Owning both a Pentax K-1 and a Nikon D810 at the moment, I can say that the Pentax AF system does lag behind Nikon's, but it really isn't a huge difference unless you're pushing things to the limit for action shooting. In the latter scenario, the Nikon is simply able to adjust the focus more quickly, thanks to faster in-camera calculations as well as faster AF motors. The greater number of AF points helps, but it really boils down to the technical implementation. That's where the SAFOX hardware falls short, IMO.
That said, for "everyday shooting" such as landscapes, portraits, and travel shots, there really isn't much of a downside to the Pentax (if any). I've been using the K-1 pretty much exclusively since it came out, and I'm happy with it. I don't feel like I've been held back by the AF system. It's great in low light, too.
Ironically, the only thing I wish Pentax would improve is contrast detect focusing when magnification is on. I do a lot of product/food photography, and being able to blow up the image while operating CDAF on the Nikon is awesome. On the Pentax, it just zooms you out and ends up giving you a less precise result than the Nikon. Of course, you can not be lazy and just focus manually, but the CDAF still gives you a great starting point, and having the camera reset the zoom can get annoying.
I really like the "proper" viewfinder overlay found in the K-1. Minimally, compared to the K-3, it gives you better feedback on what the camera has focused on, so you can decide whether or not to take the shot, or re-focus.
YMMV, but the widespread claim that "Pentax AF sucks" is far from accurate IMO. "Pentax AF isn't cutting edge" would be more appropriate, because in all fairness, it isn't. But most users will still be happy with it
Adam
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