K m, K-x, K-r – so looks the alphabet at Pentax. Even if the K r according to Pentax a class through the K-x will be located and the latter (from) sold will also continue, the legitimate successor is the K-r after all. For the DSLR and promoted has put together an attractive package Pentax on features, to name a few, as for example the camera’s internal image stabilizer would the 3 ‘screen with fine 921.000 dots or the CMOS sensor resolution low-noise 12 megapixel with ISO 100-25,600 an area that in this class.’, We test clears up whether the K r can ultimately convince in operation, image quality and feel.

Ergonomics and processing the plastic housing of the Pentax K-r is although not the highest quality impression, but clean processing and is also in combative access no alarming sounds. The handle is well suited to medium-sized hands for small, the rubber coating and the notch for the middle finger ensures a secure hold. Available at the back is also a thumb hole, here is missing but a rubber coating. The SD/SDHC memory card on the right side of the camera can be found in well, on the left side there is a combined USB/AV interface. Remote control or an HDMI cable can be, however, not connected, but a receiver for a wireless remote control is installed. The metal tripod thread, which is located in the optical axis is exemplary. The battery compartment is fold-out when the tripod mode. It has to equal three specialties: here a cage with 4 AA cells can be alternatively to the supplied lithium-ion battery, which is sufficient for 470 pictures according to CIPA, insert. The cage is although not part of the delivery, means but a high degree of flexibility, which is to find so, that is without battery grip, while any other DSLR. You can use alkaline batteries, NiMH batteries or but lithium batteries. The latter should reach 1,000 pictures according to CIPA. The third option is the purchase of the power supply with Akkudummy. However, it is not so beautiful that the cable to the bottom of the camera is connected.

The rear screen is pleasant 7.6 cm high and dissolves fine 921.000 dots. In addition to the brightness, the color can be adjust. The icing on the cake for the LiveView function would have been a swivel monitor such as such as in the Nikon D5000. The contrast auto focus grabs to amazingly fast, while the focus box grows automatically shortly, so that you have a perfect Visual focus confirmation. If you prefer classic pictures taken with the viewfinder, is one with 0,85facher magnification in the K-r. This is not just lush, but adequate for the determination of the image section. The auto focus fields as well as useful information below the Sucherbilds are displayed.

The user interface of the K-r is easy to set up, so you need access to the manual, if you know the basic features of a digital camera. The menus are clearly structured and the horizontal tabs with each seven menu items confusing vertical scrolling is eliminated. For important functions has attached to the housing direct selection buttons for Pentax, with five buttons as a kind of directional pad are arranged; This however as individual keys instead of as a see-saw. The keys are advised but quite small so they are not as good to use. The thumb wheel fell on negative on very different way. Normally, one would expect an action of the camera at every detent. Not so with our copy of the K-r, which often reacted not on thumb wheel movements. In several fast clicks in a row the camera interpreted the wrong direction sometimes. That there is no case, is read in various Internet forums. The quality should urgently rework Pentax, especially since there are functions that can be operated only with the thumb wheel.

Image quality, the K-x was the first DSLR of Pentax, which was able to see in the image quality, especially at high ISO sensitivities. The decision, in the K-r again use a CMOS sensor dissolve 12 megapixel APS-C style, as a way to refer to is. In practice, the photos can fully convince. If the image quality but also under controlled, similar conditions is so good, we have be in the DCTau test lab. Who cares, the Protocol with his charts, tables, school note evaluation and comment of the test engineer can see this for a small fee or within the framework of a flat rate. By the way, we have the K-r not only with the 18-55 mm-kit lens, but also with the new “normal” prime lens 35 mm F2. 4 test can be with the K-r is a very compact equipment.

The resolution of the kit zoom is quite respectable, especially with regard to the regularity of the Center to the edge of the image. The usual high resolution waste is not. However, the resolution is not very high. This is due also to the restrained image preparation and sharpening, which leaves room for the subsequent processing. On fine structures encounter as hardly any artifacts that are otherwise very clear other cameras with upgrades Imaging. Black or Weißclipping by high sharpening does not know the K-r also. The kit lens on average is the distortion and vignetting. In wide angle there is a 2, 4% barrel distortion, in medium- and long focal length, however, the lens is almost distortion. The Randabdunklung is located at open aperture with 1.5 f-stops in the image corners in wide angle the highest, here also fade out helps only conditionally, because the image field limit light spontaneous vignetting is visible. In medium- and long focal length, the vignetting is low and uniform.

At the noise the K r shows up to ISO 3,200 excellent values, then the noise curve makes a splash 6,400 and 12,800 upwards at ISO. At 25,600, the curve goes up significantly so that the highest sensitivity should be used only if necessary. Here, the noise is much grainy. It is pleasant that all sensitivities virtually no annoying color noise occurs when, so that only Luminanzrauschen plays a role. The good image continues in the dynamics of the input, which reached its highest value at ISO 100 with 8.5 f-stops. Even up to ISO 3,200 remains the dynamics with 7.9 f-stops in the good area, until it breaks a. The output Dynamics shows a slightly raised black level, but still in the is tolerable. Only at ISO 25,600 is the value visible increases.

As the sharpness and Artefakbildung, also the tone curve shows the very neutral image processing. Over a large area, it is drawn as with a ruler, the lights are minimal, the shadows slightly more soft. Because the K r of conservative (i.e. approximately 0.3 to 0.5 EV darker) exposed as such as a Canon, you need to worry about no clipped the lights, as long as the camera can handle the dynamic range. In practice the images may seem sometimes something “fad”, if you are used the crisp results of a Canon or Olympus. But in the image processing as well as within the camera with many setting possibilities it can work around this alleged shortcoming. In any case, the JPEG images of the K-r have much potential which already falls was calculated for other cameras, and where you should draw on RAW.

Ultimately, the compression of JPEG images is well balanced. At a compression ratio of 7.5 for highest quality, the images are visually lossless, the medium quality with 11.5 is well usable, the slot should one just once. You should avoid the highest compression by a factor of 25, however, that here are significant loss of detail and artifacts.

Bottom line is the housing quality of the Pentax K-r for the camera class in order, stands but not out. The simply structured operation is somewhat diluted by the too small that directional pad buttons, but the response not always as desired thumb wheel is the most annoying. Here, Pentax should urgently rework! Also the video function is full of not just with practical function. The other facilities is, however, rich. The K-r over a large range of ISO convinced in image quality. The author can set virtually pain-free up to ISO 3,200 without fear noisy or muddy images even at A4 size. Only at ISO 12,800, the noise becomes clearer. Also the kit lens is quite suited to the entry despite plastic bayonet.