If every Pentax owner had submitted their “FF” dreams in order of priority, recognizing that a 36×24 sensor and supersized SR must fit inside and a K mount on the front, the result would look a lot like the K-1. In fact it’s hard to imagine a better implementation of the Pentax Theory of Capturing Light. It has every feature of recent APSc bodies (many updated with valuable improvements), adds new features and prices them well below most Pentax owners’ dreams.
Bravo Ricoh! My Imaging History
I had owned the ME Super since 1980 and the Program Plus in the ‘90s, along with my hiking companions the smc-M 24-50/4 and that 40mm pancake, and had no real issues with them (missing the low-battery alert in ’96 was entirely my fault). I also rolled it into a high Sierra creek once, and it worked perfectly again 24 hours later! Later that year I took it to be inspected and no issues at all were found – a testament to Pentax ruggedness and the pristine waters of Tully Creek.
Once the digital era began I dabbled in small-sensor cameras like the Kodak LS443 and Lumix DC40, but soon I learned that only a large sensor can duplicate the subject isolation and low-light subtleties. I spent two years of research before choosing a Sony A200, and only after the local salesperson failed to make my smc-M40 work on his Pentax body. Once Sony began to dismantle the Minolta DNA, reintroduced two awful A200 ‘updates’ and began to add special effects and‘translucent’ mirrors (and allow the talented A700 to fade away) I returned to Pentax, now fully aware of the ‘Aperture Ring Permitted’ setting that makes classic lenses sing.
I’ve used nearly every recent dSLR that Pentax has delivered: K100d, K200d, K-7, K-x, K-r, K-5 (both Classic and IIs), K-01, K-S1 and now the K-50. In each case some pleasant surprises have emerged (yes even the K-S1, which surprised me with its size and excellent 20Mpx sensor). Each of them has reinforced the Pentax penchant for value and durable construction that I remember from the past plus electronic and firmware innovation that the digital era has brought.
My Imaging Future?
I was certain that my future was with APSc cameras. I had tried cameras with sensor sizes down to 1” and decided that the gear that fit me best used the 24×18 sensor. The endless chant for 36×24 was intriguing to me but for me to choose a kit that would add 50-100% more bulk over my K-50 did not seem reasonable. I was perfectly happy and felt no urge to bend with the “FF” rumors.
Then the K-1 showed itself. And it shook me.
• More SR sensitivity? Hadn’t really thought about that side effect of up-sizing.
• A customizable Info-button screen? Wow, never thought to complain about that!
• LED lights on the body? Another forehead-slapping idea.
• Screen dimmer for night shots? My forehead is turning red from the slapping.
• Updated Pixel Shift mode? What - it can be better? Cool!
• ISO max of..
saythatagain? Golly that’s a big number.
• A crop mode that isn’t? Really? Somebody will let me decide how to crop DA lenses??
• Improved AF? What again? Oh and it clusters nicely in the APSc frame, great idea for my 55-300!
• Viewfinder overlays? Yes please, another excellent update!
• And all the updates the K-50 missed, like Clarity & 86k metering analysis – well of course!
This list keeps going at my ‘blogsite,
more K-1 camera comparisons
Throw in the actual size and weight, which are less than I expected, and it’s
capital-C Compelling.
In spite of my APSc-forever certainty I flung myself into the Full Frame and fact/rumor forum sections, adding tuppence at times and learning more about the third dial, the Martian Artifact tilt-screen (makes me think of HG Wells’ devices, is that just me?) and WiFi features. Tethering, 5-axis tilt screen and WiFi are not high on mywant/need list, but I’m glad they are there for others’ use. Heck I personally started a few K-1 threads! For a camera I was sure wasn’t for me.
What is happening to me?!? Easy answer: the K-1 happened, to me and to all camera owners.
No doubts were left after the R-Pentax reps spoke about the K-1 creation. It was made primarily with Pentax users in mind. Ricoh doesn’t really care about other companies – though the others will care a little since their profit margins just got thinner. Ricoh set out to make the best Pentax camera it can, right now - and did so without worrying about other manufacturers. That feels like a wise choice to me!
So for now I am still happy with my K-50. I have my focal lengths covered from 10-300mm (15-450mme) with Pentax zooms, and I have several nice primes and a couple of manual zooms that do well too. The K-1 will not have a big effect on my near future, that I’m a happy (and not wealthy) Pentax APSc user.
But the game has changed.
Many here will be stepping up very soon, and we’ve seen many new Forum users appear. The old questions return again (what’s that rattle? Will this K mount lens work?) and we answer them again, with all the patience that waiting for the K-1 taught us. One of the greatest features of the K-1 is that Pentax is a name to be reckoned with in many major formats – even the Qs count!
My favorite K-1 feature is the updated SR.
My second favorite feature is the PENTAX logo on this camera. Oh to be standing at an event with a K-1 around my neck, silently pledging my allegiance over all the ‘better’ camera makers on display. It's funny - I’ve never really felt like a Pentax public advocate before but the K-1 is that special, and its impact that big for me. Surprise..?