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Pentax K-1 II vs Pentax KP

Portability
55
Imaging
78
Features
82
Overall
79
Pentax K-1 Mark II front
 
Pentax KP front
Portability
61
Imaging
67
Features
76
Overall
70

Pentax K-1 II vs Pentax KP Key Specs

Pentax K-1 II
(Full Review)
  • 36MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 819200
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF4 Mount
  • 1010g - 137 x 110 x 86mm
  • Launched February 2018
  • Succeeded the Pentax K-1
Pentax KP
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 819200
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 703g - 132 x 101 x 76mm
  • Revealed January 2017
Photography Glossary

Pentax K-1 II vs Pentax KP Overview

Below is a complete review of the Pentax K-1 II versus Pentax KP, both Advanced DSLR digital cameras and both are built by Pentax. There is a large difference between the image resolutions of the K-1 II (36MP) and KP (24MP) and the K-1 II (Full frame) and KP (APS-C) feature different sensor dimensions.

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The K-1 II was launched 14 months later than the KP which makes the cameras a generation apart from each other. Each of the cameras come with the identical body type (Mid-size SLR).

Before delving straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a brief overview of how the K-1 II grades versus the KP for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Pentax K-1 II over the Pentax KP

 K-1 II KP 
RevealedFebruary 2018January 2017More recent by 14 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Screen dimension3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution1037k921kCrisper screen (+116k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax KP over the Pentax K-1 II

 KP K-1 II 

Common features in the Pentax K-1 II and Pentax KP

 K-1 II KP 
Focus manually Very exact focusing
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lacking Touch friendly screen

Pentax K-1 II vs Pentax KP Physical Comparison

In case you're going to lug around your camera frequently, you have to consider its weight and size. The Pentax K-1 II offers outer measurements of 137mm x 110mm x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4") having a weight of 1010 grams (2.23 lbs) while the Pentax KP has specifications of 132mm x 101mm x 76mm (5.2" x 4.0" x 3.0") having a weight of 703 grams (1.55 lbs).

See the Pentax K-1 II versus Pentax KP in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are using at the time. Here is the front view sizing comparison of the K-1 II against the KP.

Pentax K-1 II vs Pentax KP size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the K-1 II and KP is 55 and 61 respectively.

Pentax K-1 II vs Pentax KP top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-1 II vs Pentax KP Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its hard to picture the difference between sensor measurements purely by reading through specs. The visual below will help give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the K-1 II and KP.

As you can plainly see, the 2 cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The K-1 II due to its bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field simpler and the Pentax K-1 II will resolve greater detail utilizing its extra 12 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop photographs much more aggressively. The more modern K-1 II should have an edge in sensor innovation.

Pentax K-1 II vs Pentax KP sensor size comparison

Pentax K-1 II vs Pentax KP Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K-1 II vs Pentax KP Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax K-1 II Portrait photography factors
Pentax KP Portrait photography factors
86
manual focus
megapixel count amazing (36MP)
large sensor size (Full frame)
supports face detect focusing
supports RAW files
80
you can focus manually
good resolution (24MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Pentax K-1 II Street photography factors
Pentax KP Street photography factors
70
screen can move to multiple angles
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
large sensor size (Full frame)
supports RAW files
weather proof
great high ISO (819,200)
heavier than competition (1,010 grams)
76
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
environment proofing
good high ISO (819,200)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Pentax K-1 II
Sports photography with Pentax KP
77
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count amazing (36MP)
large sensor size (Full frame)
supports tracking focus
weather proof
sensor has phase detect AF
max frames per second very slow (4.4 frames per second)
bad battery pack (670 per charge)
72
max shutter speed is good (1/6,000 seconds)
quiet shooting (1/24,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (24MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports tracking focus
environment proofing
low battery life (390 per charge)
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Pentax K-1 II Travel photography advice
Pentax KP Travel photography advice
53
weather proof
megapixel count amazing (36MP)
bad battery pack (670 CIPA)
heavier than competition (1,010 grams)
does not posses selfie friendly display
61
environment proofing
good resolution (24 megapixels)
has built in flash
low battery life (390 CIPA)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax K-1 II Landscape photography factors
Pentax KP Landscape photography factors
82
manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF4 mount)
pretty good screen size (3.2 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count amazing (36 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
does not have low pass filter
great high ISO (819,200)
supports RAW files
weather proof
2 card slots
bad battery pack (670 per charge)
77
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good resolution (24MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
good high ISO (819,200)
delivers RAW files
environment proofing
low battery life (390 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Pentax K-1 II
Vlogging with Pentax KP
32
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detect focusing
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes mic support
does not posses selfie friendly display
heavier than competition (1,010 grams)
34
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have microphone jack
display isn't selfie friendly
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Pentax K-1 II vs Pentax KP Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-1 II and Pentax KP
 Pentax K-1 Mark IIPentax KP
General Information
Brand Name Pentax Pentax
Model Pentax K-1 Mark II Pentax KP
Type Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Launched 2018-02-22 2017-01-26
Body design Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor PRIME IV PRIME IV
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Full frame APS-C
Sensor measurements 35.9 x 24mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 861.6mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 36 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2
Peak resolution 7360 x 4912 6016 x 4000
Highest native ISO 819200 819200
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 33 27
Cross focus points 25 25
Lens
Lens mounting type Pentax KAF4 Pentax KAF2
Available lenses 151 151
Focal length multiplier 1 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fully Articulated Tilting
Display size 3.2" 3"
Resolution of display 1,037 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.7x 0.63x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/6000s
Fastest quiet shutter speed - 1/24000s
Continuous shutter speed 4.4 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 6.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto Flash Discharge, Auto Flash + Red-eye Reduction, Flash On, Flash On + Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Slow-speed Sync + Red-eye, P-TTL, Trailing Curtain Sync, Contrast-control-sync, High-speed sync, Wireless sync Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, flash on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync, manual, wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/200s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p) 1920 x 1080 (60i, 30p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Auto Flash Discharge, Auto Flash + Red-eye Reduction, Flash On, Flash On + Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Slow-speed Sync + Red-eye, P-TTL, Trailing Curtain Sync, Contrast-control-sync, High-speed sync, Wireless sync Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Built-in Optional
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 1010 grams (2.23 pounds) 703 grams (1.55 pounds)
Dimensions 137 x 110 x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4") 132 x 101 x 76mm (5.2" x 4.0" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 670 photographs 390 photographs
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model D-LI90 D-LI109
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 12 secs)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I) SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I supported)
Storage slots Dual One
Retail cost $1,737 $747