Cameras
Samsung GX-20 DSLR: Pentax K20D's Guts, Different Body
Posted by Matt Buchanan at 5:30 AM on January 25, 2008
Remember the Pentax K20D, with its Samsung co-developed CMOS image sensor? Well, Samsung has their own take on it—same imaging viscera, but with a different body and software. Oh, the JPEG processing is done in a slightly disparate way as well. Since the choice between the two largely comes down to looks, which one seems sexier to you? Spec sheet below.
Price (body only) • UK: £ 699 Body material • High-impact plastic with metal sub-structure • Dust and weather resistant seals throughout Sensor[DP Review]• 14.6 million effective pixels
• 3:2 aspect ratio
• 23.4 x 15.6 mm CMOS sensor
• RGB Color Filter Array
• Built-in fixed low-pass filter
• 15.1 million total pixels
Image processor • PRIME
• 22-bit ADC
Stabilization Sensor shift
Image sizes
• 4688 x 3120 [14.6 MP] (RAW/DNG)
• 4672 x 3120 [14.6 MP]
• 3872 x 2592 [10 MP]
• 3008 x 2000 [6 MP]
• 1824 x 1216 [2 MP]
File formats • RAW (DNG)
• RAW + JPEG
• JPEG (EXIF 2.21)
RAW compression n/a
Lens mount • PENTAX bayonet KAF2 mount
• KAF2, KAF, KA mount lenses
Usable lenses• Schneider D-XENON, D-XENOGON, SAMSUNG lens
• PENTAX DSLR lenses are available
• KAF2, KAF, KA mount lenses
Auto Focus• TTL phase-matching 11-point AF
• SAFVOX VIII
• AF operational brightness range: EV -1 to 18 (at ISO 100 with f/1.4 lens)
• Focus lock
Lens Servo • Single Servo AF
• Continuous Servo AF
• Manual focus
Focus Point 11 focus points
AF Area Mode• Single point AF
• Center AF
• Automatic-area AF
Focus LockHalf-press shutter
AF assist External Speedlite only
Exposure modes• Auto
• Program
• Shutter Priority AE
• Aperture Priority AE
• Sensitivity Priority AE
• Shutter & Aperture Priority
• Manual
• Bulb
• Flash X-sync
• User Mode
Metering• TTL open-aperture 16-segment
• Metering : Multi, Center-weighted, Spot
Metering range • EV0 ~ 18 (ISO 100, 50mm F1.4)
Exposure lock Yes
Exposure bracketing• 2 to 9 frames
• 1/3, 1/2, 2/3 or 1 EV steps
Exposure compen. • +/-3 EV (1/2EV step) , +/-2EV (1/3EV step)
SensitivityAuto, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200 (1/3EV or 1/2EV step) 6400 (User setting)
Shutter Electronically controlled vertical-run focal plane shutter
DOF Preview Yes
White balance Auto, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent (W, D, N), Flash, Manual, Color Temperature (1, 2, 3), One Touch WB
Image parameters /
Presets• B&W(4 type)
• Sepia(3 type)
• Color (18 type)
• Color extract (6 type)
• Soft (three-level amount adjustable)
• Illustration
• HDR (3 type)
• Slim (+/- 8 level amount adjustable)
• Brightness (+/- 8 level amount adjustable)
Color space • sRGB
• Adobe RGB
Viewfinder • Pentaprism
• 95% Field of View
• Diopter Adjustment -2.5 ~ +1.5m-1
Focusing screen Natural-Bright-Matte II Focusing Screen
LCD monitor Low-temperature polysilicon TFT color LCD Monitor, 2.7" (approximately 230K pixels), Brightness control, Wide angle view
LCD Liveview• Live View(up to 3min.), Digital Preview
• Field of view 100%, Magnification, Grid display
Self-timer • 2sec., 12sec.
• Remote control, Remote control 3sec. (Compatible with Pentax Remote Control, Optional)
Shooting modes • Single
• Continuous (Hi, Low)
• High-speed Continuous
• Self-timer (12sec., 2sec.)
• Remote Control (3sec.)
