Used Pentax K-1 Digital SLR Camera Body

2019-04-30T12:07:33

I can't say enough how much I love this camera.I'm a well known wedding photographer in my area, and when people ask me what camera I use they are always so surprised I'm not using the typical canon/nikon like everyone else. The images it produces are amazing, I love using the tilt screen with facial recognition (so helpful in a busy reception!), and the dynamic range is out of this world.

Courtney F.

2018-05-24T08:58:06

This is the almost perfect camera for night photography, landscape, dSLR astrophotography. Why not perfectly perfect? Wish it were a bit lighter weight. ** NO ** star EATER problem like the damn Sony A7MESS. Beware, the Mark 1 has better image quality than newer mark 2.

RICHARD C.

2018-03-01T09:45:02

Excelent camera

Guillermo A.

2018-02-07T11:01:25

Built like a tank and shoots like one too. Amazing camera, the DR out of the images is some of the best out of anything I have owned. The features this comes with was really my selling point. The astrotracer is really fun to play with, and it does great time lapses.

ANDREW C.

2018-01-02T11:26:05

Very good Camera, and the lens have many choices.

XIAOLIANG S.

2017-12-28T18:22:30

Top-notch image quality, intuitive menu, useful GPS geo-tagging, quick auto-focus (faster than the K3), legendary Pentax weather-sealing. APS-C lenses work well, although at a lower resolution than that of full-frame lenses. Pentax’s wi-fi system (Image Sync) allows operation of the K1 from a phone or tablet. It is less refined at transferring photos, but a proprietary app accelerates this process. Even the maligned video mode seems to provide crisp clips for this non-videographer. A lot of camera for a fair price, and the weather sealing allows me to capture images in conditions that other photographers eschew.

Thomas W.

2017-09-20T17:26:57

Fantastic full frame and at a reasonable price.

NEIL L.

2017-09-09T06:51:59

Best camera i have used

ERICK A.

2017-08-22T10:42:51

No big complaints but I did break mine (tripod fell) and it seemed to break easier than my K-3 which has survived a similar fall. The top where the GPS is seems like it's the weak point and that is where mine cracked. It was a sad day. It's a pleasure to use and I like almost everything about it. Lots of buttons for quick access to commonly used functions. For landscapes and portraits it really excels. Action is doable but it's not quite as at home in that environment.. My hit rate with a bike race is better with a K-3. AF points are crowded in the middle of the frame and the buffer can take a while to clear. The raw files are great to work with and the image quality is amazing. Pixelshift is not just hype and can capture amazing detail in static shots.

matt b.

2017-06-10T06:45:26

I was a life long canon user intil i found this jewel. For the price of the K1 body, i dont think there is another camera on the market that comes close to the features and build quality. What swayed me towards this initially was the weather sealing and the reputation pentax has for that said quality. I mainly shoot nature, so i am out in the elements almost exclusively while shooting. The camera is a tank, and with the 300mm da* attached, i may need to start working out again to be able to run around with this all day! Some of the features dont seem as well developed as the competition. For example, i have a sony a6000 with built in wifi and it is very easy and fast to transfer an image directly to my phone and do a quick edit to throw onto instagram if i want to share something from my day. The pentax app on the phone is a bit lacking, but it does still work, just not as intuitive. The astrotrackingfeature actually does seem to work on wide field astrophotography, but i seem to still get a little star trailing towards the edges. Possibly its user error since ive only tried this 2x, but even if this is just how it is, you can crop 15 percent off the edges and still have a large image from the 36megapixel sensor. Auto focus seems a bit slow, but again this is for landscapes mainly, and i still have been able to capture some quick moving birds. I bought the battery grip extender as well and it does help make the camera easier to handle and just makes it look even more professional. I would definitely recommend this camera to any nature photographer, but if fast action is your main subject, you would probably want something with a more advanced AF system.

ERIC E.

2017-05-12T11:57:38

Incredible low light capability when paired with a quality fast lens like my Pentax HD D FA 24-70mm f/2.8ED SDM WR Lens.

DENNIS M.

2017-05-04T08:29:33

Great images with fast, accurate AF. Live view AF is OK... Not great - but definitely usable. Image stabilization is exceptional and having owned all 3 at one time or the other, I prefer the images from the K-1 to the Sony A7rII or A99MKII. Great camera!

Thomas S.

2017-03-16T11:18:06

I have owned 4 pentax cameras and the K 1 top them all. It is flexable. I can use all my old lenes. The camera like all i weather sealed. The full frame give more ability to crop and enhance. There are more options and more fast buttons and dials. It is priced right and take sharp beautiful pictures. Can't ask for more.

JAMES B.

