Review on 📷 Pentax K100D 6.1MP Digital SLR Camera with Shake Reduction and 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 Lens by Reshelle Smeenge

When I was looking for an entry level DSLR I came across the K100D and ended up buying it. I don't regret what I did. While the Pentax doesn't have the market share of Canon or Nikon, it's probably the best value entry-level DSLR out there. Here are some pros and cons of this camera: Pros: * Large size - not too big, not too small. Fantastic grip and trigger position. * Very durable construction. Feels much better in hand than the Rebel XT/XTi.*In-Body IS. This is the main trump card of this camera in my opinion. This works and every lens stabilizes immediately. Even though some people claim that lens-based IS mode is better, what's the point if you still can't afford expensive IS lenses? The fact is that the built-in stabilization works - pictures taken even with shutter speeds of 1/8 to 1/10 have a much higher hit rate than without. * Any Pentax lens ever made can be used. If you're on a budget like me, finding great deals on eBay can be both fun and educational. * Lens from a hard kit. It comes with a standard 18-55 but has a metal mount and seems to work well for kit lenses. * Fixed focal length lenses. I can't believe how much of a difference a fast prime lens can make and Pentax is probably a leader with them. With an f/1.7 lens or so, you just can't believe the shutter speeds you can get even in low light. 1/10 on a regular lens easily turns into 1/50 with a fast aperture. This is of great importance. * AA batteries. When I was in Europe with my P&S and burned my AA NiMH charger, the fact my camera took AA saved my ass. You can get them anywhere in a pinch, and a small investment in a couple of good NiMHs will get great results from this camera. * Supplied with RAW software. I'm not a big fan of RAW photography, but it's nice to know it's available when I want/need it. Some cameras come with RAW capability but don't have the software to use it. Not this one. CONS: * Weak buffer/burst mode. You will only get about 4-5 continuous JPG shots. If, like me, you don't do a lot of sports or action movies, it doesn't matter. If you do, you can look elsewhere. * WB is slightly stained. AWB is useless in low light, but the incandescent preset is good. But it stinks that when you pop a flash it doesn't return to the BB flash so you have to do it manually every time. Nikon and Canon should outperform Pentax in these small things. * Slow read/write. It's just not very fast, even with a fast card. * Exposure Compensation disables Auto ISO. Basically, you can choose an ISO range (e.g. 200-800). But if you use +/- compensation, this function will be disabled, you will be reset to 200 and have to change. A little annoying. All in all, this is a great camera. There are a few annoyances and overall performance isn't the fastest. But the images are superb, and the built-in image stabilization and fixed focal length lenses are a treat. Highly recommended.