Introduction

Ease of Use

The Pentax K-1 Mark II is virtually identical to the original K-1 model, so if you don't know anything about that camera, we strongly suggest that you head over and read our in-depth Pentax K-1 review first. In this rather brief review, we're going to focus on the new features that the Mark II offers over and above the original version.

The new Mark II version differs in three main ways - it offers improved high sensitivity performance, high-speed Auto Focus, and image resolution through the new handheld Pixel Shift Resolution mode.

Front of the Pentax K-1 Mark II

The ISO range of the K-1 II now runs from ISO 100 up to a whopping ISO 819200. As you'd maybe expect, the resulting images at such a high ISO speed are bordering on unusable (see our Image Quality page for 100% crops of each ISO speed), but more usefully ISO performance is about a stop better than on the original K-1, not really becoming visible until ISO 3200. So if you ever felt limited by the ISO range on the K-1, the new Mark II version slightly improves things.

The K-1 II's AF Tracking algorithm has been revised to improve tracking accuracy of fast-moving subjects in the AF Continuous mode. The original K-1 was pretty sluggish in this regard, and although the new Mark II is quicker at identifying the main subject and more reliable at tracking, we still wouldn't describe it as a great camera for sports photography.

Rear of the Pentax K-1 Mark II

The new handheld Dynamic Pixel Shift Resolution mode is more successful, building on the original Pixel Shift Resolution offered by the K-1. The latter is still present, requiring the camera to be mounted on a tripod. The in-body SR (shake reduction) mechanism is used to move the image sensor unit by a single pixel pitch at a time to capture four shots, which are then merged into a single image to generate an ultra high-definition image.

The new handheld Dynamic Pixel Shift Resolution mode differs by switching on the image stabilisation system, taking four similar shots, then combining them into one aligned ultra high-definition image, all whilst hand-holding the camera. It's much like the method employed by recent smartphones like the Huawei P20 Pro, and it similarly works well with both still and moving subjects.

Top of the Pentax K-1 Mark II

There are a couple of notable drawbacks, though. Firstly, you really need to use a shutter speed that's fast enough to avoid camera shake, and secondly, unlike the normal Pixel Shift Resolution mode, it doesn't cancel out the Bayer color array, which can lead to unwanted artifacts, moire and less detail in the resulting image. Finally, it also takes much longer for the camera to process the final image, about 20 seconds in total, so you'll only want to use it for that "special" shot, as it completely locks the camera up.

And that's it for the improvements offered by the Pentax K-I Mark II, other than a change to the name badge on the front and the base of the camera.

The Pentax K-1 Mark II In-hand

Unfortunately, though, there is one area where the Mark II takes a backwards step, namely battery life. Whereas the original K-1 offered 760-shot battery life, the new K-1 II has 670-shot life according to CIPA standards, presumably because of the new accelerator unit.

Current Pentax K-1 owners can actually get their cameras upgraded to the new functions offered by the Mark II - simply send your camera back to Pentax between May 21st and 30th September, pay the $550 / £450 service charge, and voila, your camera's main circuit board will be replaced to add the new functions featured in the new Pentax K-1 MK II and  the current SR logo, positioned in the lower left corner of the camera’s front panel, will be replaced with the SR II logo. This is almost certainly a cheaper way of upgrading to the Mark II than selling your original camera and buying the newer model.

Image Quality

All of the sample images in this review were taken using the 36 megapixel Best JPEG setting, which gives an average image size of around 12Mb.

The Pentax K-1 Mark II produced photos of excellent quality. Noise is well controlled by the Pentax K-1 Mark II throughout the expanded range of 100-819200, first starting to appear at ISO 3200 and becoming more easily detectable at the faster settings of ISO 6400-25600 when viewing images at 100% magnification on screen (particularly in the RAW files). The fastest settings of 51200-819200 look much better on paper than in reality. Colour saturation is commendably maintained throughout the ISO range.

Pixel Shift Resolution is an effective technology that creates bigger files, finer detail and generates more accurate colours, even if the subject moves or the camera shakes slightly. The new Handheld mode does what its name suggests and allows you to create high-resolution images without having to use a tripod, although at the expense of less detail and more colour artifacts than using the tripod modes.

