As a Pentaxian shooting professionally (at least part time) for over 30 years, I realize that I am sneezing into the wind here, but people need to stop dissing Pentax on their lens selection (or at least slow down and take a deep breath). And this is not a rant against Tony and Chelsea: they are two of the best photo vloggers out there, and I watch and learn from every video that they put out. I have tremendous respect for them, not only for their information (on a level of camera nerdness which, if it was a sensor, would have like a bazillion megapixels), but also for the professional, respectful, and balanced way that they present it. Nevertheless, when I hear Pentax criticized for their limited lens selection, I have to ask myself why that matters on a practical level. And it really bugs me when I hear the argument that the Big Two offer hundreds of lenses for their bodies. The (non-knee-jerk) reaction to that inane argument should be "So what?" How many lenses do any of us need, anyway? And is there anyone out there who could afford or justify owning hundreds of lenses? Just using the list of 15 full-frame lenses that Tony mentioned for the K-1, we get a slew of glass from 15mm to 560mm, including fast primes, macros, the classic fast zooms (24-70, 70-200) and three nice prime teles of 200, 300, and 560, respectfully. Speaking for myself (and likely many others), the regular semi-pro who shoots landscapes, close-ups, some lifestyle stuff and portraits, does the occasional studio or product shoot, and aims at the odd eagle or bull moose (I live in Maine), that lens line-up is just fine; and I can't think of a situation in the last three-plus decades when I missed a shot because I shoot Pentax and didn’t have the right lens. Does Pentax have a limited selection of full-frame-compatible lenses? Yes. Does it matter for most of us? No. Should reviewers like the Northrups keep pointing out the limitation? Of course---anything to spur Pentax on to more excellence. But I hope that a practical and honest look at the "limitation" of the Pentax glass line-up will show it to be much less significant than it’s typically made out to be. And I’d appreciate it if we could keep the criticism down to a dull roar. Pentax makes nice bodies (if a bit weird, and with areas that need improvement: autofocus), and they have enough excellent glass for amateurs, and working pros like myself, to plod along joyfully every day and earn a decent living. That’s it. Pentaxian rant over (picture me with my head down and a raised clenched fist).
Love your comments! The K1 was designed for static subject matter, the same types of subjects one might photograph using a view camera. I'm seriously considering buying the K1 over the Nikon Z-7ii. I've seen photos made by the K1, and these photos remind me of Leica-produced images.
Correction: There are pentax K mount Samyang/rokinnon FF prime lenses which can be used for Pentax K-1 Samyang 24mm f/1.4 and 14mm f/2.8 is what I have. Both work great !
Great work, add me to the chorus of viewers calling this your best episode! Shame you didn't have a chance to test any of the Ltd. lenses, they're a huge part of the appeal of Pentax. Hopefully you'll get a chance if Pentax ever hits you with that loaner. Jordan @ TCSTV
Tony mentions "optimized for digital" when speaking of lenses. Although legendary (omg the 31, 43 and 77), the fullframe Limiteds lenses did not get their "HD Remix" yet as such aren't classified so. :(
Tony is judging lenses by the alphabet soup in the name now? I guess you don't actually have to test for post-processed prime lens results anymore. Ain't progress wonderful?
It's early days, yet, as I don't tend to publish much online. There are a couple of K-1 shots on www.flickr.com/photos/brianjdavies/27694088686/in/dateposted-ff/ One with pixel shift. I haven't posted any with the Limiteds yet, though. There are a lot of K-1 shots on the Pentaxforums.com, which has a thread dedicated to K-1 photos.
I'm not sure how you can not recommend the K-1 for portraits; your comments were dependent on exclusively using your shooting methods. Not everyone will, or should, shoot portraits exactly the way you do. I love shooting portraits with my K-1, the results are astonishing. This negative attitude is pretty consistent with most reviewers of Pentax cameras, who are so used to using Canon or Nikon, they reject almost any other way of shooting. And the comparison of cost to Nikon or Canon as being actually lower when you use used lenses is utter nonsense. There are thousands of Pentax lenses out there, in a variety of different prices, as well as independent makes available used that can save a ton of money over similar offerings for Nikon and Canon. My lens line up include Pentax, Tamron, Tokina, and the odd Vivitar Series 1, both in full frame and APS-C, AF & MF, and I'm having a blast working with them. I can now put together a kit for each type of assignment I get, and it works. This is not to say that Pentax doesn't need to upgrade their lens line, they absolutely do. But that's coming, as Pentaxians we're patient. I am willing to concede that Nikon and particularly Canon have faster AF speeds with wider number of focus targets, so shooting sports with Pentax is a challenge. While I haven't shot sports with the K-1 (yet), I do use a Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 on my K-3 and I'm getting good stuff shooting football, soccer, field hockey, basketball, and lacrosse, and I'm getting published regularly. My work appears in local newspapers. I am truly at a loss as to how you didn't see dual formats and backwards compatibility on the K-1 as a major positive. This was done primarily for Pentax owners, who in many cases have glass in both formats. While it is true that any full frame lens will work on an APS-C camera (and that's what I had been doing prior to the K-1), to present both formats showed sensitivity to the Pentax user, meaning no lens in the history of Pentax glass (including screwmount lenses) is obsolete, which perfectly keeping in Pentax tradition. Perhaps you didn't realize that while Canon had to create a new lens mount to accommodate EOS, and Nikon had to make a mild modification, the Pentax bayonet has not significantly changed since its induction in 1975. I have some lenses more than 30 years old, including a 17mm fisheye that still works just fine on all my Pentax DSLRs. Canon can't say that. Nikon has some backward compatibility but not on Pentax's level. Olympus can't say that. Sony/Minolta can't say that. Fuji can't say that that I'm aware of. In fact, Pentax is the only manufacturer that has factory designed and made adapters that allow any Pentax DSLR to utilize the legendary lenses of the Pentax 645 and 67. I have used 67 glass on my digitals and the quality will blow you away. Love to try that with pixel shift. If you're expecting the K-1 to act like a Nikon or Canon, then obviously you haven't made the effort to get to know the camera that well (maybe that will change should Pentax lend you a K-1 for extended testing). IMHO, the camera still doesn't adjust to your style, you must adapt to the camera and explore the ways you can get what you want. If you're not willing to make that effort, then I guess you will frequently be "appalled".
MJCMedia15 you can literally apply this logic to every camera ever made lol I could shoot sports with a film Leica using adapted ltm lenses. Keep in mind this is a review which is someone's opinion on a item often compared to others.
Can I just take a moment to agree with this guy? When talking about price difference you should be comparing Canon L series and Nikon Nikkor series lenses to Pentax lenses. I bought the 24-70mm Pentax and honestly, it is the best lens I've ever used. And that's after using a 24-70 Nikkor on the D4S. I realize there are not as many lenses, BUT THAT'S THE BEST THING! They make the lenses we need. The Pentax 50mm ($1200), the 15-30, 24-70, 70-200. There's no need for any other set up. Pentax knows what Pentaxians want and give us these. This comparison in the way you have done of Canon, Nikon and Pentax is exactly the stuff I hate. I love Pentax and I will recommend them over EVERY camera to date. I think you need to think a little harder about comparing them. Yes, for sports and wildlife, you shouldn't use the K-1, but for portraits, documentary, landscape, automotive, anything, the K-1 will shine
I've learned to rely on Tony and Chelsea to deliver good, balanced reviews and commentaries, and this one didn't disappoint. Good work as always. Thank you!
One of the best things about this already excellent video is that the presenters are actually out there taking pictures. They not only talk the talk, they walk the walk. At least one other RUclips 'expert' should take note and emulate. Thanks Chelsea and Tony.
As a K-1 owner, I can't fault your review, Tony, but macro and close-up photography may have been worth a mention. Using pixel shift on a static subject under controlled lighting gives spectacular results. That and landscapes are what the K-1 was made for. Oh, and the glorious FA Limited lenses. One question, when using pixel shift, did you set the camera for PS with motion correction - there are two settings? And while Silky-Pix is clunky, I just use it to produce TIFF files and import them into Photoshop for proper PP work. I'm hoping you'll do one of your hour-long tutorials on this camera.
The thing is you can get the older Tamron 70-200 2.8 new or used in K mount for approx $600, or one of the recent Sigma 70-200 used. Also, all of the Samyang/Rokinon models are available and there are still a decent number of Sigma's too.
i try the old tamron 70-200 and it was not as sharp as as my 25 year old Canon 80-200 F2.8L aka magic drainpipe .....mind you all its replacement are not as sharp up till the 70-200 L mkii....and the Tammys AF did not seam as reliable
Good job on the Pentax K-1, just a quick update, there are 52 full frame lenses for Pentax being sold at B&H, off course not all from Pentax, but very interesting lenses from Sigma, Tamron etc...
