Pentax Full Frame K-1 -specs with expected April release

[Nanfeishen]

Been waiting a long time for this:

Full-frame CMOS sensor
36.4 megapixels w/ 15-megapixel crop mode
Pixel shift super resolution
No AA filter
AA filter simulator
Sensitivity up to ISO 204,800
Shutter rated for 300,000 actuations
5-axis sensor-shift stabilization
Redesigned viewfinder with LCD overlay
6.5 FPS in crop mode, 4.4 FPS in full frame mode with up to 100 JPEG buffer
LCD screen tilts and pivots
LED illumination of lens mount, buttons, and card slot
Dust & weather sealed
Built-in GPS and Wi-Fi
USB tethering support
$1799 / £1599 launch price
Expected to ship around April 5, 2016

http://www.pentaxforums.com/articles/pentax-news/pentax-k-1-officially-announced.html#ixzz40YSpmJGl

 

[koffiejunkie]

Their high-end APS-C bodies were already very good. I'm looking forward to see raw files from this one.

 

[prod]

Now, what are the chances that it would be available in SA?

 

[garyc]

Now, what are the chances that it would be available in SA?

I have two Pentax bodies and two Nikon bodies. The local Pentax agents supply any of the kit that I want. If it is not in the country then they bring it in, typically with a 3 week waiting period.

The Nikon agents stock the better selling items locally. If it is something that they do not have then I can get lost, they will not bring it in.

I am thinking of going Pentax only because of the better availability locally.

 

[prod]

I have two Pentax bodies and two Nikon bodies. The local Pentax agents supply any of the kit that I want. If it is not in the country then they bring it in, typically with a 3 week waiting period.

The Nikon agents stock the better selling items locally. If it is something that they do not have then I can get lost, they will not bring it in.

I am thinking of going Pentax only because of the better availability locally.

Surprising! Maybe I should stop hanging out at just ORMS . I don't have nice things to say about Nikon SA, so we'll leave it at that.

This camera, I want it.

 

[Nanfeishen]

Now, what are the chances that it would be available in SA?

Seconded what garyc said, been with Pentax for many years since the days of 35mm film.

Their K series dslr's are really worth it, had a few , from the K-100 , and now a K3.
If you are into Astrophotography their "Star Tracer" function is an absolute positive.
The only problem (if you want it to a problem), is that the higher end lenses are not that easily available locally, but B&H is just a click away and a weeks wait.
What is nice is that many of their older film and SMC-FA lens are FF compatible, as they have kept the K-Mount, so no worrying about a whole new set of lenses.
That was the reason i choose them originally due to their retaining the same mount from their film days lens wise.

 

[prod]

Thanks Nan, good info as always

 

[garyc]

Another good thing from the article linked in the OP:

Every Pentax lens ever made is compatible with the Pentax K-1, along with thousands of third-party lenses.

 

[bwana]

Strange… although I started with pentax back in the day I didn't even consider them when I took up photography again (after an extended leave of absence) even though I still have much of my old gear…

 

[koffiejunkie]

Strange… although I started with pentax back in the day I didn't even consider them when I took up photography again (after an extended leave of absence) even though I still have much of my old gear…

Never to late to try something new

I'll probably get one sooner or later for my old man. He's struggling with the K100 I got him years ago - the viewfinder is a bit small to his taste and with his eyesight he's not having much luck with his MF lenses. I had him try my 5D3 and he liked the viewfinder better and had better luck with manual focus. He didn't like the body much otherwise

 

[airborne]

Another good thing from the article linked in the OP:<br />
<br />

Every Pentax lens ever made is compatible with the Pentax K-1, along with thousands of third-party lenses.

Say what!? I thought nikon alone was like that, how far back could you go with the Pentax lenses and still use them on the K1?

 

[Nanfeishen]

Say what!? I thought nikon alone was like that, how far back could you go with the Pentax lenses and still use them on the K1?

