I’ve got a couple of Fujis as well but I’ve had Pentax cameras for 30yrs and the K-1 since 2016. I’ve got great lenses to pair with it and while I use my Fujis a lot, the K-1 is my forever camera (well as long as it keeps going and if they cease production I’ll buy the last new one for sale and keep it as replacement). The dynamic range, and low light capability means it can handle lighting conditions that my much newer Fuji X-E4 couldn’t do justice and although the K-1 is a big, heavy camera, it is robust and the handling / ergonomics are excellent. They really did knock it out of the park with that model
I have so much legacy Pentax glass. I started picking them up when I got my new K10D years ago. Lots of Super-Takumars in my collection. When I purchased my K-5II I started got a few M lenses. Lovely lenses. But now I want to try the K1. Your review is another temptation to me!
Yes me too, I have a small collection of vintage and old Pentax lenses bought and that came with the old various Pentax film cameras I bought, all of them beautiful glass with lovely results. Also the best camera purchase decision I've ever made 😊.
I have had a lot of Pentax camera's in the past, then tried the Olympus system for a while but now back to a K200D and a K5. I am hoping to get a K1 in Jan 2025 when I start getting my state pension :)
What do you need to do? It’s update to the K-1 mark two then you got a beast of a camera. The K-1 is a beast too but KK one Mark two is a bigger beast and then if you put the 50 mm 1.4 lens on there, you really got some weight and you better have a good tripod to hold it up
The mighty K-1. I keep telling people -'this is a way better camera than I am a photographer'. I don't shoot birds in flight or sports either. My subjects are usually Landscape or people, or static so blazing AF is not an issue for me. More functions than I can remember, unique features like the articulating screen, and the wonderful 'green button'. Just one quibble with your video. Setting the focal length of the old lenses allows the K-1 to know how much IBIS to apply.
As far as I know K-1 II has better AF as you mentioned, but also there's some reports that that camera had some noise reduction baked in raw files, which many companies do now, but I can't understand that. So for me first iteration of K-1 is much preferred. As an owner of Fuji X-T3 camera I've been thinking of getting full frame DSLR primarily for photo and K-1 has almost all check marks for me. But there's new Lumix S5 IIx which is simply amazing hybrid camera that has very little if at all of any trade offs (perhaps battery life only), and I'm thinking about that camera also. But only K-1 will allow me to do astrophotography without dedicated astrotracker and I really really like astro photo. But alas, I have really scarce budget and all of that is just strategic mapping :)
@@quite1enough that’s a shame they won’t ship over …there are a couple of low priced ones on eBay I know eBay is a bit of risk and I don’t know if they would ship either…
@@28allday eBay stopped shipping as well, because of sanctions or/and invasion in Ukraine. I was lucky to find a good deal on a Nikon F301 film camera there back in September of 2021, before all of that nightmare.
Yes, the Mk II has an extra denoising unit that removes noise at the analogue stage of image capture, and the inevitable reduction in detail. Why on earth they would do that is beyond me as their target market would be the kind of people who'd want to do their own noise reduction or keep the noise for artistic purposes, so I'd rather they didn't make that decision for us. That's why I'm not interested in a MkII but will be wanting to buy a K-1 one of these days.
A medium format camera in a full frame body. My sony a7riii is collecting dust since i bought this beast, i have k1 ii though, basically the same camera with some minor upgrades, but the AF is way better now.
They did make some great improvements to the AF but as I mentioned i never really push it to the limits …possibly the best 1500 I have ever spent on equipment I have an R5C as well and when it comes to pure photography I never pick it up 😂…its is a good video camera mind you
@@28allday I do not know much about its video capabilities, i do not shoot video, but the raw files it produces WOW, it blows out of the water any full frame camera in dynamic range, even today.