Great review! But please don't say things like "the K1 is 100% cheaper than the 5Dr". If something is 100% cheaper than an other thing then it is free... Because in this case the more expensive one is the base for comparison. On the other hand to say the Canon is 100% more expensive than the K1 is OK, because in this case the K1 is the base we refer to. Don't get me wrong Tony, I really love your videos! This one is not an exception.
running a K3, I'm currently buying Sigma full frame lenses, so that when I do choose to upgrade my camera body, I'll have a nice selection of fast and sharp lenses that are also cheap. Might not be weather sealed, but I've learned to live with that. Still have weather sealed lenses for that absolute necessity.
One thing that you usually dont mention and I think its important, is product photography/food. I think this camera is just perfect for that. Usually people shoot in manual focus (no problem with focus), slow (no problem with buffer and speed) and need quality, resolution and DR. Great review, I would give a 9,5/10 (0,5 is due to the transitions that are improving a lot, but still kinda weird, good job!). Cheers! :D
From your video it appears you have used "Silkypix 7" for processing PixelShift images. The proper software to use is "DCU 5" (the software that comes with the camera). Please try the conversion again with the wider range of motion-correction options on DCU 5.
A bit skewed on the used prices, I can get better prices on F and FA lenses in those zoom ranges. Besides which, most Pentax users are Prime users? FA Limited series.
I know this is years after this video has been posted, but this is a great video! It's exactly the kind of content I need from Tony and Chelsea right now! I'm seriously considering stepping into full frame DSLR, now that the big money is starting to move over to MILC with R5, R6, etc. The prices for high grade / pro grade DSLR stuff is becoming a bit more approachable. The K-1 looks like a really strong contender over the 5DSR/5DmIV, which genuinely surprised me as someone who's never considered non-Canon gear before. Weather sealing, GPS, *and* a movable screen all in a single camera? Yes, please! The only other thing I'm seeing from Canon that vaguely resembles something similar to this is the 1DX, which is heavily geared towards sports, and something like 20MP.
As others have said, this is probably the best video you've done yet! Solid, concise, and honest. The cinematic shots complemented your studio presentation well and seeing the major brands compared realistically was great :)
'All systems have older lenses available, including Pentax, but they're less sharp'. Are you sure Tony? I reckon my Pentax M series prime lenses will stand up to any of they're modern day equivalents. If you're our age you remember how to use a manual focus lens. Pentax make focusing a manual lens easy even for those under 20 anyway.
Informative & unbiased as ever. I was just looking at an old book from the world of IT & found that you’re the author of it with your photo at a young age, amazing to say the least.
Tony, I thought your review of the K-1 fair and reasonable. I own a Pentax K-50, K-5iis, and K-1. I used the K-1 along with a Rokinon 24mm 1.4, Sigma 35mm 1.4, Pentax 77 mm 1.8 for a wedding last Saturday. The clients and I are very pleased with the photos.
This "Pentax limited lens selection" that you mention straight after the piece about astrophotography....... Pentax has the largest selection of lenses of any manufacturer.... every Pentax lens since 1972 is usable on the K-1 - it's the same mount. Admittedly, not every function of every lens will work - several things would be manually controlled - but it's not a "limited lens selection".
Geoff Chalcraft cough Nikon F mount cough also yes all the K mount lenses work, but why either need to be cropped or Pentax THEM selves don't recommend them do to sharpness/coatings. Not all film lenses work well with digital sensors
well, after watching several reviews of PENTAX K-1, i have to say that your review is the most professional one among them, and what's more, your sample picture is far more better than the others, which convince me to buy that camera. Thank you for your work!
Great stuff! Always enjoy your videos! I think most folks are interested in the vintage Pentax glass, rather than the newer expensive lenses, K mount offers quite a bit (158) native lenses, $20 and up
His portrait sessions sound wild. Does he have his models doing the Highland Fling or something? I'd considered that portraits were something the K-1 was good at.
The 36mpix sony sensor used in the d810 and K-1 is originally from the a7r which also has wifi & tilt screen and all the lenses in the world and can be bought for less than 1000$ used.
Awesome job Team Northrup! I applaud you on the CC! I know it's not easy, but it makes a huge difference! Keep making the best camera reviews out there!
Tony, Pentax is a niche brand. Users like me have a ton of legacy lenses which will work with the K1. I myself have over 40 Pentax lenses that I have amassed over the past 42 years of shooting. Starting out, Nikon is the way to go used. I have lots of Nikon bodies and glass that I picked up over the years. Hunting for deals on used gear is a sub-hobby.
Nice review from you, not sure I agree about not being able to use this camera for portrait! Lot of photographers use slow medium format cameras without problem, I think it depends on your style of shooting.
I wonder if Pentax would allow tether via camera WIFI native interface in the future cause with 802.11ac WIFI router it may get a lot closer and sometimes (depends on implementation) USB 3 speeds.
Actually I have checked 51-point AF system on Nikon's web site, as the coverage looks much like on K-1 only slightly less dense(11 columns 5 rows for D810 vs 9 rows 5 columns for the K-1) but it has only 15 cross central pnts vs 25 points in K-1 which are rated to -3 EV!
Yeah, but my point is they're all crammed into a small spot in the center of the frame. If that works for you, that's great. It's just something to consider.
It always makes me laugh when they say the Pentax focusing isn't good enough for sports, we used manual camera's for motor racing and football before AF was around. I use my Pentax K1 MK2 to photograph my sons dogs and they don't keep still for a minute but I get great results. Learning about depth of field will help you more than your autofocus.
Also you forgot to mention that this camera is great for MACRO ( 100mmFA lens ) plus all the older FA Pentax lenses 31mm 77mm are very good optically and useful for many types of photography not just landscapes..Another BIG thing about this camera is its BEST IN CLASS IMAGE QUALITY(some of your test photos were burry)It's actually better than Nikon's D810 in terms of noise and its RAW & jpgs pic are also better in general.ALSO its AUTOFOCUS is better in low light -3 EV vs -2 EV ! the 24-70 Pentax lens its about 50% price of Nikon 24-70 too!
According to Pentax, the processor can be considered one generation on for the Pentax compared to the D810's chipset. The dpreview folks posted pixel peepers' results similar to what you describe. In Pixel Shift mode, the differences cannot be fairly described as subtle. You are correct that better comparisons for that are available elsewhere. Again, I recommend that interested photo enthusiasts should check in with Lloyd Chambers regarding Pixel Shift. Even the information and the images not behind Lloyd's paywall are leagues ahead of what we're seeing on Pixel Shift elsewhere.
You are going way overboard with that. And I might doubt that jpgs are better from this camera. Pixel Shift, which you do not mention above, DOES appear to be a game changer in the right hands, despite what you may hear and see here.
ANY Pentax camera is not good for macro. Don't forget the FA50 and FA100; although auto focus- use a manual motor to autofocus. Not unusual to have any of those FA lenses on any Pentax camera (with any subject, macro or not); not unusual for the camera/lens combination to hunt for the focus and then miss it. Conclusion; Try not to se Pentax cameras for macro; or use any of the Pentax FA lenses. It is actually quicker to use: either a FA lens in manual, or any manual focus lens. Another in the long line of compromises from Pentax
Thanks for the great review. I shot landscapes with a K5 for years and was hoping to upgrade to full frame with the K1. As you outline, the K1 durability and spec sheet makes me drool, but this video helped me realize these extra features are just not worth the massive limitation that is 1) fewer lenses to choose from and 2) a much, much smaller used market. After shopping around, I can confirm the tiny pentax used market vs. enormous Nikon used market really does make the already glaring price differences between comparable Nikon and Pentax lenses even worse. Really appreciate you emphasizing these points as they are practically more important to me than neat extras like focus peaking, pixel shift, GPS, and astrotracer. I am now the owner of a Nikon D750 that I got used on ebay for $700, plus a super fast, super sharp Nikkor 24mm f/1.8 for $450 and Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 for $150. High quality full-frame kit for $1300 with fast, sharp, modern primes that don't even exist in K-mount. For a K1 kit I would have had to get slower, heavier, bulkier zooms at a grand total cost >$3000 and would have severely restricted my options for future glass.
Are you shitting me? Give me a reason why I should be polite to someone who used his reputation to misinform the people. Go back to sipping your red wine, you classy guy.
OTHER THINGS: like 300,000 shutter rating vs 200,000 shutter life rating in Nikon and only 150,000 in Canon .There are many more aspects at which this camera is better than all the Canons & Nikons!.Thx;-)
You need the in camera stabilization to do it. Since Canon and Nikon have their stabilization in the lenses, I do not believe it is possible. Many Pentax cameras have it. my K5 has the ability with the GPS Add on. Which I use when I am doing my night sky photography. The difference with the K-1 is the GPS is built in so no need of the added GPS
I have a Pentax K1, sadly I often found it overwhelming, now I view it in a different light. I have a Tamron SP 24mm f/2.5 and a Pentax - A 50mm f/1.7 that has also been rarely used. I now have time to give this project more exposure, thanks to the theme of this video.
Nice review! Though in the price comparisons, I would have liked to have seen the prices of the Nikon and Canon systems with new, native glass as well.