1975

It was created by Pentax in 1975

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentax_K-mount

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentax_(lens)

 

[koffiejunkie]

You can actually use older screw-mount (M42?) lenses too, with the help of an adapter. I look forward to see how well these lenses will stand up to modern high-resolution sensors. I tried my old Pentax 50mm f1/.7 on one of my previous Canon bodies - I don't remember which - it would have been the 50D or 7D. From what I remember it didn't cope too well. I could only test it up to f/2 because I didn't want to butcher the aperture lever, but even at f2 it was barely as sharp as the pastic fantastic Canon 50mm f/1.8 mk II. I sold the 50mm f/1.7 in the meantime because I happend upon a mint Pentax-A 50mm f/1.4, but I'm not willing to risk it with the 5DIII to see how good it is. It's more than good enough for my film adventures.

 

[garyc]

I am using an old M42 screw thread lens (Zeiss) on a Pentax K3 via an adapter. To give an idea what it is like, here is a photo that I took recently together with a 100% crop from the edge of the picture (where lenses tend to be the least sharp). Obviously the centre sharpness is a bit better.

 

[koffiejunkie]

I am using an old M42 screw thread lens (Zeiss) on a Pentax K3 via an adapter. To give an idea what it is like, here is a photo that I took recently together with a 100% crop from the edge of the picture (where lenses tend to be the least sharp). Obviously the centre sharpness is a bit better.

The problem is that the falloff in shaprness gets worse as you go further toward the edge of the frame. This looks quite good, but the edge of the K3 is also a long way from the edge on a K1 - this is what I was referring to.

 

[garyc]

It will be interesting to see how these lenses perform full-frame, where the APS-C sensor stops at 2/3 of the way to the edge of a full-frame sensor.

Looking at the Pentax lens compatibility chart it seems that most of the lenses sold in the past as being for APS will work in full frame mode with an imposed limitation on maximum aperture.

 

[simeon]

Hmm, lots of Pentax praise in this thread, but it lacks balance.

I've owned the K-5 for 4 years and enjoyed the **** out of it, but I probably won't buy a K-1. I've spent a lot of time (and not insignificant money) on lenses and other gadgets, and here is what I've learned:

- Side-by side you get more camera body for your buck with Pentax than with Canon and Nikon bodies in the same class (this is why the K-5 was my first DSLR), but the autofocus is inferior to the competition (apparently even on the K-3 it is better but far from cutting-edge). This is a huge frustration in low light and with fast lenses.

- If you want modern lenses, you have a limited set of options: Pentax glass, which is top quality but expensive, and Sigma (I have the Sigma 18-35 f1.8, which is an astoundingly good lens, and quite cheap compared to the alternatives). In this respect Canon and Nikon are probably better, since Sigma is available on those lens mounts too.

- If you want to play with manual-focus primes and other goodies (like bellows), there is a really big buyers-market in SA (check gumtree, OLX and bidorbuy). In this case, the A-series works better on the K bodies than the M-series. If you have a M42/K-mount adapter there are also interesting lenses like a 400mm prime, to be had for a few hundred bucks.

If you're old enough, or lucky enough to have a Dad who invested in good quality FA-series lenses, then the K-1 would be a nice way to get into the full-frame game (without the benefit of modern lens coatings or fast in-lens autofocus motors). If you have DA-series (APS-C optimised) lenses, then I don't really see the point of the K-1 (right now there are only two modern FF Pentax zoom lenses). If you're going to buy a new body, and have to build up a whole new collection of lenses, why not switch to Canon, Nikon or Sony?

I'm hoping (perhaps not realistically) that the release of the K-1 causes a drop in the K-3 price. This would be a cost-effective upgrade with my existing lenses. It is always nice to have a second body around, so I might start collecting new lenses slowly with a Canon FF after a few years of sweating a K-3 investment.

 

[simeon]

If you're old enough, or lucky enough to have a Dad who invested in good quality FA-series lenses, then the K-1 would be a nice way to get into the full-frame game (without the benefit of modern lens coatings or fast in-lens autofocus motors).

I meant to add that the reason why you'll need to inherit FA lenses is because (unlike M and A lenses), the FA primes command high prices on the used market (especially FA limiteds). The FA zooms are totally unremarkable, using one on a K-1 would probably not be much better than a DA in crop mode.

 

[koffiejunkie]

If you're old enough, or lucky enough to have a Dad who invested in good quality FA-series lenses, then the K-1 would be a nice way to get into the full-frame game (without the benefit of modern lens coatings or fast in-lens autofocus motors).

LOL you young people are so cute My dad invested in good quality M and, later, A lenses back in the day.