K10D vs K20D Color

There are subtle differences in the "color" or tone of an image captured by a CMOS vs a CCD sensor. I've been so busy lately that I haven't been able to do any substantial tests to show the differences between the K10D and K20D. The two images below are only intended to show under fairly controlled lighting how the CMOS sensor in the K20D will generally produce a slightly warmer tone image than the CCD based K10D.

You'll probably see a more noticeable difference in the way the K20D records skin tones, and depending on the type of lighting, it produces a smoother almost buttery look. If anyone currently has both the K10D and K20D, it might be a great service to your fellow Pentaxians to provide better samples than my couch to show these differences in tone.

Both images shot in RAW at ISO 200 and f/4.0 with the 31mm Limited lens. I processed the images "as shot" using Camera Raw 4.4 and PhotoShop CS3. As I had to switch bodies and remount the K10D and K20D to get these shots, there's a slight difference in the framing of both images. Also, I was a little out of focus on one shot, but these samples should not be viewed based on the point of focus but examining the color values between the two images.

K10D Image


Large K10D Image jpeg

K20D Image


Large K20D Image jpeg