PENTAX · PENTAX K

K-1 Mark II

Released April 2018

A 36.4-megapixel full-frame DSLR with sensor-shift stabilisation, an optical viewfinder, built-in GPS and dual SD card slots.

Type: DSLR
Sensor: Full frame
Megapixels: 36.4
Lens: PENTAX KAF2 bayonet mount
Video: 1920 × 1080 at 30 fps
Body weight: 925 g

What reviewers say

Both find it capable for detailed stills, with effective stabilisation and useful pixel-shift modes, but consider the autofocus improvements modest and handheld composites prone to artefacts. Photography Blog finds improved high-ISO noise performance; DPReview instead finds forced RAW noise reduction sacrifices detail as sensitivity rises. Both see limited reasons for existing K-1 owners to upgrade.

From photographyblog.com and dpreview.com

Specifications

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Image and sensor

Camera type: DSLR
Sensor format: Full frame
Sensor type: CMOS without an optical low-pass filter
Sensor dimensions: 35.9 × 24 mm
Effective resolution: 36.4 MP
Largest image: 7360 × 4912
RAW recording: Yes
Standard ISO range: 100–819200
Sensor detail: 36.4 effective megapixels, 36.77 total; no optical low-pass filter. Sensor-shift anti-aliasing simulator offers moiré reduction
Image formats: 14-bit PEF or DNG RAW, JPEG and simultaneous RAW/JPEG; full-frame and APS-C crop. Tripod pixel shift combines four sensor-shifted exposures; Dynamic handheld mode aligns four shots without eliminating Bayer interpolation
ISO detail: Maker standard sensitivity ISO 100–819200; no separate expanded range listed
Image processor: PRIME IV with an accelerator unit

Lens and shooting

Lens mount: PENTAX KAF2 bayonet mount
Stabilisation: Sensor shift
Maximum continuous burst: 6.4 fps
Lens detail: KAF4, KAF3, KAF2 including power zoom, KAF and KA lenses; native KAF2 bayonet with autofocus coupler, information and power contacts
Autofocus: SAFOX 12 phase detection through viewfinder, 33 points including 25 central cross-type points, EV −3 to 18 at ISO 100; contrast detection in live view
Shutter: Mechanical focal-plane shutter 1/8000–30 seconds, Bulb and optional timed Bulb 10 seconds–20 minutes; electronic shutter available in live view and tripod pixel shift
Burst detail: Maximum 4.4 fps at full-frame resolution with up to 70 JPEGs or 17 RAW files; 6.4 fps in 15-megapixel APS-C crop with up to 100 JPEGs or 50 RAW files, at ISO 100
Stabilisation detail: Five-axis sensor-shift SR II; maker claims five shutter-speed steps. Built-in GPS supports Astrotracer; horizon and composition adjustment use the sensor-shift mechanism
Flash: Hot shoe and X-sync socket for external flash, sync 1/200 second
Exposure controls: PASM, sensitivity priority and combined shutter/aperture priority; ±5 EV exposure compensation and 86,000-pixel RGB metering sensor

Video

Highest video resolution: 1920 × 1080 at 30 fps
Video detail: Full HD 1920×1080 at 30/25/24 progressive frames or 60i/50i fields; 1280×720 at 60/50p. H.264 MOV, up to 25 minutes or 4 GB. 4K is interval-movie output only, not continuous video
Audio: Built-in stereo microphone, external stereo mic input and headphone monitoring; adjustable recording level and wind-noise reduction

Screen and viewfinder

Viewfinder: Optical
Screen size: 3.2″
Screen dots: 1,037,000
Touchscreen: No
Tilting screen: Yes
Display detail: 3.2-inch flexible-tilt LCD, approximately 1.037 million dots; outdoor-view and red night-vision settings. No touchscreen, as DPReview confirms
Viewfinder detail: Optical pentaprism, approximately 100% coverage and 0.70× magnification with FA 50mm F1.4 focused at infinity; eye relief 20.6 mm from view window

Connections and design

Wi-Fi: Yes
Battery life (maker's claim): 670 photographs
Body weight: 925 g
Release detail: Pentax Europe's current product table confirms April 2018 market launch; original Japanese launch notice stated late April. Earliest worldwide retail day unconfirmed, so month precision retained. Later Ricoh notice announces ending current K-series production; surviving range pages do not prove ongoing production
Recording media: Two UHS-I SD/SDHC/SDXC slots; sequential, duplicate or separate RAW/JPEG recording
Ports: Micro-B USB 2.0, Type D micro-HDMI, microphone and headphone sockets, external power, cable switch and X-sync terminals
Wireless connections: IEEE 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi at 2.4 GHz; built-in GPS, QZSS/SBAS reception and electronic compass
Battery life detail: D-LI90P rechargeable lithium-ion battery; approximately 670 shots under CIPA conditions, or 340 minutes playback
Charging: Included D-BC90 external battery charger; optional K-AC167 AC adapter kit
Dimensions: Approximately 136.5 × 110 × 85.5 mm, excluding protrusions
Weight detail: Approximately 925 g body only; 1010 g including battery and SD card
Materials: Magnesium-alloy exterior and maker −10°C operating limit; weather resistance is not a waterproof rating
Colours: Standard black body; limited cosmetic editions not separate generations
In the box: D-LI90P battery, D-BC90 charger and AC cord, strap, viewfinder cap, eyecup, body cap, hot-shoe and connector covers, strap rings and Digital Camera Utility 5 CD-ROM

Pros and cons

Pros

Five-axis in-body stabilisation
Flexible tilting screen and illuminated controls
Built-in GPS and Astrotracer

Cons

Video limited to Full HD
Body weighs 925 g before battery and card
Full-frame continuous shooting limited to 4.4 fps

Closest rivals

Model	Type	Sensor	Megapixels	Lens	Video	Body weight	Released
NikonD850	DSLR	Full frame	45.7	Nikon F mount	3840 × 2160 at 29.97 fps	915 g	Sept 2017
CanonEOS-1D X Mark III	DSLR	Full frame	20.1	Canon EF	5472 × 2886 at 59.94 fps	1250 g	Feb 2020
CanonEOS 5D Mark IV	DSLR	Full frame	30.4	Canon EF	4096 × 2160 at 29.97 fps	800 g	Sept 2016

Sources

Photo: ricoh-imaging.co.jp

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