[Take-5-JB]

I have a K1 and am very happy with it. I use it for Landscape and general shooting. I have a wildlife bag with a K3 and K5 for the "reach". I even have my K200D in my boat/kayak bag. I started in 1977 with 35mm film SLR. I like all 4 of these cameras for different reasons. I would keep the K70 also.

JB

[Imp]

As others have said though, if weight is a concern (lenses as well as body), APS-C may be the more useful format.

This might not be helpful, but as for myself I shoot with the K-3 and limiteds for travel, landscape, slow photography. But i've found even that is heavy, and I've never used a K-1! I'm planning on some extended travel with limited carrying capacity in the future, and so I decided to got myself a GRii. You mentioned landscape, street, and travel photography. Could a GR compliment what you currently shoot, even if you still get the K-1?

[DWS1]

Hi all, I have been using a pentax k-70 for the last couple of years but I feel I'm ready to move to a full frame camera. Will a used pentax k1 be a good upgrade. I don't shoot fast moving objects. In my free time I do landscape, street shooting and travel. Photography for me is a relaxing hobby. Thanks in advance for your response

I am in much the same place as you. Been using a K70 for a couple of years and considering a K1. I shoot much the same as you. For me and my hobby I just can't see how any improved benefit of having a K1 can justify it's cost, and I already have lenses that will work. Rokinon 14mm, D FA 28-105mm, and DA* 300mm. However, your position may be and probably is different than mine.

One thing you could do, since your in the US, is rent a K1 body for a week and try it out first to see if that's what you want. LensRentals.com - Rent Lenses and Cameras from Canon, Nikon, Olympus, Sony, Leica, and more has the K1ii at $109 + shipping & tax for a week

[James also]

What about yor lens collection?

Do you have many full frame lenses?

You do not mention any budget limitations but keep in mind that you do not just buy K-1 and stick your favorite lens on it.

Personally I'd love to shoot landscape on the K-1 but I realize that the investment exceeds just the camera body.

I Find that nearly all of the lenses that I regularly used on my K7 are more than capable on the K1. I have branched out and bought "invested in" some newer Full frame models. The sort of limitations I found was the 70-200 Sigma F2.8 does not allow the use of a 2x converter. This meant investing in a longer lens for taking sport photos. This lens still produces some amazing pictures, especially flowers and relatively close wildlife. It just did not have the reach for Sports photos. If you have some of the older primes you will be more than happy with the switch.

---------- Post added 12-25-2019 at 03:30 PM ----------

One thing you could do, since your in the US, is rent a K1 body for a week and try it out first to see if that's what you want. LensRentals.com - Rent Lenses and Cameras from Canon, Nikon, Olympus, Sony, Leica, and more has the K1ii at $109 + shipping & tax for a week

The try before you buy is a great way to go.

[Leumas]

I do love my K-1. Still use my K-70 too.
Don't expect FF to be magic fairy dust. Almost anything you can do on FF can be achieved on your K-70. Nice thing about the K-1 is it puts all the legacy glass to full use.

[gaweidert]

I had a K5, K5-IIs, and K3 when I got my First K1. I added a K1-II to the stable in 2018. Since I got my K1 the APSc cameras have pretty much sat idle. The K5 is gone. Being able to put 32 MP on a scene is a wonderful thing. Having a computer able to handle the files is a good idea too. RAW file sizes are in the 50MP range pixel shift images can approach 200 MP. It's a wonderful thing. Last Christmas my family got me a kick butt custom made gaming laptop from Prostar. Before I got that I referred to post processing as nappy time.


I do not find that extra weight that much of a bother as I use a BlackRapid Sport camera strap. Plus I prefer to use the battery grip on my K5 and K3 to better fit my hand better. Not as big a deal on my K1 so the weight thing is a wash. My usual lenses are the D FA 28-105 and D FA 150-450.

[SSGGeezer]

I had a K5, K5-IIs, and K3 when I got my First K1. I added a K1-II to the stable in 2018. Since I got my K1 the APSc cameras have pretty much sat idle. The K5 is gone. Being able to put 32 MP on a scene is a wonderful thing. Having a computer able to handle the files is a good idea too. RAW file sizes are in the 50MP range pixel shift images can approach 200 MP. It's a wonderful thing. Last Christmas my family got me a kick butt custom made gaming laptop from Prostar. Before I got that I referred to post processing as nappy time.


