The Pentax *ist is the second of Pentax’s digital SLR cameras. Many photographers value the *ist for having tons of flexibility in a small, light format. Pentax doesn’t scrimp on the LCD monitor – it’s a full 2” making it very easy to see the results of your efforts. The company also designed smart in that they made the camera back-compatible with older lenses. This is a huge value to the consumer who doesn’t want to pay for add-ons twice.

Pentax shows some really smart design ideas in the *ist in addition to the compatibility and monitor. For example, there’s a rubberized hand grip on the front and a space for your thumb on the back. This makes it less likely that you’ll drop the *ist, which sometimes happens with something so small and light. There’s also a door that houses your memory card and PC connectors, keeping them safe from dampness and other external issues.

The majority of the controls for the Pentax *ist are on the back of the camera. There you’ll find a menu, the delete button, and playback button. Especially watch for the “FN” button – this gives you access to the functions you most frequently use on the camera in one quick step. No matter what function you’re using, the Pentax *ist has relatively clear menus that can “talk” to the user in 9 languages! For users who want pre-programmed settings, the Pentax *ist has several including “landscape” and “portrait,” something I really like. The built in flash has a high speed option when using higher end film.

The Pentax *ist comes complete with USB and AV cables and a neck strap. There’s a very detailed user’s manual and one set of batteries so you can begin shooting out of the box. You will, however, need to get a battery card for the system. Additionally, the Pentax *ist comes with Photo Browser and Photo Laboratory software, and a CD that explains various lenses and accessories you can consider for your camera.

There’s no question that the Pentax *ist holds its own with othe DSLR cameras. It’s very user friendly and easily connects to a home computer for downloading your pictures.