Author: | | Junior Member Registered: September, 2016 Posts: 38 5 users found this helpful | Review Date: April 20, 2018 | Recommended | Price: $1,100.00
| Rating: 9 |
Pros: | IQ, Knobs & Features, Tilt-Screen, E-Shutter, Build Quality | Cons: | Green Button placement, Thick Screen Bezel, Weak Battery | Years Owned: 1
Ergonomics: 9
Build Quality: 10
User Interface: 8
Autofocus: 9
Features: 9
Value: 8
Image Quality: 10
Noise: 10
New or Used: New
| | I thought I had everything I really needed with my K-50, and was amping myself for full frame. Then I saw the Pentax KP, and loved the retro look, and the high ISO capabilities, but didn't really care about upgrading APS-C. Until I needed that extra ISO step to boost low light image quality, the KP came on my next to buy. What I really didn't understand was how much of a beast this camera is. I've been using it for about a year now (bought in May '17), and decided it's time to spew some thoughts on the controversial KP!
The main thing I love about the KP isn't the max ISO increase, but the physicality of it. The build quality for this camera is really well done, and it's a joy to shoot with. It fits comfortably in my hand, and gives access to many physical buttons and knobs with varying textures. The weight is just okay, it's not the lightest or heaviest. A heavy and long lens does feel unbalanced on the KP. I primarily shoot APS-C normal primes (30mm-43mm), so I find that weight and size to be right distribution for this camera.
I will now talk about the knobs because I really think this is what draws me to this camera all the time. The 2 control knobs on the top right are customizable to most useful settings, and have a nice stiff turning mechanism to prevent accidental setting changes. The far left knob is a camera setting (M,AV, Tv, etc) dial that has an even more secure locking mechanism to prevent any setting changes when storing or moving around the camera. There's a physical switch on the big top button that alternates between OVF, LV, and Video. I love this feature exists, and keeps me in the screen I want to shoot with even if the camera turns off. The front vertical knob is in a very natural position, and feels great to turn. The back of the KP is pretty much standard DSLR control. I love the angled textured thumb grip, but it does make the Pentax Green Button awkward to hit when shooting with one hand.
The camera also comes with 3 interchangeable grips. I don't use the large one, but I frequently swap out the small and medium size depending on my lens choice. I'd say the FA LTD 31mm & DA LTD 20-40 needs the medium, while any of the DA LTDs use the small. The camera is enclosed by metal, and has a nice texture surrounding where hands usually go. Also, the shutter sound is really really pleasing - soft and deep. My K-50 shutter was a CLICK. The KP is more CACHUNK (or I may be crazy).
Now, image quality is really what I paid for when buying the KP. For digital photography, I find most current DSLRs will give you exactly what you desire with the right lighting, the right exposure, composition, technical sense, etc. But what the KP delivers is the ability to break a noise limit with its low light capabilities. I tend to push this guy up to ISO 6400 handheld when needed, and even 12800 a couple times. Though at ISO 12800, I'd say it's not really the prettiest color quality. Other than that, on normal usage the IQ of the KP is really stellar. Dynamic range is wonderful, and sensor resolution is amazing. It brings out the best in the limited lenses (FA and DA) and the classic manuals.
Something I barely use in DSLRs but should start... the KP's in-camera software features. First of all, I shoot in RAW+ so I can see how the camera interpreted the scene. But I turn off all extra processing features to save battery (if it does at all), because the KP has a really small battery for all the work it does. Of course, there are features that allow you to edit JPEG sharpening, color tones, skin tonality, distortion, etc, but most of these are standard to flagship Pentax DSLRs. There are various of shooting modes that multiple reviews cover. I don't really use them that often, but have on occasion. The buffer is right for me since I like snapshots, but can be slow for some if shooting moving objects often. I love the inclusion of the electronic shutter. It makes the KP a silent shooter when manually focusing in live view (turn on Focus Peaking!). I do wish it had a top down LCD like the K-1, but that would add size and weight. AF is surprisingly fast and accurate with old KAF lenses, and especially fast with the DC motor, I haven't tried SDM.
