Pentax K10D

Last year, in a letter to the editor of Better Photography, among India's leading magazines devoted to matters photographic, I wrote as below. (BTW, I still subscribe to the views expressed here!)

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As a longstanding reader of your magazine, I was disappointed with this year's first head-to-head group test of the three consumer DSLRs from Canon, Nikon and Pentax, which is featured in your current issue.

Specifically, my grouse is the short shrift given to the Pentax K10D in the face-off with the Canon EOS 400D and the Nikon D80. As you no doubt realize, there are several ardent users of Pentax cameras in India, as well as an abundant supply of lenses and accessories that can be had for fairly reasonable prices in the secondhand market. Pentax is one of the few camera companies to have maintained backward compatibility with its lenses for its digital offerings, so much so
that you can still use -- with certain limitations -- the screw-mount lenses that date to the era of the Spotmatic. Thus, there is more than cursory interest in what Pentax has to offer in the digital era for Indian consumers.

In your group test, the only thing you found acceptable with the Pentax K10D was its handling and ergonomics. Contrast this with what the world's leading photography magazines and sites had to say:

"The features of the Pentax K10D are sure to amaze Pentax lovers, and the photo world in general...Pentax has seriously raised the bar with the K10D...Best for: Any kind of shooting, particularly in less-than-ideal environments and weather. And a real boon for Pentax owners longing for a higher-end DSLR...Bottom line: Pentax's reputation as the lightweight among DSLR makers is officially obliterated with this well-made, fine-performing, highly satisfying
camera." ---- Popular Photography

"The K10D offers several unique benefits the majors can't match including image stabilization with every lens, pro quality dust/weather/moisture seals, two RAW formats, and an automatic dust reduction/removal system - all at a very competitive price. Serious shooters may have a few issues (like Pentax's lack of long glass), but for many photographers - including those with a closet full of old FA, KA, or K-mount lenses, the K10D may be just the camera they've been
looking for.." ---- DigitalCameraReviews

"We were happy with the K10D's image quality. Our test images were consistently well exposed and had good color saturation...The K10D offers a lot of camera for under $1000.00 USD - with 10.2 megapixels of resolution, body-integral Shake Reduction (SR), automatic dust removal, a weather-proof body, 3fps continuous shooting performance, dual battery grip option and great image quality – it's an easy choice over the K100D for those seeking a more advanced dSLR camera system." --- Steve'sDigicams reviews

"The pictures are of a very high quality, thanks to the SAVOX VIII and the PRIME processor. The JPEGs from the camera could have been a little sharper and the white balance could react more accurately to certain light sources, but there is little reason to complain. Pentax did very well with noise." --- Let'sGoDigital

In contrast, your review says "the Pentax just did not reach the last mile." Your ratings for Value for Money and your conclusion that "it all boiled down to the money" are even more difficult to fathom since nowhere are prices (either MRP or street) mentioned. So how are readers expected to make an informed decision?

For a magazine that normally finds every camera to have some value and is invariably "recommended", your treatment of the Pentax K10D appears unfair and unjustified.