The best Pentax K-70 prices and deals
One of the best-value DSLRs for the enthusiast, but at a price that gives entry-level alternatives a run for the money
Looking for the best Pentax K-70 deals? Rugged, smart and offering pretty good value for money, the 24.2MP Pentax K-70 should appeal to those willing to break out of the mindset of narrowing their DSLR choice down to just Canon or Nikon – and we have the best Pentax K-70 deals below.
For its reasonable price tag, it offers something that most at this level don’t: a weather-resistant exterior. It's capable of operating in temperatures down to -10°C, and is presented as body only or body-and-lens combo, the main pitch being that it offers the kind of advanced features previously only found on high-end DSLRs.
With a viewfinder offering a nigh-on 100% field of view, plus a built-in Shake Reduction mechanism equivalent to 4.5EV stops and a top sensitivity of ISO 102,400, it goes out of its way to deliver features that genuinely make a difference for the better to everyday shooting.
Read more: 6 ways to get the most out of your kit lens
AF performance is also noteworthy. Taking a best-of-both-worlds approach, the camera uses what Pentax refers to as ‘Hybrid AF’ when using live view, namely a combination of phase-detection AF and contrast-detect AF. When shooting conventionally, the K-70 offers an 11-point AF system that seems low compared with rivals, but it's fast at locating its targets, responding with a beep of affirmation and not being foxed by busier scenes.
Semi-professional construction and focusing aside, the camera is slightly disappointing when it comes to battery life, managing around 480 shots per full charge. This falls a little short of what we’d commonly expect from a DSLR, although this figure is no doubt in part down to that useful sensor-based image stabilization feature, something that most DSLRs don't have on account of it being included only in selected lenses. At 688g (with both battery and card in place), it's also slightly weightier than competitors in its class.
Nevertheless, it somewhat redeems itself with plenty of additional neat features. The Anti-Aliasing Filter simulator, for example, helps to reduce aliasing effects in fine patterns (a striped shirt, for example). We also get Wi-Fi for sharing images to smartphones or tablets and a vari-angle LCD, a feature that has increasingly crossed over from bridge cameras. Perhaps most importantly, we're also impressed by the default output from the Pentax K-70 over its rivals; there’s very little you need to do when it comes to image processing.
To conclude, the K-70 is a little clunky and chunky when compared with more streamlined alternatives, but features like its weather-resistant body normally cost more than is being asked here. So, if you want a competent, consistent and fully featured DSLR that will deliver sharp, well-saturated images without extra image processing required, the K-70 is well worth seeking out.
Similar cameras: Nikon D5600, Canon EOS 800D, Canon EOS 77D
Pentax K-70 key specs
An outsider that's worth seeking out for its more idiosyncratic feature set
Type: DSLR | Sensor: APS-C | Megapixels: 24.2MP | Lens mount: Pentax K | Screen: 3in tilting screen, 921,000 dots | Viewfinder: Optical | Max burst speed: 6fps | Max video resolution: 1080p (Full HD) | User level: Enthusiast
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The best Pentax cameras
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For nearly two decades Sebastian's work has been published internationally. Originally specializing in Equestrianism, his visuals have been used by the leading names in the equestrian industry such as The Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), The Jockey Club, Horse & Hound, and many more for various advertising campaigns, books, and pre/post-event highlights.
He is a Fellow of The Royal Society of Arts, holds a Foundation Degree in Equitation Science, and is a Master of Arts in Publishing. He is a member of Nikon NPS and has been a Nikon user since the film days using a Nikon F5 and saw the digital transition with Nikon's D series cameras and is still to this day the youngest member to be elected into BEWA, The British Equestrian Writers' Association.
He is familiar with and shows great interest in street, medium, and large format photography with products by Leica, Phase One, Hasselblad, Alpa, and Sinar. Sebastian has also used many cinema cameras from the likes of Sony, RED, ARRI, and everything in between. He now spends his spare time using his trusted Leica M-E or Leica M2 shooting Street photography or general life as he sees it, usually in Black and White.