Overall, I really love using this camera from day to day. I'm not a professional by any means. I am a hobbyist snapshooter, but the KP in hand feels like an exquisite photography tool and my daily experiences with it feel very natural.
| | | | | Senior Member Registered: February, 2018 Location: Hérouville Saint Clair, Normandy, France Posts: 143 3 users found this helpful | Review Date: February 16, 2018 | Recommended | Price: $1,122.00
| Rating: 9 |
Pros: | Compacity, screen articulation, image quality | Cons: | | Ergonomics: 9
Build Quality: 10
User Interface: 10
Autofocus: 9
Features: 9
Value: 9
Image Quality: 10
Noise: 8
New or Used: New
| | Very small, fast, easy to use. Nice image stabilization, better than my K-3.
Beautiful design with LTD lenses.
I love it !
| | | | Pentaxian Registered: February, 2010 Location: Northern Michigan Posts: 6,175 5 users found this helpful | Review Date: December 27, 2017 | Recommended | Price: $999.99
| Rating: 9 |
Pros: | 5-axis stabilization, battery grip support, K-3 AF + K-70 IQ | Cons: | Flyover menus in playback and status screens; playback button placement | Years Owned: .3
Ergonomics: 10
Build Quality: 9
User Interface: 8
Autofocus: 9
Features: 9
Value: 8
Image Quality: 9
Noise: 9
New or Used: New
| | The most exciting feature, for me, of the K-1, was Pentax's development of 5-axis stabilization. I've been using 5-axis stabilized Olympus cameras for the last five years for the bulk of my hand-held work at wide to normal focal lengths and have marveled at how well it works. With the 3-axis stabilization of my K-5 series of cameras, I've struggled to get tripod sharp images at speeds lower than 1/60 of a second. With Pentax's new 5 axis stabilization, I can get tripod sharp images fairly reliably at 1/15 of a second, and occasionally at speeds at low as 1/6 of a second. That feature alone makes the KP worth the extra price over the K-70—at least for me. But there’s also the improved AF and the ability to add a battery grip, features which I very much appreciate.
I’m a bit surprised about complaints concerning KP build quality. Admittedly, I’ve never handled any of the K-3 or K-1 cameras. My only point of reference is the K200D and the K-5 series of cameras. I would say the KP is about on par, in terms of build quality, with the K-5. Handling is about on par as well. The KP features a wonderfully customizable control panel and a partly customizable E-Dial and button layout. My principle gripe is the flyover menus in the standby and playback screens. They add nothing to my experience with the camera beyond extra button presses.
With the inclusion of the E-dial and the exclusion of an integrated grip, there’s no longer any room for a top LCD. Pentax solves this problem by having the status screen on by default. However, because of the smaller battery (another tradeoff necessitated by lack of integrated grip), I’ve chosen to keep that status screen off. For the most part, this has not been a problem, since most of the info I need is displayed in the viewfinder—except for one thing: battery usage. With the status screen off, there’s no quick an easy way to monitor battery status, and as a result I’ve had the camera run out of juice on me three times in two months—something that never happened in seven years with my K-5 cameras.
Minor handling issues aside, where the KP really shines is image quality. Compared with the sterling K-5, the KP is about on par in terms of DR and a half to two-thirds stops better in high ISO performance. The extra pixels do provide additional resolution in the center of the image, although not so much toward the edges.
The KP constitutes one of Pentax’s more controversial cameras, and as such has engendered animus as well as some rather silly myths. One such myth is that, since the KP was designed largely for use with the DA limiteds, that it doesn’t work well with larger lenses. That’s complete nonsense. With the largest grip, the KP is about the same size and almost the same weight as the K-5. Has anyone ever complained that the K-5 does not work well with large lenses? Moreover, you can buy a battery grip for the KP, something you can’t do with any other Pentax non-flagship camera except the antediluvian (in digital camera terms) K200D. Despite a few minor flaws, the KP is a terrific camera, especially for landscape, travel, and deliberative portrait photography. It’s a beautifully designed and constructed camera and easily the best choice for low-light hand-held work among Pentax’s APS-C offerings.
