Pentax K-1 Mark II review

Canon and Nikon may dominate the full-frame DSLR market, but the Pentax K-1 Mark II is a compelling alternative

(Image: © Ricoh)

Digital Camera World Verdict

The Pentax K-1 Mark II initially looks and feels like a bit of a throwback to an earlier time, but its blunt, weighty handling and solid, intelligent controls actually provide welcome relief from today’s touch-screen interfaces and digital miniaturisation. Furthermore, its excellent all-round image quality and clever use of Shake Reduction push it up even further in our estimation.

Pros

  • +

    36MP resolving power

  • +

    Clever use of Shake Reduction

  • +

    Sturdy build and controls

Cons

  • -

    Weak video features

  • -

    Only 4.4fps continuous shooting

  • -

    Contrast-detect AF in live view

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Canon and Nikon are the two big names in DSLR photography, so it’s easy to forget that Ricoh Imaging is still hanging on in there with some interesting, Pentax-branded APS-C DSLRs. Perhaps more importantly, its flagship model is the well-regarded, full-frame K-1.

Launched in February 2016, the K-1 was Pentax's first is full-frame DSLR. Two years on, Ricoh Imaging has launched the new K-1 Mark II version with an accelerator unit for better high ISO performance and a new Dynamic Pixel Shift Resolution mode, together with improvements to its autofocus algorithms. It's also adding a steady stream of new Pentax lenses for this larger full frame format.

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