I do not find that extra weight that much of a bother as I use a BlackRapid Sport camera strap. Plus I prefer to use the battery grip on my K5 and K3 to better fit my hand better. Not as big a deal on my K1 so the weight thing is a wash. My usual lenses are the D FA 28-105 and D FA 150-450.

My experience is similar since I acquired a K1. I have a KP and a K-5IIs and while I still love them, they spend a whole lot more time in the dry cabinet than my K1. it just is so solid feeling and the viewfinder is so bright that composing is a bit easier for me. If there are weight or space constraints like when flying, the KP gets the nod, but for everyday shooting, I always seem to grab the K1!

The first time I held one at the camera store stoked my desire to get one and it only took two more years before I picked one up here in the forums. Go for it and if you don't love it, you will not take a big hit if you go for a used K1.

[mbukal]

only used K3 + DA 50-135 / 2.8 + DA 60-250 / 4, in addition used and owned Km / x / r / 30 + F 28 / 2.8 + F 50 / 1.7 + DA12 -24/4 + DA17-70 / 4 + Tokina ATXPROSV 28-70 / 2,8 + DA55-300 / 4-5,8ED, sold all apsc, for two years now I have and use K1 + Pentax F28 / 2,8 + Pentax F 50 / 1.7 + Pentax FA 80-320 / 4,5-5,6 + Pentax F x1,7 AF adapter + ProMaster Spectrum7 19-35 / 3,5-4,5 + Tokina ATXPROSV 28-70 / 2 , 8, occasionally I use DFA70-200 / 2.8, I'm not a pro, but ff is a world for myself that I like = dynamic range / iso / dof / all commands on the body of the camera, it would never go back to apsc, only me it is a pity that Pentax in ff is not nearly as covered with lens choices as in apsc in ff, there is no alternative when I think of af lenses, missing DFA * 24-70 / 2.8 + DFA 28-125 / 4 + DFA 70-200 / 4 + DFA 20 ~ 28/2, I greatly adore K1 and my recommendation

[dcpropilot]

Yes it is worth it, iMHO. It still takes amazing photos.

[Wasp]

If you have a good variety of K mount lenses, the K1 is the way to go. The alternative - if you want to keep your K mount glass - is using an adapter. Joining the dark side means fiddling with manual diaphragm and manual focus. In the 21st century? Meh.

[Kerrowdown]

Pentax k1 2019 still worth it?

Absolutely...

[ChristianRock]

I have three lenses from the film era. I have a SMC- Pentax-FA 28-90mm, a tamron LD telemacro 70-300 AF, SMC pentax 1:2 50 mm. I am planning to add more in the future.

By now you know the K-1 is absolutely worth it.

But it will only be as good as the glass you put in front of it. This glass you have now, is not so good, so you won't really be getting the best benefit of owning a K-1.

So my recommendation comes with an "if".

IF you can spare at least another 500 dollars after you get the K-1, then get the K-1. A good 500 dollar starting set of lenses for it would be the DFA 28-105mm f/3.5-5.6 (it's a kid lens but a really good kit lens) plus a used SMC-F 50mm f/1.7 lens (there's one in the market place for 95 dollars right now, which is about right about what you'd pay for one).

If you can't buy the lenses - then use the money to buy some good FF lenses first, use them in the K-70 until you buy the K-1. The two lenses mentioned earlier will still work great on the K-70, albeit using a smaller portion of the image circle. Other suggestions will depend on whether you like manual focus, autofocus, and what your interest subjects will be.

[Serkevan]

I agree completely: I bought the D FA 28-105 shortly after getting the camera and I am not changing that lens for anything else. IQ is great, AF is fast and precise and the package is light, small (filter size 62mm, yay - although it's not really a "common" size) and WR. You cannot go wrong with it.

[ChristianRock]

I agree completely: I bought the D FA 28-105 shortly after getting the camera and I am not changing that lens for anything else. IQ is great, AF is fast and precise and the package is light, small (filter size 62mm, yay - although it's not really a "common" size) and WR. You cannot go wrong with it.

I hadn't realized the DFA 28-105 has 62mm filter size. I have a bunch of 62mm filters I bought for my Sigma 30mm f/1.4 Art. I was going to do a "one year, one lens" wit that lens and these filters were to prepare for that... one of these days I still gotta do this!

Norm's wife Tess, who also posts here in the forums sometimes, is said to be holding on to his DFA 28-105 for a long while now and won't take it off her K-5... so it works very well on APS-C apparently! And helps you get ready for the K-1...

[James also]

If there are weight or space constraints like when flying, the KP gets the nod,

I still take the K1 and try to choose lenses carefully.