2017-02-15T03:04:04

I recently bought the K-1 and I am not at all disappointed. In my limited use so far, it performs just as described. I wish there were a few more FF lenses available in the k- mount, but I guess those will come later.

Gary L.

2017-02-14T17:31:07

The Pentax K-1 is a great camera. Meant for people that like the outdoor photography, shoot to the stars and everything but sports. I enjoy taking photos with it. It's full of cool features.

Rafael O.

2016-11-14T09:26:57

Working with you guys was super. The camera and accessories are exactly what I ordered and delivered on time

LOCHIEL R.

2016-11-09T18:26:03

Its everything you'd hope for from Pentax in a full frame. Only improvement it needs is faster, more accurate auto focus although to be fair I have my old screw drive 31mm limited prime on it and haven't tried any other lens yet.

JESSICA W.

2016-10-27T17:05:06

Simple and sweet...great camera...good low light capability, fantastic resolution sensor...easy and usable layout and love the extra "Easy Dial"...OK for normal sports but for fast action better off not using full frame as will speed up the camera and still give you great photos.

Todd B.

2016-09-27T10:05:54

The reviews by the pro websites are pretty on point. The dynamic range and image quality are absolutely fantastic and at least on par with top of the line FF cameras from the competitors. Autofocus speed is, as many have pointed out, not as great as Canikon, but for anything other than sports or fast moving wildlife this is really not a problem. The old FA primes work great on it. It really is a pleasure to use. It will feel like it was worth every penny (even if like me, you have a K3 and you don't actually need it hehe).

Jorge V.

2016-07-26T14:17:08

Love my K-1! I'm still learning all the features, but the pics are outstanding. The low light capability and the sensor range produces great results. The large tilt screen is super and the intensity is easily adjustable. If I really need a flash my Pentax 540 works better than on any previous model. GPS is a great addition and is very accurate. The WI-FI software is flaky on my Nexus 5, but that's my only negative. Check out some samples; https://waynelr.smugmug.com/organize/Travel/Minnesota/Twin-Cities-Metro/Maplewood/Joy-Park/i-rZNW3c4

Wayne R.

2016-07-09T10:08:43

The Camera Body feels good in my hands. Focus works much better compare to my Pentax K5. A lot of the settings for experiments in the camera as I will have time for future learning adventure. The Pentax put so much new technology that this camera that I understand why we wait so long for a full frame body. Resolution, colors, noise performance for the price that you pay give you a lot values.

Ivan M.

2016-07-08T09:39:27

So far so good, still learning all the features.As compared to my K5 and K3 it's a good addition with full frame.

JAMES S.

2016-07-07T13:14:25

My first observation was how much better all my full frame lenses performed, as though they'd never been used properly before. Second, nearly as impressive is the improved shake reduction. I have been hand-holding my 90mm and 125mm lenses for a couple of second exposures and still getting decent shots. Third, the ISO performance really delivers, far better than on any previous Pentax model. If this camera functions without bugs (which I still don't know since I've not had it long), it is going to be the best I've owned.

LES S.

2016-07-06T19:03:22

I would give this camera 6 stars if I could. The K-1 is has excellent built quality as expected from Pentax and the image quality is simply astonishing. If you are looking into purchasing this camera you have probably read many reviews on the web as I did before buying it. This camera has features that are very unique and come in handy. The focus peaking on the tilt screen for example is a joy to use while taking macro shots. I have not played around with the pixle shift to test it yet. What makes me love this camera is the resolution. It brings new life to all my lenses. I know there are a lot of talk on the internet about lack of lenses for Pentax. Honestly, I don't worry about 500 different lenses out there that I probably would never own. I just wanted the camera to work with the lenses I already had. I put my DA 35mm f/2.4, which is a $150 lens, on this camera and I was blown away by the images it produced. The amount of detail is amazing. Even at 1:1 crop you still have a decent printable photo. Here is a JPEG straight from the camera https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2zx_PrQkcruNVBlZGpwcUdNSDQ/view?usp=sharing Here is the same photo cropped and resized: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2zx_PrQkcrubmktZjRPdDhRdk0/view?usp=sharing Look at all the skin and the rocks. It's just wonderful. I would highly recommend buying the Pentax grip for this camera though. It makes the camera easier to handle and more balanced, also extends the battery life.

Ali E.

