Pentax K-1 Review

Overall Score

86

Main Features

  • 36 MP Full frame CMOS Sensor
  • 100 - 204800 ISO
  • 5-axis Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3" Articulated Screen
  • Optical (pentaprism) Viewfinder
  • 4 fps continuous shooting
  • 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • Built-In Wireless
  • Built-In GPS
  • 137 x 110 x 86 mm, 1010g.
  • Price Category:
  • Replaced by: K-1 Mark II

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Pentax K-1 Overview


First introduced in February, 2016, Pentax K-1 is a 36 MP DSLR with a Full frame (35.9 x 24 mm) sized CMOS sensor.

Pentax replaced K-1 with Pentax K-1 II. Follow the link to read our detailed comparison of these models:

Compare Pentax K-1 with Pentax K-1 II


Pentax K-1 comes with a Full Frame sensor - 35.9 x 24 mm CMOS sensor, which has a diagonal of 43.18 mm

- Full Frame, approximate the actual size shown above

Sensor resolution of Pentax K-1 ~ 7348 x 4898 pixels.

Pentax K-1 has Crop Factor: 1.0

The sensor has a surface area of 861.6 mm².

There are approximate 35,990,504 photosites (pixels) on this area.

Pentax K-1 Series History
Model Year $ Sensor ISO Weight Dimensions
Pentax K-1 Mark II Pentax K-1 II 2018 36MP 100 - 819200 1010g 137 x 110 x 86mm
Pentax K-1 Pentax K-1 2016 36MP 100 - 204800 1010g 137 x 110 x 86mm

Proc and Cons of Pentax K-1


Get to know this camera closer. Let's look at the features and characteristics of this model. Compare Pentax K-1 with competitors in semi-pro dslr cameras.

Pros
Built-in Wireless
Articulating Screen
Optical Viewfinder
RAW Support
204800 Max Native ISO
4.4 fps Continuous Shooting
Manual Focus
UHS-I Memory Card Support
Headphone Port
Timelapse Recording
25 Cross Focus Points
±5 AE Bracketing Range
Focus Bracketing
5-axis Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
External Flash
AF Face Detection
36MP High Resolution Sensor
1037k dots Screen Resolution
1/8000s Max Shutter Speed
Manual Exposure Mode
Microphone Port
Environmental Sealing
33 Focus Points
2 Storage Slots
Flash Sync Port
Remote Control with a Smartphone
Cons
No Bluetooth
No Touch Screen
Weight: 1010g
No Articulating Screen
Slow Continuous Shooting: 1037 fps
Low Battery Life: 760 shots
Type Scores

Pentax K-1 has an Overall Score of 86/100 and ranked #3 out of 206 in DSLR cameras, and ranked #28 out of 1222 in all cameras.

Pentax K-1 Scores
Imaging score
83
Features score
85
Value for money score
95
Portability score
64
Overall score
86
Average Scores in Semi-Pro DSLR
Imaging Score
55
Features Score
58
Value For Money Score
73
Portability Score
70
Overall score
61

Physical Dimensions of Pentax K-1


Pentax K-1 weighs 1010g and has external dimensions of 137 x 110 x 86mm (5.39 x 4.33 x 3.39"). Considering that the average weight of Semi-Pro DSLR cameras is 783g, Pentax K-1 is 227 grams more than the average weight of cameras in this category. Pentax K-1 is less by 4mm more than the average length in Semi-Pro DSLR.

Weight Comparison
Semi-Pro DSLR Cameras


Pentax K-1
1010g
Average weight
783g
Min weight
479g
Max weight
1074g

Thickness Comparison
Semi-Pro DSLR Cameras


Pentax K-1
86mm
Average Thickness
75mm
Min Thickness
64mm
Max Thickness
86mm

Here is the front and top view image of Pentax K-1 with the dimensions:

Pentax K-1

Size Compared to Major Competitors


Model Weight K-1 Dimensions K-1
Nikon D810 Nikon D810 980 g 1010 g 146 x 123 x 82 mm 137 x 110 x 86 mm
Nikon D750 Nikon D750 840 g 1010 g 141 x 113 x 78 mm 137 x 110 x 86 mm
Canon EOS 5D Mark IV Canon 5D MIV 890 g 1010 g 151 x 116 x 76 mm 137 x 110 x 86 mm
Sony Alpha A7R II Sony A7R II 625 g 1010 g 127 x 96 x 60 mm 137 x 110 x 86 mm
Canon EOS 5D Mark III Canon 5D MIII 950 g 1010 g 152 x 116 x 76 mm 137 x 110 x 86 mm
Sony Alpha A7 II Sony A7 II 599 g 1010 g 127 x 96 x 60 mm 137 x 110 x 86 mm
Pentax K-3 Pentax K-3 800 g 1010 g 131 x 100 x 77 mm 137 x 110 x 86 mm
Pentax K-1 Mark II Pentax K-1 II 1010 g 1010 g 137 x 110 x 86 mm 137 x 110 x 86 mm

Specifications of Pentax K-1


General
Brand Pentax
Model K-1
Announced February, 2016
Body Type Mid-size SLR
Lens
Lens Mount Pentax KAF2
Manual Focus
Focal Lens Multiplier 1
Number of Lenses 150
Macro Focus Range n/a
Screen
Screen Size 3"
Screen Type Articulated
Screen Resolution 1037k pixels
Touch Screen
Live View
Viewfinder
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder Resolution no electronic viewfinder
Viewfinder Coverage 100%
Viewfinder Magnification 0.7
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points 33
Number of Cross Focus Points 25
Photography Features
RAW Support
Min Shutter Speed 1/30 sec
Max Shutter Speed 1/8000 sec
Continuous Shooting 4.4 fps
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Exposure Compensation
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization
Built-in Flash
Flash Range no built-in flash
Flash Modes Auto Flash Discharge, Auto Flash + Red-eye Reduction, Flash On, Flash On + Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Slow-speed Sync + Red-eye, P-TTL, Trailing Curtain Sync, Contrast-control-sync, High-speed sync, Wireless sync
External Flash
AE Bracketing
AE Bracketing Range ±5 EV
WB Bracketing
Sensor
Sensor Size Full frame
Sensor Type CMOS
Sensor Dimensions 35.9 x 24 mm
Sensor Area 861.6 mm²
Sensor Resolution 36 MP
Max Image Resolution 7360 x 4912
Max Native ISO 204800
Min Native ISO 100
Max Boosted ISO 0
Min Boosted ISO 0
Video Features
4K
Max Video Resolution 1920 x 1080
Video Formats MPEG-4, H.264
Timelapse Recording
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Exposure Modes
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
Connectivity
GPS Built-In
Wireless Connectivity Built-In
Bluetooth
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
Battery
Battery Life 760 shots
Battery Type Battery Pack
Battery Model D-LI90
Physical
Weight 1010 g
Physical Dimensions 137 x 110 x 86 mm
Environmental Sealing
Water Proof
Dust Proof
Shock Proof
Crush Proof
Freeze Proof
Shock Proof
Storage
Storage Type Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I)
Storage Slots 2
Other Features
Self Timer
Selfie Friendly

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