Pentax's entry DSLR — the *ist DL, APS-C CCD, K mount, pentamirror, AA power, 2005.
The Pentax *ist DL was launched in 2005 as an entry-level digital SLR sitting below the *ist DS in Pentax's *ist range of APS-C bodies. It was priced and specified for first-time DSLR buyers and used the Pentax K bayonet, allowing existing K-mount lenses to be fitted.
This is an APS-C digital SLR taking the Pentax K mount. It uses a CCD sensor and runs on AA-type batteries. As the budget model of the line it used a pentamirror rather than a pentaprism finder, giving a slightly dimmer eye-level view than the DS. It is a stills-only body with no video and no live view, with composition through the optical finder.
The AA power and simple controls make it a low-cost, travel-friendly entry point for beginners moving from a compact to an interchangeable-lens camera. Its finder, screen and resolution are basic by later standards, so its appeal today is mainly as an inexpensive way into the Pentax K-mount system.
On the used market, check the shutter operation and any actuation count against its rated life, and inspect the CCD sensor for dust and marks; early CCD colour behaviour and scarce service parts are worth noting. Test the rear LCD for dead or stuck pixels, check the card and battery door latches, and confirm the AA compartment contacts are clean and corrosion-free. Check the grip rubber and note the K mount accepts a wide range of older Pentax lenses.