Hands-on: Pentax finally adds a full-frame DSLR to its range
Yes,
it's true. The new Pentax K-1 is the first time Pentax has ever made a
35mm full-frame digital camera. That's amazing considering Canon and
Nikon have been at it for years, but also explains why Pentax has lagged
behind for so long. Where did loyal Pentax fans go when upgrading to
full-frame... not Pentax. Enter the K-1.
5 things you need to know about the Pentax K-1
1) It's outstanding value – Pentax
isn't foolish. It knows it's way behind the game, so its answer is to
offer outstanding value for money. The K-1, which features a 36 x 24mm
36-megapixel sensor, magnesium alloy body, weather sealing and a new
five-axis in-body stabilisation system, will cost just £1,599 body-only.
That's about the same as the first-gen Nikon D810 and the D750 , but the K-1 has better specs and features than either. Moreover, that's the price now. It's bound to come down in future, which will only make it better value still. The D810, for example, cost £2,700 when it first launched in 2014.
2) There's already a healthy choice of lenses – DSLRs
are only as good as their lenses, so it's an important point. Pentax
says it already has 12 full-frame compatible lenses on the market, with
two more coming in time for the launch of the K-1 in April. Moreover,
the K-1 works with any K-mount Pentax lens from the past, though older
ones will only support manual focus.
3) It has a weird 'Flextilt' screen –
This is interesting, but possibly not in a good way. Instead of a
hinge, the 3.2-inch screen pops out and tilts on what I can only
describe as stilts. Pentax says they're very strong, so strong you can
lift the camera from the screen. That's great, but this design doesn't
afford as much flexibility as a regular hinge design.
4) No AA filter (but it can be simulated) – Removing anti-aliasing filters (AA) is de rigour these days as it leads to sharper shots, so it's no surprise the K-1 doesn't have one. But Pentax says the K-1 can simulate an AA filter by "applying microscopic vibrations at the sub-pixel level". This creates the same moiré reduction as an optical AA filter would, or at least that's the idea.
When I can buy the Pentax K-1?
The Pentax K-1 will go on sale in the UK in mid-April with prices starting at £1,599 body-only.
photos
LED lights on the back of the screen light up the controls at night. It's a neat idea if you photograph at
night often.
A
better view of the screen mechanism. These metal stilts are strong
enough to hold the camera's weight, though I wouldn't make a habit of
holding the K-1 like that.
The
K-1 weighs 925g body-only and just over a kilo with battery and card.
Pentax quotes 760 shots from a full charge. It didn't supply a figure
with the battery grip included, but 'lots more' ought to be the answer.
First Impressions
The
K-1 is great news for loyal Pentax owners. You finally have something
to upgrade to if you fancy going the full-frame route – and why the hell
wouldn't you? It's also a superb value alternative to the big guns from
Canon and Nikon, and I suppose Sony if you're including its range of
full-frame mirrorless cameras.
There's a larger question if this
is too late to pull Pentax back into the fold, as it were. But for now
it's enough to say that on paper, and on first impression, the K-1 is an
impressive effort. Hopefully it will live up to its billing when it
goes on sale in April.
source
source
