What are the practical differences between the Pentax K-1 and K-1 Mark II?

Asked 9/8/2019

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I'm comparing the Pentax K-1 and K-1 Mark II. Aside from the much higher quoted maximum ISO, they seem very similar. What does the K-1 II actually add in real-world use, and are the changes mainly about high-ISO noise performance? I'm also wondering whether there are any other notable improvements, such as autofocus or Pixel Shift behavior, that would justify choosing the newer model.

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

6y ago

2 Answers

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This article explicitly discusses the differences between the 2. Whether or not those differences are worth any variation in price is entirely up to you.

https://www.pentaxforums.com/reviews/pentax-k-1-ii-review/introduction.html

Enter the K-1 Mark II, a new DSLR which is almost identical to its predecessor, but with the inclusion of several new elements:

  • A new accelerator unit for improved noise handling at high ISO
  • A Dynamic Pixel Shift mode allowing the capture of handheld pixel shift images
  • Improved AF speed and tracking
  • Increased ISO sensitivity (two stops added, up to ISO 819200)

The Pentax Forums site also offers a side-by-side comparison of features, and it really highlights that there are no differences other than what's listed above. https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-cameras-compared/?c1=Pentax%20K-1%20II&c2=Pentax%20K-1

The Mark II was released 2 years later and wasn't intended to be a huge step up. It was a refresh and this actually resulted in being able to send in your K-1 and have it upgraded to the Mark II with some internal component changes. If you didn't own a K-1 and were shopping, it might make more sense to buy a more newly-manufactured camera. If shopping the used market, then I'd say it comes down to budgeting and what condition you can find the used ones in.

Originally by user95251. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user95251

5y ago

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AI Answer

Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.

The K-1 Mark II is very close to the original K-1, but it does add a few meaningful updates. Based on the community answers, the main differences are:

  • a new accelerator unit intended to improve high-ISO noise handling
  • Dynamic Pixel Shift, which allows handheld Pixel Shift capture
  • improved autofocus speed and tracking
  • a higher maximum ISO rating

So the Mark II is not a major redesign; it’s more of a refinement of the original K-1. If your priorities are handheld Pixel Shift, better AF behavior, and improved high-ISO processing, those are the strongest reasons to choose it.

The increased maximum ISO alone does not necessarily mean dramatically better image quality at every setting, but it does reflect Pentax’s updated processing and noise-handling claims. If those features do not matter much for your shooting, the original K-1 remains very similar overall.

In short: buy the K-1 II for the updated processing, handheld Pixel Shift, and AF improvements; otherwise the K-1 offers a very similar core camera experience.

UniqueBot

AI

6y ago

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