I've been using M43 since I decided to downsize from a Canon 5D many years ago, and now I just use a Panasonic FZ1000 for everything, which is super convenient. But the K-1, which I didn't know anything about until a few weeks ago since I've not paid attention to the bigger cameras in a while, is tempting me to get a DSLR again. I do miss it sometimes, and the K-1 is just an absolutely amazing camera. I don't like the forced extra noise reduction on the K-1 MkII which inevitably reduces detail, so it's the first K-1 I'll go for. I'm looking for one at around £800 now without too much shutter wear, and it seems like it shouldn't take too long to find. While I wait for a good one to pop up on the market, I just bought myself a £25 manual 50mm lens to get me started. There aren't many camera systems where good lenses come that cheap.
@@28allday MPB does indeed seem like a great place to buy cameras and lenses. The shutter is rated for 300.000 actuations, and knowing how Pentax likes making durable gear it wouldn't surprise me if they often get to 500,000 and beyond before any problems occur. I have noticed several used ones with around 250,000 shutter counts lately, which also is a possible indication of other wear and tear from heavy use. I won't mind having to have a camera like this serviced one day if i use it a lot, but I'd prefer for it to be some years into using it, so I think I''ll want to find one with a "mileage" of less than 100,000.
I've also recently bought the K1 but it's the mark ii version and I'm interested in your mentioning that the mark ii has a "forced extra noise reduction which inevitably reduces detail". I somehow missed this when reviewing the camera and ask if this comes from photographers who have upgraded to the mark ii. But I have to admit there is something lovely about holding a K1 in your hands.
@@mymagicmurals The mk II has the so-called Accelerator chip which adds noise reduction between the sensor and the RAW generation stage, meaning that the noise reduction it applies is irreversible and impossible to switch off. While it isn't heavy noise reduction, and doing it at this stage creates a more artifact-free noise reduction, any noise reduction, even this one, does reduce the absolute level of detail. For general use, of course, and 99% of the time for most photographers, it is a good thing as you will get another stop and a bit of usable ISO range for handheld low-light photography. On such occasions, absolute detail isn't paramount, but once you're at base ISO, on a tripod, and using the pixel-shift feature trying to squeeze each pixel to the max, it makes a difference. One of my uses of the camera is on those occasions when my FZ1000 doesn't provide enough detail resolution, and so it made sense for me to go with the Mk I. All that said, and as with most camera comparisons, it's only going to be really noticeable when you compare images between the two generations of the camera (which many have done for the Mk I vs the Mk II - and you _can_ see the difference at pixel-peeping levels). Once you have one or the other and you take pictures, you're going to be working within the limitations of whatever you have and probably forget about it and be happy with whatever results you get as most of the time it's not going to be the camera's sensor signal flow that is the limiting factor.
I have a K1 and K5. Now as to toughness. The K1 actually isn't that fantastic. On the K5 it's basically all metal body except the pop up flash. Now on the K1 the main body is mental. But the top cap which holds all the twiddling dials. Is a plastic fantastic. And they commonly crack when dropped. They also crack if you put too much strain on the hot shoe. In fact it so flimsy I wouldn't use the hot shoe. Apart from that it's fantastic.
It is actually called K-1 Mark 2. Mark Ransom wrote the following on dpreview in 2018: "There are really only 3 differences between the K-1 and K-1 II: Improved high ISO Dynamic Pixel Shift Improved AF-C focus If any of these are important to you, then the upgrade will be worth it." I have not bothered to update mine, don't want to risk sending it away.
I love my K-1 and can’t wait for the new Pentax film camera(s) to hit the market. Such an under appreciated brand.
Great overview of my favorite camera :)
Wait wait wait - you mean it's not the K-01? Dood - a mirrorless with K-mount!
I’ve got a couple of Fujis as well but I’ve had Pentax cameras for 30yrs and the K-1 since 2016. I’ve got great lenses to pair with it and while I use my Fujis a lot, the K-1 is my forever camera (well as long as it keeps going and if they cease production I’ll buy the last new one for sale and keep it as replacement). The dynamic range, and low light capability means it can handle lighting conditions that my much newer Fuji X-E4 couldn’t do justice and although the K-1 is a big, heavy camera, it is robust and the handling / ergonomics are excellent. They really did knock it out of the park with that model
I couldn’t agree more they did a great job with that camera I have shot with some others Sonys and the GFX’s …but I just come back to the K1
I have so much legacy Pentax glass. I started picking them up when I got my new K10D years ago. Lots of Super-Takumars in my collection. When I purchased my K-5II I started got a few M lenses. Lovely lenses. But now I want to try the K1. Your review is another temptation to me!
