Pentax K-1 Mark II: What you need to know
The Pentax K-1 was one of the most-anticipated cameras in recent memory. After many starts-and-stops, this full-frame DSLR finally arrived in 2016, much to the delight of Pentax photographers. It offered superb image quality from its 36MP CMOS sensor, 5-axis in-body image stabilization with several tricks up its sleeve, a unique (to say the least) articulating LCD and a body built like a tank.
The K-1 Mark II carries all of that over, but improves upon the K-1`s image quality thanks to a new `accelerator unit` while adding the ability to use the Pixel Shift high-res mode without a tripod. Ricoh also mentions that the Mark II`s AF tracking algorithms have been improved.
Image Quality Enhancements
The K-1 II`s main addition is an `accelerator unit,` which is a pre-processor that sits between the 36MP CMOS sensor and the PRIME IV image processor. Ricoh says that this pre-processor increases the signal-to-noise ratio, thus reducing noise, which implies it`s a a noise reduction process. Ricoh told us that the accelerator unit, which was found on other Pentax models like the K-70, was not ready for the K-1 when it launched.
Thus, the company has increased the top ISO to 819,200 - a big jump from 209,400 on the original model. We`d be shocked if anything near that ISO is usable, seeing how the K-1 looked at 209,400 (hint: poor, like all cameras in its class), but we`ll find out soon enough.
Ricoh says that `deep blues` and `lively greens` are more `true to life,` as well.
The unit does put the hurt on battery life, though, reducing it to 670 shots per charge from 760 shots on the original K-1.
Pentax K-1 II: Shifting Pixels
Pixel Shift is a clever feature first seen on the K-3 II that uses the in-body image stabilization system to create a high resolution image by combining four images that are offset by a single pixel. This process cancels out the Bayer color array used on ...
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