A 2023 review of the Pentax K-1 Mk2

*Ertos* · 01-07-2023, 09:58 AM - **30 Likes**

Hello Pentaxians,

New Pentax owner here. I was craving a different shooting experience after years with mirrorless cameras. Have a read to see what I think of the K-1 ii and three limited lenses (21, 43, 77).

Scotland, a place of beauty (with a Pentax K-1 !!)

Cheers, Erwin

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**StiffLegged** · 01-07-2023, 10:56 AM

I enjoyed your images, Erwin!

biz-engineer · 01-07-2023, 11:01 AM

Nice pics.
Note: the Pentax K1 and K1 II can focus in live view, it's not only for focusing manually.

**mattt** · 01-07-2023, 11:03 AM

Originally posted by biz-engineer

Nice pics.
Note: the Pentax K1 and K1 II can focus in live view, it's not only for focusing manually.

I find the live view experience for portraiture pretty reliable - enjoyable even?

**BarryE** · 01-07-2023, 11:31 AM

Nice images and write up. It doesn't surprise me that the majority of the responses so far have been related to LV. I suspect "On some occasions, you can use it for manual focus but you are better off sticking to the bright OVF." is going to go down too well ;-)

LV manual focussing is very precise when you can magnify the image to X10. This is my main method of focussing. I've just started a project that'ss limiting me to landscapes at f2 only, and with the 43 & 77 manual focussing with LV works well - allows me to get sharp focus with the 43 at the edges at f2 and throw the rest oof nicely.

jcdoss · 01-07-2023, 11:51 AM

Originally posted by Ertos

Scotland, a place of beauty (with a Pentax K-1 !!)

Nice write up, and welcome to Pentax! I can't believe you busted your K-1 though. Did you fix it?

**bwgv001** · 01-07-2023, 12:49 PM

Congrats, beautiful pics and write-up.

TheSwede · 01-07-2023, 12:53 PM

Not often mentioned is the possibility to zoom in LV and then also stop down to choosen aperture to check the DOF using the ON/OFF/DOF switch. Helps you nail the DOF and fix focus shift that sometimes happens with some lenses. (DFA24-70 is prone to this but compensated in FW when shooting OVF)

cport · 01-07-2023, 03:06 PM

very nice reading!

**Sakura** · 01-07-2023, 03:34 PM

Beautiful pictures and a great description of a beautiful country that i also fell in love with since my holiday to that area.

**Buckeyemikie** · 01-07-2023, 04:18 PM

Thank you for a great change of pace post, well done.

**Bob 256** · 01-07-2023, 07:34 PM

Great shots Erwin! You do Scotland good justice in your shooting.

*Ertos* · 01-08-2023, 03:41 AM

Originally posted by BarryE

Nice images and write up. It doesn't surprise me that the majority of the responses so far have been related to LV. I suspect "On some occasions, you can use it for manual focus but you are better off sticking to the bright OVF." is going to go down too well ;-)

LV manual focussing is very precise when you can magnify the image to X10. This is my main method of focussing. I've just started a project that'ss limiting me to landscapes at f2 only, and with the 43 & 77 manual focussing with LV works well - allows me to get sharp focus with the 43 at the edges at f2 and throw the rest oof nicely.

Yes, perhaps not a popular opinion. I mean, it's not that the LV doesn't work, it jus works very poorly. Compared to a mirrorless system, that is.

Sounds like great fun with the 43/77 combo!

*Ertos* · 01-08-2023, 03:42 AM

Originally posted by jcdoss

Nice write up, and welcome to Pentax! I can't believe you busted your K-1 though. Did you fix it?

Thanks! Not yet. I understand a bit of force with some pliers might be enough to do the trick. Will give it a go this afternoon....

biz-engineer · 01-08-2023, 05:36 AM

Originally posted by Ertos

I mean, it's not that the LV doesn't work, it jus works very poorly. Compared to a mirrorless system, that is.

I think, looking at your pictures in a museum setting, no one would ever notice that the auto-focus was slower compared mirror-less, they wouldn't even think about it, viewers would just appreciate your pictures and say they are excellent, don't you think so ?

01-07-2023, 03:06 PM	#9
cport Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 428	well .. very nice reading!

