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Frequently asked questions

4. What are the differences between the various Pentax *ist Digital SLR cameras?
This is a question we are often asked by Pentax users. The table below compares the various features of the *ist D, DL, DS and DS2 cameras.

  *ist DL *ist D *ist DS *ist DS2
Type TTL autofocus, auto-exposure digital SLR digital-still camera with stainless steel chassis construction and built-in retractable P-TTL auto flash   TTL autofocus, auto-exposure digital SLR digital-still camera with built-in retractable P-TTL auto flash  
Effective Pixels 6.1 Megapixels 6.1 Megapixels 6.1 megapixels 6.1 megapixels
Image Capture Device

 

     
Type Interline interlace CCD with a primary colour filter. Size: 23.5mm x 15.7mm Interline interlace CCD. Size: 23.5mm x 15.7mm (diagonal line: 28.40mm). Interline interlace CCD with a primary colour filter
Sensor size: 23.5mm x 15.7mm
Interline interlace CCD with a primary colour filter. Size: 23.5mm x 15.7mm
Total Pixels 6.31 megapixels 6.31 megapixels 6.31 megapixels 6.31 megapixels
Colour Depth 8 bit (JPEG) or 12 bit (RAW) x3 colours 8-bit TIFF-RGB Ver.6.0 and 12-bit RAW 8 bit (JPEG) or 12 bit (RAW) 8 bit (JPEG) or 12 bit (RAW)
Recorded Pixels JPEG 3008x2008 pixels, 2400x1600 pixels, 1536x1024 pixels
RAW 3008x2008 pixels
Large: 3008 x 2008 pixels. Middle: 2400 x 1600 pixels. Small: 1536 x 1024 pixels. (Switchable to 1152 x 768 pixels or 960 x 640 pixels by custom function) JPEG: [6M] 3008x2008, [4M] 2400x1600, [1.5M]1536x1024
RAW: [6M] 3008x2008
JPEG: [6M] 3008x2008, [4M] 2400x1600, [1.5M]1536x1024
RAW: [6M] 3008x2008
Focus System        
Type TTL phase-matching 3-point autofocus system (SAFOX VIII) TTL phase-matching autofocus system TTL Phase-matching 11-point autofocus system (SAFOX VIII) TTL Phase-matching 11-point wide autofocus system (SAFOX VIII)
Autofocus Modes AF-Single (with focus lock), AF-Continuous, Manual AF-Single, AF-Continuous, Manual Focus switchable. Focus lock available. AF sensor point selectable. AF auxiliary illumination by built-in flash available AF-single (with focus lock); Manual focus
AF-continuous available when you select Action mode
AF-single (with focus lock); Manual focus, AF-continuous available* * In the Auto Picture and Picture modes, AF-continuous is activated only when the Action mode is selected.
Illumination Range EV0 - EV19 (At ISO 200 with 50mm f/1.4 lens EV0 to EV19 (at ISO200) EV0 - EV19 (at Standard Output Sensitivity 200 with 50mm F1.4 lens)  
Lens Mount        
Type PENTAX KAF mount compatible with PENTAX KAF2, KAF and KA mount lenses PENTAX KAF mount compatible with PENTAX KAF2-, KAF- and KA-mount lenses. PENTAX KAF bayonet mount (by using AF adapter)
Usable Lens: PENTAX KAF2-, KAF-, and KA-mount lenses
PENTAX KAF mount compatible with PENTAX KAF2-, KAF- and KA-mount lenses.
Power zoom function Not available Not available Not available Not available
K-mount lenses usable with restrictions usable with restrictions usable with restrictions usable with restrictions
S-mount lenses usable with adapter and restrictions usable with adapter and restrictions usable with adapter and restrictions usable with adapter and restrictions
67/645 lenses usable with adapter and restrictions usable with adapter and restrictions usable with adapter and restrictions usable with adapter and restrictions
Exposure Control        
Light Metering Method TTL open-aperature metering with choice of: 16-segment, Center-weighted & Spot meter TTL open-aperture 16-segment metering. Spot metering and center-weighted metering selectable. TTL open-aperture 16-segment metering (coupled with lens and AF information)
Metering Mode
(1) Multi-segment metering
(2) Centre-weighted metering
(3) Spot metering
TTL open-aperture 16-segment metering (coupled with lens and AF information) Metering Mode: Multi-segment metering, Center-weighted metering, Spot metering
Metering Range EV1 - EV21.5 (At ISO 200 with 50mm f/1.4 lens) EV0 to EV21 (at ISO200 with 50mm f/1.4 lens)
EV1 to EV21.5 with multi-segment metering
EV 1 - 21.5 (at Standard Output Sensitivity 200 with 50mm F1.4 lens) EV 1 - 21.5 (at Standard Output Sensitivity 200 with 50mm f/1.4 lens)
Sensitivity ISO Auto, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200 Equivalent to ISO 200 to ISO 1600 (3200 available as Custom Function) 200/400/800/1600/3200 Auto, Manual (200/400/800/1600/3200)
Exposure Control Method Program AE, Auto Picture Mode, Picture Mode, Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority, Manual, Bulb Auto exposure with Hyper Program, Programmed AE, Shutter-Priority AE, Aperture-Priority AE, Metered Manual, bulb