Image stabilisation via the camera body is a great feature that works very well when hand-holding the camera in low-light conditions or when using the telephoto end of the zoom range. An added bonus is that it works with any lens that you attach to the K-1 Mark II. The night photograph was excellent, with the maximum shutter speed of 30 seconds and Bulb mode allowing you to capture enough light in all situations.

The Digital Filters quickly produce special effects that would otherwise require you to spend a lot of time in the digital darkroom, while the Custom Images can usefully be tweaked to suit. The D-Range options help make the most out of both the shadows and highlights in a high-contrast scene (and it works for both JPEG and RAW files), while the HDR mode greatly expands the dynamic range of a JPEG by combining three differently exposed images in-camera.

The multi exposure mode combines between two and 2,000 different JPEG or RAW images into a single photo, while the anti-aliasing simulator helps to reduce moire without the need for an actual optical filter.

Noise

There are 14 ISO settings available on the Pentax K-1 Mark II. Here are some 100% crops which show the noise levels for each ISO setting, with JPEG on the left and the RAW equivalent on the right:

JPEG	RAW
ISO 100 (100% Crop)	ISO 100 (100% Crop)
ISO 200 (100% Crop)	ISO 200 (100% Crop)
ISO 400 (100% Crop)	ISO 400 (100% Crop)
ISO 800 (100% Crop)	ISO 800 (100% Crop)
ISO 1600 (100% Crop)	ISO 1600 (100% Crop)
ISO 3200 (100% Crop)	ISO 3200 (100% Crop)
ISO 6400 (100% Crop)	ISO 6400 (100% Crop)
ISO 12800 (100% Crop)	ISO 12800 (100% Crop)
ISO 25600 (100% Crop)	ISO 25600 (100% Crop)
ISO 51200 (100% Crop)	ISO 51200 (100% Crop)
ISO 102400 (100% Crop)	ISO102400 (100% Crop)
ISO 204800 (100% Crop)	ISO 204800 (100% Crop)
ISO 409600 (100% Crop)	ISO 409600 (100% Crop)
ISO 819200 (100% Crop)	ISO 819200 (100% Crop)

Pixel Shift Resolution

The in-body SR (shake reduction) mechanism is used to move the image sensor unit by a single pixel pitch at a time to capture four shots (the use of a tripod is strongly recommended). Pixel Shift Resolution merges those shots into a single image to generate an ultra high-definition image. This method differs from the traditional Bayer method, which acquires only a single element of color information for single pixel, by acquiring all RGB color information for individual pixel. This difference makes it excellent for detail and color reproduction, creating super high-definition images. This also prevents false colors from occurring theoretically, and also has a high-sensitivity noise reduction effect when compared to normal shooting.

The new handheld Dynamic Pixel Shift Resolution mode differs, though, by switching on image stabilisation, taking four similar shots, then combining them into one aligned ultra high-definition image. Unlike the normal Pixel Shift Resolution mode, it doesn't cancel out the Bayer color array, which can lead to unwanted artifacts, moire and less detail in the resulting image. It does have an advantage under indoor lights, however, as it uses the mechanical shutter rather than the electronic one, as used by the normal Pixel Shift Resolution mode, which can result in unwanted banding.

Off	Motion Correction On
Motion Correction Off	Handheld
Off	Motion Correction On
Motion Correction Off	Handheld

File Quality

The Pentax K-1 Mark II has 3 different JPEG file quality settings available, with Best being the highest quality option, and it also supports RAW (Pentax's PEF format and Adobe DNG). Here are some 100% crops which show the quality of the various options, with the file size shown in brackets.

Best (20.3Mb) (100% Crop)	Better (8.71Mb) (100% Crop)
Good (4.08Mb) (100% Crop)	RAW (43.8Mb) (100% Crop)

Night

The Pentax K-1 Mark II lets you dial in shutter speeds of up to 30 seconds and has a Bulb mode as well, which is very good news if you are seriously interested in night photography. The shot below was taken using a shutter speed of 30 seconds at ISO 100.

Night

Shake Reduction

The Pentax K-1 Mark II has a Shake Reduction mechanism built into the camera body, which allows you to take sharp photos at slower shutter speeds than other digital cameras. To test this, we took 2 handheld shots of the same subject with the same settings. The first shot was taken with Shake Reduction turned off, the second with it turned on. Here is a 100% crop of the image to show the results. As you can see, with Shake Reduction turned on, the images are sharper than when it's turned off.

