DPreview.com: Pentax *ist DS Review

GTaudiophile

Lifer
Oct 24, 2000
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Text

The Pentax *ist DS digital SLR was announced on 13th September 2004 in the run-up to Photokina 2004. The *ist DS is Pentax's second digital SLR and is aimed at a lower price point than the original *ist D. At the time of writing this review the street price of the *ist DS (body only) is $899 in the US and £699 which is just a little more expensive than the six megapixel Canon EOS 300D (Digital Rebel) and about the same price as the eight megapixel Canon EOS 350D (Digital Rebel XT). The *ist DS continues the *ist D's tradition, being one of the smallest and lightest digital SLR on the market. The *ist DS features a six megapixel CCD sensor and has a Pentax K lens mount which supports K, KA, KAF and KAF2 lenses. Just like the *ist D it is also possible to use screw mount lenses, 645 and 67 series lenses with an adapter.

In other DSLR news:

Nikon confirms D50 and D70s are real

 

NFS4

No Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
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I'm an SLR newb, what's the little maroon-looking sensor in front of the hand grip?
 

Anubis

No Lifer
Aug 31, 2001
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tbqhwy.com
Originally posted by: NFS4
I'm an SLR newb, what's the little maroon-looking sensor in front of the hand grip?

it looks like the AF assist lamp, but thats a really stupid place to put it IMO
 

NFS4

No Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
72,636
46
91
Originally posted by: Anubis
Originally posted by: NFS4
I'm an SLR newb, what's the little maroon-looking sensor in front of the hand grip?

it looks like the AF assist lamp, but thats a really stupid place to put it IMO

Yeah, that's what I was thinking, but it seems to be in a weird place to be an AF assist...
 

GTaudiophile

Lifer
Oct 24, 2000
29,767
33
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Originally posted by: Anubis
Originally posted by: NFS4
I'm an SLR newb, what's the little maroon-looking sensor in front of the hand grip?

it looks like the AF assist lamp, but thats a really stupid place to put it IMO

Agreed. Will be blocked by your fingers most of the time.
 

NFS4

No Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
72,636
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Zenmervolt

Elite member
Oct 22, 2000
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Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
Originally posted by: Anubis
Originally posted by: NFS4
I'm an SLR newb, what's the little maroon-looking sensor in front of the hand grip?

it looks like the AF assist lamp, but thats a really stupid place to put it IMO

Agreed. Will be blocked by your fingers most of the time.
It's the IR sensor for the remote and the blinker LED for the self timer. It is _not_ the AF assist.

ZV
 

GTaudiophile

Lifer
Oct 24, 2000
29,767
33
81
Originally posted by: NFS4
Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
Originally posted by: Anubis
Originally posted by: NFS4
I'm an SLR newb, what's the little maroon-looking sensor in front of the hand grip?

it looks like the AF assist lamp, but thats a really stupid place to put it IMO

Agreed. Will be blocked by your fingers most of the time.

Same for the Rebel XT...

http://www.dpreview.com/articles/canoneos350d/


Nope. The AF lamp is that white/silver thing on the front between the lens and the handle.
 

GTaudiophile

Lifer
Oct 24, 2000
29,767
33
81
Originally posted by: m2kewl
isn't nikon a day late and a dollar short? :p

Nah. They've got a loyal enough fan base that's been patient I think. Besides, the D70 has held its own, positioning itself between the Canon 300D/350D and the 20D.
 

Anubis

No Lifer
Aug 31, 2001
78,712
427
126
tbqhwy.com
Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
Originally posted by: m2kewl
isn't nikon a day late and a dollar short? :p

Nah. They've got a loyal enough fan base that's been patient I think. Besides, the D70 has held its own, positioning itself between the Canon 300D/350D and the 20D.

yea thst still sell like hotcakes also

the D2X is sold out everywhere and peopel keep ordering it so thats good
and the shots ive seen from the D2Hs are amazing, IDK what they did to it but the ISO 1600 and 3200 shots from it are MUCH MUCH better then the normal D2H
 

dartworth

Lifer
Jul 29, 2001
15,200
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Originally posted by: NFS4
Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
Originally posted by: Anubis
Originally posted by: NFS4
I'm an SLR newb, what's the little maroon-looking sensor in front of the hand grip?

it looks like the AF assist lamp, but thats a really stupid place to put it IMO

Agreed. Will be blocked by your fingers most of the time.

Same for the Rebel XT...

http://www.dpreview.com/articles/canoneos350d/



I am liking the RXT...it is a bit smaller than the DReb, but not to small...

Pic 1
Pic 2
Pic 3
 

EvilYoda

Lifer
Apr 1, 2001
21,198
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Hopefully in the late summer I'll be able to swing a sub $1K DSLR...just for fun. I love my gadgets :p