2016-07-06T16:21:54

I've had my K-1 for about a month now and I've taken approximately 600 pictures. I'm very pleased with this camera. From a technical perspective, the camera has performed very well, with accurate exposure, good color rendition, reliable auto-focus and low noise even at relatively high ISO. The flexibility in shooting modes is very good. I generally use the TAv setting where I determine the shutter speed and aperture and let the camera choose the ISO within a specified range. This gives me a very high level of control. Battery life has been good. I like the ability to move the rear screen, especially for shooting shots at ground level, as I do for certain landscapes. The third control dial on the top is quite handy, although I miss the large top LCD. The shake reduction appears to work very well. I haven't used the LED lighting but I know that will be a big plus when shooting in the dark. I like the improved brightness options for the rear screen and I can now inspect pictures in the bright sunlight. The camera is marginally larger and heavier than my K-3 but it's not very noticeable. I have used the Image Synch app to transfer pictures to my tablet and it worked well but was not very intuitive. I expect I'll miss the onboard flash at some point in time, but I'm sure I'll like the GPS tagging on shots when desired. I wish I could use more of my lenses on this camera but I prefer not to shoot in crop mode as I can do that with my K-3. And I wish I didn't need to buy bigger filters as the K-1 takes 82 mm filters which can be somewhat expensive. Overall I'm very pleased with the K-1 and it is a big advance over my K-3, which is a pretty good camera.

Dave T.

2016-07-06T10:31:41

Ive been waiting for a Pentax FF Camera for years. Well.....its finally here and I cant find a Single complaint. I shoot Pentax and Vintage K Mount Glass and WOW.......was I ever surprised !!!I later ordered the 28-105 DFA Lens , but have been getting Amazing Results with anything from my Old Takumars......all the way to my F series lenses. This is the smartest Choice I have made in many years and am actually going to get a Second K-1 by Christmas. Amazing.......is the first word that comes to mind.......YOU Simply Cannot go wrong with this one !

RONALD O.

2016-07-06T08:51:05

If you've ever shot with a Pentax. You can pick up the K1 and go. And it you want to really get deep into the menus... You won't be disappointed. It's endlessly customizable, and delivers amazing shots. A whole lot of cameras, for a great price. The Pentax Way.

SEAN P.

2016-06-17T02:50:18

k1 is by any way the best camera i have owned. i use nikon d610 ,fuji xpro1 ,pentax k3ii But this k1 is some thing different. it is the perfect camera from pentax who needs more!

zakaria m.

2016-06-16T12:10:49

Debated at length between this and the D810, another fine option. In the end, chose this for the focus peaking (invaluable for macro and other shallow depth-of-field shots) and in-body stabilization which works amazingly well on non-stabilized lenses. I'm choosing lightweight lenses to keep the weight at or below what my K-3 was with a 17-50 zoom. No regrets whatsoever.

Leo B.

2016-06-14T15:45:02

To me all Pentax bodies upgrades were primarily about image quality and K-1 must be the biggest leap (from K-5). The dynamic range is excellent as controlled by auto settings - I rarely have to compensate for highlights and shadows in the Raw developer. Noise is also remarkably low all the way up to 3200 ISO (I haven't used it past). Regarding performance, I perceive both autofocus and shake reduction as significant improvements. Ergonomics didn't disappoint me, once I got over the steep curve of learning the customizing options. :) The large viewfinder makes the manual focusing easy and is overall a pleasure to watch the world through. ;) At this early stage of FF in Pentax history probably the most important aspect is the lens compatibility, and here are a few personal conclusions: - DA 12-24/4 becomes a capable 18-22mm in FF, with some correctable chromatic aberrations towards the edges but very good resolution otherwise. Too bad there isn't a lighter f/4 alternative to the 15-30/2.8 and no FF prime below 30mm; Ricoh really needs to focus on this range. - FF primes: FA 35/2, FA 50/1.4, FA 100/2.8 are all excellent pairings with the 36MP sensor, living up to the expectations; - DA 40/2.8 XS is surprisingly an almost FF lens, achieving excellent resolution all the way to extreme corners, where it drops abruptly; good quality coverage exceeds 95% of frame area; - DA 50-135/2.8 has no FF coverage at no focal length - as expected; the quality of the APS frame crop is excellent though, above the 16MP APS generation (K5 etc.); - DA* 300/4 is in fact a FF design, delivering high and even resolution across the frame; i still have to do some tests with the DA 1.4X AW rear converter and will report back. Finally a highlight on the availability of raw converters as June 2016: - Pentax DCU is a complete joke, unusable not even for limited tasks, and totally compromised both in performance and usability; Ricoh really needs to realize the importance of good software in this age. - Silkypix is a decent Raw developer, with support for pixel shift and acceptable performance / usable workflow; - Capture One still shines as a notable absence; too bad as support for previous Pentax cameras is top notch. Overall K-1 is one of Pentax's best efforts ever, highly recommended, if you can afford to wait for the missing pieces to fall in line.

Alin F.