Pentax K-70 Review

Conclusion

The Pentax K-70 is a welcome, substantial update to both the three-year-old K-50 and the more recent K-S2. Inheriting the bulk of the K-S2’s feature set, it improves on an already great midrange DSLR with smart software tweaks, nifty new features, and a superior 24-megapixel sensor that rivals the chip in the APS-C flagship K-3 II.

While K-S2 owners may not find enough reason to upgrade, anyone new to the Pentax system or upgrading from an older Pentax body will find lots to like in this midrange offering. Outdated autofocus and mediocre video quality aside, the K-70 offers everything the competition from Canon and Nikon can muster, and then adds weather sealing, in-body shake reduction, and clever features like Pixel Shift mode and a user-configurable control panel. Better, the new sensor provides best-in-class image quality that nearly rivals full-frame models.

And best of all? You get all of that for under $700.

Pros

  • Class-leading image quality
  • Class-leading low-light AF
  • Articulating LCD
  • 100% coverage optical finder
  • Weather sealing
  • All lenses stabilized
  • Built-in WiFi
  • Great ergonomics
  • Compact design
  • Many customizable controls
  • Solid build quality
  • Several features borrowed from K-1
  • Speedy overall performance

Cons

  • Out of date autofocus system
  • Hybrid AF only works in video, doesn’t work well
  • Heavy for its size
  • Small RAW buffer
  • Poor JPEG compression
  • Comparatively loud shutter
  • Poor Live View button placement
  • Poor battery life
  • No wireless flash control
 

Who’s it for?

Much like the K-S2 before it, the K-70 is a body that can satisfy everyone from DSLR novices to experienced shooters who are familiar with theoretically superior bodies like the K-3 II and K-1. As others have noted, there are no bad cameras anymore, and that’s especially true of midrange DSLRs.

In a world where virtually any DSLR is going to get you incredible images, manufacturers have to differentiate their products with software features, processor upgrades, and incrementally improved sensors and AF modules. When the differences between these products are so small, and when processors and sensors improve with each passing year, sometimes a midrange camera suddenly finds itself punching above its weight. Such is the case with the K-70. This is a $700 camera that can rival a $1,000 K-3 II in many areas.

In other words, the K-70 is for anyone who wants a high-quality APS-C DSLR, with two caveats. First, if you’re into sports and action photography, you’re probably going to want to look for a camera with a more modern AF system and a more robust family of fast telephoto lenses. Second, if video is a priority, you’re going to want to look to Canon, Nikon, or Panasonic; their video output and recording options are simply lightyears ahead of what Pentax can offer.

Value

As of October 2016, in the US, the K-70 is selling for around $650 body-only, or $900 when bundled with the 18-135mm WR kit lens. That’s identical to the original MSRP; past experience tells us that the price will likely drop in the near future, by as much as 10-20%, but we can’t predict exactly when this will happen.

Nevertheless, the K-70 is a fantastic value at its current asking price, particularly if your style of shooting fits the traditional Pentax ethos: stills shooting with static or slow-moving subjects. Landscape, street, and portrait photographers simply can’t find a better value among current midrange DSLRs.

The K-70’s body-only price matches the current price of the Nikon D5500 and undercuts the $750 Canon T6i. It’s about $100 more than the outgoing Pentax K-S2, which is becoming more difficult to find from authorized sellers. And it’s $350 cheaper than the flagship K-3 II. The older K-3 is selling at just $700, however, which could make your buying decision more complicated.

The Bottom Line

The Pentax K-70 is simply the finest midrange DSLR the company has ever produced, and an incredible value compared to similar offerings from other brands. Thanks in large part to its new 24-megapixel sensor, it produces image quality on par with the flagship K-3 II, and even rivals the full-frame K-1 in some ways.

While we wouldn’t recommend that K-S2 owners upgrade, ergonomics, image quality, and interface have all been improved in some way over that body, making the K-70 the obvious choice for those new to the Pentax system or upgrading from an older body.

The only areas where the K-70 significantly underperforms compared to other midrange DSLRs on the market are autofocus and video. In particular, the K-70 continues Pentax’s history of woeful tracking autofocus, making it a poor choice for sports and action photography. AF problems carry over to video, as well, where a promising-sounding hybrid AF system proved to be a total dud. General video image quality is also suspect compared to what you’d get out of competing APS-C and Micro Four Thirds models.

There are other minor issues—a comparatively noisy shutter and subpar battery life among them—but they’re counterbalanced by beautiful images, a highly customizable user interface, and a surprising number of pro-grade features. The camera is also packed with Pentax-exclusive features, like Pixel Shift shooting, Night Mode LCD, in-body Shake Reduction, and advanced shooting modes (TAv and Sv), making it a pro-ready body that can also cater to beginners.

Rating

With the exception of its disappointing autofocus—both in terms of the neutered hybrid Live View AF and the typical Pentax phase-detect AF foibles—the Pentax K-70 is a class-leading midrange DSLR, offering a rugged build, a great UI, improved ergonomics, and phenomenal image quality.

Build Quality 
 9
Handling 
 8
User Interface 
 9
Performance 
 9
Image Quality 
 9
Autofocus 
 7
HD Video 
 6
Value 
 9
Overall 
 8.3 (Very Good)

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