Shutter Speed / Focal Length	Shake Reduction Off (100% Crop)	Shake Reduction On (100% Crop)
1/6 / 28mm
1/15 / 105mm

AA Filter Simulator

Rather than an optical anti-aliasing filter in the camera, the K-1 has an anti-aliasing simulator instead, which can be turned off (default setting) or on to either the Type1 or Type2 setting.

Off	Off (100% Crop)
Type1	Type1 (100% Crop)
Type2	Type2 (100% Crop)

D-Range

Similar to Nikon's D-lighting, Sony's DRO, and Olympus' Shadow Adjustment Technology, Pentax's D-Range allows you to correct the highlights (On or Off) and/or the shadows (3 different levels) before taking a JPEG or RAW image. Although this option is always at your disposal, remember that it is meant to be used in strong, contrasty lighting at base ISO. Below you can see a comparison between Off and both highlight and shadow correction set to on/full strength; the difference is mainly noticeable in the shadowed areas on the left and right sides of the photo.

Off	On

HDR Capture

The Pentax K-1 Mark II's HDR Capture option takes three images with different exposures, and then records a single image that combines the properly exposed parts of each one, expanding its dynamic range. Here is an example which was shot with the five different modes (Off, 1, 2, 3 and Advanced). Although the K-1 can microalign images before combining them, allowing hand-held HDR shots to be taken, for best results it's important to always use a tripod to prevent camera shake from blurring the HDR image, and it doesn't work very well for moving subjects.

Off	HDR1
HDR2	HDR3
Advanced

Custom Images

Pentax's Custom Images, similar to Nikon's Picture Styles and Canon's Picture Controls, are preset combinations of different sharpness, contrast, saturation and colour tone settings. You can change the saturation, hue, high/low key, contrast and sharpness for each of the seven options. They are shown below in the following series, which demonstrates the differences.

Bright	Natural
Portrait	Landscape
Vibrant	Radiant
Muted	Flat
Bleach Bypass	Reversal Film
Monochrome	Cross Processing

Digital Filters

The Pentax K-1 Mark II offers nine different Digital Filters, which allow you to quickly apply an artistic effect to a photo before taking it (JPEG images only). They are shown below in the following series, which demonstrates the differences. Note that applying the Digital Filters slows the camera down somewhat, as it has to process the image for a few seconds after it's taken.

Extract Color	Replace Color
Toy Camera	Retro
High Contrast	Shading
Invert Color	Unicolor Bold
Bold Monochrome

Multi-exposure

The Pentax K-1 Mark II has a fantastic multi-exposure mode that allows you to combine between two and 2,000 (!) different JPEG or RAW images into a single photo. Here is an example.

Multi-exposure

Sample Images

This is a selection of sample images from the Pentax K-1 Mark II camera, which were all taken using the 36 megapixel Best JPEG setting. The thumbnails below link to the full-sized versions, which have not been altered in any way.

Sample RAW Images

The Pentax K-1 Mark II enables users to capture RAW and JPEG format files in either the PEF or DNG formats. We've provided some Pentax RAW (DNG) samples for you to download (thumbnail images shown below are not 100% representative).

Sample Movie & Video

Product Images

Front of the Pentax K-1 Mark II

Front of the Pentax K-1 Mark II

Side of the Pentax K-1 Mark II

Side of the Pentax K-1 Mark II

Side of the Pentax K-1 Mark II

Side of the Pentax K-1 Mark II

Rear of the Pentax K-1 Mark II

Rear of the Pentax K-1 Mark II / Image Displayed

Rear of the Pentax K-1 Mark II / Info Screen

Rear of the Pentax K-1 Mark II / Info Screen

Rear of the Pentax K-1 Mark II / Main Menu

Rear of the Pentax K-1 Mark II / Live View

Rear of the Pentax K-1 Mark II / Tilting LCD Screen

Rear of the Pentax K-1 Mark II / Tilting LCD Screen

Top of the Pentax K-1 Mark II

Bottom of the Pentax K-1 Mark II

Side of the Pentax K-1 Mark II

Side of the Pentax K-1 Mark II

Front of the Pentax K-1 Mark II

Front of the Pentax K-1 Mark II

Memory Card Slot

Battery Compartment

Conclusion

The Pentax K-1 Mark II remains an excellent 35mm full-frame DSLR camera, but it feels more like a stop-gap release rather than a fully-fledged successor to the original K-1.

