Pentax has never made a full-frame DSLR before, but this new camera, the K-1, definitely makes it look like the wait is worth it.
The company has been thinking of building a full-frame DSLR for quite some time now. Pentax had scrapped of its plans to enter the market a whopping fifteen years ago and the prototype to this camera was showcased last year. Still, the camera does look its part.
The sensor for the camera is a 36.4-megapixel full-frame sensor and is enclosed inside a magnesium alloy body that’s claimed to be weather-resistant and dustproof. Another very interesting feature of this camera is its rear screen. It is a 3.2-inch display that uses a mechanism that allows it to be viewed at different angles while always sitting on the lens’ optical axis. The camera also features five-axis in-body image stabilization, which both shifts the sensor and combines images to sharpen photographs.
Talking of other specs, the camera shoots with an ISO up to 204,800, top shutter speed of 1/8000 sec, and at a continuous rate of up to 4.4 frames per second. All these specs are not too shabby, these do make the camera an interesting prospective buy.
The company is also introducing a 15-30mm f/2.8 ultra-wide angle zoom and a 28-105mm f/3.5-5.6 general purpose zoom alongside the K-1 and the company’s legacy of excellent 35mm SLR lenses from the film era will definitely help the camera.
Lastly, talking about the most important information for this camera, the price; $1,800. It is quite close to similar cameras offered by Canon and Nikon. As for the performance, we will have to wait until its release in April to find out. Still, we can definitely say that the overall prospect of the camera does look a lot promising, especially, as far as looks and exclusivity are concerned.