Hello Tony and Chelsea. I wish to thank you for your wonderfully instructive book SDP. I learned a lot from it. I recently purchased a Pentax K3 and as per your suggestion, I am attempting, unsuccessfully, I might add, to set it up for Back Button Focus. Pentax Forums provide contradictory settings so I am turning to you for assitance. Thank you.
Love Canon's glasses, Nikon's raw files and Pentax's Body build, and oh yeah, plus Sony's portability, really wish someday these bodies can be squeezed tgt into one lol
the sigma and rokinon wide lenses are also available in Pentax ... Not to mention that there is a lot of secondhand lenses that range from very good to decent, some of them for as little as 150 bucks (Pentax 20-35mm).
I added an annotation and a note to the description to mention the Rokinon lenses. Sigma hasn't made their current-generation lenses available for Pentax, unfortunately, and I wouldn't recommend their (relatively unsharp) previous generation lenses for this camera.
Fair and honest review. Thanks for the great video.P.S: It's amazing how as time has moved along, features that many people didn't like or understand are FINALLY getting their due. Minolta/Sony invented and introduced sensor shift stabilization in DSLR's but because the Big Two opted for lens stabilization... mainly to sell more lenses... folk criticized it. Well, thank you Tony for recognizing the utility of IBIS. I also remember you praising EVF's for video recording in a previous RUclips clip. One of the reasons I really like you guys is because of your open minded approach in these reviews.Keep up the good work!
Minolta invented and introduced sensor shift technology in 2003 but MOST people favored the Canikon lens based image stabilization. But sensor shift image stabilization means EVERY lens is stabilized, as opposed to having to go out and replace non-stabilized lenses with the more expensive versions.But as time has moved forward, lot's of features have become mainstream. Movable LCDs being another example. Now all we need is WiFi, touch screens across the board, and pop-up flashes on EVERY level of camera!
Nikon's D750 and D810 have only 15 cross-type out of 51 total AF points, while Pentax K-1 has(33) with 25 cross-type points!There is a reason for the focus points being in the central area of the frame, and that is so that they are all available when shooing with an APS-C lens, and the 33 focus points cover most of the APS-C image area. The camera can focus down to -3 EV. Live view focusing modes include face detection, AF tracking, multiple AF points, select and spot plus Focus peaking is available! Shutter Response & Shot to Shot Times 0.25secs are also very good compared to Canons 0.35secs and Nikons 0.4secs !
The focus points on all of the cameras are clustered within the APS-C part of the frame; this is true of all FF camera's we've ever tested... but the K-1 is still clustered tighter in the center than needed. We found the focusing to be noticeably slower and less reliable than the D810 or 5DS-R.
That's probably heavily influenced by the lenses used. Very wide focus points have its advantages, but they usually are located out of the lenses sweet spot, so you need a very good lens with high "corner" sharpnes but still you may get heavy “barrel distortion”. Better is to use more central points and crop a little at 36 MP.
now tony has a nikon system for sports, canon for portraits, sony/panasonic for video and pentax for landscape ... boy.. whats next? fuji for street and olympus for travel?? one thing that makes tony such a good reviewer is, that he really experience all different brands and is not fanboy-ish and biased.. he only brand he is fanboyed is adobe :P great review.. i dont think you have to fear the fanboys for that. i really wished the pixelshift would be some kind of high resolution olympus style. i didnt see that much of an improvement on lightroom.
+Francisco Santos Actually LR don't handle PixelShift image cleanly. You have to use the bundled software for that matter. Btw, you don't have to shoot a non-pixel shift image if you're unsure of the result at post-processing, just shoot raw, and the bundled software (Pentax Digital Camera Utility) will be able to extract all of the 4 raw shots from the big raw file that you'll be able to process at will on your favorite software. And yes, PixelShift must be used on tripods and with still scene, motion correction or handheld shots is just pointless...
Terrific video, I was thinking about this camera, but now passing on it. Appreciate all your work doing this review. On a math note: the price of the Pentax is not 100% less than the Canon it is 50% (half the Canon price). The price of the Canon can be stated as 100% more than the Pentax. Again, love the information in this video. Thank you for all your work, from your videos we learn very much.
Thanks for the honest review... the camera isn't obviously a world beater or a game changer BUT I have a brother wanting to get into photography and is asking me how to get the best bang for his buck I think he'd be more than happy with the trinity (I hate zooms) I just wonder how far Pentax will go with the full frame line...
Great review, glad to finally see it :) I'm a K3 shooter, and in the time that I've used Pentax exclusively I've learned that the strengths of Pentax are NOT evident when compared to other cameras. They simply just don't have the same things offered by other systems (not necessarily a bad thing). Their strengths are when you look at the system by itself and what it offers you. The ability to use old MF glass is incredibly useful, along with their catch in focus system which pretty much makes manual focus a non issue. While their new glass is expensive, I'm happy that first party support is at least there when the camera launched, unlike sony. I imagine that the prices on the glass will come down and restore the price savings that exist with the system. Either way, any camera is a good camera in 2016, just glad that Pentax finally jumped on the full frame train.
Pentax has long been an in-the-field camera system specialist, through multiple corporate ownership situations. Just a natural for expressive nature/landscape. Ironically, the truly crushing weight of Pentax's new Blasphemous Holy Trinity goes mightily against the grain. I'm not saying they didn't have to do it. It's just that I won't be buying into any of the three unless I'm bludgeoned into submission by the quality of images across a broad range of subject conditions I may start seeing from the 15-30mm. Right now, I'll be sticking to Zeiss MF and Pentax Limiteds compatible with FF (including numerous DA designated lenses useable on FF, or with a very modest crop).
Bro! i have a question, is the k3 good for video ?? im a canon shooter and im really impressed with the image quality the pentax k3 offer, but im afraid, i shoot lot of b rolls, and i want a good quality video camera
I really wanted this when it was announced and the K1/15-30 combination looks magnificent, but it's cheaper to go Nikon/Tamron. Good to see the review finally posted.
I really wanted to see pentax succed, I can say I always liked their attitude, but have to agree on this review...so much camera, but such a silly compromise in many aspects, still I'd like to see what they come up with next
Tony, We are still waiting for that Pentax K-3 II Review ;-) Maybe you will do it together with the upcomig New Pentax K-70 and new Pentax pulse motor lens???
my biggest complaint about my tamron 70-200 for nikon isn't the focus breathing, it's the focus distance. I'd need a ladder to get good baby shots with it! but I rectify that with an extension tube. so I can easily use that amazing lens for rings or babies or Lego graduation stills. you live in Connecticut and get to see more of my backyard, I live in Huntington Beach California, than I do. jealous!
Regarding lens for super wide zoom, Pentax also have SMC-F 17-28mm f/3.5-4.5 fish-eye lens capable of 178 degree coverage. Please do your research carefully.
Hi Tony! I like many of your previous reviews, but this review although appealing visually - (I really like the intro, scenery & your hat!) - it was kind of made in the hurry express review ;-). Not very detailed or informative. I also think that a bit unffair ...I don't know what SD Card you have used but PENTAX K-1 even its costing bout 50% of the NikonD810 or Canon5Dsr compares pretty good in the speed & buffer department: 4.4fps full-frame JPEG L (70 frames, 17 raw) vs Nikon's:5fps (47 shots) or (18 RAW shots) AND canon's 5fps (26 ONLY jpegs shots) or JUST (12 RAW shots) !
I agree totally on the tilt screen. Of all the things I like about my Olympus E-M5 the tilt screen is at least in the top 3. It simply makes it easy to take shots that are difficult or impossible without a tilt screen.
Tony, thank you for another well rounded camera review. I had one question: you mentioned that the camera has some sort of astrotracker mode, which I feel is an excellent idea. Does this mode employ the pixel shift multi exposure feature? The reason I ask is I read somewhere that shifting the image between exposure may help reduce sensor noise. Sorry that your review became another lighting rod of negative energy. I like to believe that the majority of viewers are more appreciative of the good work you and your wife produce. After all if the others think they can do so much better then they should do so and publish their review and be surprised when they start becoming even larger lighting rods themselves. Thank you again.
learning how to anticipate,like when using a bow or shooting a rilfle,makes the shots work with a moving subject..I just used to K1Mark2 in a skating rink,with no focusing issues..the shots were grainy with no flash in that lighting,but it's not about if it focused..
I use a RICOH 28mm F2.8 on my pentax camera. It is very, very sharp. I think its the best vintage lens I have ever used. I also shoot Canon and Olympus. I like all 3 camera systems however I use my Pentax the most because the grip is most comfortable and since I live in Canada, being able to shoot in below 0 weather is a big plus for me.
Sold my Canon 6d body and 4 L Lenses !! Pentax has way more technology !! Plus they have most rugged weather sealed cameras ! One thing that wasn't mentioned is the 300,000 shutter clicks !
