Pentax KP
- 24MP - APS-C Sensor
- 3" Tilting Display
- 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
- Introduced January 2017
- Read full specs
- Alternatives
- Lenses
- Size Comparison
- FAQ
61 Imaging
67 Features
76 Overall
70
Pentax KP summary
Pentax KP is Pentax's Advanced DSLR camera first revealed on January of 2017. The camera comes with a 24MP, CMOS APS-C sized sensor and has a full resolution of 6016 x 4000.
The KP is ranked #29 out of 92 in Advanced DSLR cameras & overall #163 out of 1465 for digital cameras in our list. Please check our Smart camera filter to see camera listings based on your custom requirements.
The following is a graph of multiple factors used in the rating system.
Pentax KP family
The Pentax KP is part of a family of digital cameras. You can see the full range underneath.
Pentax KP Gallery
You can check the KP from several angles in the gallery here.
Pentax KP Pros and Cons
Below is a checklist of benefits and drawbacks of the Pentax KP based on aspects which are oftentimes regarded as useful in a camera.
Pentax KP Sensor info
The Pentax KP houses the PRIME IV processor chip. The sensor specification in the Pentax KP is 23.5mm x 15.6mm (APS-C). The 367 mm² sensor can capture 6016 x 4000 pixels and aspect ratios of 3:2. The camera features Image Stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis). In body stabilization is preferable than digital stabilization as the latter can cause cropping.
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or banThe CMOS sensor has 24 megapixels and gives a native ISO range of 100 - 819200. RAW format is saved which means that you have wider room to maneuver in post.
The graphic underneath displays the KP's sensor dimensions when compared to other common sizes. The KP sensor has a crop factor of 1.5 and is highlighted in green.
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD CardsTo get a sense of specific aspect ratios, you can refer to the visual below.
Pentax KP dimensions
Pentax KP weighs about 1.55 lb (703g / 24.80 oz) & the volume of the camera is 132mm x 101mm x 76mm (5.2" x 4.0" x 3.0"). The weight of average Advanced DSLR camera is 776g so the Pentax KP is similar as compared to various rivals.
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhoneDown below is a picture of the Pentax KP alongside a soft drink to help you to get a feel for its scale.
The top view just below will show the button design on the KP.
Pentax KP Lens info
The KP works with the Pentax KAF2 mount and has 17 lenses on sale. Below is some of the lenses we have in our database which will fit the KP.
Pentax KP Connectivity
The KP has the following connectivity:
- USB Yes
- Wireless Yes
- GPS Yes
Digital cameras with NFC and Bluetooth compatibility can be controlled wirelessly with smartphones. You can send pictures and usually adjust camera settings with no need to connect directly to the camera.
Several applications even give a Liveview and release the shutter in case you are not close to the camera. If the camera includes a HDMI port, it can be connected to an external monitor. Most cameras enable you to charge the battery pack with the USB socket.
Pentax KP Video info
The highest possible video quality in the Pentax KP is 1920 x 1080 and you can shoot in MPEG-4 and H.264 format. 1080p quality delivers a great balance in quality versus file sizes but 1080p won't give you any room to crop. Although the camera offers a mic port, it is missing a headphone port which means that you won't have the capability to check your audio levels.
Pentax KP Weather Sealing
Pentax KP provides weather proofing making it a great option for use in rough environments. This is especially helpful in case you are unsure about the conditions you might face in outdoor photography.
Pentax KP Display and Viewfinder
The Pentax KP comes with a 3 inch tilting display screen supporting a resolution of 921 thousand dots.
Sadly the display screen is not a touch screen.
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firmsThe ViewFinder specs for Pentax KP are the following:
- ViewFinder Optical (pentaprism)
- ViewFinder Coverage 100%
- ViewFinder Magnification 0.63x
For sunny outdoor conditions which make the camera displays washed out and difficult to see, viewfinders are quite valuable.
Pentax KP Shutter info
Pentax KP continuous shooting rate is 7.0 frames/s. The highest shutter speed is 1/6000 sec. The camera also provides silent electronic shutter of 1/24000 sec. Keep in mind that the electronic shutter can result in "rolling shutter" in certain lighting conditions.
Pentax KP Flash and Hot shoe info
Pentax KP features both built in flash together with external flash support.
Pentax KP Autofocus info
Pentax KP features just Contrast Detect Auto Focus & is missing Phase Detect Auto Focus. Phase Detection autofocusing is a lot snappier & accurate in comparison with Contrast Detect autofocusing. The camera comes with Face detect which can be helpful for people photography.
It comes with 27 focus points to pick from. It also comes with Tracking Auto Focus for moving objects. Pentax KP features manual focus in case it is required in low light situations or you want to have more exact control on focus.
Pentax KP Battery life
The battery life (D-LI109) on the Pentax KP is fashioned to last for 390 photos according to the CIPA requirements which is lesser compared with it's competition. The average Advanced DSLR camera battery life is 909. Nikon D780 has got the best (2260) battery life in this group of cameras.
Below is a listing of Advanced DSLR cameras which have the best battery life:
Pentax KP for specific categories of photography
The following diagram displays a summary of the Pentax KP for specific categories of photography. To look at more, have a look at the specific section underneath.
Portrait photography with Pentax KP
The Pentax KP gets a points tally of 80 which is tremendous, meaning that it is a tremendous fit for portrait photography. Shooting portraits leans heavily to sensor specs, RAW support along with the potential to work with off-camera flash.
Pentax KP as a Street photography camera
Coming in at a outstanding points tally of 76, the Pentax KP is a outstanding pick for street photography. A very good street photography camera gives a fine balance of picture quality plus portability.
Pentax KP as a Sports photography camera
A nice sports photography rating of 72 means the Pentax KP is a fine choice for photographing sports. A camera should have good autofocus plus shutter speeds for sports photography.
Pentax KP Travel photography details
Size is really crucial when choosing a travel camera. Overall, the Pentax KP gets a above average 61 as a travel camera which is a good fit to purchase for your holidays.
Landscape photography with Pentax KP
If you are planning to choose a camera for landscape photos, the most vital aspect will no doubt be image quality. The Pentax KP with it's terrific rating of 77 for a landscape camera is a tremendous fit amongst it's competition.
Pentax KP Vlogging details
A vlogging camera really should posses a moving screen, mic input and if possible IBIS. Taking all things in to account, the Pentax KP is just not very good for vlogging as it delivers a lousy rating of 34.
Pentax KP Alternatives
If you are trying to find alternatives to the KP, below is a number of the highest scored cameras which fall within the category of Advanced DSLR.
The line graph just below gives you a bird's eye view of the KP versus it's highest ranking rivals listed previously.
Following are additional cameras you might view as alternate options. To read through a comprehensive comparison, simply click the "compare" link.