Amateur Photographer (UK) - 5 star review for K-1

**BigMackCam** · 09-08-2016, 12:07 PM

This week's Amateur Photographer magazine has a very positive and balanced review of the K-1...

Pentax K-1 review - Amateur Photographer

normhead · 09-08-2016, 12:43 PM

Here's what I think is important... Better Dynamic Range at 400 ISO than my K-3 at 100 ISO.
4400 lw/ph at 1600 ISO.... 4800 lw/ph at 100 ISO.

So that extends my range to 1600 ISO for the K-1 up from 640 for my K-3, but remember, functionally that is 800 ISO on a K-3 if you keep the DoF constant, so it's really only aboutt 1/3 stop better.

Essentially, it's all about the resolution.

6BQ5 · 09-08-2016, 01:26 PM

So, @normhead, basically you're saying you want one and are looking for a reason to justify the purchase. Well, the justification has been made. Go on, get it. Heh!

lytrytyr · 09-08-2016, 01:55 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by BigMackCam

This week's Amateur Photographer magazine has a very positive and balanced review of the K-1...

Pentax K-1 review - Amateur Photographer

And the K-1 made it into the What Digital Camera "Best Full-Frame DSLRs 2016" list:

Best Full-Frame DSLRs 2016 - What Digital Camera

Unregistered User · 09-08-2016, 01:58 PM

If I understand the charts correctly the DR is one stop better than the D810 at ISO100. 13.8 vs 12.86. Is this correctly understood? 4800 lp/ph vs 4000...

normhead · 09-08-2016, 02:10 PM

Originally posted by 6BQ5

So, @normhead, basically you're saying you want one and are looking for a reason to justify the purchase. Well, the justification has been made. Go on, get it. Heh!

Basically I'm saying, until I think I need the resolution, the next APS-c body might be my next choice, or the K-70. But right now, the K-3 is doing everything I need. I have nothing against K-1, except for the Canadian dollar is so low, it's exorbitantly expensive. Almost 3k up here with tax.

That 13.8 DR is drool worthy exceeding my K-5, by a half stop, as is 4400 lw/ph at 400 ISO. The site doesn't do a resolution chart on a K-3 so, it's hard to compare what the gain would be.

**BigMackCam** · 09-08-2016, 02:14 PM

I'm not considering a move to the K-1 either, Norm. I'd definitely *like* one, and if money were no object, I'd go right out and buy one tomorrow... but I have my APS-C bodies, and - along with the lenses I've got - they really do everything I need (more than I need, if I'm honest). If that should ever change at some point further down the road, then who knows

Nice to see the K-1 getting due recognition in the press, though

Unregistered User · 09-08-2016, 02:22 PM

Looking at DxOmark the DR is 14.8 for the D810 vs 12.86 in the AP review... 2 stops different. Well, I guess we have to wait for DxOmarks K-1 measurements to be able to compare.

lytrytyr · 09-08-2016, 03:09 PM

Originally posted by Tjompen1968

Well, I guess we have to wait for DxOmarks K-1 measurements to be able to compare.

Be ready for them to give us a long wait!

Unregistered User · 09-08-2016, 03:12 PM

Originally posted by lytrytyr

Be ready for them to give us a long wait!

I know

**monochrome** · 09-08-2016, 03:17 PM - **1 Like**

It will be an undocumented line entry in the results table for the Sony MF MILC, that will later be removed and memory-holed.

**ffking** · 09-09-2016, 02:21 AM - **1 Like**

AP's been going over 130 years so it's seen a few things come and go in photography - it also remains the most british of the photo magazines - particularly in its fairness to all brands - I think it's always realised that diversity of options keeps prices down and drives innovation, so it's fighting on behalf of of ts readership in this, not the big corporations who make cameras. Having said which, I do think it has a soft spot for Pentax - the late Dr Stewart Bell, who used to test lenses for the magazine in the latter part of the last century, was a big fan of Pentax optics even when the company was out of fashion. ..

So, I think the review starts from a place of wanting the camera to be good, but it's not without its criticisms - though it's nice to see that these aren't all the same old same old criticisms that are always wheeled out against Pentax - so we can probably characterise the review as positive fair rather than negative fair - in itself that's something to celebrate, and the five stars seem warranted by the body of the text - so that's something to be celebrated too

noelpolar · 09-09-2016, 03:50 AM - **1 Like**

mmm... just had a read..... I'd rate the review as quite "Fair and balanced"..... feels sort of strange to be treated that way......

mohb · 09-09-2016, 04:15 AM

Quote:

Continuous focus doesn’t track quite as well as other systems

That's not going to get anybody upset and complaining about bias

**BigMackCam** · 09-09-2016, 04:15 AM

Originally posted by noelpolar

I'd rate the review as quite "Fair and balanced"..... feels sort of strange to be treated that way......

