To measure resolving power we photographed the Enhanced Digital Camera Resolution Chart with each lens set to f8 using a Pentax K10D in Aperture Priority mode. Each lens was tested at a variety of apertures and f8 selected as the sharpest. The K10D was set to its best quality JPEG 10M *** mode.

The crops are taken from the original images, saved as High Quality JPEGs in Photoshop CS2 and presented here at 100%. Each number represents 100 lines per picture height (lpph), so a figure of 20 means a resolution of 2000 lpph.

Using the DA 18-55mm kit lens at 35mm f8, the K10D delivered 2050 and 2150 lpph of horizontal and vertical resolution respectively. When fitted with the better quality Pentax DA 40 and 70mm Limited Edition lenses, the K10D delivered measurably superior figures of 2200 lpph for both horizontal and vertical resolution on both lenses.

There's very little to call between the two Limited Edition lenses in this test, and both can bring the best out of the K10D, allowing it to compare favourably with the best of the current crop of 10 Megapixel DSLRs. Note: we've taken these measurements at the point where moiré began to blur the lines, but the extinction resolution for the K10D in this test was actually much finer.