Product ReviewsPENTAX Pentax K K20D 14.6MP Digital SLR Camera - Black (Body Only)

Robust construction and advanced features on a budget.

The Samsung GX-20 was introduced nearly a decade ago as a high-end 'prosumer' level digital single lens reflex (DSLR) camera. It is solidly built with weather resistant seals and a resolution of 14.3 megapixels, which was at the top of its class at the time and is still quite viable today for entry level to advanced users who are looking for robust build quality and advanced features on a tight budget. The camera takes K-mount lenses, giving users a wide choice of glass made over the past 40 or so years, both manual and autofocus. To be sure, this is not a compact camera it is a full-sized DSLR and its robust build does give it some serious heft, especially with a larger lens attached. The camera takes industry standard SD and SDHC memory cards up to 32GB capacity. While Samsung-branded rechargeable battery packs may be hard to find these days, generics are readily available and modestly priced. It is recommended to keep at least one spare battery on hand. While the camera body provides excellent weather resistance, water may still get in around the lens if it isn't weather sealed. Look for the 'WR' designation to ensure the lens is weather resistant before using the camera in a rainstorm. Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: zh708

As an over 40 year Pentaxian. . .

My first Pentax was a K1000 that I bought as a package deal with a short telephoto and some other stuff. It's long gone, but 4 film models and a K10 all in the past I have elected to stick with them. I still use the 40 year old 1:1 macro lens (all manual operation thank you) and a couple of other lenses from history. If I'm not mistaken, Pentax is the only company (now owned by Ricoh) that still allows this type of retro fit. You can have your Canons and Nikons, and pay for all the "upgrades" you want, I take award winning photos with the company that's kept me going all these years. . . Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: elmobirdie

K20 is a good body

14 megapixel may not seem like a lot these days, but images from cameras of that vintage have appeared on billboards so what do you want? Good color out of the sensor. I bought this as a replacement for my old k20 that broke at the hotshoe mount, but I found an upgrade used k3 and will give the k20 as a present to my daughter for her birthday. I actually like the k20 body better in hand but the k3 will do more for what I need; I use a camera at work daily and will need video capabilities soon.Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: cntrymum10

Love it, and you will too.

It has always amazed me that the so called critics give Pentax bodies by and large mediocre reviews yet the owners of these cameras love them. Weight is often criticized, but I find the weight comfortable. Granted I am not a pro, and do not carry it around all day long, but the weight and heft are to my liking. Most all the bells and whistles are here either direct access or easy to find menu placement.For those with previous lenses, you are in luck. They all work on the K20D some with restrictions as older lenses do not have the electic contacts. Even M42 screw mounts are fine with the Pentax adaptor. JPEGS in full resolution are very nice and you can make adjustments for color-vividness and such if the default is not to your liking. My only complaint and it is very minor for my use is the live view is not very sophisticated, but if the camera is on a tripod it comes in handy to frame a shot. No video on this, but I didn't buy it for a camcorder so I don't care. I hear the K5 is even better, but I am willing to bet that unless you do a side by side 100% cropped detailed analysis of both of these and a Nikon or Canon to boot you would be hard pressed to tell the difference. This is a sturdy, well made piece of equipment. I went Pentax as i have used these since the Spotmatics back in the very late 60's very early 70's, which I have, and it still works. If I was to start from scratch I might go Nikon or Canon only because accessories and lenses sometimes do not come in pentax and some programs turn their nose to Pentax. But I have no disappointments as to results with this camera and most of the pentax lenses. Anytime the picture has been under/over exposed it has been my mistake, not the cameras. I generally go AV or manual, sometimes TV as I like to think I had something to do with the picture. But, if you are a P or Auto person, the camera will do you right 99.99% of the time. It just doesn't know what you are looking for as far as field of view and such. The exposure will be correct, but maybe not correct for your purpose.
I may go to the K5 if the price is right, but I am in no hurry.Read full review...

Pentax K20D Easy to use -- Beginner on DSLR

Hi guys. I am new to the DSLR world, but I have to write this brief story to let you guys know my experience. Well, I found out its very easy to use for beginning work as taking Panoramic pictures, adjusting the lenses, and what I think its cool. The camera has a CMOS chip and antidust features. What about that!, so I took some pictures from my apartment and made a panoramic image in photoshop CS4. The thing is that even if you don't utilize the correct features and turn the right buttons you are still capable of making your panoramic pictures :) The manual it is self-explanatory and the LCD screen its very useful. I like the looks of the camera as well. hope you guys find this review useful at least for beginner folks as me...Read full review...

Awesome pictures from a heavy duty professional camera

We love the quality pictures with vivid color and the heavy duty feel of this camera for our wedding photography business. We were stepping up from K200s to the KX model and we liked it, but I decided to try 1 K20 for the extra 2MPs. The K20 made the KXs feel like toy cameras... add in the extra 2MPs, ability to use a battery grip, the weather and dust sealing, and the over-all professional feel of the K20 it was a no brainer to resell our 2 KXs and add 2 more K20s.

It may not have quite as many features as the KX or K7 (didn't need the video), but we were able to get 2 lightly used K20 bodies for $415 and $439 and 1 with a great lens and a high end flash for only $599.

We are very happy with this camera and highly recommend it to any serious photographer!Read full review...

A wonderful Purchase, Pentax K20d is simply the best DSLR I've ever owned.

WOW, ever since I switched over from Manual Slrs, to Auto focus, and then to Digital, I've used Pentax, firstly Because Pentax is the Only manufacturer to keep the same Mount, and update a little, so any lens you ever bought for any Pentax camera will work on This DSLR, nikon don't do that, Cannon don't do that... sony are newcomers.

so I opened up the Package, looked at the camera, and Marveled at the size, I have had 2 previous DSLR's first was a *ist DL (6.1mp) second A Kx (12.4) both are more compact and lighter than the K20d both are fine camera's and the Kx has a few features that I wish the 20d had, but I am VERY VERY happy.

I'm still getting used to some of the new features, I believe in taking a camera out and going and shooting it to get to know it, rather than sitting and reading the manual (which is fortunate) as the camera came without a manual (I've since downloaded it from pentax's website) I like the build quality, and rugedness of the k20, I also like its size, and weight, it feels right in my hands, heavy but not too heavy. I like the 14.6 megapixels, one thing I don't like and I don't know why, the filesizes are 3x as large as my 12.4 megapixel kx, (and I'm only getting an extra 2.2mp)

I think this camera compares favourably to others in its, class, I've always felt reviewers treat pentax unfairly and unfavourably....

focus is very fast, colours are acurate, I love this camera. one thing I really love is they kept the wired remote jack, which they removed from the Kx and it has a full bulb mode for longer exposures, than are covered by dialing down the shutter speed.Read full review...

Great Replacement

I had a Pentax K10D that died about 3 months after the warranty expired. They wanted $500 to replace the main computer board in the camera. Instead, I went online and for a fraction of the cost I upgraded to this K20D. It uses the same lenses and most of the controls are the same. I like having the anti vibration control in the body as opposed to being in the lens like Nikon's. That way all of the lenses get the same benefit without the added cost. I have enjoyed having my camera system back online without having to break the bank to do so.Read full review...

Pentax K20D

I have now Canon & Fuji cameras that are very good. The Pentax (haven't had it too long) seems to have amazing abilities plus great imaging & color. So far it's been easy to learn & a joy to shoot with !Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: jonhock

Inexpensive DLSR camera

Comparing images with my canon 90D on a 21"monitor the 90D was minimally sharper. The color saturation was easier to notice. Overall it is a great camera for the $110.00 paid.

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: greenmini2004