Pentax K-m DSLR leaks out a little early

Just in time for the big Photokina show in Koln, Germany, rumours are buzzing about a new Pentax DSLR that briefly appeared on the Pentax Germany site. Though details are sketchy, the K-m looks to be a lower-cost take on the K10D, with the same 10.2 megapixel Sony sensor and in-body stabilization but a lighter and smaller plastic case and slightly larger 2.7-inch LCD display. Sadly, there's no live view, but if the rumored pricing -- €500 ($725) for the single (18-55m) lens and €600 ($875) for the 2-lens kit (18-55mm and 50-200mm) -- is accurate that might not be a dealbreaker. We'll find out soon.

[Via 1001 Noisy Cameras]

[KingDeb8r @ Sep 20th 2008 6:03AM]

I hate my yellow teeth and this will show them in full detail!

Cool camera though!

[Ryan Trevisol @ Sep 20th 2008 10:17AM]

Sadly, I too can't get Adblock plus to work with Firefox 3. These advertisers must think all us gadget freaks are yellow-toothed, uneducated (University of Puh-ho-nix), Mac-Lovin slobs.

As a Pentax K100D owner, this is very cool. Live view would've been nice

[jeppe @ Sep 20th 2008 6:21AM]

That's pretty cool. Pentax has a lot of nice, small primes but no small cameras. This will fix that.

[Ian @ Sep 20th 2008 9:21AM]

How will this fix that? The K100D was tiny, and the K200D is supposed to be a comparable size, no?


Or maybe I'm used to larger DSLRs. All those cameras look tiny to me.

[James @ Sep 20th 2008 6:24AM]

Someone made the Pentax logo a bit too big when they made the photoshop, seems a little out of proportion to the rest of the camera.

[David @ Sep 20th 2008 6:28AM]

I thought product leaks were supposed to come out . . . early
At least earlier than the actual release date

[kidcanuck @ Sep 20th 2008 6:32AM]

I don't think I would miss live view one bit, I prefer looking through the viewfinder. I am used to it that way, anyways, so if that is the only functional reduction, this is a great little camera.

[Jon @ Sep 20th 2008 7:05AM]

I agree, but sometimes live view would be a lovely touch... like awkward angles for example. Sony even took a step further by making the screen "foldable"... and I really am looking forward to live view with full HD video recording to be a common thing for DSLRs -- just like that Canon.

[kadajawi @ Sep 20th 2008 9:52AM]

Me too, but liveview would make it possible to take photos without everyone noticing... the mirrors are just too damn loud :(

[Cybergypsy @ Sep 20th 2008 6:44AM]

Pretty Nice.....

[Roman Melihhov @ Sep 20th 2008 8:05AM]

DSLR with full HD video? Hmm, if you need a video camera - buy one. Photo gear is for photography - still images, no?

[kadajawi @ Sep 20th 2008 9:54AM]

@Roman: A video camera (except the Red One etc.) won't give you the DoF of 35mm film. Ok, while a normal DSLR doesn't have FF sensors either, it is quite close. Also, a DSLR should be able to shoot in low light situations much better than an ordinary video camera. And you can't change the lens. etc. etc. etc.

[Michael @ Sep 20th 2008 9:15AM]

No live view and no video. Forget it.

[Michael @ Sep 20th 2008 3:23PM]

I love how I get low ranked because this is a pentax thread, but if I said the same thing about a pentax on a Nikon thread I'd be fine. Amazes me the polarity between one news item and another here. Seriously though, pentax fanboys, do you not see how they are behind the times?

[rawhead @ Sep 20th 2008 11:02AM]

Oh yeah, the image probably is a photoshop... How else would you explain the older version of the 18-55mm lens? K200D ships with an 18-55mm ALII glass:

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0801/08012310pentaxtk200d.asp

[Jeremy Moses @ Sep 20th 2008 12:25PM]

The lens pictured there is an all-new 18-55 DA L, whatever that means. The Pentax forums are going mad, as usual.

[rawhead @ Sep 20th 2008 11:19AM]

I don't get it. The specs sound near identical to K200D:

10.2MP
27in LCD (no live view)
In-body OIS
$599 w/ 18-55 lens


And since the K200D was released just past January, obviously if the K-m is true, it's of a different lineage than the K100D -> K200D. So what separates them?

[thiel @ Sep 20th 2008 7:20PM]

While a 27" screen would be lovely, I think it flies in the face of the term "small".

[Oshi @ Sep 20th 2008 12:17PM]

Hmm. Yes, I too am curious as to what separates this from the K200D, especially considering I was planning on upgrading from my *ist DL to one next paycheck...
This article has perfect timing, maybe I'll be aiming the K-m instead!
If it's comparable to the $540 price on the K200D body I've found...

[dave sz @ Sep 20th 2008 7:01PM]

sorry engadget but why exactly did you convert euro to USD? That's not how it works. If it says gb500 then guess what, it's gonna be around 500US, gb600 is gonna be around 600us. Product pricing isn't converted pound to dollar like the value of money itself.