K-1 is noticeably smaller than D850 in most measures but ..

**Mikesul** · 06-13-2018, 07:11 AM

K-1 is noticeably smaller than D850 in most measures but it is 5 gms heavier. https://camerasize.com/compare/#773,718 What adds the extra weight? It is clearly smaller in most visual measures.

**Digitalis** · 06-13-2018, 07:23 AM - **10 Likes**

According to Google: an American Nickel weighs 5 Grams. I fail to see a problem here, perhaps the built in GPS adds the extra weight, perhaps the magnesium alloy the body is made from is denser than the D850* . FYI The Pentax K-1 is smaller than the APS-C Canon 7D MKII.... Hilarious.

Let's start a completely bogus rumor:

Pentax hides one of these in every K-1 in some Auric Goldfinger style plot to destabilize gold prices.

* which wouldn't surprise me, really.

reh321 · 06-13-2018, 07:25 AM

Originally posted by Mikesul

K-1 is noticeably smaller than D850 in most measures but it is 5 gms heavier. Compare camera dimensions side by side What adds the extra weight? It is clearly smaller in most visual measures.

For one thing, the sensor would weigh more because of IBIS.

A certain amount of a DSLR is air because of the light path from mirror to prism box, so physical size doesn't mean much.

D1N0 · 06-13-2018, 07:32 AM - **1 Like**

Because the K-1 is more solid.

**ffking** · 06-13-2018, 07:37 AM

Originally posted by reh321

For one thing, the sensor would weigh more because of IBIS.

Yes - I've always suspected IBIS - which is a swings and roundabouts situation as there is no stabilisation mechanism in the lens - having said which, the modern Pentax lenses aren't especially light

Fogel70 · 06-13-2018, 07:39 AM - **1 Like**

I believe the 5g difference is because Pentax use thicker gold plating on the PCBs.

**ffking** · 06-13-2018, 07:39 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Digitalis

Pentax hides one of these in every K-1 in some Auric Goldfinger style plot to destabilize gold prices.

we'll wait for the spike in sales

Ontarian50 · 06-13-2018, 07:40 AM

I haven't had a K-1 apart (yet), but there's no doubt the precision machined metal sandwich that floats the IBIS sensor adds to the heft of Pentaxes.

As commented earlier, there is a good deal of airspace inside most DSLRs. Packing it into a smaller body just makes it denser, not necessarily lighter.

DeadJohn · 06-13-2018, 07:56 AM

Shake reduction has to weigh something. I don't think the D850 has GPS, saving a few more grams.

I upgraded from the K-5 to the K-1. The extra body size and weight is noticeable but not offensive. For general walkaround my kit is around the same size and weight because the 28-105 I pair with my K-1 is smaller and lighter than the 16-50 I used with my K-5.

rodaballo · 06-13-2018, 08:08 AM - **2 Likes**

How could the Pentax K-1 be smaller than the Nikon if DPR says that the Pentax is large and obtrusive?

jspillane · 06-13-2018, 08:09 AM

I would guess it is a combination of things, such as the IBIS and the GPS which are built in. The K1's articulated screen mechanism is also potentially weightier as it involves more moving parts.
In hand, the K1 is one of the densest feeling DSLRs I've ever used, but in practice the various full frame models I have experience with (5dmkii, D600, D810, K1) feel comparable.

**BigMackCam** · 06-13-2018, 08:47 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Digitalis

Pentax hides one of these in every K-1

They wouldn't be the first to use metal weights in their cameras... Witness the impressive "Olympia" below, with its "focus free" 50mm f/6.3 "optical lens" (no non-optical lenses in this little beauty). Apparently, it has a lump of lead in the base to make it feel even more substantial

Kunzite · 06-13-2018, 09:02 AM

Lol, I know those cameras, I might even find one for sale if I could be bored enough to look.

**Mikesul** · 06-13-2018, 09:06 AM

So maybe the correct question should be: is the D850 et al. made large just to appeal to those strange people who always seem to want bigger cameras from Pentax and Sony?

tuco · 06-13-2018, 09:14 AM

Did you really expect people to know why one camera has an insignificant 5 grams of mass more than another?

06-13-2018, 07:11 AM	#1
Mikesul Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 7,591	K-1 is noticeably smaller than D850 in most measures but .. K-1 is noticeably smaller than D850 in most measures but it is 5 gms heavier. https://camerasize.com/compare/#773,718 What adds the extra weight? It is clearly smaller in most visual measures.

