Luminous Landscape Forum
Equipment & Techniques => Cameras, Lenses and Shooting gear => Topic started by: Quentin on June 07, 2016, 06:22:46 pm
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Is anyone else using a Pentax K1?
I am, and l am very taken with it. In fact its currently my principal camera. I am a little suprised its not more popular here on Lula.
I'm not a reviewer but I am happy to contribute some user thoughts if anyone is interested.
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One thing that Pentax does is make their cameras very weather-proof. If they bring on some FF-coverage lenses that are water-resistant to the same degree that the ordinary Pentax APS-C K# SLRs and water-resistant lenses have, that would be a big attraction for some.
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It's an amazing camera, that came for me at least 2 years too late. The focal flange distance will not allow you to mount existing Nikon or Canon lenses, so to use it you have to purchase all Pentax lenses. If the lens mount issue was resolved, I would have one as soon as it comes back into stock.
1. Weatherproof, wonderful idea
2. Tilt screen (something I use daily on cameras with it)
3. Pixel shift works very well, and maybe some day Adobe will figure it out
4. LED lighting for night work
5. Built in time-lapse and star tracking tool (really cool)
6. Great battery life,
7. Of course the best the built in sensor BIS, which to me is still the best solution by far.
8. Really amazing high ISO results when the pixel shift is used, the cleanest 3200 and 6400 full frame I have ever seen.
Only negatives for me besides the lenses:
Slikypix, terrible software at least for me, and the only way currently to get the pixel shift to work, as LR and ACR can't get it at all currently, especially with moving water.
No intervalometer support currently, but I am not sure if the timer allows for exposures longer than 30", if it does then scratch this one.
Pentax, a bit short on lenses, but hopefully Sigma will make more of the Art series in the K mount in the future.
Paul C
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Gosh, no Vello intervalometer/wired shutter release available for Pentax. I have used the Vello for Canon cameras without inbuilt intervalometer - just set camera on bulb.
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Well said, Paul.
I have been experimenting with the unknown (to me) world of Pentax lenses. No ultrasonic drive 85mm is a downer, but after some poor choices, I have landed on the 77mm F/1.8, which is very small, retro screw drive focusing, but what a gorgeous sharp little lens. With Pixel shift it provides the equivalent of approx 60mp resolution, with no moire and superior color.
Pixel shift is every bit as good as Hasselblad multi-shot. The downside is it won't currently work with studio flash. Maybe that could be rectified with a firmware upgrade. Maybe not.
I love the K1. For the most part, it's how I would have designed a camera. The lens issue will trouble many, but I rather like these retro lenses. I have added the modern desgn Pentax 15-30mm F/2.8 (based on the equivalent and highly regarded Tamron), and the 100mm Macro (again, a bit retro but good). Surely Sigma can come join the party with more than their excellent 35mm F/1.4, and others will follow.
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A friend of mine bought one in France and he seems to be very happy with it.
Camera is in stock in Japan.
It is tempting to buy one with a few lenses, but in the end my past experience is that I ended using these "side cameras" very little and they end up being wasted money. It was the case for my Betterlight back, is currently the case for my Hassy 503CW,...
So I'll be reasonnable and keep the cash for something more grand in a few years. ;)
Cheers,
Bernard
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Pentax do know how to make very good cameras, e.g. K5, and now K1. Great value for money too. Their Limited series lenses are very good, but the choice has dwindled over the years, with no third party lenses support from Sigma or Zeiss, for example.
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Quentin,
As someone who has been very impressed by the terrific A7RII photos you posted on GetDPI, I wonder what you find superior about the K1 (apart from pixel shift). I'm particularly interested in how you compare the color and autofocus accuracy of the two cameras.
Ken
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Quentin,
As someone who has been very impressed by the terrific A7RII photos you posted on GetDPI, I wonder what you find superior about the K1 (apart from pixel shift). I'm particularly interested in how you compare the color and autofocus accuracy of the two cameras.
Ken
Apart from the pixel shift... it should be... the pixel shift! I'm just waiting for more offerings out of other FF makers too for "true color" capturing (which I'm sure there will be) as to supplement my Sinarback 54H & Hasselblad CF-39MS MFDBs... Other wise I would have change to Pentax (from Nikon) already...
What has stopped me from changing boat with the Pentax, is that when pixel shift is active and motion is detected, the camera still comes with a result but a partly true color - partly interpolated one without the user know that there is a failure in the process... So I decided to wait and see if another maker will come up with a "pure" method... ;)
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Quentin,
As someone who has been very impressed by the terrific A7RII photos you posted on GetDPI, I wonder what you find superior about the K1 (apart from pixel shift). I'm particularly interested in how you compare the color and autofocus accuracy of the two cameras.
Ken
Well, it's more "organic" Ken! Pixel shift is a differentiator, but it goes deeper. The A7RII is clinically good, precise, exact. The K1 is the eccentric brother. The colours are better, less digital. The camera itself is very well thought out, excellent menus, compact, just feels right.
And pixel shiift, although it can rarely be used outside of a studio, is awesome. Multi-shot is what many would call it. Works as well as Hasselblad's implementation of multi shot, but oddly cannot be used with studio strobes, which is the one error in the K1 I would remedy.
The result is I feel liberated.
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Thanks Quentin,
Although I know that autofocus is somewhat lens dependent, how does the K1 autofocus compare to the Sony?
Ken
P.S. Please keep posting your photos. You always seem to get better results with your cameras and lenses than most other posters on GetDPI. I've enjoyed your Sigma DPM and Sony images and look forward to more K1 images.
P.P.S. Pixel shift is not of much interest to me but I understand its value for subjects like architecture.
