Pentax K20D User Manual 2

PENTAX Canada Inc.

(

1770 Argentia Road

Information

Mississauga, ON
L5N 3S7 CANADA
Telephone: [phone]
Facsimile:

905) 286-5586

PENTAX Announces the High-Performance

K20D Digital SLR Camera

Mississauga, ON – January 23, 2008

PENTAX is pleased to announce the introduction of the K20D digital SLR camera. Successor
model to the multiple award-winning K10D, the K20D offers superb image quality, an array of
advanced features and outstanding reliability and operability to meet the specialized and exacting
demands of discerning photographers.

The new CMOS image sensor, exclusively developed for the K20D, is designed to optimize the
performance of PENTAX interchangeable lenses. Featuring approximately 14.6 effective
megapixels and the latest noise-reduction technology, it assures superb image quality a step above
its predecessors.

The K20D also offers an array of advanced features and user-friendly functions, including a new
Custom Image function that lets you select or adjust the image’s finishing touches to your
preference, an upgraded, more reliable SR (Shake Reduction) system, a comprehensive Dust
Removal system, a multi-mode exposure system for faithful reproduction of your creative
intentions, and a rugged dust-proof, water-resistant body construction that will keep you shooting,
rain, dust or shine.

Main Features

High-quality image reproduction

1.
[1] Newly developed CMOS image sensor:

The K20D features a newly developed CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor)
image sensor measuring 23.4 mm x 15.6 mm. After a thorough review of previous image sensors,
PENTAX greatly reduced the area of circuitry around the pixel field to expand the light-sensitive
area, resulting in about the same pixel size as 12 megapixel sensors used in other DSLRs. This
also results in a sensor that is not as thick that will accept light at a steeper angle. The sensor can
detect diagonal light with great accuracy, bringing out the optimum performance of PENTAX

interchangeable lenses. It also keeps digital noise to a minimum by automatically raising its own
sensitivity, allowing it to increase the sensitivity from ISO 100 to the highest level of ISO 6400
(via a custom function).

[2] Approximately 14.6 effective megapixels for true-to-life, rich-gradation images:

The K20D features a newly-developed 14.6 MP CMOS sensor. Coupled with a high-performance
imaging engine incorporating PENTAX-original image-processing technologies, it assures fine­detailed, rich-gradation images. The K20D also features a new Custom Image function, which
lets the photographer select one of six finishing touches to reflect his or her creative intentions
with great ease with the ability to further fine tune them.

[3] High-performance, high-speed PRIME imaging engine:

The K20D incorporates the PENTAX-original PRIME (Pentax Real IMage Engine) as its
imaging engine. Designed exclusively for PENTAX digital SLR cameras, it assures well­balanced, true-to-life images with faithful colour reproduction by efficiently controlling digital
signals transmitted by the CMOS image sensor and other photographic factors, including white
balance. This imaging engine also features a DDR2 (Double Data Rate 2) memory to assure
speedy image processing and high-speed data transfer.

2.

PENTAX-original SR (Shake Reduction) mechanism

The K20D is equipped with the PENTAX-developed SR (Shake Reduction) mechanism, which
effectively reduces camera shake for sharp, blur-free images even under demanding shooting
conditions, such as when using a telephoto lens, shooting at night without supplementary flash
illumination, or using extended exposures for sunset scenes. This innovative mechanism offers an
outstanding compensation effect equivalent to approximately 2.5 to 4 shutter-speed steps. The
lighter image sensor unit and refined data-control algorithm provide further image stabilization
resulting in more effective SR operation. This SR system extends outstanding shake-reduction
benefits to nearly all existing PENTAX interchangeable lenses.*

* Lenses compatible with this mechanism are: PENTAX K-, KA-, KAF- and KAF2-mount lenses, screw-mount
lenses (with an adapter); and 645- and 67-system len ses (with an adapter). Some functions may not be
applicable with certain lenses.

New Live View function

3.

The K20D features a new Live View function, which allows the user to view the image on the
LCD monitor during shooting. This comes in handy when the photographer must move their eye
from the viewfinder in specialized applications, such as low- and high-angle compositions. This
function also allows the user to confirm the shake-reduction effect on the monitor during
shooting.

4.

Expanded Dynamic Range function

The K20D has added a dynamic-range expansion function, which allows the user to expand a
dynamic range (or a range of gradation reproduction) while retaining the proper contrast to avoid
white-washed areas. With an approximately 1EV expansion effect, it assures beautiful, rich­gradation images.

Comprehensive Dust Removal system

5.

The K20D features the user-friendly Dust Removal (DR) system to prevent dust from sticking to
the surface of the CMOS image sensor (or low-pass filter). Applied to the image sensor surface
through the vapor deposition of a fluorine compound, the PENTAX-original SP (Super Protect)
coating effectively prevents dust and stains from sticking to the surface. Any dust that remains on
the surface of the image sensor is shaken off when the SR system shifts the image sensor at high
speed. Dust that is shaken off the image sensor falls onto an adhesive sheet positioned at the
bottom of the SR unit, eliminating any possibility of its returning to the image sensor surface.
This upgraded DR system offers a new Dust Alert function, which allows the user to check for
dust on the image sensor in advance.