18 months is quite a long time in the fast-moving world of digital imaging, so the fact that Pentax have only added less than a handful of new features to the K-1 II is rather disappointing, especially for owners of the K-1. We'd hesitate to recommend that those users upgrade to the K-1 II, either by selling their original cameras and buying the new version or by taking advantage of the rather unique upgrade service, as the three key improvements aren't collectively worth it.

Extending the ISO range to 819200 sounds great on paper, but looks terrible in reality, with the real benefit being a 1-stop improvement in noise performance much lower down the range. Similarly, the AF system is a little snappier and more reliable when tracking moving subjects, but not massively so compared to the original K-1. Finally, the handheld pixel shift mode does allow you to take sharp, high-resolution still images without having to use a tripod, but only with a number of caveats that limit its overall usefulness.

Add the £200 / $200 increase to the RRP of the K-1 II and the reduction in battery life, and we're left wondering why you'd choose to upgrade to the Pentax K-1 Mark II. For new would-be owners, though, it's a much more attractive proposition that still holds its own despite the rather modest improvements.

Ratings (out of 5)
Design	4.5
Features	5
Ease-of-use	4.5
Image quality	5
Value for money	4.5

Main Rivals

Listed below are some of the rivals of the Pentax K-1 Mark II.

Review Roundup

Reviews of the Pentax K-1 Mark II from around the web.

Specifications

News

The Pentax K-1 Mark II is a new flagship 35mm full-frame DSLR camera. This new model couples a newly incorporated accelerator unit with the PRIME IV imaging engine to achieve high-speed operation and excellent noise-reduction, with an expanded ISO range that goes up to 819,200. The upgraded Pixel Shift Resolution System II features a newly developed Dynamic Pixel Shift Resolution mode for handheld shooting.

The Pentax K-1 Mark II camera body will be available from the end of March 2018 priced at £1,799.99 in the UK.

In the US, the K-1 Mark II camera body will be available in April 2018 for a suggested list price of $1,999.95. The camera body plus the HD PENTAX-D FA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6 ED DC WR zoom lens will also be available for a suggested list price of $2,399.95.

Ricoh Press Release

PENTAX K-1 Mark II 35mm full-frame digital SLR camera:

The new flagship model of the PENTAX K series, providing exceptional image quality and unprecedented performance 

TOKYO, February 22, 2018－RICOH COMPANY, LTD. and RICOH IMAGING COMPANY, LTD. are pleased to announce the launch of the PENTAX K-1 Mark II 35mm full-frame digital SLR camera.

Developed as the successor to the PENTAX K-1 35mm full-frame digital SLR camera (launched in April 2016), the PENTAX K-1 Mark II was designed to be the new flagship of the acclaimed PENTAX K-series lineup. In addition to the outstanding image quality, this model provides excellent super-high-sensitivity imaging performance and much-improved operability — important factors expected in a top-of-the-line model — to accommodate a wider range of subjects and scenes. By coupling a newly incorporated accelerator unit with the PRIME IV imaging engine, it assures flawless, high-speed operation and excellent noise-reduction, improving image quality and super-high-sensitivity imaging performance. The PENTAX-developed Pixel Shift Resolution System — the latest super-resolution technology designed to optimize the image sensor’s imaging performance — has been upgraded to the Pixel Shift Resolution System II. This system features a newly developed Dynamic Pixel Shift Resolution mode, which allows the photographer to capture super-high-sensitivity images in handheld shooting, by detecting the slight fluctuations of the subject’s position during continuous shooting. In addition to the conventional shooting style using a tripod, this innovative mode provides a new option for the photographer to enjoy super-high-sensitivity photography with a wider variety of subjects and scenes. The camera also comes equipped with a host of features and functions designed to optimize the photographer’s creativity and operational comfort, including a dependable magnesium-alloy body with dustproof, weather-resistant construction; an optical viewfinder with a nearly 100-percent field of view for real-time subject confirmation; a sophisticated shake-reduction system; and a flexible tilt-type LCD monitor to accommodate various shooting angles.

