Video Quality

Video Quality
The Pentax K-r's 1280x720 at 25fps (16:9) HD movie mode produces properly exposed and color correct videos clips. The K-r also captures video at 640x480. I shot the video that accompanies this review in the dimly lit bar of the Galt House, so the lighting was a real challenge for the K-r. Video capture is dependably impressive. Colors are rendered accurately and contrast, even in poor lighting is balanced.

Image Quality
DSLR image quality is dependent on a combination of factors: the quality of the lens mounted, the efficacy of the CPU (image processing), and the accuracy of the exposure system. Default JPEG images from the K-r appear uniformly sharp with neutral colors, but that's due to Pentax's minimal sharpening and sensible image interpolation. Users can customize images either in-camera or via the computer. All my comments relate to the Pentax K-r with 18-55mm kit zoom mounted.

Image Quality results will vary slightly, depending on the lens mounted. Based on my images, the K-r's image quality is dependably excellent, with very good detail capture in highlight areas, very good detail capture in shadow areas, and crisp edge transitions. Default colors are bright, vibrant, nicely saturated, and hue accurate. Images show a wide dynamic range and good tonal balance. Chromatic aberration (purple fringing) was remarkably well controlled considering that this is a kit lens. Our weather here in the Ohio Valley has been ugly for the past couple of weeks - cold, rainy, gray skies, and even some snow. The Pentax K-r's Auto white balance mode produced reliably hue correct colors. We did have a couple of days with brief sunny interludes. Overall, the K-r's WB system, even when working with less than perfect lighting conditions, produced reliably accurate colors. The K-r's white balance options include: TTL (through the lens) Auto, and user selectable settings for Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, tungsten, Fluorescent (White, Neutral, Daylight), flash, manual and Color Temperature modes.