Auto Picture mode, Picture mode, Program AE, Shutter-Priority AE, Aperture-Priority AE, Metered Manual, Bulb
Picture modes ;Standard, Portrait, Landscape, Macro, Action, Night scene portrait, Standard Flash-Off

Auto Picture mode, Picture mode, Program AE, Shutter-Priority AE, Aperture-Priority AE, Metered Manual, Bulb
Exposure Compensation +/-2 EV (1/2 or 1/3 steps) ±3.0EV (in 0.5EV steps) +/-2 EV (1/2EV steps or 1/3EV steps) ±2 EV (1/2EV steps or 1/3EV steps)
Auto Exposure Lock Pushbutton type with approx. 20 sec. timer Pushbutton type with approx. 20-second timer, extendable with shutter button half-pressed Yes Pushbutton type with approx. 20 sec. timer
Depth of Field Preview Via main switch Electronic preview. Available in all modes Via main switch  
Auto Bracketing 3 frames +/-1.5EV (1/2 steps) or +/-1EV (1/3 steps)   3 frames within range of +/-0.5EV, +/-1.0EV, +/-1.5EV (0.5EV steps) or +/-0.3EV, +/-0.7EV, +/-1.0EV (0.3EV steps) 3 frames within range of ±0.5EV, ±1.0EV, ±1.5EV (0.5EV steps) or ±0.3EV, ±0.7EV, ±1.0EV (0.3EV steps)
Shutter Electronically controlled vertical-run focal plane shutter Electronically controlled vertical-run focal-plane shutter with electronic release. Electronically controlled vertical-run focal plane shutter Electronically controlled vertical-run focal plane shutter
Shutter Speed 1/4000 - 30 seconds and Bulb Auto shutter speeds: 1/4000 sec. to 30 sec. Manual shutter speeds:1/4000 sec. to 30 sec. (0.5EV steps) and bulb. Shutter lock at power-off position 1/4000 - 30 seconds and Bulb 1/4000 - 30 sec. and bulb
Mirror lock   Mirror lock-up mechanism available. Mid-operation cancellation possible.    
Self Timer   Electronically controlled type with 12- or 2-second delay. Electonically controlled type with two-second or 12-second delay Electonically controlled type with two-second or 12-second delay. Cancellation possible.
Remote control   Infrared wireless remote control with optional remote controller. Effective range: 5m (16.6 ft.) from front side of camera. Instant release or 3-second-delay release switchable. Yes Yes 0 seconds, 3 seconds
White balance control TTL Auto, Pre-set, Custom white balance Auto: TTL control using image sensor.    
White Balance Settings Auto, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Tungsten light, Fluorescent light, Flash, Manual Daylight, Cloudiness, Shade, Tungsten light and Fluorescent light (W, N, D) Manual: 3 settings Auto, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Tungsten Light, Fluorescent Light (W, D, N), Manual setting Auto, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy,Tungsten Light, Fluorescent Light (W, D, N), Flash, Manual setting
Flash Built-in series-control retractable P-TTL pop-up flash Built In Flash Rtf Built-in series-control retractable P-TTL pop-up flash Built-in retractable P-TTL auto pop-up flash
Flash modes Auto, Flash-off, Flash-on, Auto + Red-eye reduction, Flash-on + Red-eye reduction Flash-off, flash-on and red-eye reduction functions available.
High-speed synchronization, wireless remote-control synchronization and P-TTL synchronization functions available with dedicated flash unit.
  Auto, Flash-On, Flash-Off, Red-eye reduction
Flash Guide Number 15.6 (at ISO 200/m) 15.6 (at ISO200/m) 15.6 (at ISO200/m) 15.6 (Standard Output Sensitivity 200/m)
Angle of View Coverage 28mm (equivalent to 35mm) 18mm 28mm (equivalent to 35mm) 28mm (equivalent to 35mm)
Flash Exposure Compensation +1 to -2 (1/2 steps)      
Flash Synchronization With RTF and via hot shoe Via hot shoe (with X-contact for dedicated flash unit). Dedicated accessory flash units available. with RTF or PENTAX dedicated flash unit at recharge completion With RTF and via hot shoes with RTF or PENTAX dedicated flash unit at recharge completion
Synchronization Speed 1/180sec 1/150sec 1/180sec 1/180sec.
Shooting Specifications        
Picture Modes Auto Picture, Standard, Portrait, Night-scene Portrait, Landscape, Macro, Action, Flash Off,   Standard, Portrait, Landscape, Macro, Action, Night scene portrait, Standard Flash-Off Standard, Portrait, Landscape, Macro, Action, Night scene portrait, Standard Flash-Off
Digital Filter Playback: Black & White, Sepia, Soft (3 levels), Slim, Wide      
Drive Modes Single-shot, Continuous (2.8fps), Self-timer (12sec, 2sec), Auto bracketing, Remote Control (0sec, 3sec) Single-frame advance, continuous advance (2.6 fps) up to 6 frames (at noise reduction off) 3 frames (proper/over/under) within range of ±3.0EV (0.5EV steps) or ±2.0EV (0.3EV steps). Simultaneous use with exposure compensation possible   Single-frame advance, continuous advance, self-timer, auto bracket and remote control
Time        
Time modes dd/mm/yy, mm/dd/yy, yy/mm/dd      
World Time Displays the time in 72 cities (28 time zones)   68 cities (28 time zones)  
Image Storage        
Storage Media SD memory card removable CompactFlashTM cards (Type I and Type II) and MicroDriveTM SD memory card SD memory card
Still JPEG (Exif 2.21)
RAW, DCF (Design rule for Camera File system)
DPOF (Digital Print Order Format)
PRINT Image Matching III