• Remote Control Continuous
• Auto Bracket
• Expand Bracket
• Multi Exposure
Continuous • JPEG : 3fps (depends on memory capacity)
• RAW?3fps (up to 9 frames)
Flash• Type Built-in retractable P-TTL auto pop-up flash
• Modes Auto, Fill-in, Auto & Red eye, Fill-in & Red eye, Front curtain synchro, Front curtain synchro & Red eye, Rear curtain synchro
• Guide Number 13 (at ISO 100)
• Angle of View Coverage 28 mm wide-angle (Equivalent to 35mm)
• Sync. Speed 1/180sec., Red-eye reduction (Control Range : -2 ~ +1 EV)
External flash • Hot Shoe
• X Synchro socket (Sync. Speed : 1/180sec.)
• High Speed Synchro, Wireless Synchro (External Flash)
Playback options• Single image, Thumbnail, Rotate, Slide Show (Transition Effect), Histogram
• Edit: Rotate, Digital Filter, Picture Wizard * Picture Wizard : Normal, Vivid, Soft, Portrait, Landscape * Picture Wizard Parameter Range : ± 4 (9 steps)
• Digital Filter: B&W (4 types), Sepia (3 types), Color Selection (18 types), Color (6 types), Soft (3 steps), Illustration, HDR (3 steps), Slim (±8 steps), Brightness (±8 steps)
• Pixel Mapping
Connectivity• Digital Output: USB 2.0 (HI-SPEED)
• Video Output : NTSC, PAL (user selectable)
• DC Power Input Connector : DC 8.3V, 2A (100 ~ 240V)
• External Release Socket
• X Synchro Socket for External Flash
Storage• SD/MMC
• SDHC
Power Lithium ion battery : SLB-1674, Charger : SBC-L6,
Dimensions 142mm × 101mm × 71.5mm (excluding the projecting parts of the camera)

Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
keyshey
Posted 10:12 AM 25/1/08
that picture is HUGE! lol
keyshey
Coaster
Posted 1:12 PM 25/1/08
They're both pretty ugly. I don't see why, if it shoots 3fps in RAW, that it can't do more than that in JPG.
Coaster
arch05
Posted 1:37 PM 24/1/08
could that pic be any larger?
arch05
NeoPoliticus
Posted 1:11 AM 28/1/08
All digital slrs now produce images are vastly better than film ever was.
But for professional use, you need more than a good sensor - you need great autofocusing and multiple spotmeters linked to the focusing spots.
NeoPoliticus
chopstickhero
Posted 4:12 PM 29/1/08
sure, the body can be better (on paper) than other major brands like Canon or Nikon.... but their Samsung/Pentax lenses don't stand a chance!
chopstickhero
ppiddy
Posted 6:12 AM 31/1/08
"For professional use, you need..."
For professional use, you need a camera that takes pictures. It's weird how cameras are being marketed as 'pro' or 'semi-pro' or whatever. I know crappy amateurs who shoot with Canon 1-series bodies, and _amazing_ pros who shoot weddings and portraits with D70's or D80's. Yeah, if you're a sports/news photographer, you want a 1D Mark 9000. Other than that, most current dSLRs will do most everything that most people want.
It's incredibly dumb to invest money in the latest and greatest body unless you've already got a collection of lenses for that body.
ppiddy
emma03
Posted 6:12 AM 31/1/08
Reviews on this camera:[www.buzzillions.com] "Purchased this camera several weeks ago from B&H and I could not be more pleased. As many probably know, this Samsung model is essentially the rebranded version of the Pentax K10D as is the included lens. Samsung sought to launch a prototype Digital SLR and sought out Pentax with whom to collaborate. There are some minor cosmetic/menu differences between the GX-10 and the Pentax but, essentially, they are the same...with the GX-10 reflecting a $150-$200 savings (depending on where you buy).The variety of Semi-Pro/pro features of this camera are not to be believed....just google the model and you can read for yourself. If Samsung can follow this model up with another high-end kit, I will be buying it.Shipping and service from B&H was (as always), flawless....the price is darn good too.
Expertise: Advanced Amature
Problems Encountered: JPEGS are somewhat soft as other reviews have indicated but that is often a matter of taste and can be corrected in the cameras settings. RAW format is dedicated to the ADOBE DNG format which, IMHO is a plus.I do wish there were more Samsung-Branded lenses out there but, Pentax, Sigma and Tamron all make lenses that work great on this camera.
Previous Equivalent Item Owned: Fuji S9100, S5200, Cannon XTI, Pentax ME Super, K1000
Items I Recommend: Dedicated Flash, Good Wide Angle"
emma03