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Pentax K-1 II vs Pentax Q

Portability
55
Imaging
78
Features
82
Overall
79
Pentax K-1 Mark II front
 
Pentax Q front
Portability
93
Imaging
36
Features
47
Overall
40

Pentax K-1 II vs Pentax Q Key Specs

Pentax K-1 II
(Full Review)
  • 36MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 819200
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF4 Mount
  • 1010g - 137 x 110 x 86mm
  • Introduced February 2018
  • Replaced the Pentax K-1
Pentax Q
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax Q Mount
  • 180g - 98 x 57 x 31mm
  • Revealed June 2011
  • Newer Model is Pentax Q10
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Pentax K-1 II vs Pentax Q Overview

Here, we will be comparing the Pentax K-1 II vs Pentax Q, former is a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both are designed by Pentax. There is a sizable difference among the resolutions of the K-1 II (36MP) and Q (12MP) and the K-1 II (Full frame) and Q (1/2.3") offer different sensor size.

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The K-1 II was released 6 years after the Q which is a fairly significant difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Pentax K-1 II being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Pentax Q being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving into a complete comparison, here is a quick synopsis of how the K-1 II scores versus the Q with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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

 K-1 II Q 
RevealedFebruary 2018June 2011Newer by 82 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen size3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution1037k460kClearer screen (+577k dot)

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

 Q K-1 II 

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

 K-1 II Q 
Manually focus Very precise focusing
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lack of Touch friendly screen

Pentax K-1 II vs Pentax Q Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to travel with your camera often, you will need to think about its weight and volume. The Pentax K-1 II offers outer dimensions of 137mm x 110mm x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4") and a weight of 1010 grams (2.23 lbs) while the Pentax Q has sizing of 98mm x 57mm x 31mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.2") with a weight of 180 grams (0.40 lbs).

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

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have attached during that time. The following is a front view dimensions comparison of the K-1 II vs the Q.

Pentax K-1 II vs Pentax Q size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the K-1 II and Q is 55 and 93 respectively.

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

Pentax K-1 II vs Pentax Q Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be hard to imagine the difference in sensor dimensions merely by researching a spec sheet. The picture here will provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the K-1 II and Q.

As you can see, both of those cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The K-1 II because of its bigger sensor is going to make achieving bokeh less difficult and the Pentax K-1 II will render more detail as a result of its extra 24 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop photographs way more aggressively. The more modern K-1 II provides an edge in sensor technology.

Pentax K-1 II vs Pentax Q sensor size comparison

Pentax K-1 II vs Pentax Q Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Pentax K-1 II Portrait photography info
Pentax Q Portrait photography info
86
manual focus
fantastic sensor resolution (36 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
features face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
45
manual focus
high flash sync (1/2,000s)
delivers RAW files
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Pentax K-1 II Street photography information
Pentax Q Street photography information
70
screen can move to multiple angles
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
big sensor size (Full frame)
exports RAW formats
environment proof
good high ISO (819,200)
more heavy than competitors (1,010 grams)
69
image stabilization (Sensor based)
delivers RAW files
lighter than average in class (180g)
fixed screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Pentax K-1 II Sports photography advice
Pentax Q Sports photography advice
77
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
fantastic sensor resolution (36MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
features tracking autofocus
environment proof
supports phase detect AF
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.4 frames per second)
bad battery power (670 per charge)
32
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports tracking focus
max frames per second low (2.0 fps)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
terrible battery life (230 shots)
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Pentax K-1 II
Travel photography with Pentax Q
53
environment proof
fantastic sensor resolution (36MP)
bad battery power (670 per charge)
more heavy than competitors (1,010g)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
57
lighter than average in class (180g)
flash built-in
no Timelapse recording
terrible battery life (230 per charge)
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax K-1 II Landscape photography details
Pentax Q Landscape photography details
82
manual focus
change lenses (Pentax KAF4 mount)
pretty good screen size (3.2 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
fantastic sensor resolution (36 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
does not have low pass filter
good high ISO (819,200)
exports RAW formats
environment proof
has dual storage slots
bad battery power (670 shots)
51
manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax Q mount)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
delivers RAW files
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
terrible battery life (230 CIPA)
no Timelapse recording
Leica struggles with L-Mount camera sales, tougher than Q or M

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Pentax K-1 II
Vlogging with Pentax Q
32
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with external microphone jack
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
more heavy than competitors (1,010g)
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than average in class (180g)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
no microphone socket
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Pentax K-1 II vs Pentax Q Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-1 II and Pentax Q
 Pentax K-1 Mark IIPentax Q
General Information
Manufacturer Pentax Pentax
Model Pentax K-1 Mark II Pentax Q
Class Advanced DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2018-02-22 2011-06-23
Physical type Mid-size SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor PRIME IV -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Full frame 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 35.9 x 24mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 861.6mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 36MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 7360 x 4912 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 819200 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 125
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 33 25
Cross focus points 25 -
Lens
Lens mounting type Pentax KAF4 Pentax Q
Available lenses 151 8
Crop factor 1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3.2" 3"
Resolution of screen 1,037k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.7x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 4.4 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash 5.60 m
Flash settings 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, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Trailing-curtain sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/200 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720p (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Built-in None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 1010g (2.23 lbs) 180g (0.40 lbs)
Physical dimensions 137 x 110 x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4") 98 x 57 x 31mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 47
DXO Color Depth score not tested 20.2
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.1
DXO Low light score not tested 189
Other
Battery life 670 images 230 images
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model D-LI90 D-LI68
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I) SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Dual One
Cost at release $1,737 $695