JPEG Exif 2.2: YCbCr (4:2:2).
TIFF: TIFF-RGB (4:4:4).
RAW: RAW data of CCD.
DCF
DPOF

JPEG (Exif 2.21), RAW, DCF (Design rule of Camera File system), DPOF (Digital Print Order Form), PRINT Image Matching III RAW, JPEG (Exif 2.21), DCF (Design rule of Camera File system), DPOF (Digital Print Order Form), PRINT Image Matching III
Quality Levels   Compressed: JPEG-baseline with compressibility rates of ***(1/3), **(1/6) and *(1/12). Compressed: JPEG - Baseline (***: Best , **: Better, *: Good)
Non-compressed: RAW
Compressed: JPEG - Baseline (*** Best , ** Better, * Good) Non-compressed: RAW
Color Space   sRGB, Adobe RGB   sRGB Adobe RGB
LCD/Viewfinder        
Optical Viewfinder Pentamirror with Natural-Bright-Matte II focusing screen Eye-level-type fixed pentaprism viewfinder with Natural-Bright-Matte focusing screen.   Pentaprism Focusing screen: Natural-Bright-Matte
Viewfinder Coverage 96% 95% 95% 95%
Viewfinder Magnification 0.85x (with 50mm f1.4 lens, -1-1) 0.95X (with 50mm F1.4 lens at infinity, -1m-1) 0.95X (with 50m F1.4 lens, -1m-1) 0.95X (with 50mm F1.4 lens, infinity, -1m-1)
Diopter Adjustment -2.5m-1 to +1.5m -1.0m-1 to +2.0m-1 -2.5 - +1.5m-1 -2.5 - +1.5m-1
LCD Monitor 2.5 inch, TFT color LCD (Low Reflection) –with Histogram display 1.8 inch low-temperature polysilicon TFT LCD with backlight 2.0 inch, low-temperature polysilicon TFT colour LCD monitor 2.5 inch, low-temperature polysilicon TFT color LCD monitor Brightness adjustable
LCD Coverage - 100%      
LCD Resolution - Approx. 210,000 pixels   Approx. 210,000 pixels Approx. 210,000 pixels
Viewfinder Indication   Out of image area: Built-in flash status, AF sensor pattern, in-focus, shutter speed, aperture, exposure compensation factor, bar graph. Within image area: AF frame with superimposed AF sensor point, spot AF frame (1) AF frame; (2) Spot AF frame; (3) Focus point indication(high lighted in red)
Viewfinder LCD Indication(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) ISO sensitivity warning; (10) Auto exposure lock signal
AF frame, Spot AF frame; Flash information; Picture mode (Standard, Portrait, Landscape, Macro, Action, Night scene portrait); Focus point indication (higlighted in red); Shutter speed; Aperture value; Exposure compensation factor; Manual white balance; Manual focus; Sensitivity warning; Auto exposure lock signal; Exposure frame number
External LCD   Quality level, Tv dial, Av dial, shutter speed, aperture value    
Panel Indication   Exposure compensation, exposure frame number, battery exhaustion warning, RTF recharge, flash status, RTF function, red-eye reduction flash, wireless flash mode, high-speed synchronization, remote control, self-timer, film advance mode (single-frame/consecutive), multiple exposure, auto bracketing, auto white balance control, preset white balance control, manual white balance control. Illumination activated by preview lever (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) Preset/Manual white balance information; (11) Battery information; (12) Exposure compensation factor;(13) Exposure frame number Shutter speed; Aperture value; Flash Information (Auto, Flash-On, Flash-Off, Red-eye reduction); Single frame advance/Continuouse advance; Self-timer; Remote control; Metering Information; Focus point indicator; Auto bracketing; White balance information; Battery information; Exposure compensation factor; Exposure frame number