| | | | Site Supporter Registered: May, 2011 Location: Arlington, VA USA Posts: 1,060 3 users found this helpful | Review Date: December 20, 2017 | Recommended | Price: $999.00
| Rating: 9 |
Pros: | Compact, Image Quality, Responsiveness | Cons: | No IR Port | | I've been using the KP for about two months and have to say I'm very happy. I feel it is the right balance of compactness and rich features. I got it as a back for my K-1, but find myself using it more and more. especially for my street photos and travel camera. I recently took it to a local music venue in DC, the lighting was difficult at best. But, I got some great images at 3200 and 6400 and very usable. Super quiet shutter and fast accurate focus. I don't find the lack of a top display an issue. Love using the DA 20-40 Limited on the KP. Only downside for me is no IR.
| | | | | Pentaxian Registered: September, 2008 Location: TN Posts: 621 4 users found this helpful | Review Date: October 12, 2017 | Recommended | Price: $1,100.00
| Rating: 10 |
Pros: | noise handling, light weight, I like everything | Cons: | it doesn't have any for me | Years Owned: almost one
Ergonomics: 10
Build Quality: 10
User Interface: 9
Autofocus: 9
Features: 10
Value: 10
Image Quality: 10
Noise: 10
New or Used: New
| | I had been waffling about whether to upgrade from my K-5 to a K-1, even after renting the latter. Somehow I had missed that anything was even in the pipeline until I got some newsletter or other by email. Just reading about this camera made me want it--and I am almost never an early adopter of anything. I pre-ordered, which is the only time I can recall pre-ordering anything.
I also got a DA 20-40 to go with it, and they make a perfect hiking combo. Lightweight, weather resistant, and lovely IQ. (I had resisted DA lenses for years, intending to go full frame, but my shooting changed over time, as did my ability to carry heavy bags.)
I've been delighted with this camera since I got my hands on it. I prefer the medium grip, and keep it on all the time. I mention this only because I have really small hands (ring size 4 on my left ring finger), so I thought I would prefer the small grip, but I did not.
I thought I might miss the top LCD; I never think about it. The back can be set to large print and is much easier to read without my glasses than the top LCD. I have yet to need 1/8000s shutter speed, though I suppose that could be an issue for some types of shooting, so 1/6000 has been fine for me.
This camera feels like they just made a camera specifically for my needs. It's perfect. Now I just need to find the perfect camera bag...
| | | | Forum Member Registered: April, 2015 Location: Italy Posts: 72 3 users found this helpful | Review Date: October 3, 2017 | Recommended | Price: $1,150.00
| Rating: 10 |
Pros: | dials, IQ, customization, 3 grips, M&E-shutter | Cons: | | New or Used: New
| | Every camera of the current generation of ILC is an amazing tool to take photographs, the real issue is to find a tool that suits your personal needs in terms of ergonomics et cetera: I have found it in the KP. Having experienced the ergonomics of ML systems I appreciate the compactness of the KP: it's a DSLR but it is easy to handle just like the Fujifilm X-T1, I use my KP mainly with the 100mm WR, the 20-40 Limited and the 15mm Limited and this kit fits perfectly in my Crumpler Light Delight Hipster 600. Always regarding ergonomics the biggest lens I have used my KP until now is the HD 55-300mm WR: no issue at all, even on the occasions when I had the small grip on the camera.
Dials and custom buttons are marvelous and the versatility of the top dial is a great working tool. This is my first camera without a top LCD and I feared I would miss all that useful info with the KP, but I have found out that setting the rear screen to "always on except when you shoot" it's even better than that: more info and - being bigger - easier to read. The possibility to choose between MS and ES - so reaching the amazing 1/24000 of a second - gives a lot of creative freedom. Live View works beautifully and the lever to activate it is just a brilliant idea and MF is a pleasure with the KP. Of course the KP gets all the latest generation Pentax goods in terms of SR, Pixel Shift and Prime processor and from what I remember of my K3 the improvement is sensible. The new Prime processor then works wonders with the new 24mp sensor, the KP simply annihilates every other APS-C competitor and even challenges the results of FF cameras in terms of detail and high ISO performance - if you don't believe me then just visit the DPReview image test comparison tool, select the KP and compare it with any other camera you want and you will have to believe your eyes.