Way more technology? But far less in the way of actual tools that people really need. The slowest full frame autofocus of any non medium format camera - ever. Lack of full frame lens line
I just watched "attack of the Pentaxians". Cool that you take your time to clear up things and it really is a pity people act that way. I could see anything about the ultra wide lenses in the video description (that there are more than one for Pentax) but I'm sure you pointed it out somewhere that the Samyangs also go for Pentax, but just adding to that list there are also the Irix and Iowa 15mm which are available for Canon, Nikon and Pentax. (not sure if the Irix is here yet but it's coming, can we have a review of that too some day? :) )
Great review. Now, where's the review of the k70? (just kidding) How does the k1 compare when it comes to weight using equivalent lenses? Some of what I shoot involves me carrying the camera all day while doing a lot of walking. I rented a ks2 a couple of months ago. After a day spent walking all over a renaissance festival, I decided the camera was just to heavy for what I like to do.
Tony you need to use the Digital Camera Utility v.5.5.1 that ships with the K-1 to accurately process Pixel Shift images with Motion Correction. If you do you will not see the sort of artifacts in your example images. DCU is based on SilkyPix but SilkyPix does not (yet) have the ability to properly process Motion Correction. You can download DCU from Ricoh and find instructions on PentaxForums on how to install it without the CD.
Sikypix gets much, much better results than Adobe. But I agree, it's DCU who offers you controls, and (IMO) the best Pixel Shift results. Indeed, there's no need to take a separate frame. By the way, I've heard about dcrawps (dcraw with Pixel Shift support) - I think you can extract the 4 frames out of the file.
Thanks for a enlightening review. I was thinking of going with the pentax, but you've saved me from huge disappointment.I think that I will stick with canon for now.
would be good to have a comprehensive look at the best of the old manual K-mount glass. if this is more of a static shooter then affordable classic lenses could be the way to go, right?
I've used Pentax for a long time but I'm all for the truth. Thanks sooo much for this review. I was a little taken back by the lack of lenes that can be used,but I really didn't understand it. I have a Tamron macro that's really nice. Can I use it?
Yes, you can. The point Tony was trying to make is that the list of recommended lenses is much smaller than the list of lenses that will fit and work on the camera. I have a 70-200mm manual FA lens from Vivitar (from way back in the day), which I will only use if I absolutely must for catch-in focus. The quality is useable in a pinch, but horrendous compared to the 55-200mm kit lens on my K-3. I have been thinking of tearing it apart to use the front ring and rear mount to build a lens-reversing adapter. ;-) All K-mount lenses are compatible. I also recommend using modern lenses, but some of the old FA lenses, even from third parties, are excellent.
A lot of those lens you mentioned COME IN K-MOUNT... Lots of third party manufacturers make k mount lenses, my favorite being Sigma and Samyang (aka Rokinon). You should have at least mentioned that. Tamron also makes K- mount. How could you not know this?
Nice review, if only we could take all the good bits out of each brand and make 1 perfect camera for all... Also it looks like your video camera is has a fair bit of sensor spots, the one problem with mirrorless that Matt Granger spoke about i guess
Like everything it depends on your needs but for landscape photographers I'd argue that the lack of native lenses is not really an issue for most digital cameras. Buy an adapter and turn on manual peaking and you can fit heaps of older ff lenses with long focus throw. I once shot 34 lenses on the one shoot and most of those awesome vintage lenses came in under a hundred bucks but still did a pretty nice job.
Tony, though i generally agree with you for the most part on this review ( i have the k1, and loving it!) one thing i want to point out is regarding the pentax lens selection. though it is true that pentax doesn't have that big a pool of lenses to select, but the rokinon/samyang/bower 14mm and the 24mm (and rumored, though i'm unable to find, the 21mm) can be bought for the pentax k-mount, and at times are cheaper than the sony, the canon and nikon variations of the same lens. and sigma and tamron have a few lenses too. despite all that, canikon does have more options, but the pentax has more than 1 option too.
Fair enough? It's your fault you published a video acting as if it was 1 vs 20 lenses. If you're going to cite lenses as an example, make damn sure it doesn't have a Pentax mount. You came off as either ignorant or biased. Sure, just "annotate" it to show how reliable you actually are.
@dennytenny Did I say the K-1 was the best camera for everything? Did I say Canon/Nikon was inferior in any way? No and no. Nice argument man, you really showed me!
Thanks for your review. Seems you kind of dislike the system, but everyone to his/her own. The lens situation is not as dire as you make it look. Canikon is of course way more saturated, but there are a lot more third party FF lenses than you make it look. I love my 14mm 2.8 Samyang for example. There are cheaper alternatives as well. I use the Tamron 70-200, it was only about 600€ new. But Pentax has to bring some quality primes and they already announced them (kind of) on their roadmap. But you are fair and that is most important. There are things Pentax isn´t good at, mainly action and video and you have to point that out. Good job. I love my K-1, but it is not for everyone. It resonates with me. :)
Hello, Tony - nice review, entertaining to watch. Regarding the price comparison - you tried to make up "same lenses" kits for Pentax, Canon and Nikon. Fair enough, as the Pentax D FA 15-30 and D FA 24-70 are modified Tamrons. However, the D FA 70-200 is not a modified Tamron but entirely a Pentax design. A very ambitious design, with no less than 8 special glass elements. You should compare it with the latest Canon/Nikon 70-200 f/2.8s
I'm aware that people say it's not the same design as the Tamron (Pentax won't comment on third parties designing their lenses). But our testing showed that the Pentax 70-200 didn't match the Canon or Nikon for edge sharpness, and it didn't match the Canon for focal length. So, it seemed more fair to compare it to the less expensive Tamron.
The 70-200 really isn't a Tamron - unlike the 15-30 and 24-70, it doesn't resemble any Tamron. Interesting. According to Ephotozine, the Pentax 70-200 has a much more uniform performance than the Canon IS II; and it's excellent especially at the two ends (only at ¬100mm, the corners are slightly behind the center). Were you using AF+focus and recompose, by chance? (but you would be aware of this).
By the way - you can "disable" Pixel Shift at processing, using the Pentax Digital Camera Utility (which is actually the software delivered with the camera, not Silkypix Developer Studio Pro 7 - I've seen DPReview making the same confusion). Pentax DCU, I'd say (after a very brief testing) has the best (artifact-free) results, better than Silkypix. Adobe Ligthroom doesn't even try.
As a Pentaxian shooting professionally (at least part time) for over 30 years, I realize that I am sneezing into the wind here, but people need to stop dissing Pentax on their lens selection (or at least slow down and take a deep breath). And this is not a rant against Tony and Chelsea: they are two of the best photo vloggers out there, and I watch and learn from every video that they put out. I have tremendous respect for them, not only for their information (on a level of camera nerdness which, if it was a sensor, would have like a bazillion megapixels), but also for the professional, respectful, and balanced way that they present it. Nevertheless, when I hear Pentax criticized for their limited lens selection, I have to ask myself why that matters on a practical level. And it really bugs me when I hear the argument that the Big Two offer hundreds of lenses for their bodies. The (non-knee-jerk) reaction to that inane argument should be "So what?" How many lenses do any of us need, anyway? And is there anyone out there who could afford or justify owning hundreds of lenses? Just using the list of 15 full-frame lenses that Tony mentioned for the K-1, we get a slew of glass from 15mm to 560mm, including fast primes, macros, the classic fast zooms (24-70, 70-200) and three nice prime teles of 200, 300, and 560, respectfully. Speaking for myself (and likely many others), the regular semi-pro who shoots landscapes, close-ups, some lifestyle stuff and portraits, does the occasional studio or product shoot, and aims at the odd eagle or bull moose (I live in Maine), that lens line-up is just fine; and I can't think of a situation in the last three-plus decades when I missed a shot because I shoot Pentax and didn’t have the right lens. Does Pentax have a limited selection of full-frame-compatible lenses? Yes. Does it matter for most of us? No. Should reviewers like the Northrups keep pointing out the limitation? Of course---anything to spur Pentax on to more excellence. But I hope that a practical and honest look at the "limitation" of the Pentax glass line-up will show it to be much less significant than it’s typically made out to be. And I’d appreciate it if we could keep the criticism down to a dull roar. Pentax makes nice bodies (if a bit weird, and with areas that need improvement: autofocus), and they have enough excellent glass for amateurs, and working pros like myself, to plod along joyfully every day and earn a decent living. That’s it. Pentaxian rant over (picture me with my head down and a raised clenched fist).
Love your comments! The K1 was designed for static subject matter, the same types of subjects one might photograph using a view camera. I'm seriously considering buying the K1 over the Nikon Z-7ii. I've seen photos made by the K1, and these photos remind me of Leica-produced images.
Very well said!!!
Correction:
There are pentax K mount Samyang/rokinnon FF prime lenses which can be used for Pentax K-1
Samyang 24mm f/1.4 and 14mm f/2.8 is what I have. Both work great !
Great work, add me to the chorus of viewers calling this your best episode!
Shame you didn't have a chance to test any of the Ltd. lenses, they're a huge part of the appeal of Pentax. Hopefully you'll get a chance if Pentax ever hits you with that loaner.
