non-smoker's car. I don't use this feature.
Camera focuses faster without it. It works fine, just not a factor for me.
7. HD VIDEO - DITTO.
If you want to shoot HD video, there are more satisfying ways to accomplish this. This feature is not good enough for the camera to take the place of a dedicated video camera.
8. BOUGHT IT A SECOND TIME
The first K-X camera I bought had a small piece of debris (not dust) on the sensor.
Probably user correctable with a bulb blower, probably left over from manufacturing/assembly.
(NOTE: The PENTAXIAN on-line user community is a helpful,friendly group.)
Opted for Amazon's excellent return for credit process. FAST EASY with EXCELLENT Results!
9. WHY REPURCHASE K-X?
When I saw them side by side, I was amazed the K-X was so similar to the Nikon D40. When Amazon confirmed my full refund, I tried to convince myself I really wanted a NIKON after all. I had a chance to re-think ALL of my earlier evaluations, against the backdrop of a dslr price war that produced even better prices on the Canon Rebel XS and the Nikon D3000. There were even new old-stock D40s at great prices. BUT the Pentax K-X was small and friendly like these, with a lot of newer features and many small, incremental, extras. So the final selection was the same as the first time, when I opted for a K-X.
10. RELAX. It is hard to make a "bad" dslr selection.
Any of the top-selling dslrs are going to do an excellent job for just about any user.
New dslr purchasers strongly influence the sales for the cameras listed in each week's "Top Ten". They know they have a safe bet if they stick with one of the two dominant brands - Canon or Nikon, etc.
When I think about how well the PENTAX K-X is meeting my needs, and how much more I would have paid to get an equivalent Nikon (or Canon) I remain very satisfied with this camera.
If you are in the market for an entry level dslr, and you think a Pentax K-X meets your actual photographic needs, you're probably right.
Update:
The more I use this camera, the better I like it.
I got a black one, but there is an amazing array of body colors in the K-X product line.
The white one is known as the "Storm Trooper" a la Star Wars.
The "feel" is very good. Control placement seems intuitive.
The build quality is very solid.
The automatic settings make it easy to take decent pictures right out of the box.
The features allow for plenty of growth as your skills change.
(Translation- it really does help to read the manual.)
The kit lenses (18-55 & 55-300 ) are serving me very well.
They may be a trifle better than some other "kit lenses".
The close up shots are very impressive, and the image colors are satisfying.
Only a heavier, more expensive camera can match the combined features of the Pentax K-X.
Overall, I am very happy I bought this camera.
The best entry level DSLR.....Features comparable to NikkonD90 for half the price April 23, 2010
Luv Kashyap (Pittsburgh, US)
4 out of 5 found this review helpful
The entry-level DSLR market is flooded with hype, but the 12.4-megapixel Pentax K-x blasts all of the marketing shenanigans away with an overall awesome performance. This K-x, has a superb image quality resided at the core of the camera's existence, whether I shot in JPEG, RAW, or made a 720p HD video. There's something magical about Pentax's sensor that brings an untouchable aesthetic to the world of digital imaging, and the Pentax K-x gave the Nikon D5000, D-90, or Olympus E-620, runs for their money. Over very impressed and highly recommended. Just a special mention here about amazon.com, my order got screwd but folks at amazon.com are the best I have seen at any customer service, always there to help out and solve the customer's problems in whatever way they can. Thanks a lot amazon for such an awesome camera and your service.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 24
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