LOL

I know... I read it a couple of times to see if I had missed the "elbow in the ribs" comments... but no, it's all very reasonable

09-08-2016, 12:07 PM	#1
BigMackCam Digitiser of Film Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: North East of England Posts: 20,674	Amateur Photographer (UK) - 5 star review for K-1 This week's Amateur Photographer magazine has a very positive and balanced review of the K-1... Pentax K-1 review - Amateur Photographer

09-09-2016, 02:21 AM - 1 Like	#12
ffking Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Old South Wales Posts: 6,038	AP's been going over 130 years so it's seen a few things come and go in photography - it also remains the most british of the photo magazines - particularly in its fairness to all brands - I think it's always realised that diversity of options keeps prices down and drives innovation, so it's fighting on behalf of of ts readership in this, not the big corporations who make cameras. Having said which, I do think it has a soft spot for Pentax - the late Dr Stewart Bell, who used to test lenses for the magazine in the latter part of the last century, was a big fan of Pentax optics even when the company was out of fashion. .. So, I think the review starts from a place of wanting the camera to be good, but it's not without its criticisms - though it's nice to see that these aren't all the same old same old criticisms that are always wheeled out against Pentax - so we can probably characterise the review as positive fair rather than negative fair - in itself that's something to celebrate, and the five stars seem warranted by the body of the text - so that's something to be celebrated too Last edited by ffking; 09-09-2016 at 03:21 AM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
The sharpest lenses for a Pentax according to Amateur Photographer Magazine.	Nickrs	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	96	04-08-2018 08:41 AM
Is the K1 really for the average amateur photographer?	robert	Pentax K-1 & K-1 II	94	05-30-2016 02:56 AM
Amateur Photographer UK says Pentax K3 is a giant step for Pentax	raider	Pentax K-3 & K-3 II	9	10-29-2013 03:18 PM
Pentax K-5 on the cover of Amateur Photographer	fearview	Pentax News and Rumors	36	02-04-2011 12:39 PM
Amateur Photographer delays Pentax K7 review	Adrian Owerko	Pentax News and Rumors	41	06-24-2009 02:32 AM

09-08-2016, 12:43 PM	#2
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	Here's what I think is important... Better Dynamic Range at 400 ISO than my K-3 at 100 ISO. 4400 lw/ph at 1600 ISO.... 4800 lw/ph at 100 ISO. So that extends my range to 1600 ISO for the K-1 up from 640 for my K-3, but remember, functionally that is 800 ISO on a K-3 if you keep the DoF constant, so it's really only aboutt 1/3 stop better. Essentially, it's all about the resolution.

09-08-2016, 01:26 PM	#3
6BQ5 Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Nevada, USA Photos: Albums Posts: 3,348	So, @normhead, basically you're saying you want one and are looking for a reason to justify the purchase. Well, the justification has been made. Go on, get it. Heh!

09-08-2016, 01:55 PM - 1 Like	#4
lytrytyr Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2011 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,310	Originally posted by BigMackCam This week's Amateur Photographer magazine has a very positive and balanced review of the K-1... Pentax K-1 review - Amateur Photographer And the K-1 made it into the What Digital Camera "Best Full-Frame DSLRs 2016" list: Best Full-Frame DSLRs 2016 - What Digital Camera

09-08-2016, 01:58 PM	#5
Unregistered User Guest	If I understand the charts correctly the DR is one stop better than the D810 at ISO100. 13.8 vs 12.86. Is this correctly understood? 4800 lp/ph vs 4000...

09-08-2016, 02:10 PM	#6
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	Originally posted by 6BQ5 So, @normhead, basically you're saying you want one and are looking for a reason to justify the purchase. Well, the justification has been made. Go on, get it. Heh! Basically I'm saying, until I think I need the resolution, the next APS-c body might be my next choice, or the K-70. But right now, the K-3 is doing everything I need. I have nothing against K-1, except for the Canadian dollar is so low, it's exorbitantly expensive. Almost 3k up here with tax. That 13.8 DR is drool worthy exceeding my K-5, by a half stop, as is 4400 lw/ph at 400 ISO. The site doesn't do a resolution chart on a K-3 so, it's hard to compare what the gain would be.

09-08-2016, 02:14 PM	#7
BigMackCam Digitiser of Film Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: North East of England Posts: 20,674 Original Poster	I'm not considering a move to the K-1 either, Norm. I'd definitely like one, and if money were no object, I'd go right out and buy one tomorrow... but I have my APS-C bodies, and - along with the lenses I've got - they really do everything I need (more than I need, if I'm honest). If that should ever change at some point further down the road, then who knows Nice to see the K-1 getting due recognition in the press, though

09-08-2016, 02:22 PM	#8
Unregistered User Guest	Looking at DxOmark the DR is 14.8 for the D810 vs 12.86 in the AP review... 2 stops different. Well, I guess we have to wait for DxOmarks K-1 measurements to be able to compare.

09-08-2016, 03:09 PM	#9
lytrytyr Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2011 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,310	Originally posted by Tjompen1968 Well, I guess we have to wait for DxOmarks K-1 measurements to be able to compare. Be ready for them to give us a long wait!

09-08-2016, 03:12 PM	#10
Unregistered User Guest	Originally posted by lytrytyr Be ready for them to give us a long wait! I know

09-08-2016, 03:17 PM - 1 Like	#11
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	It will be an undocumented line entry in the results table for the Sony MF MILC, that will later be removed and memory-holed.

09-09-2016, 03:50 AM - 1 Like	#13
noelpolar Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Goolwa, SA Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,310	mmm... just had a read..... I'd rate the review as quite "Fair and balanced"..... feels sort of strange to be treated that way......

09-09-2016, 04:15 AM	#14
mohb Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Photos: Albums Posts: 1,912	Quote: Continuous focus doesn’t track quite as well as other systems That's not going to get anybody upset and complaining about bias

09-09-2016, 04:15 AM	#15
BigMackCam Digitiser of Film Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: North East of England Posts: 20,674 Original Poster	Originally posted by noelpolar I'd rate the review as quite "Fair and balanced"..... feels sort of strange to be treated that way...... LOL I know... I read it a couple of times to see if I had missed the "elbow in the ribs" comments... but no, it's all very reasonable