Pentax K-m: All white on the night
If you need any evidence that the dSLR market is becoming friendlier, cuddlier, more accessible, look no further than the introduction of colour. Yes, colour! No longer are you restricted to serious, sober black, when you can express your personality through the hue of your camera. Well, just white, so far: the new limited edition Pentax K-m comes in snowy monochrome.A major trend in the dSLR market this year has been the introduction of entry-level dSLRs to demystify photography. The 10.2-megapixel K-m boasts such friendly compact-style features as auto picture mode, which selects from scene modes such as portrait and landscape. It also uses AA batteries, which are more convenient should you unexpectedly run out of juice.
Strictly speaking, Panasonic's Lumix G1 isn't a dSLR, but is the most consumer-friendly way into the interchangeable lens system traditionally synonymous with the SLR. And that comes in red and blue, as well as black. As entry-level dSLRs become more popular, we reckon there'll be a profusion of coloured DSLRs. Thank the Lord of the Dance this isn't the hideous concept seen at Photokina, which had Swarovski crystals vomited all over it, but it's only a matter of time before there's a pink Hello Kitty dSLR. Now that's progress.
Since our man in the US, Stephen Shankland, compared the K2000, as it's known in the States, to an Imperial stormtrooper, we've been stuck with the Imperial March in our heads. Yes, even more than usual! Pentax only plans to bring 100 of these to the UK, so you'll have to be quick.
If you're speedy enough, you can buy the camera body and two kit lenses, the Pentax DA L 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 AL and DA L 50-200mm F4-5.6. Both are in matching white. Body and 18-55mm lens will set you back �449, or �549 for both lenses, from February 2009.
