Gizmodo – “e-PHOTOzine - Entry Level DSLR Camera of The Year 2011
"We have a well made, fully specified, compact and efficient camera in the Pentax K-r. It is attractive in appearance and handles beautifully. It can hold its head high in the company of higher priced rivals from the main manufacturers and also offers advantages in image quality, lens quality and extensive backwards compatibility."
High-quality image reproduction
Incorporating a high sensitivity CMOS sensor with 12.4 megapixels combined with the high-performance PRIME II (PENTAX Real Image Engine) imaging engine, PENTAX K-r produces high-quality images with fine details, rich gradation and superb rendition, while suppressing digital noise to a minimum. The K-r indeed offers an impressive noise management.
Compact and lightweight body
Weighing only approximately 600 grams (21 oz.), its compact and lightweight design not only makes it easy to carry the PENTAX K-r anywhere, but also makes it highly maneuverable in various shooting conditions
Continuous shooting at 6 images per second
The K-r’s high-speed continuous shooting mode records up to 25 images (in JPEG recording format) in a single sequence at a maximum speed of 6 frames per second — the fastest of all entry-class models — allowing you to preserve sharp, crisp images of fast-moving subjects with great ease.
PENTAX Shake Reduction mechanism for blur-free images
The K-r features the PENTAX-Shake Reduction, which is compatible with all PENTAX lenses -even those designed for analog cameras, effectively compensates the effect of camera shake by up to 4 shutter steps. Thanks to this mechanism, the K-r produces sharp images even under demanding conditions.
HDTV-proportion movie recording
The K-r captures beautiful, true-to-life movie clips in 16:9 HD TV proportions at a frame rate of 25 frames per second. This extends many benefits of high-quality SLR photography to the world of movie shooting: for instance, reduce the depth of field to make a subject stand out, or use different interchangeable lenses to create distinctive visual effects. The K-r also allowes to add specific visual effects during shooting.
High-precision autofocus system
The K-r’s high-precision SAFOX IX autofocus system features 11 sensor points (with 9 cross-type sensors in the middle) to assure pinpoint focus on the subject. The accuracy and speed of contrast AF operation during Live View shooting has also been enhanced by the incorporation of a new-generation image sensor and drastic upgrading of autofocus algorithms.
Bright, clear optical viewfinder
Thanks to the combination of PENTAX-original finder optics and the renowned Natural-Bright-Matte focusing screen, the K-r’s viewfinder offers a bright, clear subject image at 0.85x magnification and with a 96% field of view. The in-focus point is indicated as a red point in the viewfinder for at-a-glance confirmation.
3'' LCD high resolution monitor
The K-r features a large, high-resolution color LCD monitor with 921,000 dots. Its wide-view design assures a clear view of the monitor image from 170 degrees horizontally and vertically.
Versatile dual-power-source design
In addition to the rechargeable Lithium-ion b