+ Weatherproof housing + weatherproof kit lens. This is crucial for me, as I unfortunately, always had my cameras in the past, when rain put in your pocket. Furthermore, I do not have this camera treated with kid gloves, and I can sometimes push my kids into their own hands.
+ Very well made - because nothing wobbles what has struck me the same positive. When EOS really any slide + each key wobbled.
+ It is very comfortable to hold and is not too heavy. The grip is pleasantly deep and can include well.
+ The handling is very intuitive and you can quickly switch between settings. With 2 additional wheel aperture + shutter speed can be changed easily without having to take the eye away from the viewfinder. This was complicated in the EOS.
+ Bright and large viewfinder with 100% field coverage. This really is a difference like night and day for EOS Viewfinder.
+ The autofocus works quickly and accurately - even in low light conditions.
+ One can, if necessary, use AA batteries / accumulators.
+ HDR can always be activated independently of the chosen mode. When EOS There is only one HDR mode, otherwise you can not use that.
+ Electronic Level
+ 3D stabilization sensor in the housing (magnetically mounted sensor) which performs a very good job.
+ Continuous shooting 6 fps stable for about 9 seconds (unfortunately only in JPEG, RAW breaks the speed after 2 seconds).
+ Good noise performance at high ISO values.
+ Possibility of focus correction. This is then stored per lens.
+ The focusing screens can be changed - big plus!
+ It comes with a hot shoe cover, or is already installed.
Things that I have noticed negative:
- It was not supplied lens hood to kit lens, this I had to buy an extra. The further it has no quick-shift focus. The optical performance of the lens is at the center ok but falls to the edges / corners down sharply. Here the kit lens of the EOS was better. I highly recommend all buyers, only to buy the body and separate the standard zoom 'Pentax SMC DA 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 AL WR-' (note the missing 'L' - 'DA' vs 'DAL' - the two are often confused). Who can make it a bit more money should loose on the Pentax bundled with the lens 'SMC DA 18-135mm ...' think.
- The adapter for AA batteries / accumulators also was not there.
- The battery may last longer.
Things that are missing some:
+ Folding screen - I personally do not need it - had indeed one and have this feature never actually used.
+ Touch-screen - that was sometimes quite handy in the image preview - otherwise toys.
+ Silent autofocus with STM / DC Drive - Yes in the Pentax kit lens you can hear the autofocus still work, but is not particularly loud and luckily there is no sound on pictures).
+ Video recording with stereo sound + Auto. Focus tracking. With the Pentax one can indeed good quality Full HD video record but the focus is clearly on the photograph.
+ HDMI port, Wi-Fi - In the Pentax only Wi-Fi-enabled SDHC cards can be used.
From me there is a strong buy recommendation for this camera.
