Pentax's first in-house DSLR — the *ist D, APS-C CCD, K mount, pentaprism finder, 2003.
The Pentax *ist D was Pentax's first in-house digital SLR, released in 2003 and heading the *ist line of compact APS-C DSLRs. It marked Pentax's entry into the interchangeable-lens digital market and used the existing K bayonet, letting owners of Pentax film-era lenses move onto a digital body while keeping their glass.
This is an APS-C digital SLR taking the Pentax K mount. It uses a CCD sensor and an optical pentaprism viewfinder, giving a bright eye-level finder unusual for a small early DSLR. Composition is through the optical finder with no live view, and it does not record video. It is a stills-only body of its era, with the mount carrying forward Pentax's long line of K-mount lenses.
Its compact size and pentaprism finder suit photographers who value a small body and an optical viewfinder for deliberate stills work such as landscape. As an early DSLR its resolution, screen and autofocus are modest by later standards, so it appeals mainly to Pentax users wanting an affordable digital body that accepts their existing K-mount lenses.
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 bodies can also show colour shifts, and service parts are scarce. Test the rear LCD for dead or stuck pixels, check the card and battery door latches, and confirm battery availability, as this model uses AA-type cells in some configurations. Check the grip rubber and note the K mount's broad backward compatibility with older Pentax lenses.