Playback specifications        
Playback Modes File Single, Index - Nine image Single frame, zoom in/out, nine-image,    
Magnification 12x        
LCD Function Image rotation, Slide show, digital filter Slide show, image rotation, shooting data indication (including date and histogram), quick view (instant display of image after shooting)   Image rotation, Slide show, digital filter Playback File: Single, Index (Nine image) Magnification: 12x
Erase and Image Protect Modes Single, All Single-frame-deletion, all-frame deletion, card format, protect   Single, All
PictBridge        
  One image printing   One image printing  
  All image printing   All image printing  
  DPOF auto print   DPOF auto print  
Language        
  English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Swedish, Dutch   English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Korean, Chinese (Traditional/Simplified), Japanese  
Interfaces        
Type USB 2.0 high speed USB 1.1 USB 2.0 high speed USB 2.0 high speed
Video Output Compatible with NTSC and PAL formats NTSC/PAL switchable Compatible with NTSC and PAL formats Compatible with NTSC and PAL formats
Power Supply        
Power Source Four AA (Lithium, Alkaline, and rechargeable NiMH) batteries, or
Two CR-V3 lithium batteries
4 AA-sized batteries (lithium, alkaline, nickel-hydrogen or nickel) or 2 CR-V3 batteries. Four AA (Lithium, Alkaline, and rechargeable NiMH) batteries, or
Two CR-V3 lithium batteries
Four AA (lithium, alkaline, or rechargeable Ni-MH) batteries, two CR-V3 lithium batteries.
Battery life   CR-V3: Approx. 1000 frames at normal temp. (68°F/20°C) and no flash used. Lithium batteries: Approx. 900 frames at normal temp. (68°F/20°C) and no flash used. Ni-MH batteries: Approx. 450 frames at normal temp. (68°F/20°C) and no flash used. Alkaline batteries: Approx. 110 frames at normal temp. (68°F/20°C) and no flash used.    
AC adapter Optional Optional Optional Optional
Physical Specifications        
Operating Temperatures 32deg to 104deg Fahrenheit (0deg to 40deg Celsius)      
Dimensions (W x H x D) 4.9 x 3.6 x 2.6 Inches (125 x 92.5 x 66mm) 5.1 x 3.7 x 2.4 inches (129.0mm x 94.5mm x 60mm) (WxHxD) 125(W) x 92.5(H) x 66(D)mm 4.9(W) x 3.6(H) x 2.6(D)inches 125(W) x 92.5(H) x 67(D)mm
Weight

16.6 oz. (470g) without battery and SD memory card
19.4 oz. (550g) loaded and ready

19.4 oz. (550g) for body only (without batteries and memory card)

605g (21.3oz.) loaded and ready
505g (17.8 oz.) without battery and SD memory card

20.5oz.(580g)loaded and ready with two CR-V3 lithium batteries and SD memory card 21.3oz.(605g) loaded and ready with four AA batteries and SD memory card 17.8 oz.(505g) without battery and SD memory card.
Computer System        
Mac Requirements OS: Mac OS 9.0 or later, standard equipped USB port OS: Mac OS 8.6 or later (QuickTime 4.0 or later to view movies), CPU: Power PC 266MHz or higher, Memory: 8MB or more, Hard disk space: 6MB or more, Standard equipped USB port OS: Mac OS 9.0 or later, standard equipped USB port 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 OS: Windows 98,98 second edition, 2000, Me, XP Home edition / Professional, CPU: Pentium or later recommended, Memory:64MB or more, Hard disk space: 15MB or more, Standard equipped USB port OS:Windows Me, 2000, XP Home edition / Professional, standard equipped USB port OS: Windows Me, 2000, XP Home edition / Professional, standard equipped USB port