Main Features

1.  Newly incorporated accelerator unit to assure high-quality images and excellent super-high-sensitivity imaging performance

To place priority on image resolution, the PENTAX K-1 Mark II features a 35mm-format full-frame CMOS image sensor with an AA (anti-aliasing) filter–free design to produce high-resolution images with approximately 36.4 effective megapixels. It also features a new accelerator unit, which optimizes the image data obtained by the full-frame image sensor before delivering it to the high-performance PRIME IV imaging engine. Because of this, the camera produces high-quality images with minimal noise, while retaining excellent resolution at all sensitivity levels, from normal to super-high sensitivities. PENTAX has also made a thorough review of all image-processing parameters to assure adherence to its original colour scheme, with special emphasis on deep blues and lively greens. PENTAX has also drastically improved the camera’s noise-reduction performance at a high-sensitivity range — up to ISO 819200 — to expand creative possibilities in super-high-sensitivity shooting.

2. Pixel Shift Resolution System II to take advantage of advanced super-resolution technology in handheld shooting

In addition to the innovative Pixel Shift Resolution System — the super-resolution technology that uses the camera’s in-body shake-reduction mechanism to capture four images of the same scene by shifting the image sensor by a single pixel for each image, then synthesizes them into a single composite image — the PENTAX K-1 Mark II also features the Pixel Shift Resolution System II,* which obtains RGB colour data for each pixel to produce super-high-resolution images with finer details and more truthful colours than those produced by ordinary full-frame sensors. In the new Dynamic Pixel Shift Resolution mode,** which can be used during handheld shooting, this system can be used jointly with the camera’s shake-reduction mechanism, since it synthesizes the captured super-high-resolution images by detecting the slight fluctuations of the subject’s position during continuous shooting. The camera also provides ON/OFF switching of the Motion Correction function, which detects moving elements of the continuously captured images to minimize the effect of movement during the image synthesizing process.***

* When using this system, the user is advised to stabilize the camera firmly on a tripod. Even if a moving subject is captured in the camera’s image field, the image may not be reproduced clearly, partially or in total.

** The captured images may not be properly synthesized with certain subjects or under certain conditions. By capturing images in the RAW or RAW+ format, the user can process the images unsuitable for the synthesizing process as normal RAW-format images within the camera body.

The images may not be properly synthesized in a composite image

*** The movement may not be sufficiently corrected when the object is moving in a certain direction and/or pattern. This function does not guarantee that the movement is properly corrected with all subjects.

3. High-performance five-axis, five-step SR II system

(1) In-body SR mechanism to assure optimal shake reduction performance with all compatible lenses

The PENTAX K-1 Mark II comes equipped with the PENTAX-developed SR II (Shake Reduction II) five-axis mechanism, which provides accurate control of the large full-frame image sensor with all compatible PENTAX interchangeable lenses.* In addition to camera shake caused by pitch and yaw, this advanced system also compensates for camera shake caused by horizontal and vertical shift (often generated in macro photography) and camera shake caused by roll, which is difficult for lens-installed shake reduction mechanisms to handle. It has a compensation range up to five shutter steps (measured in conformity with CIPA standards, using the HD PENTAX-D FA 28-105mm F3.5-5, 6ED DC WR at a 105mm focal length). When taking a panning shot, this system automatically detects the direction of the camera’s movement, and efficiently controls the SR unit to produce the best image possible without requiring any mode switching operation.

(2) Innovative AA filter simulator to minimize moiré and false colour

By applying microscopic vibrations to the image sensor unit at the sub-pixel level during image exposure, the camera’s anti-aliasing (AA) filter simulator** provides the same level of moiré reduction as an optical AA filter. Unlike an optical filter, which always creates the identical result, this innovative simulator not only lets the user switch the AA filter effect on and off, but also adjust the level of the effect. This means that the ideal effect can be set for a particular scene or subject based on given photographic conditions.

(3) Supportive shooting functions

Since the camera’s SR unit has a flexible design that tilts the image sensor unit in all directions, it provides a host of handy shooting functions, including auto level compensation, image-composition fine-adjustment, and ASTRO TRACER, which simplifies advanced astronomical photography using a built-in GPS module.

* Lenses compatible with this mechanism: K-, K_A-, K_AF-, K_AF2-, K_AF3- and K _AF4-mount lenses; screw-mount lenses (with an adapter); and 645- and 67-system lenses (with an adapter). Some functions may not be available with certain lenses.

** This function works most effectively with a shutter speed of 1/1000 second or slower. This function may not be combined with some shooting modes, including the Pixel Shift Resolution system.