06-13-2018, 07:23 AM - 10 Likes	#2
Digitalis Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Melbourne, Victoria Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,694	According to Google: an American Nickel weighs 5 Grams. I fail to see a problem here, perhaps the built in GPS adds the extra weight, perhaps the magnesium alloy the body is made from is denser than the D850* . FYI The Pentax K-1 is smaller than the APS-C Canon 7D MKII.... Hilarious. Let's start a completely bogus rumor: Pentax hides one of these in every K-1 in some Auric Goldfinger style plot to destabilize gold prices. * which wouldn't surprise me, really. Last edited by Digitalis; 06-13-2018 at 07:29 AM.

06-13-2018, 08:47 AM - 1 Like	#12
BigMackCam Digitiser of Film Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: North East of England Posts: 20,642	Originally posted by Digitalis Pentax hides one of these in every K-1 They wouldn't be the first to use metal weights in their cameras... Witness the impressive "Olympia" below, with its "focus free" 50mm f/6.3 "optical lens" (no non-optical lenses in this little beauty). Apparently, it has a lump of lead in the base to make it feel even more substantial Attached Images

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
DxOMark measures K-3II	rawr	Pentax News and Rumors	185	12-23-2015 05:48 PM
K-3 II noticeably slower than K-5 II shooting manual bursts	flonix	Pentax K-3 & K-3 II	24	09-17-2015 10:38 PM
How much blur? Handy website "measures" bokeh	EarlVonTapia	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	4	05-04-2015 09:54 AM
Have you found that K-7 Firmware 1.1 Improved AF Noticeably?	Christopher M.W.T	Pentax DSLR Discussion	18	08-08-2010 07:25 AM
Noticeably Reduced Tension In the Forums	Ron Boggs	General Talk	33	04-22-2009 06:50 AM

06-13-2018, 07:25 AM	#3
reh321 Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: South Bend, IN, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,175	Originally posted by Mikesul K-1 is noticeably smaller than D850 in most measures but it is 5 gms heavier. Compare camera dimensions side by side What adds the extra weight? It is clearly smaller in most visual measures. For one thing, the sensor would weigh more because of IBIS. A certain amount of a DSLR is air because of the light path from mirror to prism box, so physical size doesn't mean much.

06-13-2018, 07:32 AM - 1 Like	#4
D1N0 Pentaxian Join Date: May 2012 Location: --- Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,802	Because the K-1 is more solid.

06-13-2018, 07:37 AM	#5
ffking Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Old South Wales Posts: 6,038	Originally posted by reh321 For one thing, the sensor would weigh more because of IBIS. Yes - I've always suspected IBIS - which is a swings and roundabouts situation as there is no stabilisation mechanism in the lens - having said which, the modern Pentax lenses aren't especially light

06-13-2018, 07:39 AM - 1 Like	#6
Fogel70 Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Stockholm, Sweden Photos: Albums Posts: 3,062	I believe the 5g difference is because Pentax use thicker gold plating on the PCBs.

06-13-2018, 07:40 AM	#8
Ontarian50 Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 530	I haven't had a K-1 apart (yet), but there's no doubt the precision machined metal sandwich that floats the IBIS sensor adds to the heft of Pentaxes. As commented earlier, there is a good deal of airspace inside most DSLRs. Packing it into a smaller body just makes it denser, not necessarily lighter.

06-13-2018, 07:56 AM	#9
DeadJohn Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: New York Posts: 4,833	Shake reduction has to weigh something. I don't think the D850 has GPS, saving a few more grams. I upgraded from the K-5 to the K-1. The extra body size and weight is noticeable but not offensive. For general walkaround my kit is around the same size and weight because the 28-105 I pair with my K-1 is smaller and lighter than the 16-50 I used with my K-5.

06-13-2018, 08:08 AM - 2 Likes	#10
rodaballo Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 158	How could the Pentax K-1 be smaller than the Nikon if DPR says that the Pentax is large and obtrusive?

06-13-2018, 08:09 AM	#11
jspillane Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 45	I would guess it is a combination of things, such as the IBIS and the GPS which are built in. The K1's articulated screen mechanism is also potentially weightier as it involves more moving parts. In hand, the K1 is one of the densest feeling DSLRs I've ever used, but in practice the various full frame models I have experience with (5dmkii, D600, D810, K1) feel comparable.

06-13-2018, 09:02 AM	#13
Kunzite Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Romania Posts: 15,132	Lol, I know those cameras, I might even find one for sale if I could be bored enough to look.

06-13-2018, 09:06 AM	#14
Mikesul Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 7,591 Original Poster	So maybe the correct question should be: is the D850 et al. made large just to appeal to those strange people who always seem to want bigger cameras from Pentax and Sony?

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

06-13-2018, 09:14 AM	#15
tuco Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Pugetopolis Posts: 11,019	Did you really expect people to know why one camera has an insignificant 5 grams of mass more than another?