Jordan @ TCSTV
Tony mentions "optimized for digital" when speaking of lenses. Although legendary (omg the 31, 43 and 77), the fullframe Limiteds lenses did not get their "HD Remix" yet as such aren't classified so. :(
Tony is judging lenses by the alphabet soup in the name now? I guess you don't actually have to test for post-processed prime lens results anymore. Ain't progress wonderful?
Nevertheless, the FA Limiteds are spectacular on the K-1! I certainly wasn't disappointed by them.
Brian Davies Do you have a gallery I can look at? I'm very excited to see them revived on the K1
It's early days, yet, as I don't tend to publish much online. There are a couple of K-1 shots on www.flickr.com/photos/brianjdavies/27694088686/in/dateposted-ff/ One with pixel shift. I haven't posted any with the Limiteds yet, though. There are a lot of K-1 shots on the Pentaxforums.com, which has a thread dedicated to K-1 photos.
I'm not sure how you can not recommend the K-1 for portraits; your comments were dependent on exclusively using your shooting methods. Not everyone will, or should, shoot portraits exactly the way you do. I love shooting portraits with my K-1, the results are astonishing. This negative attitude is pretty consistent with most reviewers of Pentax cameras, who are so used to using Canon or Nikon, they reject almost any other way of shooting. And the comparison of cost to Nikon or Canon as being actually lower when you use used lenses is utter nonsense. There are thousands of Pentax lenses out there, in a variety of different prices, as well as independent makes available used that can save a ton of money over similar offerings for Nikon and Canon. My lens line up include Pentax, Tamron, Tokina, and the odd Vivitar Series 1, both in full frame and APS-C, AF & MF, and I'm having a blast working with them. I can now put together a kit for each type of assignment I get, and it works. This is not to say that Pentax doesn't need to upgrade their lens line, they absolutely do. But that's coming, as Pentaxians we're patient. I am willing to concede that Nikon and particularly Canon have faster AF speeds with wider number of focus targets, so shooting sports with Pentax is a challenge. While I haven't shot sports with the K-1 (yet), I do use a Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 on my K-3 and I'm getting good stuff shooting football, soccer, field hockey, basketball, and lacrosse, and I'm getting published regularly. My work appears in local newspapers.
I am truly at a loss as to how you didn't see dual formats and backwards compatibility on the K-1 as a major positive. This was done primarily for Pentax owners, who in many cases have glass in both formats. While it is true that any full frame lens will work on an APS-C camera (and that's what I had been doing prior to the K-1), to present both formats showed sensitivity to the Pentax user, meaning no lens in the history of Pentax glass (including screwmount lenses) is obsolete, which perfectly keeping in Pentax tradition. Perhaps you didn't realize that while Canon had to create a new lens mount to accommodate EOS, and Nikon had to make a mild modification, the Pentax bayonet has not significantly changed since its induction in 1975. I have some lenses more than 30 years old, including a 17mm fisheye that still works just fine on all my Pentax DSLRs. Canon can't say that. Nikon has some backward compatibility but not on Pentax's level. Olympus can't say that. Sony/Minolta can't say that. Fuji can't say that that I'm aware of. In fact, Pentax is the only manufacturer that has factory designed and made adapters that allow any Pentax DSLR to utilize the legendary lenses of the Pentax 645 and 67. I have used 67 glass on my digitals and the quality will blow you away. Love to try that with pixel shift.
If you're expecting the K-1 to act like a Nikon or Canon, then obviously you haven't made the effort to get to know the camera that well (maybe that will change should Pentax lend you a K-1 for extended testing). IMHO, the camera still doesn't adjust to your style, you must adapt to the camera and explore the ways you can get what you want. If you're not willing to make that effort, then I guess you will frequently be "appalled".
MJCMedia15 you can literally apply this logic to every camera ever made lol I could shoot sports with a film Leica using adapted ltm lenses. Keep in mind this is a review which is someone's opinion on a item often compared to others.
MJCMedia15 so true!
Can I just take a moment to agree with this guy? When talking about price difference you should be comparing Canon L series and Nikon Nikkor series lenses to Pentax lenses. I bought the 24-70mm Pentax and honestly, it is the best lens I've ever used. And that's after using a 24-70 Nikkor on the D4S. I realize there are not as many lenses, BUT THAT'S THE BEST THING! They make the lenses we need. The Pentax 50mm ($1200), the 15-30, 24-70, 70-200. There's no need for any other set up. Pentax knows what Pentaxians want and give us these. This comparison in the way you have done of Canon, Nikon and Pentax is exactly the stuff I hate. I love Pentax and I will recommend them over EVERY camera to date. I think you need to think a little harder about comparing them. Yes, for sports and wildlife, you shouldn't use the K-1, but for portraits, documentary, landscape, automotive, anything, the K-1 will shine
I am a huge Pentax fan myself as I started my career with a Pentax MX & ME Super way back in 1980s
Well said MJCMedia, and absolutely spot on.
That's offensive... I am reporting you, creeper....
See you guys soon
hahaha xD
We learned it from watching you!!! Bad influence...
Reporting? Really?
Hilarious!!!
It sure was! Imagine what it did to us hahahhahaaha
I've learned to rely on Tony and Chelsea to deliver good, balanced reviews and commentaries, and this one didn't disappoint. Good work as always. Thank you!
One of the best things about this already excellent video is that the presenters are actually out there taking pictures. They not only talk the talk, they walk the walk. At least one other RUclips 'expert' should take note and emulate. Thanks Chelsea and Tony.
As a K-1 owner, I can't fault your review, Tony, but macro and close-up photography may have been worth a mention. Using pixel shift on a static subject under controlled lighting gives spectacular results. That and landscapes are what the K-1 was made for. Oh, and the glorious FA Limited lenses. One question, when using pixel shift, did you set the camera for PS with motion correction - there are two settings? And while Silky-Pix is clunky, I just use it to produce TIFF files and import them into Photoshop for proper PP work. I'm hoping you'll do one of your hour-long tutorials on this camera.
Wow, Tony! This is why you're my favorite youtuber and source of all things photography.
Awesome work Tony!
I agree, and I'm not even obligated to say this.
it looks like MeFoto or Rollei ...
Ass Kisser!!!!! lmao
Conflict of interest alert :)
The thing is you can get the older Tamron 70-200 2.8 new or used in K mount for approx $600, or one of the recent Sigma 70-200 used. Also, all of the Samyang/Rokinon models are available and there are still a decent number of Sigma's too.
i try the old tamron 70-200 and it was not as sharp as as my 25 year old Canon 80-200 F2.8L aka magic drainpipe .....mind you all its replacement are not as sharp up till the 70-200 L mkii....and the Tammys AF did not seam as reliable
Good job on the Pentax K-1, just a quick update, there are 52 full frame lenses for Pentax being sold at B&H, off course not all from Pentax, but very interesting lenses from Sigma, Tamron etc...
4:40 ''Im Matt Granger'' haha
so awesome :D
I laughed way harder than I should have
best part of the review
Lmao
I almost died laughing
Great review! But please don't say things like "the K1 is 100% cheaper than the 5Dr". If something is 100% cheaper than an other thing then it is free... Because in this case the more expensive one is the base for comparison. On the other hand to say the Canon is 100% more expensive than the K1 is OK, because in this case the K1 is the base we refer to.
Don't get me wrong Tony, I really love your videos! This one is not an exception.
running a K3, I'm currently buying Sigma full frame lenses, so that when I do choose to upgrade my camera body, I'll have a nice selection of fast and sharp lenses that are also cheap. Might not be weather sealed, but I've learned to live with that. Still have weather sealed lenses for that absolute necessity.
One thing that you usually dont mention and I think its important, is product photography/food. I think this camera is just perfect for that. Usually people shoot in manual focus (no problem with focus), slow (no problem with buffer and speed) and need quality, resolution and DR. Great review, I would give a 9,5/10 (0,5 is due to the transitions that are improving a lot, but still kinda weird, good job!).
Cheers! :D
From your video it appears you have used "Silkypix 7" for processing PixelShift images. The proper software to use is "DCU 5" (the software that comes with the camera). Please try the conversion again with the wider range of motion-correction options on DCU 5.
A bit skewed on the used prices, I can get better prices on F and FA lenses in those zoom ranges.
Besides which, most Pentax users are Prime users? FA Limited series.
your best video yet...you just lay it down, no apologies, no bullshit + "I'm Matt Granger"
I snorted my drink through my nose when he said that. =p
Thanks Tony for the review. I was not one of the people that was interested in this camera, but I do appreciate you providing some perspective.
I know this is years after this video has been posted, but this is a great video! It's exactly the kind of content I need from Tony and Chelsea right now!
I'm seriously considering stepping into full frame DSLR, now that the big money is starting to move over to MILC with R5, R6, etc. The prices for high grade / pro grade DSLR stuff is becoming a bit more approachable. The K-1 looks like a really strong contender over the 5DSR/5DmIV, which genuinely surprised me as someone who's never considered non-Canon gear before. Weather sealing, GPS, *and* a movable screen all in a single camera? Yes, please! The only other thing I'm seeing from Canon that vaguely resembles something similar to this is the 1DX, which is heavily geared towards sports, and something like 20MP.
