PENTAX-original Hyper operation system swiftly and accurately responds to the photographer’s creative demands

The PENTAX-developed Hyper operation system harmonizes the pleasure of total exposure control in varying shooting conditions with the simplicity and flexibility of automatic exposure control at the highest level. It allows the photographer to quickly and seamlessly shift the auto-exposure mode from one to another, without the use of the mode dial.

P: Hyper Program mode
When the mode dial is set to the P position, the K20D normally operates in the conventional Programmed AE mode. With a single turn of electronic dials, however, the exposure mode is instantly shifted to the Shutter-Priority AE mode with the front dial, or to the Aperture-Priority AE mode with the rear dial. You can always return to the Programmed AE mode with a single press of the Green button. This versatile auto-exposure mode lets you flawlessly respond to a variety of subjects and situations, without the need for mode changes.

M: Hyper Manual mode
While operating in the Metered Manual mode, the K20D instantly assures the proper exposure for a given subject with a single push of the green button. You can then make minute exposure adjustments using the front dial for shutter-speed control and the rear dial for aperture control. Using the camera’s standard program line as a yardstick, you can set the desired exposure level as will and respond swiftly to fast-changing conditions, while making best use of your past experiences.

Digital-age AE modes add new dimensions to the concept of exposure control

Along with aperture and shutter speed, ISO sensitivity plays an important role in exposure control. The K20D features two innovative exposure modes that let you effortlessly adjust this important exposure factor while retaining the proper exposure level.

Sv: Sensitivity-Priority mode
When you set the desired ISO sensitivity using the rear dial, the K20D automatically selects the optimum combination of aperture and shutter speed to assure proper exposure. This mode comes handy when you want to change the ISO sensitivity level to accommodate different camera setups, shooting styles or creative intentions under the identical brightness level. For instance, you can select a higher sensitivity in handheld shooting, or a lower sensitivity in tripod applications.

TAv: Shutter/Aperture-Priority mode:
This user-friendly mode simplifies complicated manual-exposure operation. When you set the desired aperture/shutter-speed combination, the K20D automatically selects the most appropriate ISO sensitivity to assure proper exposure. This mode is useful in preserving the desired visual effect — for both the depth of field and the subject’s movement — produced by a particular aperture/shutter-speed combination under fast-changing lighting conditions.

A choice of preview modes assures easy, accurate depth-of-field confirmation

The preview function lets you visually confirm the depth of field at a desired aperture before you actually record an image. The K20D offers two different modes to preview the depth of field: optical preview, which lets you confirm the depth of field through the viewfinder; and digital preview, which not only lets you preview the depth of field, but also allows you to use a preview image to simulate desired visual effects on the LCD monitor.

Notes:
A live-view image is displayed at default setting.
A preview image is saved when the Fn button is pressed in the digital preview mode.

USER position provides instant recall of favorite settings

Since the K20D lets you preprogram a set of frequently used settings, including exposure mode, you can instantly recall these settings with a single twist of the mode dial to USER position.

Three distinctive metering modes accommodate your shooting style and photographic requirements

The K20D features three different metering modes to make you fully prepared for varying lighting conditions and accommodate your favorite metering patterns. With a simple turn of the metering mode lever on the camera’s left shoulder, you can instantly select the desired metering mode, including the advanced 16-segment multi-pattern metering. In this 16-segment multi-pattern metering mode, you can even shift the main metering area to the in-focus point.

16-segment multi-pattern metering
This sophisticated metering mode simplifies exposure control under difficult lighting conditions, such as images with an intricate combination of highlights and shadows, and subjects standing against backlight. It assures proper exposure on the subject, while retaining a well-defined background.

Center-weighed metering
This conventional mode puts primary focus on the central area of the image field, while taking peripheral areas into exposure calculation. This is ideal for photographers who prefer to determine exposure levels based on their experience and instincts.

Spot metering
This special-purpose mode measures a small area (approximately 2.5%) of the image field, making it effective in assuring extra-accurate exposure on a primary subject — such as a figure standing in the spotlight — while disregarding the lighting conditions of all other elements.

AE lock and auto bracketing express delicate shades in highlights and shadows

With a single push of the AE-L button on the camera’s back panel, the K20D instantly memorizes the exposure settings at the time, so that the same exposure level can be retained even after you have recomposed the image and the light distribution over the image field has been altered. The K20D also features an auto bracketing function, which allows you to capture the same subject or scene at three different exposure levels (normal, over and under), and lets you choose the best one later. Thanks to the combination of these two functions, you can swiftly and efficiently react to a wide variety of lighting conditions.

Built-in auto flash assures high-precision exposure on the subject in the dark

Designed to pop up manually, the K20D’s built-in auto flash incorporates the advanced P-TTL auto flash system, which makes a pre-discharge just before shutter release and transmits data, such as a distance to the subject, to the 16-segment multi-pattern metering system. This allows the K20D to make minute adjustment of the flash illumination level for extra-accurate exposure. It also simplifies such advanced flash techniques as slow-shutter-speed synchronization and trailing-shutter-curtain synchronization. It features a guide number of approximately 13 (at ISO100/m), a synchronization speed of 1/180 second, and the angle-of-view coverage for a 28mm wide-angle lens (in the 35mm format).