Current slide {CURRENT_SLIDE} of {TOTAL_SLIDES}- Best Selling in Digital Cameras
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Pros ~small ~quality built/ very sturdy feel ~takes AA batteries (available anywhere and have long life) ~It's a Pentax (myriad of good/cheap lenses available) ~very simple controls- Everything important is there and it is easy to learn to use so you can focus on taking better pictures more than learning how use the camera. Cons ~could make less noisy images ~takes AA batteries (rechargeable AA's usually take longer to charge than Li Ions) ~If the AF can't decide what to focus on it may not even take a picture, but this is rare and limited to very low light conditions ~In high quality image modes, primarily RAW, the buffer time can seem quite long but this is the only DSLR I've used extensively so i'm not sure if that's even abnormal. This is my first DSLR and I'm very glad I picked it. It is a great tool for learning how to use a DSLR and take MUCH better pictures. I absolutely love how sturdy it feels in comparison to other DSLRs in its price range- makes some others seem like toys. The only thing that even slightly irks me after realizing it's a 4 year old camera is the AF.In crowded and low light conditions the af seems to have issues determining what to focus on, but to me this seems like an issue that will always be present until af systems can read your mind!Read full review
I started using Pentax cameras and lenses about 1980s, and had a happy 15 years with them. I took 10 years off from hobby photography then got use of a friend's ist D about 2006. I eventually wanted my own and price/performance led me to the ist DS recently. It's a fantastic camera that will run current "kit" lenses (zoom, autofocus) very well. But it will also allow you to utilize inexpensive manual focus lenses from Pentax going back to 1975 that will yield phenomenal pictures. The ist DS is an easy to use DSLR that still has a pentaprism viewfinder to allow accurate focus with older, superior quality lenses. If you want a winning combination and will do a little work, it's great.
You have to love the ability to use 40 year old lenses in all the modes. Using an old SMC-A 50mm 1.7 all functions work except auto focus. Metering is correct and the exposures looked great. I like the look of the images taken with this camera, it uses a CCD sensor instead of the current CMOS sensors of the newer camera which to me look somewhat fake. The viewfinder is big and bright, it uses a prism instead of mirrors. The focusing screen is good and makes using old lenses easy (the rangefinder works with the manual lenses too). This camera doesn't have functions I don't want or need. It doesn't have live view, but so what, if I wanted that I would have gotten a point and shoot. It also doesn't do video, which is fine because DSLR cameras take bad video anyway. Get a camcorder for video, and a DSLR for pictures. I have two nikon DSLRs and a pile of nice lenses, but I also have some great Pentax lenses (K mount and screw mount) from my film days that were going to waste, so after some research I started looking for the ISTd in either the original D model or the S model. I settled on the S. My camera was sold as faulty, but a firmware upgrade solved the software glitch that the previous owner had. I would recommend this camera for anyone that has manual lenses, it works great.Read full review
This was the third try at purchasing a working Pentax ist DL from eBay. The past two times the vendors sent non-working cameras that were returned. The camera is an easy SLR to use and has a short learning curve that translates to quality pictures. There are many cameras that are better than the ist DL and offer higher megapixels however, they are larger and more complicated to use. The Pentax ist DL is considered a starter camera because of the 6.1 megapixels and ease of use. Basically, Pentax hit it out of the park when they made the ist DL.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
After using the simple point & shoot digitals, this Pentax is in a class by itself. Believe used by a pro-photographer in past due to extensive accessories and lens combinations. As such, will take me some time to get up to speed on use application, exposures, and full capacity of all the features. However, also believe this is a camera kit that will not be easily passed by with techno upgrades. In other words will be all the camera I can use and yet in a simple, step by step on screen guide for photo applications. Believe all the components would cost well over $700 new and at less than half, ebay used is the way to go!