Tom's Hardware > All Reviews > Special > Miscellaneous > Comparing Entry Level Digital SLRs From Nikon and Pentax

Very Comparable In Design

06:00 - Tuesday 8 November 2005 by Jean-Pierre Roche

Both models use a 6 megapixel CCD sensor made by Sony, so they start off on an equal footing there. The differences stem from the way the sensor is used, and from the cameras' onboard software. If you look at the table below, it's easy to see that both models offer more or less the same essential characteristics. Since the sensor is the same - or at least very similar - the focal-length conversion factor (or "crop factor") is identical, at 1.5x. This represents how much you multiply the stated focal length of a lens to get the equivalent length of a full sized 35mm film SLR. So for example, a 60mm lens on one of these cameras provides a field of view similar to that of a 90mm lens on a film camera.

Naturally, Pentax has stayed with its usual lens mount (based on the K mount dating from the 1970s) and Nikon with theirs (mechanically unchanged since the 1960s). We'll have more to say about that later!

Main Characteristics

Manufacturer / Model	Nikon D50	Pentax istDL
Type	Single-Lens Reflex	Single-Lens Reflex
Sensor	CCD 6 Mpixels	CCD 6 Mpixels
Maximum resolution	3008x2000	3008x2000
Lens	Nikon AF/F mount	Pentax KAF2/K mount
Conversion (crop) factor	1.5	1.5
Viewfinder	0.75X, 95%	0.85X, 95%
Focusing	AF 5 focusing points	AF 3 focusing points
Metering modes	M (3 D), P	S, M, P, S
Exposure modes	M, A, S, P scene	M, A, S, P scene
Shutter	30s - 1/4000s	30s - 1/4000s
Max burst rate (fps)	2.5	2.8
ISO sensitivity	200 - 1600	200 - 3200
White balance	6 modes + manual	7 modes + manual
Built-in flash (ISO 200 GN)	15	15.6
File formats	JPEG, RAW	JPEG, RAW
Memory slot	SD	SD
Interface	USB 2.0 High Speed	USB 2.0 High Speed
Display (inches, pixels)	2", 130,000	2.5", 210,000
Video output	Composite	Composite
Battery type	Li-ion 7.4V/1400mAh	LR6/AA x4
Dimensions	Approx. 5.2 x 4.0 x 3.0" (133 x 102 x 76 mm)	4.6 x 2.6 x 2.9" (125 x 92.5 x 67 mm)
Weight (stripped)	1 lb 3 oz (540 g)	1 lb 0.6 oz (470 g)