The Updated Pentax K1 Mk II Improves on Image Quality First and Foremost

The new Pentax K1 Mk II is looking to improve where it matters the most.

I really liked the Pentax K1, and so when we found out about the new Pentax K1 Mk II I was very intrigued to see how the company would improve the camera. To date, I genuinely believe it and the Nikon D850 to be the best DSLR cameras in the industry–but the Pentax was starting to show its age. When it arrives next month in April, I’m also not sure many Pentaxians will necessarily want to or need to upgrade to it. Let’s take a look at the new Pentax K1 Mk II, right before WPPI.

At the heart of the new Pentax K1 Mk II is the same 36MP sensor as the original camera. This is a bit of a questionable decision. That sensor isn’t bad at all, but other cameras are really able to do quite a bit with more megapickles these days. (Yes, I wrote megapickles.) This sensor can shoot at up to ISO 819,200. It’s also adding in the new Pixel Shift Resolution II mode. Here’s the essential bit from the press release to explain this:

The camera also incorporates Pixel Shift Resolution System II. This new, PENTAX-developed technology uses the same in-camera shake-reduction (SR) mechanism and sensor-shift capabilities as the original Pixel Shift Resolution System found in the PENTAX K-1, which captures four images of the same scene, and then synthesizes them into a single, super-high-resolution composite image. With the Pixel Shift Resolution System II, the camera also obtains RGB color data, resulting in images with significantly finer details and truer colors than those produced by typical full-frame sensors.

A new feature in the Pixel Shift Resolution System II is Dynamic Pixel Shift Resolution mode. This mode allows photographers to produce crisp, ultra-high pixel shift resolution images without the need of a tripod, extending the camera’s use to a wider variety of subjects and scenes.

 It seems like Pentax’s response to not going to an even higher resolution is the composite feature that they’ve got here. It still has weather sealing and a magnesium alloy body, and it still has that same controversial tilting LCD screen display. And when it comes out on the market, the new Pentax K1 Mk II will retail for $1,999.95.

his new Pentax K1 MK II. But here for your reading pleasure is the world’s longest spec sheet for a camera.