Best review ever. Really opened my eyes in the last few minutes when comparing the other camera systems. Keep doing what u do guys!
As others have said, this is probably the best video you've done yet! Solid, concise, and honest. The cinematic shots complemented your studio presentation well and seeing the major brands compared realistically was great :)
That Astrotracer thing is awesome!
'All systems have older lenses available, including Pentax, but they're less sharp'.
Are you sure Tony? I reckon my Pentax M series prime lenses will stand up to any of they're modern day equivalents. If you're our age you remember how to use a manual focus lens. Pentax make focusing a manual lens easy even for those under 20 anyway.
Informative & unbiased as ever. I was just looking at an old book from the world of IT & found that you’re the author of it with your photo at a young age, amazing to say the least.
Rumors say Pentax K-1 Mk2 will be announced soon. Hope you can make a review
Tony, I thought your review of the K-1 fair and reasonable. I own a Pentax K-50, K-5iis, and K-1. I used the K-1 along with a Rokinon 24mm 1.4, Sigma 35mm 1.4, Pentax 77 mm 1.8 for a wedding last Saturday. The clients and I are very pleased with the photos.
This "Pentax limited lens selection" that you mention straight after the piece about astrophotography....... Pentax has the largest selection of lenses of any manufacturer.... every Pentax lens since 1972 is usable on the K-1 - it's the same mount. Admittedly, not every function of every lens will work - several things would be manually controlled - but it's not a "limited lens selection".
Geoff Chalcraft cough Nikon F mount cough also yes all the K mount lenses work, but why either need to be cropped or Pentax THEM selves don't recommend them do to sharpness/coatings. Not all film lenses work well with digital sensors
Thankyou
well, after watching several reviews of PENTAX K-1, i have to say that your review is the most professional one among them, and what's more, your sample picture is far more better than the others, which convince me to buy that camera. Thank you for your work!
Thanks! Enjoy!
great review again, going further then most reviews.love the in depth comparisons to the competition.
Great stuff! Always enjoy your videos! I think most folks are interested in the vintage Pentax glass, rather than the newer expensive lenses, K mount offers quite a bit (158) native lenses, $20 and up
His portrait sessions sound wild. Does he have his models doing the Highland Fling or something? I'd considered that portraits were something the K-1 was good at.
The 36mpix sony sensor used in the d810 and K-1 is originally from the a7r which also has wifi & tilt screen and all the lenses in the world and can be bought for less than 1000$ used.
Awesome job Team Northrup! I applaud you on the CC! I know it's not easy, but it makes a huge difference! Keep making the best camera reviews out there!
When you have an opportunity you really should try the limited lenses both the DAs on pentax Aps-c cameras and the FAs on the K1
Did you just throw the Samyang 14 f/2.8 on the Canon side but forgot it's also available for Pentax? ;)
Tony, Pentax is a niche brand. Users like me have a ton of legacy lenses which will work with the K1. I myself have over 40 Pentax lenses that I have amassed over the past 42 years of shooting. Starting out, Nikon is the way to go used. I have lots of Nikon bodies and glass that I picked up over the years. Hunting for deals on used gear is a sub-hobby.
There are some things i disagree with you on but it was a great review... Thank you for your hard work.
The authentic source has spoken!!!!!Thanks!
Doesnt Pentax have a bunch of film lenses though? I mean, there probably all manual lenses but still good lenses. And great video as always!:)
Nice review from you, not sure I agree about not being able to use this camera for portrait! Lot of photographers use slow medium format cameras without problem, I think it depends on your style of shooting.
Thanks, and that's pretty much exactly what I said about portraits. You can definitely use it for portraits, it just depends on your style.
I wonder if Pentax would allow tether via camera WIFI native interface in the future cause with 802.11ac WIFI router it may get a lot closer and sometimes (depends on implementation) USB 3 speeds.
Actually I have checked 51-point AF system on Nikon's web site, as the coverage looks much like on K-1 only slightly less dense(11 columns 5 rows for D810 vs 9 rows 5 columns for the K-1) but it has only 15 cross central pnts vs 25 points in K-1 which are rated to -3 EV!
Yes, and on the Nikon D750 its actually even narrower !
Yeah, but my point is they're all crammed into a small spot in the center of the frame. If that works for you, that's great. It's just something to consider.
Take a look at this link for more info about focus points please : www.dpreview.com/forums/post/57948468
It always makes me laugh when they say the Pentax focusing isn't good enough for sports, we used manual camera's for motor racing and football before AF was around. I use my Pentax K1 MK2 to photograph my sons dogs and they don't keep still for a minute but I get great results. Learning about depth of field will help you more than your autofocus.
Also you forgot to mention that this camera is great for MACRO ( 100mmFA lens ) plus all the older FA Pentax lenses 31mm 77mm are very good optically and useful for many types of photography not just landscapes..Another BIG thing about this camera is its BEST IN CLASS IMAGE QUALITY(some of your test photos were burry)It's actually better than Nikon's D810 in terms of noise and its RAW & jpgs pic are also better in general.ALSO its AUTOFOCUS is better in low light -3 EV vs -2 EV ! the 24-70 Pentax lens its about 50% price of Nikon 24-70 too!
According to Pentax, the processor can be considered one generation on for the Pentax compared to the D810's chipset. The dpreview folks posted pixel peepers' results similar to what you describe. In Pixel Shift mode, the differences cannot be fairly described as subtle. You are correct that better comparisons for that are available elsewhere. Again, I recommend that interested photo enthusiasts should check in with Lloyd Chambers regarding Pixel Shift. Even the information and the images not behind Lloyd's paywall are leagues ahead of what we're seeing on Pixel Shift elsewhere.
Actually all Pentax Cameras with Pixel-Shift : K-3 II , K-1 and now the K-70 seems to be great for Macro Photography !
You are going way overboard with that. And I might doubt that jpgs are better from this camera. Pixel Shift, which you do not mention above, DOES appear to be a game changer in the right hands, despite what you may hear and see here.
ANY Pentax camera is not good for macro. Don't forget the FA50 and FA100; although auto focus- use a manual motor to autofocus. Not unusual to have any of those FA lenses on any Pentax camera (with any subject, macro or not); not unusual for the camera/lens combination to hunt for the focus and then miss it.
Conclusion; Try not to se Pentax cameras for macro; or use any of the Pentax FA lenses. It is actually quicker to use: either a FA lens in manual, or any manual focus lens. Another in the long line of compromises from Pentax
Thanks for the great review. I shot landscapes with a K5 for years and was hoping to upgrade to full frame with the K1. As you outline, the K1 durability and spec sheet makes me drool, but this video helped me realize these extra features are just not worth the massive limitation that is 1) fewer lenses to choose from and 2) a much, much smaller used market. After shopping around, I can confirm the tiny pentax used market vs. enormous Nikon used market really does make the already glaring price differences between comparable Nikon and Pentax lenses even worse. Really appreciate you emphasizing these points as they are practically more important to me than neat extras like focus peaking, pixel shift, GPS, and astrotracer. I am now the owner of a Nikon D750 that I got used on ebay for $700, plus a super fast, super sharp Nikkor 24mm f/1.8 for $450 and Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 for $150. High quality full-frame kit for $1300 with fast, sharp, modern primes that don't even exist in K-mount. For a K1 kit I would have had to get slower, heavier, bulkier zooms at a grand total cost >$3000 and would have severely restricted my options for future glass.
Might be the best camera review ever. /unbiased opinion
Bullshit. His lens selection comparison ignores the fact that Pentax has third party lenses too.
+MyAccountNameSucks Charming. Not really up to speed on the social graces, eh?
Are you shitting me? Give me a reason why I should be polite to someone who used his reputation to misinform the people. Go back to sipping your red wine, you classy guy.
+Daniel Coombe Tony is the one sounding like he's all knowing then presents us this bullshit data as if he's got a flaw all marked down.
You mean the useless comparison on the 14th minute? I was referring to his comparison at 2:30
OTHER THINGS: like 300,000 shutter rating vs 200,000 shutter life rating in Nikon and only 150,000 in Canon .There are many more aspects at which this camera is better than all the Canons & Nikons!.Thx;-)
what a joke
Nikon pro bodies are rated to 400.000 cycles.
"....I'm Matt Granger." Perfect!
My first time watching your review and love how direct you are !
"I'm Matt Granger" hahahahahaha love it!
That astrotracer thing sounds amazing, how has no one else thought of this?
You need the in camera stabilization to do it. Since Canon and Nikon have their stabilization in the lenses, I do not believe it is possible. Many Pentax cameras have it. my K5 has the ability with the GPS Add on. Which I use when I am doing my night sky photography. The difference with the K-1 is the GPS is built in so no need of the added GPS
Another options is to build a barn door mount for astrophotography.
Actually guy that thought of it in Japan did a video a while back on it and how he came up with idea it was pretty cool.
I have a Pentax K1, sadly I often found it overwhelming, now I view it in a different light.
