Page 98 - Stuff - September 2017 UK

TESTED PENTAX KP

Smartest buy in

the gloom?

Pentax takes on the big boys with a
feature-packed DSLR that promises
extra-sharp low-light performance

£1099 / stuff.tv/PentaxKP
If you’re thinking about getting
a premium DSLR, it’s hard to look
beyond the ‘big two’ of Nikon and
Canon. So why consider Pentax’s
latest APS-C contender? Because,
being the dark horse, the KP has
had to work extra-hard to get
your attention.
This camera’s big calling card is
an incredibly high ISO range – up
to 819,000 – and with that being
native rather than expanded, the 1
quality should be usable even in
dim enough conditions to demand
such high sensitivity.
There are lots of other treats
that mark this out as a strong,
go-anywhere DSLR – including
the option of interchangeable grips
for different shoots, a weather-
resistant body, and built-in optical
image stabilisation. And one thing
that’s immediately striking is the
number of buttons and dials it has.
This makes for a bit of a crowded 4
top plate, with five dials on or near
it, but it does mean you have easy
access to several key settings.
So, is the KP special enough
to draw your eyes away from its 1 Higher plain 2 Let’s twist again
established rivals? Most cameras favour smooth There’s a mode dial over to the
lines and rounded edges, but left, a mode-sensitive settings
Pentax’s shooters have always dial above the grip, another on
gone for the more utilitarian, boxy the back for aperture, and three
approach. Whether you like that customisable function buttons…
or not is down to taste, but the it’s complicated, but an easy
KP is unlikely to be winning any system to use once you’ve got
beauty contests. it all set up how you like it.

24 hours with the
The optical viewfinder offers a 100%
The four-way pad can double up to
And the good news is, it doesn’t tilt
view of the scene with shooting info.
screen, which tilts both up and down.
good to have higher settings available.
makes a lot of noise when focusing.
offer lots of customisable options.
The 20-40mm kit lens I’m using
effective than you get from a lens.
Pentax KP
offer direct control over, say, ISO…
deeper or shallower grips.
Good
Meh The KP looks dull but I’m liking its It’s nice to be able to swap out I’m sticking below ISO 12,800, but it’s …and those three function buttons In-body image stabilisation is more
Evil round far enough for selfies.
[ Words Amy Davies ]
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