Clicky

Pentax K-1 vs Pentax K-r

Portability
55
Imaging
76
Features
82
Overall
78
Pentax K-1 front
 
Pentax K-r front
Portability
67
Imaging
53
Features
52
Overall
52

Pentax K-1 vs Pentax K-r Key Specs

Pentax K-1
(Full Review)
  • 36MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 204800
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 1010g - 137 x 110 x 86mm
  • Introduced February 2016
  • Updated by Pentax K-1 II
Pentax K-r
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800 (Expand to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 598g - 125 x 97 x 68mm
  • Revealed March 2011
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Pentax K-1 vs Pentax K-r Overview

Here, we will be matching up the Pentax K-1 versus Pentax K-r, one being a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR and both are offered by Pentax. There is a crucial difference among the resolutions of the K-1 (36MP) and K-r (12MP) and the K-1 (Full frame) and K-r (APS-C) boast totally different sensor measurements.

Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

The K-1 was released 5 years later than the K-r and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Pentax K-1 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Pentax K-r being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going into a complete comparison, here is a brief summation of how the K-1 matches up vs the K-r for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone
	
	

Reasons to pick Pentax K-1 over the Pentax K-r

 K-1 K-r 
RevealedFebruary 2016March 2011More recent by 61 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen size3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution1037k921kClearer screen (+116k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax K-r over the Pentax K-1

 K-r K-1 

Common features in the Pentax K-1 and Pentax K-r

 K-1 K-r 
Manually focus Dial exact focusing
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither features Touch friendly screen

Pentax K-1 vs Pentax K-r Physical Comparison

If you are looking to lug around your camera often, you will want to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Pentax K-1 enjoys outer measurements of 137mm x 110mm x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4") and a weight of 1010 grams (2.23 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-r has dimensions of 125mm x 97mm x 68mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.7") and a weight of 598 grams (1.32 lbs).

Analyze the Pentax K-1 versus Pentax K-r in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Here is a front view over all size comparison of the K-1 vs the K-r.

Pentax K-1 vs Pentax K-r size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the K-1 and K-r is 55 and 67 respectively.

Pentax K-1 vs Pentax K-r top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-1 vs Pentax K-r Sensor Comparison

Generally, it's hard to visualise the contrast in sensor measurements purely by going through specs. The graphic below will provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the K-1 and K-r.

All in all, both of the cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The K-1 because of its bigger sensor will make getting shallower DOF simpler and the Pentax K-1 will provide extra detail as a result of its extra 24MP. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop pictures a good deal more aggressively. The newer K-1 is going to have an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.

Pentax K-1 vs Pentax K-r sensor size comparison

Pentax K-1 vs Pentax K-r Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K-1 vs Pentax K-r Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax K-1 Portrait photography details
Pentax K-r Portrait photography details
85
manual focus
high sensor resolution (36MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
offers face detect focus
delivers RAW files
63
focusing manually
good sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detect focus
supports RAW files
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Street Comparison

Pentax K-1 Street photography features
Pentax K-r Street photography features
70
fully articulated screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
delivers RAW files
weather sealing
good high ISO (204,800)
more heavy than competition in class (1,010 grams)
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
no articulating screen
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Pentax K-1
Sports photography with Pentax K-r
76
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
high sensor resolution (36 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
offers tracking focus
weather sealing
comes with phase detect auto focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.4 fps)
low battery life (760 shots)
55
high shutter speed (1/6,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports phase detect auto focus
slow frames per second (6.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
bad battery pack (470 per charge)
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Travel Comparison

Pentax K-1 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax K-r as a Travel photography camera
53
weather sealing
high sensor resolution (36 megapixels)
low battery life (760 shots)
more heavy than competition in class (1,010g)
screen isn't selfie friendly
47
has built in flash
bad battery pack (470 per charge)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Landscape Comparison

Pentax K-1 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-r as a Landscape photography camera
81
manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
decent sized screen (3.2 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
high sensor resolution (36MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
doesnt have low pass filter
good high ISO (204,800)
delivers RAW files
weather sealing
has dual storage slots
low battery life (760 shots)
65
focusing manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
bad battery pack (470 per charge)
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Vlogging Comparison

Pentax K-1 Vlogging details
Pentax K-r Vlogging details
31
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
offers face detect focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does have microphone jack
screen isn't selfie friendly
more heavy than competition in class (1,010g)
26
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect focus
screen isn't selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have mic port
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Pentax K-1 vs Pentax K-r Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-1 and Pentax K-r
 Pentax K-1Pentax K-r
General Information
Brand Pentax Pentax
Model Pentax K-1 Pentax K-r
Class Advanced DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2016-02-17 2011-03-11
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor - Prime II
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Full frame APS-C
Sensor dimensions 35.9 x 24mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor area 861.6mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 36 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2
Peak resolution 7360 x 4912 4288 x 2848
Highest native ISO 204800 12800
Highest enhanced ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW format
Minimum enhanced ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 33 11
Cross focus points 25 9
Lens
Lens mount Pentax KAF2 Pentax KAF2
Available lenses 151 151
Crop factor 1 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3.2" 3"
Screen resolution 1,037k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 96 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.7x 0.57x
Features
Min shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/6000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 4.4 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
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, Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Trailing Curtain Sync, High-Speed Sync and Wireless Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/200 seconds 1/180 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) 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (25 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Built-in Optional
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 1010g (2.23 lb) 598g (1.32 lb)
Physical dimensions 137 x 110 x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4") 125 x 97 x 68mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 96 72
DXO Color Depth score 25.4 22.9
DXO Dynamic range score 14.6 12.4
DXO Low light score 3280 755
Other
Battery life 760 shots 470 shots
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model D-LI90 D-LI109,4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I) SD/SDHC
Storage slots 2 One
Cost at release $1,499 $1,100