Page 99 - Stuff - September 2017 UK

TESTED PENTAX KP

Tech specs
Sensor 24.3MP APS-C CMOS
ISO range 100-819,200 (native)
Screen 3in tiltable TFT LCD
Burst rate 7fps
Video 1920x1080 @ 60i, 1280x720 @ 60p
Dimensions 101x132x76mm, 703g

Let’s go to the pictures

Shiny dials and fancy features aside, the bottom line
for any camera is the quality of its photographs…

Warm welcome Noise pollution
3 So, first the good news: Alas, those super ISO
2 the KP is capable of speeds aren’t going to be
producing some lovely much use unless you’re a
images, which display a secret agent. The cut-off
good amount of warmth, for usable images is
depth and saturation. around 51,200 – very
Detail is nicely rendered good, but not genuinely
at ‘normal’ ISO settings. groundbreaking.

4 Locked-on freshness
There’s a 27-point autofocus
system, and 25 of them are
the more sensitive cross-type
sensors. This makes it very
responsive and quick to lock Meter made Fidget spinner
onto your target. There’s some All-purpose metering The Pixel Shift Resolution
hunting in low light, but it’ll rarely works well in most function, which sees the
tell you it’s focused when it isn’t. situations, requiring just KP take four rapid shots
a touch of compensation before combining them,
with high-contrast is of limited use; but a
3 Strong and stable 5 Moving performance scenes. Automatic white motion correction setting
On paper, the KP is more than Tracking focus is OK, but cameras balance copes pretty well is there for subjects that
a match for the Canon 80D and like the Nikon D500 are far more with artificial lighting. move between exposures.
Nikon D7200 with its super-high suited to action photography. And
native ISO speeds and 24.3MP the KP’s video offering is also a
APS-C sensor. It lacks an anti- little modest: there’s Full HD at
aliasing filter, but it does have frame rates up to 60i available, While Canon and Nikon clearly have
in-body image stabilisation for but serious videographers will a stronghold over the premium DSLR
sharp images without a tripod. want to look elsewhere.
space, the KP is a strong alternative
that can take some excellent shots.
Image quality is good, and while the
The electronic shutter is handy here,
headline top ISO speed isn’t something you’ll
letting me shoot at up to 1/24,000s…
The Pixel Shift Resolution feature
can help to get extra detail in macro.
7fps burst shooting is just about …but some functions aren’t available No 4K, but Full HD performance is perform very well – and it’s great to have such
actually want to use, the ordinary settings
adequate for sports and wildlife.
perfectly fine for the odd video.
a high level of customisation. @AmyDavies
when using it.
STUFF SAYS
Not top of its class, but certainly
worth considerin
if you love
shootin
landscapes and portraits
17hrs 18hrs 20hrs 23hrs 24hrs

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