I continue with my first impressions of the new K-1. I won't speak about details and specific performance characteristics, as its not a final product, but yet again you can see many things by holding this camera and the feeling you get from its function... So:
- Great construction and ergonomics, as expected by Pentax. As it has been said the camera feels so robust and yet I found it lighter than expected and with the perfect size (not too big, not inconveniently small). I liked that it balances so well with the DFA 150-450 that was easier to hold and shoot than the K-5IIs.
- The new SR seems to be great improvement in comparison with the previous generations... I could take steady handheld shots at 450mm and speeds as low as 1/60 (and I don't mean one clear frame per ten shot, but consistently).
- AF performance is greater than expected!
- Impressed by the AF speed with the older screw driven lenses. The Tamron 70-200/2.8 was acting like a DC lens!
- I love the shutter sound and noise level!
- IQ is great and if you haven't had any previous experience with super resolution sensors (like me) I think it is impressive.
- As a final general remark, I can say that using the K-1 is a whole new experience. The lenses act and render pictures so differently that it was like using new previously unknown to me lenses. The rendering of the FA 31ltd for example stopped down to f2.8 really blew me away!
If you have seen and understand that 3D rendering or the so called "pixie dust" from such classic lenses, prepare for a whole new world with a whole new system!
- There is a "dark side" of this whole new world though! It's not for beginners, I can tell. It requires much more effort (and a longer learning curve I suspect) to get results that you could quite easily get with an APS-C camera (my K-5IIs to be more precise and make it personal-maybe it doesn't apply to everyone). Or to put it in a different way: I could get results from my K-5s without bothering and at the same time feeling confident about them... now I have to check!
It sure is a system that requires much attention to the last detail, but the final output is more than you could expect and so rewarding!!!
Surely after last evening test, I'm very excited and I can't wait for my new K-1!