Great beginner DSLR

I've had this camera for about two years and I am very pleased with it. I only paid around $280 for the whole kit, which was a great value. The choice was between a Canon S3 and the Pentax, and I went for this K100D and still haven't regretted it.

Interface:

This camera is pretty easy to use once you get used to it. The startup time can be quite annoying when your pet is set up for a candid shot, or when there is a plane flying over your head. It takes about two seconds. Also, the words in the menus are shortened a lot, so you'll see options like "Pwr Off When Idle". I don't go into the menus often so I don't really care about that. The controls are placed with comfort in mind. It's easy to navigate to ISO settings, WB settings and other things. There are no dedicated ISO/WB buttons but the Fn (Function) button is the main menu for those types of settings. Also, the camera modes all fulfill my needs and the only thing I would wish Pentax would fix is the shutter/aperature lock. It turns off every time I take a new picture.

Build Quality:

This camera feels pretty rugged, especially with a nicer lens like one of the DA*'s or the heavy 55-300mm (which I have). I don't think I've dropped it and I wouldn't want to. The outer body does seem a bit plasticky and not as rugged as the K20D, but it still feels durable enough to survive a fall. The grips are well-placed but I wish the grip on the right was either gone or something better than that shiny gel stripe. The overall feel of the camera is good and feels comfortable in your hands. Buttons are placed in easy-to-access areas. The camera controls can be reached with your right hand thumb, and the more basic controls can be used with your left hand. The screen is big enough to look at the pictures closely, but they turn out quite different on the computer.

Image Quality:

I love the quality of this camera. It is the best beginner DSLR by far, apart from the K200D. The kit lens is the best in its class, which has been proven by multiple review websites. The only thing I'm wishing for is more megapixels because I've seen what the K20D can do. (Went up to a watchtower, could see people in their cars about half a mile away...) Image quality is usually determined by the lens, but the color reproduction and metering are usually great, sometimes the photos turn out too dark. Also, I use Flash WB on all my photos, but I shoot RAW anyways and can change that any time.

Other features:

The battery life is amazing if you use the new "eneloop" batteries or something of the like. I get a lot of shots on one set. Also, the viewfinder is very good and clear. Bigger than some competitors' viewfinders.

Overall:

I've been extremely satisfied with the K100D. It's everything I that I would look for in a beginner DSLR and more. It's not as expensive as the competition and provides either equal or better performance. I would highly recommend this to anyone who is looking to enter photography. I'm going to move on to the K-7 once it comes out.

My equipment: K100D Super, 18-55mm Kit Lens, 55-300mm Telephoto, AF540FGZ flash