It’s a great camera
Great review! I have had several Pentaxes over the years. None of them ever let me down. Solid mechanics, electrics and brilliant optics.
they are great cameras I love the film ones as well especially the MZS
Got a load of old Pentax lenses from my dad so I got a k1 markII so I can use them. Best photographer decision I made
Yes it’s great stuff and works well with focus confirmation and catch in focus
@@28allday yes it is, also have a Kiron 105mm 2.8 and that is so good, really amazing
Yes me too, I have a small collection of vintage and old Pentax lenses bought and that came with the old various Pentax film cameras I bought, all of them beautiful glass with lovely results.
Also the best camera purchase decision I've ever made 😊.
I have had a lot of Pentax camera's in the past, then tried the Olympus system for a while but now back to a K200D and a K5. I am hoping to get a K1 in Jan 2025 when I start getting my state pension :)
Thanks too, for this video. It is a great camera.
Glad you like it!
What do you need to do? It’s update to the K-1 mark two then you got a beast of a camera. The K-1 is a beast too but KK one Mark two is a bigger beast and then if you put the 50 mm 1.4 lens on there, you really got some weight and you better have a good tripod to hold it up
The mighty K-1.
I keep telling people -'this is a way better camera than I am a photographer'. I don't shoot birds in flight or sports either. My subjects are usually Landscape or people, or static so blazing AF is not an issue for me.
More functions than I can remember, unique features like the articulating screen, and the wonderful 'green button'.
Just one quibble with your video. Setting the focal length of the old lenses allows the K-1 to know how much IBIS to apply.
true
Any idea if Pentax plans on upgrading the K-1ii in 2024 or 2025?
As far as I know K-1 II has better AF as you mentioned, but also there's some reports that that camera had some noise reduction baked in raw files, which many companies do now, but I can't understand that. So for me first iteration of K-1 is much preferred. As an owner of Fuji X-T3 camera I've been thinking of getting full frame DSLR primarily for photo and K-1 has almost all check marks for me. But there's new Lumix S5 IIx which is simply amazing hybrid camera that has very little if at all of any trade offs (perhaps battery life only), and I'm thinking about that camera also. But only K-1 will allow me to do astrophotography without dedicated astrotracker and I really really like astro photo. But alas, I have really scarce budget and all of that is just strategic mapping :)
I think there is a second hand K1 at Mpb right now for about 800 ish …i also spotted the baked in noise reduction…and I didn’t fancy that either
@@28allday I'm from Russia, sadly :c As far as I know they don't deliver it here.
@@quite1enough that’s a shame they won’t ship over …there are a couple of low priced ones on eBay I know eBay is a bit of risk and I don’t know if they would ship either…
@@28allday eBay stopped shipping as well, because of sanctions or/and invasion in Ukraine.
I was lucky to find a good deal on a Nikon F301 film camera there back in September of 2021, before all of that nightmare.
Yes, the Mk II has an extra denoising unit that removes noise at the analogue stage of image capture, and the inevitable reduction in detail. Why on earth they would do that is beyond me as their target market would be the kind of people who'd want to do their own noise reduction or keep the noise for artistic purposes, so I'd rather they didn't make that decision for us. That's why I'm not interested in a MkII but will be wanting to buy a K-1 one of these days.
Nice video! keep up the good work.
A medium format camera in a full frame body. My sony a7riii is collecting dust since i bought this beast, i have k1 ii though, basically the same camera with some minor upgrades, but the AF is way better now.
They did make some great improvements to the AF but as I mentioned i never really push it to the limits …possibly the best 1500 I have ever spent on equipment I have an R5C as well and when it comes to pure photography I never pick it up 😂…its is a good video camera mind you
@@28allday I do not know much about its video capabilities, i do not shoot video, but the raw files it produces WOW, it blows out of the water any full frame camera in dynamic range, even today.