PENTAX K-1 Mark II Specifications

Model Description
Type	TTL autofocus, auto-exposure SLR digital-still camera
Lens Mount	PENTAX KAF2 bayonet mount (AF coupler, lens information contacts, K-mount with power contacts)
Compatible Lens	KAF4, KAF3, KAF2 (power zoom compatible), KAF, KA mount lens
Image capture unit
Image Sensor	Primary color filter, CMOS.   Size: 35.9 x 24.0 (mm)
Effective Pixels	Approx. 36.40 megapixels
Total Pixels	Approx. 36.77 megapixels
Dust Removal	Image sensor cleaning using ultrasonic vibrations “DR II”
Sensitivity (Standard output)	ISO AUTO/100 to 819200 (EV steps can be set to 1EV, 1/2EV or 1/3EV)
Image Stabilizer	Sensor-shift shake reduction (SR II: Shake Reduction)(5-axis)
AA Filter Simulator	Moiré reduction using SR unit.   OFF/Type1/Type2/ Bracketing(2 images)/ Bracketing (3 images)
File formats
File format	RAW (PEF/DNG), JPEG (Exif 2.3), DCF2.0 compliant
Recorded Pixels	[35mm Full Frame] JPEG: L(36M:7360×4912), M(22M:5760×3840), S(12M:4224×2816), XS(2M:1920×1280) RAW: (36M:7360×4912)[APS-C size] JPEG: L(15M:4800×3200), M(12M:4224×2816), S(8M:3456×2304), XS(2M:1920×1280) RAW: (15M:4800×3200)
Quality Level	RAW (14bit): PEF, DNG JPEG: ★★★ (Best), ★★ (Better), ★ (Good), RAW + JPEG simultaneous capturing available
Color Space	sRGB, AdobeRGB
Storage Medium	SD, SDHC and SDXC Memory Card (Conforms to USH-I standards)
Dual SD slot	Sequential Use, Save to Both, Separate RAW/JPEG, Image copy between slots possible
Storage Folder	Folder Name: Date (100_1018,101_1019…) or User assigned folder name (Default “PENTX”)
Recording File	File Name: “IMGP****” or User assigned file name File name numbering: Sequential, Reset
Viewfinder
Type	Pentaprism Finder
Coverage (FOV)	Approx. 100%
Magnification	Approx. 0.70x (50mmF1.4 at infinity)
Eye-Relief Length	Approx. 20.6mm (from the view window), Approx. 21.7mm (from the center of lens)
Diopter adjustment	Approx. -3.5m to + 1.2m-1
Focusing Screen	Fixed Natural-Bright-Matte III focusing screen
Viewfinder Overlay	AF Points, Grid Display, Electronic Level, AF Frame, Spot Metering Frame, Crop
Live view
Type	TTL method using image sensor
Focusing Mechanism	Contrast detection (Face detection, Tracking, Multiple AF points, Select, Spot) Focus Peaking: ON/OFF
Display	Field of View approx. 100%, Magnified view (up to 16x), Grid Display (4×4 Grid, Golden Section, Scale display, Square 1, Square 2, Grid Color: Black/White ), Histogram, Bright area warning, Composition Adjustment
LCD monitor
Type	Wide viewing angle TFT color LCD, Air-gapless glass. Flexible-tilt.
Size	3.2 inch (aspect ratio 3:2)
Dots	Approx. 1037K dots
Adjustment	Brightness, Saturation and Colors adjustable
Outdoor View Setting	Adjustable ±2 step
Night Vision LCD Display	ON/OFF
White Balance
Type	Method using a combination of the image sensor and the light source detection sensor
White Balance	AUTO WB, Multi Auto WB, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Fluorescent Light (D:Daylight Color, N:Daylight White, W:Cool White, L:Warm White), Tungsten Light, CTE, Manual WB (up to 3 settings), Color Temperature Configuration (up to 3 settings), Copying the white balance setting of a captured image
Fine Adjustment	Adjustable ±7 steps on A-B axis or G-M axis
Autofocus System
Type	TTL: Phase-matching autofocus
Focus Sensor	SAFOX 12, 33 point (25 cross type focus points in the center)
Brightness Range	EV-3 to 18 (ISO 100 / at normal temperature)
AF mode	Single AF (AF.S), Continuous AF (AF.C)
AF Point Selection	Spot, Select, Expanded Area (S, M, L), Zone select, Auto (33 AF points)
AF Assist Light	Dedicated LED AF assist light
Metering
Type	TTL open aperture metering using 86K pixel RGB sensor, Multi-segment, Center-weighted and Spot metering
Metering Range	EV-3 to 20 (ISO100 at 50mm F1.4)
Exposure Mode	Scene Analyze Auto, Program, Sensitivity Priority, Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority, Shutter & Aperture Priority, Manual, Bulb, Flash X-sync Speed, USER1, USER2, USER3, USER4, USER5
EV Compensation	±5EV (1/2EV steps or 1/3EV steps can be selected)
AE Lock	Button type (timer type: two times the meter operating time set in Custom Setting); Continuous as long as the shutter button is halfway pressed
Shutter
Type	Electronically controlled vertical-run focal plane shutter * Electronic shutter when using Pixel Shift Resolution
Shutter Speed	Auto:1/8000 to 30 sec., Manual:1/8000 to 30 sec. (1/3EV steps or 1/2EV steps), Bulb (Timed exposure setting possible from 10 sec. to 20min.)
LV Electronic Shutter	ON/OFF
Drive modes
