Pentax K-r

Pentax’s top-of-the-line K-5 has been getting most of the publicity, but its lower-cost sibling, the compact K-r, also offers the outdoor photographer a lot—including a first-rate live-view LCD monitor, quick autofocusing and advance, high image quality and HD video. The camera comes with a rechargeable lithium-ion battery or can run on four AA batteries via an optional AA battery holder.

Built-In Shake Reduction
The K-r’s sensor-shift Shake Reduction works with almost all lenses, providing steadier handheld shooting when you can’t use a tripod.

In-Camera HDR
The K-r does in-camera HDRs, automatically combining the best of three bracketed images into one image with more detail from highlights through shadows. You can adjust the effect through Auto, Standard, Strong 1, Strong 2 and Strong 3 settings.

		SAFOX IX AF The SAFOX IX AF system employs 11 sensors, 9 of them cross-types. You can activate all 11 points, choose any of them, or use 5-point to suit your subject(s). For live-view shooting, you can use this quick phase-detection system (with brief disruption of the live image during focusing) or contrast-based (with continuous live view).
6 fps Shooting Surprisingly fast for a lower-priced DSLR, the K-r can shoot up to 12 RAW or 25 JPEG images at 6 fps or up to 36 RAW or unlimited JPEGs (up to memory-card capacity) at 2 fps.	Lens Correction The K-r automatically corrects distortion and lateral chromatic aberration (purple fringing) when using DA, DFA and FA Limited series lenses.	12.4-Megapixel CMOS Sensor A 12.4-megapixel CMOS sensor strikes a balance between resolution, high-ISO performance and reasonable file size. The sensor and PRIME II processing engine provide a normal ISO range of 200-12,800, expandable to 100-25,600.

		Lens Compatibility Like all Pentax DSLRs, the K-r can use just about any Pentax lens ever made, including medium-format and old screw-mount optics (via adapter). This provides access to a wide range of focal lengths. The current lineup includes focal lengths from 12-24mm to 300mm, including weather-sealed models, plus a 10-17mm fisheye zoom. With the sensor’s 1.5x crop factor, this range is equivalent to 15mm to 450mm with a 35mm camera.
HD Video The K-r can shoot 1280x720p HD video and 640×480 SD video, both at 25 fps. A built-in microphone records mono sound. You can set an aperture before shooting or let the camera do it, and you can focus manually during shooting (there’s no autofocusing during video shooting). A variety of built-in filters can be applied to videos.	Interval Built-In Intervalometer Shooting Interval mode lets you create time-lapse series. You can set the start time and intervals from one second to 24 hours, and record up to 999 images or until your memory card is full.	Large, High-Res LCD A big, 3.0-inch, 921,000-dot LCD monitor makes it easy to examine images and video—and read menus.

Specifications

Image Sensor: 12.4-megapixel (effective) CMOS
Resolution: 4288×2848 pixels
Sensor Size: 23.6×15.8mm (APS-C); 1.5x
LCD Monitor: 3.0-inch, 921,000-dot live-view
Video: HD 1280x720p/25 fps; SD 640x480p/25 fps
AF System: 11-point
Shutter Speeds: 1/6000 to 30 sec., X-sync up to 1⁄180 sec.
ISO Settings: 200-12,800, expandable to 100-25,600
Continuous Firing Mode: 6 fps
Recording Format: JPEG, 12-bit RAW
Metering: 16-segment, CW, spot
Storage Media: SD/SDHC
Dimensions: 4.9×3.8×2.7 inches
Weight: 19.2 ounces
Power Source: Rechargeable D-LI109 lithium-ion battery
Estimated Street Price: $699 (with 18-55mm lens)
Contact: Pentax, (800) 877-0155, www.pentaximaging.com