I've been using M43 since I decided to downsize from a Canon 5D many years ago, and now I just use a Panasonic FZ1000 for everything, which is super convenient. But the K-1, which I didn't know anything about until a few weeks ago since I've not paid attention to the bigger cameras in a while, is tempting me to get a DSLR again. I do miss it sometimes, and the K-1 is just an absolutely amazing camera. I don't like the forced extra noise reduction on the K-1 MkII which inevitably reduces detail, so it's the first K-1 I'll go for. I'm looking for one at around £800 now without too much shutter wear, and it seems like it shouldn't take too long to find. While I wait for a good one to pop up on the market, I just bought myself a £25 manual 50mm lens to get me started. There aren't many camera systems where good lenses come that cheap.
Mpb in Uk sometimes have them …the shutter btw seem to last for ever
@@28allday MPB does indeed seem like a great place to buy cameras and lenses.
The shutter is rated for 300.000 actuations, and knowing how Pentax likes making durable gear it wouldn't surprise me if they often get to 500,000 and beyond before any problems occur. I have noticed several used ones with around 250,000 shutter counts lately, which also is a possible indication of other wear and tear from heavy use.
I won't mind having to have a camera like this serviced one day if i use it a lot, but I'd prefer for it to be some years into using it, so I think I''ll want to find one with a "mileage" of less than 100,000.
I've also recently bought the K1 but it's the mark ii version and I'm interested in your mentioning that the mark ii has a "forced extra noise reduction which inevitably reduces detail".
I somehow missed this when reviewing the camera and ask if this comes from photographers who have upgraded to the mark ii.
But I have to admit there is something lovely about holding a K1 in your hands.
@@mymagicmurals The mk II has the so-called Accelerator chip which adds noise reduction between the sensor and the RAW generation stage, meaning that the noise reduction it applies is irreversible and impossible to switch off. While it isn't heavy noise reduction, and doing it at this stage creates a more artifact-free noise reduction, any noise reduction, even this one, does reduce the absolute level of detail.
For general use, of course, and 99% of the time for most photographers, it is a good thing as you will get another stop and a bit of usable ISO range for handheld low-light photography. On such occasions, absolute detail isn't paramount, but once you're at base ISO, on a tripod, and using the pixel-shift feature trying to squeeze each pixel to the max, it makes a difference. One of my uses of the camera is on those occasions when my FZ1000 doesn't provide enough detail resolution, and so it made sense for me to go with the Mk I.
All that said, and as with most camera comparisons, it's only going to be really noticeable when you compare images between the two generations of the camera (which many have done for the Mk I vs the Mk II - and you _can_ see the difference at pixel-peeping levels).
Once you have one or the other and you take pictures, you're going to be working within the limitations of whatever you have and probably forget about it and be happy with whatever results you get as most of the time it's not going to be the camera's sensor signal flow that is the limiting factor.
@@hakonsoreide thank you so much for your detailed explanation.
I have a K1 and K5.
Now as to toughness. The K1 actually isn't that fantastic.
On the K5 it's basically all metal body except the pop up flash.
Now on the K1 the main body is mental. But the top cap which holds all the twiddling dials. Is a plastic fantastic. And they commonly crack when dropped.
They also crack if you put too much strain on the hot shoe. In fact it so flimsy I wouldn't use the hot shoe.
Apart from that it's fantastic.
And, your K 1 can be upgraded by Pentax to KII. That is customer loyalty by the manufacturer without compromise.
But the question is do you need to …I didn’t get mine upgraded but still love it
It is actually called K-1 Mark 2. Mark Ransom wrote the following on dpreview in 2018: "There are really only 3 differences between the K-1 and K-1 II:
Improved high ISO
Dynamic Pixel Shift
Improved AF-C focus
If any of these are important to you, then the upgrade will be worth it." I have not bothered to update mine, don't want to risk sending it away.