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Pentax K-50
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The Pentx K50 Digital SLR (DSLR) camera weighs 885grams and measures 12.5x9.5x15cm with the supplied 18-55mm lens attached.
Starting with the rear the 6.2x4.5cm TFT shows what settings you have selected and after shooting using the viewfinder shows the image you have captured. Above the viewfinder is a flash shoe and also the pop up built in flash that is never nearer than 11cm from the lens. To the right of the viewfinder a control that allows you to zoom in or out of the captured image. Below this a column of three well marked buttons the ubiquitous five position joystick and below this the menu button. This leaves room for the right thumb to balance the fingers wrapped around the protrusion to balance the unit before capture.
The top has a thirteen position wheel, on the forward facing protrusion the shutter release with the on/off twist control around it there are also two further well marked buttons. Finally at each end of the top are neck strap anchor points which you will need when using the unit for any prolonged period unless you are a regular at your gym.
The right side has a rubberised bung over the internal charge point and above this a separate door to cover the SD card entry. The left side also has a rubberised bung covering the PC connection socket.
The base has a tripod anchor screw and a door covering the solid battery.t leave the face with whatever lens you have connected but the side of the body towards where the lens is connected has the control to raise the inbuilt flash RAW/Fx button and three position focus control.
As any decent DSLR unit stretches me from my normal ‘point and shoot’ upwards provided by digital cameras I always start with ‘Auto’ and after taking a range of test shots which also help me get the units true balance point I then ‘RTFM’ = read the %^&*$£” manual. At this point I hit a snag no manual – not even a Getting Started Guide – was supplied. This sometimes happens as the previous reviewer forgets to replace it. However a visit to the Pentax site finds a downloadable .PDF copy of it.
Images can be captured in RAW, JPEG or RAW + JPEG. JPEG can be captured in 16MP, 12MP, 8MP and 5MP the last mentioned is still plenty to print an A4 image. Each capture can be in three, two or one star quality. Video can be captured in Full HD, HD or VGA at various FPS.
Having read its 300pages I feel able to start trying some of the settings to get the best out of the unit.
Things like 6FPS continuous shooting, high precision AF tracking of moving subjects, full HD video capture and for those times when you cannot get to recharge the internal solid battery it can be run from a set of four ‘AA’ batteries.
As always with such units the test period is short I try to get at least one session using flash as well as low light, finding sunlight at this time of year is harder but of course using the viewfinder to capture means sunlight is less of a problem when framing shots.
The Pentax K-50 with (18-55mm lens) is available from the first link below for £514.08 with free delivery. It is available at that price in Black, Red or White, but for custom colours see the second link.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00DC4BS02?ie=UTF8&tag=gadge0a-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634
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