4. Flexible tilt-type LCD monitor to assist shooting in the dark

On its back panel, the PENTAX K-1 Mark II features a flexible tilt-type LCD monitor, which can be tilted to the desired angle horizontally, vertically or diagonally with a single action, without deviating from the lens’s optical axis. The user can not only tilt it approximately 35 degrees horizontally and approximately 44 degrees vertically, but also pull it out from its base to view the on-screen image from above for waist-level photography. This large, 3.2-inch LCD monitor has approximately 1,037,000 dots and a 3:2 aspect ratio, and provides a protective tempered-glass front panel for added durability. In addition to its wide-view design, it also features a unique air-gapless construction, in which the air space between LCD layers is eliminated to effectively reduce the reflection and dispersion of light for improved visibility during outdoor shooting. Its outdoor monitor function, which allows instant adjustment of the monitor’s brightness to the desired level, has also been improved to provide greater visibility in dark locations. Its red-lit monitor display function facilitates monitor viewing when the photographer’s eyes have become accustomed to a dark location during night time photography.

5. SAFOX 12 with 33 sensor points and full-frame-proportioned AF frame

Thanks to the SAFOX 12 AF sensor module with 33 AF sensors (25 cross-type sensors positioned in the middle), the PENTAX K-1 Mark II optimizes the autofocus process, and assures high-speed autofocus operation in the AF.S (AF Single) mode. The centre sensor and two sensors located just above and below it are designed to detect the light flux of an F2.8 lens, making it easy to obtain pinpoint focus on a subject when using a large-aperture lens. Its AF Tracking algorithm has also been revised to improve tracking accuracy of fast-moving subjects in the AF.C (AF Continuous) mode.

6. PENTAX Real-Time Scene Analysis System, developed using artificial intelligence technology

By combining an approximately 86,000-pixel RGB metering sensor with the high-performance PRIME IV imaging engine, the PENTAX K-1 Mark II’s advanced PENTAX Real-Time Scene Analysis System performs real-time analysis of the brightness distribution over the image field and the subject’s colours and movement. Based on this data, it then measures the subject’s lighting conditions with great accuracy and optimizes the exposure. By adopting a breakthrough artificial intelligence technology, deep learning, to its algorithm,* it assesses each individual scene more accurately, and optimizes the exposure settings for a given scene or composition.

* Effective when the AUTO exposure mode is set to Scene Analyse Auto and the Custom Image mode is set to Auto Select.

7. Easy-to-focus optical viewfinder with nearly 100-percent field of view

Optimized for a 35mm full-frame digital SLR design, the camera’s optical viewfinder provides a nearly 100-percent field of view and an approximately 0.7-times magnification. Thanks to the combination of a condenser lens and aspherical lens, it provides a wide field of view and a clear, undistorted image of the subject. It comes with a Natural Bright Matt III focusing screen, acclaimed for ease of focusing during manual-focus operation, and true-to-life rendition of defocused areas in the viewfinder image. In addition, its transparentviewfinder display makes it possible to superimpose a wide range of photographic data over the viewfinder image.

8. High-speed continuous shooting

The PENTAX K-1 Mark II allows continuous recording of as many as 17 images in the RAW format (or a maximum of 70 images in the JPEG Best format) in a single sequence, at a top speed of approximately 4.4 images per second. This is made possible by the combination of advanced mechanisms including a damper mechanism that effectively minimizes mirror shock; high-speed, high-precision control of the shutter and mirror units; and a high-speed data transmission system incorporated in the PRIME IV imaging engine. In the APC-S Crop mode, the drive speed can be boosted to as high as approximately 6.4 images per second, and as many as 50 images in a single sequence in the RAW format (or 100 images in the JPEG Best format) to assure quick response to fast-moving subjects.

9. Supportive shooting functions to improve picture-taking efficiency and operational comfort

・Operation assist light function, which sets LED lights at four different spots around the camera body — above the lens mount, behind the LCD monitor, at the memory car slot, and at the cable switch terminal — to facilitate lens and memory card changes, attachment and removal of the cable switch, and control button operation at night and in poorly lit settings.

・Key lock function, which prevents erroneous operation of the four-way controller and other exposure-related control buttons.

