Pentax K-m, SMC-Pentax-DA 1:3.5~5.6 18-55mm AL, A Morning Bloom

Re-Living The CCD Sensor - Five frames with a Pentax K-M Digital and SMC-Pentax-DA 1:3.5~56 18-55mm AL, catching a morning bloom in the garden.

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Testing out my latest GAS pickup, a 10MP CCD sensor Pentax K-m, or the K2000 in the US, for the claim that CCD sensors, the standard for digital cameras from the mid-90s to early 2010s, are known for their high-quality, accurate colors, and low noise film-like images. The verdict? Well, you be the judge here.

Pentax K-m, SMC-Pentax-DA 1:3.5~56 18-55mm AL

The Pentax K-m was launched as a compact entry-level model with a 10MP CCD sensor by Pentax in 2008. The camera has a non-weather sealed lightweight body built on a lightweight and high-rigidity stainless-steel chassis, an AF system with five sensors, a very comprehensive and user-friendly set of menu functions and features, and shares the same viewfinder and LCD screen with the 10MP CCD sensor K200D and the 14.6 CMOS sensor K20D.

The camera was also designed to be adaptable to the plastic mount Pentax DA-L-series lightweight kit lenses, the first to be fitted with the KAF2 Mount, an adaptation of the standard Pentak K-mount system for adding auto-focus features to lenses on cameras with APS-C sensors. The K-m is powered, however, by 4x AA batteries (Lithium, Ni-MH Rechargeable, or Alkaline) which put it at a slight weight disadvantage when compared to other cameras using lithium battery packs.

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Five Frames With An Olympus VR-330, Night Scene Zoom-In

Re-Living The CCD Sensor - Zooming in on a night scene in Program Auto mode with the Olympus VR-330.

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Another session with the Olympus VR-330, one of a pair of super compact VR-series cameras launched by Olympus in 2011. The VR-330 is fitted, among others, with a 14MP CCD sensor, a 24-300mm equivalent zoom lens, dual image stabilization, 720p HD movie capture, a 3-inch LCD screen, 1cm super macro mode, Olympus Magic Filters, auto-focus tracking, and Intelligent Auto Mode. The camera is also particularly light and small, making it one of the handiest options within the super compact digital camera category.

Olympus VR-330

The camera is designed to be a simple point-and-shoot. All you have to do is to switch it on, zoom in to the desired image frame, and press the shutter. The Menu System, selectable from the LCD display, lists Program Auto, iAuto (Intelligent Auto), Scene, Magic, Panorama, and 3D as selectable or intelligent options, each with their own selection of subset variables and available as pew-sets. The iAuto (Intelligent Auto) mode, for example, switches itself to the iAuto Macro or Super Mode depending on the subject distance.

For the Night Scene Zoom In images here, I tried the camera both with the Night Scene and Program Auto mode setting, and took two identical sets of images. The selection, however, goes to the selection captured with the Program Auto setting, where the images, though more subdued, are more likely to the scene itself. Images shot with the Night Sceme mode are slightly overblown and washe out.

Looking forward to more images next, on the CCD sensor of course!

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