The Pentax *istD series marked a significant milestone for Japanese brand Pentax when it was introduced in the early 2000s. The series was the brand’s first venture into digital SLR cameras.
The series built upon Pentax’s reputation for solid build quality, compact design, and advanced technology at an affordable price.
The first camera in the series, the Pentax *istD, was launched in 2003 and targeted both professional photographers and amateurs, with the latter being the primary focus. It seems that professionals have traditionally leaned towards brands like Hasselblad, Nikon, or Canon.
The *istD, which was equipped with 6.1 megapixel sensor, was known for its light weight and ergonomically succesful design, making it one of the smallest and most portable DSLRs on the market at the time.
The series supported Pentax’s extensive and backwards-compatible range of K mount lenses.
The Pentax *istD series paved the way for a new era of digital camera for Pentax which continues to this day – latest examples are the Pentax K1 mark II and different versions, including a monochrome version, of the Pentax K3.
My first Pentax was a K20D, followed by a K10D, then K 5, and now, in late 2024, an *istD S, in addition to a K1 paired with a Carl Zeiss 35mm f/2 distagon & a ‘native’ Pentax SMC-A 50mm f/1.2.
It’s been quite a winding path, you could say—one that now looks backward in time as my interest in older, if not outright vintage, gear has grown.
You might also be interested in my follow-up introduction to the successor of the *istD, namely the Pentax K10D.