・Smart Function, which allows the user to swiftly choose and set desired functions using just the function dial and the set dial on the camera’s upper panel, without referring to the menu screen on the LCD monitor.

・Control panel customize function, which allows the user to change a listing and/or position of the on-screen menu.

10. Compact, solid body with dustproof, weather-resistant construction

The camera’s bottom panel and front and back frames are all made of sturdy yet lightweight magnesium alloy. Although the camera features a dependable, durable shutter unit that can withstand 300,000 shutter releases (measured under actual shooting conditions) for professional use, its body has been downsized to the minimum possible, thanks to the incorporation of a unique floating mirror structure. With the inclusion of 87 sealing parts in the body, the camera also boasts a dustproof, weather-resistant and cold-resistant construction, assuring solid operation at temperatures as low as -10°C. All these features make the PENTAX K-1 Mark II a dependable, all-purpose performer, even under demanding shooting conditions.

11. Full HD movie recording with an array of creative tools

The PENTAX K-1 Mark II captures Full HDmovie clips (1920 x 1080 pixels; 60i/30p frame rate) in the H.264 recording format, and comes equipped with a stereo mic terminal for external microphone connection, and a headphone terminal. The user can also adjust the audio recording level manually, monitor sound pressure levels during microphone recording, and cut down wind noise using a new wind-noise reduction mode. In addition to a host of distinctive visual effects for movie recording,* the camera also provides the interval movie mode, which captures a series of 4K-resolution (3840 x 2160 pixels) movie clips at a fixed interval.

* When special image processing is required, the frame rate may vary depending on the selected special-effect mode.

12. Built-in GPS module

Thanks to its built-in GPS module, the PENTAX K-1 Mark II provides a variety of advanced GPS functions, including the recording of location, latitude, longitude, altitude and UTC (Universal Time Coordinated) and direction at the time of shooting. The user can easily access images containing GPS data using a computer, to browse them, check on shooting locations and position data on the screen, or save them.

The camera also provides a set of other unique tools, including: Electronic Compass, which displays the camera's direction on its LCD monitor; GPS log, which keeps track of the photographer's movement; and ASTROTRACER, which simplifies the tracing and photographing of celestial bodies by coupling GPS data with the camera's SR mechanism.

13. Other features

・High-grade DRII (Dust Removal II) mechanism for effective elimination of dust on the image sensor using ultrasonic vibration

・Crop mode with a choice of image area from AUTO, FF (Full Frame), APS-C and 1:1

・Wireless LAN connection to support the operation with smartphones and table computers, the transfer of captured images, and remote shooting operations

・HDR (High Dynamic Range) shooting mode with RAW-format data filing, usable in handheld shooting

・The PENTAX-invented hyper operating system for quick, accurate response to the photographer's creative intentions

・Dual SD card slots for memory card flexibility (compatible with SDXC UHS-1 speed class in SDR104 buss speed mode)

・Compensation of various parameters: lens distortion, lateral chromatic aberration, diffraction, and brightness level at image-field edges. Fringe effect compensation is also available in RAW-format processing.

・Bulb Timer function to improve operability in bulb shooting

・Compatibility with PENTAX Image Transmitter 2 tethering software(software update required from RICOH IMAGING official website)

・Digital Camera Utility 5 software (latest version) included

♦ All other brands or product names mentioned herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.

♦ Designs and specifications are subjects to change without notice.

Image Gallery

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Hands On

At The Photography Show Pentax are showing their new Pentax K-1 Mark II DSLR camera, prototypes of their upcoming FA 50mm f/1.4 SDM AW and DA 11-18mm f/2.8 ED DC AW lenses, and a newly updated lens roadmap with 5 new lenses pencilled in for release in "2019 or later".

Check out our hands-on gallery of photos of all these new Pentax products.

A gallery of hands-on photos of the new Pentax K-1 Mark II DSLR camera and FA 50mm f/1.4 and DA 11-18mm f/2.8 lenses.

Image Gallery

Click on a thumbnail to see the full version.

Preview Images

Here are some official sample images taken with the Pentax K-1 Mark II DSLR camera (full size JPEGs supplied by Ricoh/Pentax). The Pentax K-1 Mark II is a 35mm full-frame DSLR camera that succeeds the 2 year-old Mark I version.

A gallery of sample images taken with the Pentax K-1 Mark II DSLR camera.

Pentax K-1 Mark II Sample Images

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