I have a Tamron SP 24mm f/2.5 and a Pentax - A 50mm f/1.7 that has also been rarely used.
I now have time to give this project more exposure, thanks to the theme of this video.
Nice review! Though in the price comparisons, I would have liked to have seen the prices of the Nikon and Canon systems with new, native glass as well.
Hello Tony and Chelsea. I wish to thank you for your wonderfully instructive book SDP. I learned a lot from it. I recently purchased a Pentax K3 and as per your suggestion, I am attempting, unsuccessfully, I might add, to set it up for Back Button Focus. Pentax Forums provide contradictory settings so I am turning to you for assitance. Thank you.
Love Canon's glasses, Nikon's raw files and Pentax's Body build, and oh yeah, plus Sony's portability, really wish someday these bodies can be squeezed tgt into one lol
My thoughts exactly! + Panasonic's video
It's called an iphone!
@@arunashamal 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 nope 😉
the sigma and rokinon wide lenses are also available in Pentax ... Not to mention that there is a lot of secondhand lenses that range from very good to decent, some of them for as little as 150 bucks (Pentax 20-35mm).
I added an annotation and a note to the description to mention the Rokinon lenses. Sigma hasn't made their current-generation lenses available for Pentax, unfortunately, and I wouldn't recommend their (relatively unsharp) previous generation lenses for this camera.
Fair and honest review. Thanks for the great video.P.S: It's amazing how as time has moved along, features that many people didn't like or understand are FINALLY getting their due. Minolta/Sony invented and introduced sensor shift stabilization in DSLR's but because the Big Two opted for lens stabilization... mainly to sell more lenses... folk criticized it. Well, thank you Tony for recognizing the utility of IBIS. I also remember you praising EVF's for video recording in a previous RUclips clip. One of the reasons I really like you guys is because of your open minded approach in these reviews.Keep up the good work!
I'm pretty sure Pentax has had IBIS, in all of their cameras, for well over a decade... just saying. I 2nd all the other stuff.
Minolta invented and introduced sensor shift technology in 2003 but MOST people favored the Canikon lens based image stabilization. But sensor shift image stabilization means EVERY lens is stabilized, as opposed to having to go out and replace non-stabilized lenses with the more expensive versions.But as time has moved forward, lot's of features have become mainstream. Movable LCDs being another example. Now all we need is WiFi, touch screens across the board, and pop-up flashes on EVERY level of camera!
Oh boy, the k200D is a gem of a camera; even by today's standards there's no other entry weather sealed camera that offers a battery grip.
Nikon's D750 and D810 have only 15 cross-type out of 51 total AF points, while Pentax K-1 has(33) with 25 cross-type points!There is a reason for the focus points being in the central area of the frame, and that is so that they are all available when shooing with an APS-C lens, and the 33 focus points cover most of the APS-C image area. The camera can focus down to -3 EV. Live view focusing modes include face detection, AF tracking, multiple AF points, select and spot plus Focus peaking is available! Shutter Response & Shot to Shot Times 0.25secs are also very good compared to Canons 0.35secs and Nikons 0.4secs !
The focus points on all of the cameras are clustered within the APS-C part of the frame; this is true of all FF camera's we've ever tested... but the K-1 is still clustered tighter in the center than needed. We found the focusing to be noticeably slower and less reliable than the D810 or 5DS-R.
That's probably heavily influenced by the lenses used. Very wide focus points have its advantages, but they usually are located out of the lenses sweet spot, so you need a very good lens with high "corner" sharpnes but still you may get heavy “barrel distortion”. Better is to use more central points and crop a little at 36 MP.
now tony has a nikon system for sports, canon for portraits, sony/panasonic for video and pentax for landscape ... boy.. whats next? fuji for street and olympus for travel??
one thing that makes tony such a good reviewer is, that he really experience all different brands and is not fanboy-ish and biased.. he only brand he is fanboyed is adobe :P
great review.. i dont think you have to fear the fanboys for that. i really wished the pixelshift would be some kind of high resolution olympus style. i didnt see that much of an improvement on lightroom.
+Daniel Coombe but he keeps using it
+Daniel Coombe eh
He does use an Olympus for travel ;)
+Francisco Santos
Actually LR don't handle PixelShift image cleanly. You have to use the bundled software for that matter. Btw, you don't have to shoot a non-pixel shift image if you're unsure of the result at post-processing, just shoot raw, and the bundled software (Pentax Digital Camera Utility) will be able to extract all of the 4 raw shots from the big raw file that you'll be able to process at will on your favorite software. And yes, PixelShift must be used on tripods and with still scene, motion correction or handheld shots is just pointless...
K3
Terrific video, I was thinking about this camera, but now passing on it. Appreciate all your work doing this review.
On a math note: the price of the Pentax is not 100% less than the Canon it is 50% (half the Canon price). The price of the Canon can be stated as 100% more than the Pentax.
Again, love the information in this video. Thank you for all your work, from your videos we learn very much.
Thanks for the honest review... the camera isn't obviously a world beater or a game changer BUT I have a brother wanting to get into photography and is asking me how to get the best bang for his buck I think he'd be more than happy with the trinity (I hate zooms) I just wonder how far Pentax will go with the full frame line...
Start with Pentax 28-105mm- its a Great Lens (V. Cheap as a kit ,Light ,Sharp)!
you can now set the k1 to switch between af spot select and the controller by setting it the menu. It is just a single press of a button.
Great review, glad to finally see it :)
I'm a K3 shooter, and in the time that I've used Pentax exclusively I've learned that the strengths of Pentax are NOT evident when compared to other cameras. They simply just don't have the same things offered by other systems (not necessarily a bad thing).
Their strengths are when you look at the system by itself and what it offers you. The ability to use old MF glass is incredibly useful, along with their catch in focus system which pretty much makes manual focus a non issue. While their new glass is expensive, I'm happy that first party support is at least there when the camera launched, unlike sony. I imagine that the prices on the glass will come down and restore the price savings that exist with the system.
Either way, any camera is a good camera in 2016, just glad that Pentax finally jumped on the full frame train.
I was very happy to see my comment front and center :D
Pentax has long been an in-the-field camera system specialist, through multiple corporate ownership situations. Just a natural for expressive nature/landscape. Ironically, the truly crushing weight of Pentax's new Blasphemous Holy Trinity goes mightily against the grain. I'm not saying they didn't have to do it.
It's just that I won't be buying into any of the three unless I'm bludgeoned into submission by the quality of images across a broad range of subject conditions I may start seeing from the 15-30mm. Right now, I'll be sticking to Zeiss MF and Pentax Limiteds compatible with FF (including numerous DA designated lenses useable on FF, or with a very modest crop).
Bro! i have a question, is the k3 good for video ?? im a canon shooter and im really impressed with the image quality the pentax k3 offer, but im afraid, i shoot lot of b rolls, and i want a good quality video camera
Thank you Tony for this review. Very informative.
I really wanted this when it was announced and the K1/15-30 combination looks magnificent, but it's cheaper to go Nikon/Tamron. Good to see the review finally posted.
I think I heard somewhere that Annie Leibovitz uses the Pentax 645z, that camera is incredible from some of the samples I've seen
I really wanted to see pentax succed, I can say I always liked their attitude, but have to agree on this review...so much camera, but such a silly compromise in many aspects, still I'd like to see what they come up with next
Tony, We are still waiting for that Pentax K-3 II Review ;-) Maybe you will do it together with the upcomig New Pentax K-70 and new Pentax pulse motor lens???
my biggest complaint about my tamron 70-200 for nikon isn't the focus breathing, it's the focus distance. I'd need a ladder to get good baby shots with it!
but I rectify that with an extension tube. so I can easily use that amazing lens for rings or babies or Lego graduation stills.
you live in Connecticut and get to see more of my backyard, I live in Huntington Beach California, than I do. jealous!
Excellent review. Thanks Tony & team x
Regarding lens for super wide zoom, Pentax also have SMC-F 17-28mm f/3.5-4.5 fish-eye lens capable of 178 degree coverage. Please do your research carefully.
Hi Tony! I like many of your previous reviews, but this review although appealing visually - (I really like the intro, scenery & your hat!) - it was kind of made in the hurry express review ;-). Not very detailed or informative. I also think that a bit unffair ...I don't know what SD Card you have used but PENTAX K-1 even its costing bout 50% of the NikonD810 or Canon5Dsr compares pretty good in the speed & buffer department: 4.4fps full-frame JPEG L (70 frames, 17 raw) vs Nikon's:5fps (47 shots) or (18 RAW shots) AND canon's 5fps (26 ONLY jpegs shots) or JUST (12 RAW shots) !
I agree totally on the tilt screen. Of all the things I like about my Olympus E-M5 the tilt screen is at least in the top 3. It simply makes it easy to take shots that are difficult or impossible without a tilt screen.
A necessity with a Zacuto Z-Finder Pro for manually focused handheld stills. Try that with an unstabilized D810 or 5DS R.