In terms of build quality some details of the KP are not up to the Pentax standard, in terms of real world build quality the truth is that Pentax has spoiled its users, the KP is not the K3 - a camera that in terms of build quality stands the test with 4000 euros offers from Canon & Nikon - but my only real issue with the KP is the SD card door, it feels quite fragile, I treat my equipment with care, so it shouldn't be a problem, apart from this detail the KP is the usual sturdy Pentax camera.
Having used ML systems I don' t get the small battery argument: spare batteries are cheap and as long as the access to the battery door doesn't collide with the use of a tripod I have no issue with it. I use a lot of rear screen and a lot of Live View and I never get less than 350 shots (I can recommend the Patona spare batteries, just one suggestion: don't trust the low battery level indicator, it lies.
One word about Motion Correction Pixel Shift: does it work? a few days ago I tested it unintentionally: after taking a few Pixel Shift shots with the camera on my tripod and self-timer shooting, I took the camera off the tripod, disabled the self-timer and started shooting only to relaize I had forgot to disable Pixel Shift, so I said to myself: why not trying to shoot Pixel Shift handheld activating the Motion Correction? I understand this is not the way this feature was intended, but I decided to give it a try: it worked! I got a beautiful and sharp file, so I guess Motion Correction works both ways, I will always prefer using the tripod but in some cases when I am out without it...
I am not reviewing the video features because I don't use them
One last word about the AF: exceptional in low light situations, not so rich in terms of AF points and advanced features of course, but it will be good enough if you are good enough (being someone who started in 1982 shooting soccer, tennis and basketball with manual focus I don't understand all the fuss about AF).
| | | | Forum Member Registered: April, 2012 Posts: 79 1 user found this helpful | Review Date: July 6, 2017 | Recommended | Price: $1,000.00
| Rating: 10 |
Pros: | Ergonomics, ISO, styling, features, customisation | Cons: | Battery life | Years Owned: <1
Ergonomics: 10
Build Quality: 10
User Interface: 10
Autofocus: 9
Features: 10
Value: 10
Image Quality: 10
Noise: 10
New or Used: New
| | This is the camera for which I have waited. I cannot identify any relevant faults. I would have opted for the 190 battery, pushing the grip out to the S limit with the M grip included as standard, but I have big hands. I appreciate that there are many users preferring the S grip or no grip that decision would have affected. This is arguably the best Pentax for decades. It unarguably outperforms the competition in all aspects except focusing speed/accuracy for sports etc. where similarly priced Canikon products are faster and Sony A series are several cuts above for several thousand dollars more.
| | | | New Member Registered: December, 2012 Location: Stockholm Posts: 7 | Review Date: July 1, 2017 | Recommended | Price: $1,450.00
| Rating: 9 |
Pros: | Image quality, AF, Build quality | Cons: | Expensive | Years Owned: 0.5
Ergonomics: 7
Build Quality: 9
User Interface: 10
Autofocus: 8
Features: 10
Value: 8
Image Quality: 10
Noise: 9
New or Used: New
| | Very good camera, the camera that I have liked most of compared to K100D, K-7, K-30 which are the Pentax cameras I've owned previously.
+Image quality
+Functions
+AF, especially with 55-300 PLM
+Build quality
+Dust removal which works flawlessly, especially compared to K-30
-Batteries needs to be charged quite often
-The grip (I'm using the large one) could be better
-Lack of built in GPS
| | | | New Member Registered: June, 2012 Location: Amsterdam Posts: 7 3 users found this helpful | Review Date: May 21, 2017 | Recommended | Price: $1,299.00
| Rating: 8 |
Pros: | Clean images and image quality | Cons: | Plastic parts | Ergonomics: 8
Build Quality: 7
User Interface: 9
Autofocus: 9
Features: 8
Value: 7
Image Quality: 10
Noise: 9
New or Used: New
| | A great camera, with a new design. The build quality could have been better for the price. The K3II has a better build quality. The plastic for the flash sounds plastic when you tap it. A little bit thicker plastic would helped. You feel like you have to hold on to your camera and not drop it.
I did buy the camera for the results and there it shines. Great picture quality, on a Sunny day the RAW pictures are a little under exposed, but that is easely fixed in Lightroom. The noise is well controlled and has a fine structure.
If you like your image quality and take the build quality with a grean of salt than this camera is for you.
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