Pentax K100D Super

The Pentax K100D Super is an early digital SLR with a 6.1MP CCD sensor, proper optical viewfinder and access to Pentax's huge back catalogue of K-mount lenses.

Released in the late 2000s, it's from a very different generation of digital photography. There's no video, no Wi-Fi and no touchscreen. Instead, you get a straightforward DSLR built around still photography, with RAW shooting, manual exposure controls and Pentax's sensor-shift Shake Reduction built into the camera body.

That in-body stabilisation is particularly handy with older Pentax lenses, because the stabilisation works at the sensor rather than relying on a stabilised lens.

It also runs on four AA batteries, so there's no proprietary rechargeable battery to track down before you can start shooting.

This is a vintage item, so please use the supplied photographs to assess its condition and check what is included before purchasing.

Best for

• Learning DSLR photography
• Everyday photography
• Vintage digital photography
• The early CCD digital look
• Pentax K-mount lenses
• Manual photography
• Street photography
• Portraits
• Adapting older Pentax lenses
• Anyone wanting an affordable older DSLR

What to expect

The K100D Super is very much a stills-first camera from the early DSLR era.

Its 6.1MP CCD sensor is modest by current standards, but that's part of the appeal for people deliberately looking for older digital cameras. You get JPEG and 12-bit RAW capture, a proper optical viewfinder and full control over shutter speed, aperture and ISO.

Pentax also built Shake Reduction into the camera body, physically shifting the sensor to compensate for camera movement. That means stabilisation isn't limited to newer stabilised lenses.

There's an 11-point autofocus system, ISO 200–3200 and a 2.5-inch rear display. Don't expect modern live-view shooting, video or wireless connectivity. This is much closer to the experience of using a film SLR, just with a digital sensor and memory card.

Developing

No developing required.

The K100D Super records JPEG and RAW files to SD or SDHC memory cards. Files can be transferred using a card reader or the camera's USB 2.0 connection.

One particularly practical feature is power. It accepts four AA lithium or rechargeable Ni-MH batteries, as well as two CR-V3 lithium batteries. Pentax's documentation specifically recommends rechargeable Ni-MH or lithium AAs over alkaline batteries for regular use.