Mode Selection	Still Image: Single Frame, Continuous (H, M, L), Self-timer (12s, 2s, Continuous), Remote Control (0s., 3s., Continuous), Bracketing (2, 3 or 5 frames), Mirror-up (Possible to use with Remote Control), Multi-Exposure (Possible to use with Continuous, Self-timer or Remote Control), Interval Shooting, Interval Composite, Interval Movie Record, Star StreamMovie: Remote Control * Bracketing, Interval Shooting, Interval Composite, Interval Movie Record and Star Stream are possible to use with Self-timer/Remote Control.
Continuous Shooting	[35mm Full-Frame] Max. approx. 4.4 fps, JPEG ( L: ★★★ at Continuous H): up to approx. 70 frames, RAW: up to approx. 17 frames Max. approx. 3.0 fps, JPEG L: ★★★ at Continuous M): up to approx. 100 frames, RAW: up to approx. 20 frames Max. approx. 0.7 fps, JPEG ( L: ★★★ at Continuous L): up to approx. 100 frames, RAW: up to approx. 100 frames [APS-C size] Max. approx. 6.4 fps, JPEG ( L: ★★★ at Continuous H): up to approx. 100 frames, RAW: up to approx. 50 frames Max. approx. 3.0 fps, JPEG L: ★★★ at Continuous M): up to approx. 100 frames, RAW: up to approx. 70 frames Max. approx. 1.0 fps, JPEG ( L: ★★★ at Continuous L): up to approx. 100 frames, RAW: up to approx. 100 frames*ISO100
Multi-Exposure	Composite Mode(Additive/Average/Bright) Number of Shots(2 to 2000 images)
Interval Shooting	[Interval Shooting] Interval: 2s. to 24h./ Standby Interval: Min.･1s. to 24h., Number of shots: 2 to 2000 images, Start Interval: Now/Self-timer/Remote Control/Set Time [Interval Composite] Interval: 2s. to 24h./ Standby Interval: Min.･1s. to 24h., Number of shots: 2 to 2000 images, Start Interval: Now/Self-timer/Remote Control/Set Time, Composite Mode: Additive/Average/Bright, Save Process: On/Off [Interval Movie] Recorded Pixels: 4K/FullHD/HD, File Format: Motion JPEG (AVI), Interval:2s. to 24h./ Standby Interval: Min･1s. to 24h., Number of shots: 8 to 2000 images (8 to 500 images at 4K), Start Interval:Now/Self-timer/Remote Control/Set Time [Star Stream] Recorded Pixels: 4K/FullHD/HD, File Format: Motion JPEG (AVI), Interval: Min･1s. to 24h., Number of shots: 8 to 2000 images (8 to 500 images at 4K), Start Interval: Now/Self-timer/Remote Control/Set Time, Fade-out: Off/Low/Medium/High
External Flash
Flash Modes	Auto Flash Discharge, Auto Flash + Red-eye Reduction, Flash On, Flash On + Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Slow-speed Sync + Red-eye, P-TTL, Contrast-control-sync, High-speed sync, Wireless sync * Contrast-control-sync and High-speed sync requires 2 or more dedicated external flash
Sync Speed	1/200sec.
Flash Exposure Compensation	-2.0～+1.0EV
Capture Settings
Custom Image	Auto Select, Bright, Natural, Portrait, Landscape, Vibrant, Radiant, Muted, Flat, Bleach Bypass, Reversal Film, Monochrome, Cross Processing
Cross Process	Random, Preset 1-3, Favorite 1-3
Digital Filter	Extract Color, Replace Color, Toy Camera, Retro, High Contrast, Shading, Invert Color, Unicolor Bold, Bold Monochrome
Clarity	Adjustable ±4
Skin Tone	Type1/Type2
HDR	Auto, HDR1, HDR2, HDR3, Advanced HDR, Exposure bracket value adjustable, Automatic composition correction function
Pixel Shift Resolution	Available, Motion Correction ON/OFF , Image Stabilization On
Lens Correction	Distortion Correction, Peripheral Illumin. Correction, Lateral Chromatic Aberration Correction, Diffraction Correction
D-RANGE Compensation	Highlight Correction, Shadow Correction
Noise Reduction	Slow Shutter Speed NR, High-ISO NR
GPS	GPS Logging (Logging Interval, Logging Duration, Memory Card Options), GPS Time Sync
Electronic Compass	Available
Astrotracer	Possible
Horizon Correction	SR On: correction up to 1 degrees, SR Off: correction up to 2 degrees
Composition Adjustment	Adjustment range of ±1.5mm up, down, left or right (1mm when rotated); Rotating range of 1 degree
Electronic Level	Displayed in viewfinder (Horizontal and vertical); Displayed on LCD monitor (Horizontal and vertical)
Movie
File Format	MPEG-4 AVC/H.264（MOV）
Recorded Pixels	Full HD(1920×1080, 60i/50i/30p/25p/24p） HD (1280×720, 60p/50p)
Sound	Built-in stereo microphone, external microphone (Stereo recording compatible) Recording Sound Level adjustable, Wind Noise Reduction
Recording Time	Up to 25 minutes or 4GB ; automatically stops recording if the internal temperature of the camera becomes high.
Custom Images	Auto Select, Bright, Natural, Portrait, Landscape, Vibrant, Radiant, Muted, Flat, Bleach Bypass, Reversal Film, Monochrome, Cross Processing
Cross Processing	Random, Preset 1-3, Favorite 1-3.
Digital Filter	Extract Color, Replace Color, Toy Camera, Retro, High Contrast, Shading, Invert Color, Unicolor Bold, Bold Monochrome