When I saw the images for this camera on the auction site, I knew it was very different from Pentax *ist D examples that I already have, so I went for it, and got the camera body at a decent price.

After it arrived I did a little research and found that it was the very first model of digital SLR body released by Pentax, in 2003. It has interesting differences from subsequent *ist D variants. The bottom has a compartment for a replaceable lithium button battery to maintain camera setting memory. Main power is same as later Pentax models, 4 x AA batteries for 6 volts. Lens mount and autofocus is same as other Pentax bodies, including both 35mm and digital.

Surprisingly, memory is stored on a Compact Flash card, and not the usual Pentax SD card.

The functions on back, top, and front are somewhat different than later digital cameras in their arrangement, since it evolved directly from a similar model that was film based rather than digital.

And here is something of further interest: it has the same image sensor plate, made by Sony, as found in the Nikon D100.

I cleaned it up, gave it a lens, powered it up, went through the settings menu, and it was ready for a test run.
With ASA set to 800 and selector at Aperture Priority mode, I took it for a spin out the back door then around front to the Elf Garden.
All images were hand held.
Shutter was quieter than later models, and very smooth.
I think the camera did just fine.

Please click on thumbnails to see enlarged.
All images are ©2018 E.J.Kowalski.
Thanks! Ed