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01-07-2023, 10:56 AM	#2
StiffLegged Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2018 Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,635	I enjoyed your images, Erwin!

01-07-2023, 11:01 AM	#3
biz-engineer Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2015 Photos: Gallery Posts: 12,247	Nice pics. Note: the Pentax K1 and K1 II can focus in live view, it's not only for focusing manually.

01-07-2023, 11:03 AM	#4
mattt Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Niagara Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,907	Originally posted by biz-engineer Nice pics. Note: the Pentax K1 and K1 II can focus in live view, it's not only for focusing manually. I find the live view experience for portraiture pretty reliable - enjoyable even?

01-07-2023, 11:31 AM	#5
BarryE Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Hampshire, UK Posts: 1,654	Nice images and write up. It doesn't surprise me that the majority of the responses so far have been related to LV. I suspect "On some occasions, you can use it for manual focus but you are better off sticking to the bright OVF." is going to go down too well ;-) LV manual focussing is very precise when you can magnify the image to X10. This is my main method of focussing. I've just started a project that'ss limiting me to landscapes at f2 only, and with the 43 & 77 manual focussing with LV works well - allows me to get sharp focus with the 43 at the edges at f2 and throw the rest oof nicely.

01-07-2023, 11:51 AM	#6
jcdoss Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Ingelheim am Rhein, Germany Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,801	Originally posted by Ertos Scotland, a place of beauty (with a Pentax K-1 !!) Nice write up, and welcome to Pentax! I can't believe you busted your K-1 though. Did you fix it?

01-07-2023, 12:49 PM	#7
bwgv001 Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Alabama Photos: Gallery Posts: 698	Congrats, beautiful pics and write-up.

01-07-2023, 12:53 PM	#8
TheSwede Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2022 Posts: 70	Not often mentioned is the possibility to zoom in LV and then also stop down to choosen aperture to check the DOF using the ON/OFF/DOF switch. Helps you nail the DOF and fix focus shift that sometimes happens with some lenses. (DFA24-70 is prone to this but compensated in FW when shooting OVF)

01-07-2023, 03:34 PM	#10
Sakura Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Netherlands Photos: Gallery Posts: 438	Beautiful pictures and a great description of a beautiful country that i also fell in love with since my holiday to that area.

01-07-2023, 04:18 PM	#11
Buckeyemikie Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2014 Photos: Gallery Posts: 504	Thank you for a great change of pace post, well done.

01-07-2023, 07:34 PM	#12
Bob 256 Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Idaho Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,378	Great shots Erwin! You do Scotland good justice in your shooting.

01-08-2023, 03:41 AM	#13
Ertos Marketplace Reseller Join Date: Jan 2023 Posts: 16 Original Poster	Originally posted by BarryE Nice images and write up. It doesn't surprise me that the majority of the responses so far have been related to LV. I suspect "On some occasions, you can use it for manual focus but you are better off sticking to the bright OVF." is going to go down too well ;-) LV manual focussing is very precise when you can magnify the image to X10. This is my main method of focussing. I've just started a project that'ss limiting me to landscapes at f2 only, and with the 43 & 77 manual focussing with LV works well - allows me to get sharp focus with the 43 at the edges at f2 and throw the rest oof nicely. Yes, perhaps not a popular opinion. I mean, it's not that the LV doesn't work, it jus works very poorly. Compared to a mirrorless system, that is. Sounds like great fun with the 43/77 combo!

01-08-2023, 03:42 AM	#14
Ertos Marketplace Reseller Join Date: Jan 2023 Posts: 16 Original Poster	Originally posted by jcdoss Nice write up, and welcome to Pentax! I can't believe you busted your K-1 though. Did you fix it? Thanks! Not yet. I understand a bit of force with some pliers might be enough to do the trick. Will give it a go this afternoon....

01-08-2023, 05:36 AM	#15
biz-engineer Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2015 Photos: Gallery Posts: 12,247	Originally posted by Ertos I mean, it's not that the LV doesn't work, it jus works very poorly. Compared to a mirrorless system, that is. I think, looking at your pictures in a museum setting, no one would ever notice that the auto-focus was slower compared mirror-less, they wouldn't even think about it, viewers would just appreciate your pictures and say they are excellent, don't you think so ?