Tony, thank you for another well rounded camera review. I had one question: you mentioned that the camera has some sort of astrotracker mode, which I feel is an excellent idea. Does this mode employ the pixel shift multi exposure feature? The reason I ask is I read somewhere that shifting the image between exposure may help reduce sensor noise. Sorry that your review became another lighting rod of negative energy. I like to believe that the majority of viewers are more appreciative of the good work you and your wife produce. After all if the others think they can do so much better then they should do so and publish their review and be surprised when they start becoming even larger lighting rods themselves. Thank you again.
Astrotracker doesn't use pixelshift... but that would be brilliant!
learning how to anticipate,like when using a bow or shooting a rilfle,makes the shots work with a moving subject..I just used to K1Mark2 in a skating rink,with no focusing issues..the shots were grainy with no flash in that lighting,but it's not about if it focused..
incredible landscape photos.
Nice shots! Fun "Westworld" vibe, and great droning!
You de-sold me on the camera, though. (Unsold?)
Its size alone is almost a deal-killer.
I use a RICOH 28mm F2.8 on my pentax camera. It is very, very sharp. I think its the best vintage lens I have ever used. I also shoot Canon and Olympus. I like all 3 camera systems however I use my Pentax the most because the grip is most comfortable and since I live in Canada, being able to shoot in below 0 weather is a big plus for me.
Sold my Canon 6d body and 4 L Lenses !! Pentax has way more technology !! Plus they have most rugged weather sealed cameras ! One thing that wasn't mentioned is the 300,000 shutter clicks !
Congratulations! K-1 is the fun machine to shoot ;-)
Way more technology? But far less in the way of actual tools that people really need.
The slowest full frame autofocus of any non medium format camera - ever. Lack of full frame lens line
I just watched "attack of the Pentaxians". Cool that you take your time to clear up things and it really is a pity people act that way. I could see anything about the ultra wide lenses in the video description (that there are more than one for Pentax) but I'm sure you pointed it out somewhere that the Samyangs also go for Pentax, but just adding to that list there are also the Irix and Iowa 15mm which are available for Canon, Nikon and Pentax. (not sure if the Irix is here yet but it's coming, can we have a review of that too some day? :) )
I find the Samyang 10mm f/2.8 ED AS NCS CS on the Pentax K-3 to be great.
Great review. Now, where's the review of the k70? (just kidding)
How does the k1 compare when it comes to weight using equivalent lenses? Some of what I shoot involves me carrying the camera all day while doing a lot of walking. I rented a ks2 a couple of months ago. After a day spent walking all over a renaissance festival, I decided the camera was just to heavy for what I like to do.
The music is so out of place here but still you guys are awesome and I love your channel
a terribly useful review,
counter balances a lot of hype and also criticism thats been going around this camera in various forums
nice to see my comment in honest-trailer-ish intro.
Had been waiting for that k-1 review 👍👍👌👌😊😊
Tony you need to use the Digital Camera Utility v.5.5.1 that ships with the K-1 to accurately process Pixel Shift images with Motion Correction. If you do you will not see the sort of artifacts in your example images. DCU is based on SilkyPix but SilkyPix does not (yet) have the ability to properly process Motion Correction. You can download DCU from Ricoh and find instructions on PentaxForums on how to install it without the CD.
Sikypix gets much, much better results than Adobe. But I agree, it's DCU who offers you controls, and (IMO) the best Pixel Shift results. Indeed, there's no need to take a separate frame.
By the way, I've heard about dcrawps (dcraw with Pixel Shift support) - I think you can extract the 4 frames out of the file.
Thanks for a enlightening review. I was thinking of going with the pentax, but you've saved me from huge disappointment.I think that I will stick with canon for now.
would be good to have a comprehensive look at the best of the old manual K-mount glass. if this is more of a static shooter then affordable classic lenses could be the way to go, right?
I've used Pentax for a long time but I'm all for the truth. Thanks sooo much for this review. I was a little taken back by the lack of lenes that can be used,but I really didn't understand it. I have a Tamron macro that's really nice. Can I use it?
Yes, you can.
The point Tony was trying to make is that the list of recommended lenses is much smaller than the list of lenses that will fit and work on the camera. I have a 70-200mm manual FA lens from Vivitar (from way back in the day), which I will only use if I absolutely must for catch-in focus. The quality is useable in a pinch, but horrendous compared to the 55-200mm kit lens on my K-3. I have been thinking of tearing it apart to use the front ring and rear mount to build a lens-reversing adapter. ;-)
All K-mount lenses are compatible. I also recommend using modern lenses, but some of the old FA lenses, even from third parties, are excellent.
Didn't realize "liking" helped you. Would have always done it. Will from now on.
A lot of those lens you mentioned COME IN K-MOUNT...
Lots of third party manufacturers make k mount lenses, my favorite being Sigma and Samyang (aka Rokinon). You should have at least mentioned that. Tamron also makes K- mount. How could you not know this?
I was considering the Pentax K1. Great review. I know this camera is not for me
2016 tech finally caught up to 2014 with extra features... Just wait for a D850/900.
Nice review, if only we could take all the good bits out of each brand and make 1 perfect camera for all...
Also it looks like your video camera is has a fair bit of sensor spots, the one problem with mirrorless that Matt Granger spoke about i guess
Like everything it depends on your needs but for landscape photographers I'd argue that the lack of native lenses is not really an issue for most digital cameras. Buy an adapter and turn on manual peaking and you can fit heaps of older ff lenses with long focus throw. I once shot 34 lenses on the one shoot and most of those awesome vintage lenses came in under a hundred bucks but still did a pretty nice job.
Tony, though i generally agree with you for the most part on this review ( i have the k1, and loving it!)
one thing i want to point out is regarding the pentax lens selection. though it is true that pentax doesn't have that big a pool of lenses to select, but the rokinon/samyang/bower 14mm and the 24mm (and rumored, though i'm unable to find, the 21mm) can be bought for the pentax k-mount, and at times are cheaper than the sony, the canon and nikon variations of the same lens. and sigma and tamron have a few lenses too.
despite all that, canikon does have more options, but the pentax has more than 1 option too.
+Hadi Khan fair enough! I didn't find those when I looked. Glad those options are available. I'll annotate the video.
Fair enough? It's your fault you published a video acting as if it was 1 vs 20 lenses. If you're going to cite lenses as an example, make damn sure it doesn't have a Pentax mount. You came off as either ignorant or biased. Sure, just "annotate" it to show how reliable you actually are.
Hi Tony ,
Could you create a video on sunny 16 rule with examples
Regards,
Parag
@dennytenny Did I say the K-1 was the best camera for everything? Did I say Canon/Nikon was inferior in any way? No and no. Nice argument man, you really showed me!
+dennytenny he only recommends K1 for landscape and astrophotography. for all else Nikon and Canon are better according to tony
I love you Tony!
Now I'll watch the review.
Thanks for your review. Seems you kind of dislike the system, but everyone to his/her own.
The lens situation is not as dire as you make it look. Canikon is of course way more saturated, but there are a lot more third party FF lenses than you make it look. I love my 14mm 2.8 Samyang for example. There are cheaper alternatives as well. I use the Tamron 70-200, it was only about 600€ new. But Pentax has to bring some quality primes and they already announced them (kind of) on their roadmap.
But you are fair and that is most important. There are things Pentax isn´t good at, mainly action and video and you have to point that out. Good job.
I love my K-1, but it is not for everyone. It resonates with me. :)
Hello, Tony - nice review, entertaining to watch.
Regarding the price comparison - you tried to make up "same lenses" kits for Pentax, Canon and Nikon. Fair enough, as the Pentax D FA 15-30 and D FA 24-70 are modified Tamrons. However, the D FA 70-200 is not a modified Tamron but entirely a Pentax design. A very ambitious design, with no less than 8 special glass elements. You should compare it with the latest Canon/Nikon 70-200 f/2.8s
I'm aware that people say it's not the same design as the Tamron (Pentax won't comment on third parties designing their lenses). But our testing showed that the Pentax 70-200 didn't match the Canon or Nikon for edge sharpness, and it didn't match the Canon for focal length. So, it seemed more fair to compare it to the less expensive Tamron.
The 70-200 really isn't a Tamron - unlike the 15-30 and 24-70, it doesn't resemble any Tamron.
Interesting. According to Ephotozine, the Pentax 70-200 has a much more uniform performance than the Canon IS II; and it's excellent especially at the two ends (only at ¬100mm, the corners are slightly behind the center). Were you using AF+focus and recompose, by chance? (but you would be aware of this).
By the way - you can "disable" Pixel Shift at processing, using the Pentax Digital Camera Utility (which is actually the software delivered with the camera, not Silkypix Developer Studio Pro 7 - I've seen DPReview making the same confusion).
Pentax DCU, I'd say (after a very brief testing) has the best (artifact-free) results, better than Silkypix. Adobe Ligthroom doesn't even try.
That Astrophotography feature is SO COOL. I wish they had a nicer selection of glass. $1,800 is a steal for a great landscape camera.
HAHAHA the Honest Trailers intro was DOPE.