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Pentax K-01 vs Pentax K-r

Portability
76
Imaging
57
Features
68
Overall
61
Pentax K-01 front
 
Pentax K-r front
Portability
67
Imaging
53
Features
52
Overall
52

Pentax K-01 vs Pentax K-r Key Specs

Pentax K-01
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Raise to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 561g - 122 x 79 x 58mm
  • Introduced May 2012
Pentax K-r
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800 (Boost to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 598g - 125 x 97 x 68mm
  • Launched March 2011
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Pentax K-01 vs Pentax K-r Overview

On this page, we are comparing the Pentax K-01 versus Pentax K-r, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR and both of them are built by Pentax. There exists a crucial gap among the sensor resolutions of the K-01 (16MP) and K-r (12MP) but both cameras have the same sensor measurements (APS-C).

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The K-01 was brought out 15 months later than the K-r making them a generation apart from one another. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Pentax K-01 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-r being a Compact SLR camera.

Before getting into a in-depth comparison, here is a concise overview of how the K-01 grades against the K-r in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Pentax K-01 over the Pentax K-r

 K-01 K-r 
LaunchedMay 2012March 2011Fresher by 15 months

Reasons to pick Pentax K-r over the Pentax K-01

 K-r K-01 

Common features in the Pentax K-01 and Pentax K-r

 K-01 K-r 
Manually focus More precise focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurements
Display resolution921k921kEqual display resolution
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly display No Touch friendly display

Pentax K-01 vs Pentax K-r Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to carry your camera frequently, you're going to have to think about its weight and volume. The Pentax K-01 comes with exterior dimensions of 122mm x 79mm x 58mm (4.8" x 3.1" x 2.3") accompanied by a weight of 561 grams (1.24 lbs) and the Pentax K-r has sizing of 125mm x 97mm x 68mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.7") along with a weight of 598 grams (1.32 lbs).

See the Pentax K-01 versus Pentax K-r in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are using at that time. Below is a front view dimension comparison of the K-01 against the K-r.

Pentax K-01 vs Pentax K-r size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the K-01 and K-r is 76 and 67 respectively.

Pentax K-01 vs Pentax K-r top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-01 vs Pentax K-r Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's hard to imagine the gap in sensor sizing merely by seeing specs. The photograph here will offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the K-01 and K-r.

As you can plainly see, both of the cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but different MP. You should expect to see the Pentax K-01 to show more detail having its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop pics more aggressively. The younger K-01 should have a benefit when it comes to sensor innovation.

Pentax K-01 vs Pentax K-r sensor size comparison

Pentax K-01 vs Pentax K-r Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K-01 vs Pentax K-r Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax K-01 Portrait photography info
Pentax K-r Portrait photography info
74
you can focus manually
good resolution (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detect focusing
supports RAW files
63
manual focus
sensor size is good (APS-C)
features face detection focusing
supports RAW files
low MP (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Pentax K-01 Street photography features
Pentax K-r Street photography features
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
no articulating screen
more heavy than competition (561 grams)
67
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW files
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Pentax K-01 Sports photography highlights
Pentax K-r Sports photography highlights
61
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
good battery pack (540 CIPA)
low fps (6.0 fps)
lack of phase detect AF
55
high shutter speed (1/6,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect AF
painfully slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
low MP (12MP)
terrible battery pack (470 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Pentax K-01 Travel photography info
Pentax K-r Travel photography info
65
good battery pack (540 per charge)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
more heavy than competition (561g)
display isn't selfie friendly
47
has built in flash
terrible battery pack (470 shots)
low MP (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax K-01 Landscape photography advice
Pentax K-r Landscape photography advice
80
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
good battery pack (540 per charge)
65
manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW files
low MP (12 megapixels)
terrible battery pack (470 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Pentax K-01
Vlogging with Pentax K-r
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has microphone support
display isn't selfie friendly
more heavy than competition (561g)
26
image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection focusing
display isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external mic jack
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Pentax K-01 vs Pentax K-r Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-01 and Pentax K-r
 Pentax K-01Pentax K-r
General Information
Brand Pentax Pentax
Model Pentax K-01 Pentax K-r
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2012-05-30 2011-03-11
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by - Prime II
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 23.7 x 15.7mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor surface area 372.1mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Peak resolution 4928 x 3264 4288 x 2848
Highest native ISO 12800 12800
Highest enhanced ISO 25600 25600
Min native ISO 100 200
RAW support
Min enhanced ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 81 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount Pentax KAF2 Pentax KAF2
Number of lenses 151 151
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 921 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology TFT LCD monitor TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 96%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.57x
Features
Min shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/6000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 6.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow-speed Sync, Trailing Curtain Sync Auto, Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Trailing Curtain Sync, High-Speed Sync and Wireless Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/180 secs 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30, 25, 24 fps),1280 x 720 (60, 50, 30, 25, 24 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25, 24 fps) 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (25 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 561g (1.24 lb) 598g (1.32 lb)
Physical dimensions 122 x 79 x 58mm (4.8" x 3.1" x 2.3") 125 x 97 x 68mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 79 72
DXO Color Depth score 23.7 22.9
DXO Dynamic range score 12.9 12.4
DXO Low light score 1135 755
Other
Battery life 540 pictures 470 pictures
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model D-LI90 D-LI109,4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC
Storage slots 1 1
Retail pricing $899 $1,100