Pentax K-m

The Pentax K-m (also known as the K2000) boasts a comparatively small build. At 123 x 92 x 68 mm, it's comparable to the Nikon D60, which was considered as one of the smallest consumer DSLR bodies in the market. In weight however, the K-m is a bit heavier than the D60 at 590 g (the D60 is 523g). For a considerably small body the K-m seems extremely tight and sturdy giving it a great feel from the first time you pick it up.

The handgrip is perfectly deep and well contoured to feel comfortable while shooting. The rubber coating on the grip adds to the comfort factor as well as keeps the camera from slipping.

The camera controls too seem more ergonomic than many other consumer DSLR bodies I've encountered in recent times. The biggest proof of that is the intelligently placed exposure jog dial. While in many cameras you have to get a bit uncomfortable to adjust the aperture size (keep the AV button pressed and move the jog dial), here the AV button on placed right behind the shutter release and the jog dial is on the same line as a viewfinder, making it extremely easy to maneuver in single handed operation as well.

The 2.7-inch screen is bright and clear, but since there's no live-view supported by the camera, it's best use is to review images after shooting. Most of the functional buttons are placed to the right of the camera, so you don't necessarily need both hands for basic camera control or navigation.

The K-m's interface is aimed at being simple for casual users. All the scene modes in the camera come with brief pictorial example. This may be a very common feature in consumer cameras, but for a DSLR, it seems a bit too casual. While new users might appreciate this, advance users may quickly look for an option to turn it off.

The rest of the menus are very simple to understand and it would be a matter of minutes before you get a good hang of it.

New users may want to keep our camera jargon buster handy for explanation of technical terms.