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Thanks Quentin,
Although I know that autofocus is somewhat lens dependent, how does the K1 autofocus compare to the Sony?
Ken
P.S. Please keep posting your photos. You always seem to get better results with your cameras and lenses than most other posters on GetDPI. I've enjoyed your Sigma DPM and Sony images and look forward to more K1 images.
P.P.S. Pixel shift is not of much interest to me but I understand its value for subjects like architecture.
Ken, Thanks
Seems pretty accurate at focussing. Obviously, contrast detection with live view is more accurate that phase detection with a mirror. Some lenses are better than others with the K1. I guess the Sony is a tad more advanced and more accurate because its mirrorless, but the K1 does a good job.
I still have and will use the A7RII.
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................ I am a little suprised its not more popular here on Lula. ................
Indeed, as am I, given the reviews on various sites. Let's hope you start a discussion.
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Just noticed this thread and have been dying to try the new Pentax K1. If only my store can get one. They are all on back order.
I have the K3. And like the first little tank- The K10- its the best value for the money as far as higher end DLR's are concerned, IMHO. Anyway, I do creative work with mulitple exposures in-camera on one frame, and was wondering, does the K1 do multiple exposures and how many? I read somewhere that it has no limits, so that must be a misprint or misunderstanding.
JR
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I have been using a K1 for a couple of weeks, and like Quentin, I am very impressed. Although I have not tried, the manual indicates that multi exposures from 2 to 2000 can be taken.
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I have been using a K1 for a couple of weeks, and like Quentin, I am very impressed. Although I have not tried, the manual indicates that multi exposures from 2 to 2000 can be taken.
Wow, that's unbelievable!. The highest right now, is 9 or ten, depending on which brand you get. Thanks Ray!
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with the sensor rotation feature that can be set to counter Earth's rotation (apparent movement of stars) appearing in the image, this could be quite the astrolandscape camera, without having to haul out an equatorial mount or build a motorized barn door. Also, if you wanted to do deep-sky imaging involving large numbers of exposures, you won't have to wait for someone to write a controller like BackyardEOS/NIKON. The only problem is finding a dark sky!
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Question for Quentin.
Does the built in intervalometer support shutter speeds longer than 30 seconds? Most cameras with a built in intervalometer don't have a timer and work in bulb mode. I was hoping Pentax might have gone beyond this with their design.
In general this is such an amazing oversight by camera companies. Magic lantern adds this feature for Canon but it's the only instance I know of.
Sad fact is the Pentax has been out of stock for over a month I guess due to the earthquake. But no eta from any US seller.
Paul C
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Hands on the Pentax K1 and Pixel-Shift
Here is a quick report on the new Pentax K1 in the actual work situations I find myself in. There is good news and bad news... for me. The bad news is that it looks like I have to learn (and put up) with another camera. Part of it is that I am used to my Nikons and all of that. The other part is that, IMO, the Pentax K1 interface as not as easy to use or as well-designed as Nikon, but that may just be because it is different than what I’m used to.
I would send it back just to spare myself the aggravation, but for the very nice results. At this point, I am just checking it out a little bit and trying to get over holding my nose while I am at it.
The color with the Pentax is crisper, brighter, more natural (almost too contrasty!) compared to the overall muddier look of my Nikon D810, now that I see them side by side. Ouch!
Compared to the Pixel-Shift mode of the Pentax K1, it is clear that the writing is on the wall: the Bayer interpolation method, by definition, is a compromise that results in color that is not pristine. Sad but true.
And I don’t have a ton of lenses for the K1, and the Pentax (so far anyway) is much less tolerant of odd lenses than are my Nikons bodies. If everything is equal, which it is not, then the Pentax is... doable (and keep-able) for my work, IMO.
The Pentax pixel-shift files are huge, and a real pain for my computer, not to mention their storage requirements (~ 150K or more each). The LCD screen on the back of the camera is very adjustable, but I won’t be using it because I need my Zacuto Z-Finder magnifier on the back for fine focus, and it is needed. This camera is very fussy with focus. On the plus side, the K1 has a fairly easy-to-use LiveView magnifier that goes up to something like 16x, which is more than I need or makes sense. However, I may be able to magnify focus and use glasses instead of the Z-Finder.
The pixel-shift files take a long time to write out and you get no warning if you decide to call it a day and yank the card before the little light goes out. Don’t do it!
You can stack focus with these files, but at the price of degradation of the files... a little bit. I had to mess with the pristine color from the K1. For my work, the Pentax K1 will probably be used to take single shots photos at high f/Stops like f/10-16. Yes, there is some diffraction, but I seem to get away with much smaller f/stops in pixel-shift mode with the K1 than on my Nikon D810.
So, the bottom line is that it looks like I am learning a new camera, and one not as elegant as the D810. There are other considerations as well.
Stacking K1 images, like all stacking, messes with the color and the contrast to a degree. With the K1, the pristine color is the main attraction. So far, it seems it would be better to take one-shot photos with the K1 in pixel-shift mode than to try and stack them. Oh yes, they stack of course, but the added contrasts, etc. may look good from a distance, but up close it looks worse than a single-shot photo, not that anyone but a pixel-peeper could tell. All stacks do this, but the more pristine possibilities of the K1 in pixel-shift mode make me want to think twice before stacking.
Also, right now I have only a few Voigtlander lenses that have Pentax mounts. I have an adapter to Nikon and tried on the Otus 55mm and it works, etc., but no infinity, which is fine, since I only do close-up photography.
However, I tried mounting the Pentax K1 on a bellows unit and using lenses like El Nikkor 105mm APO lenses on the front standard. The Pentax K1 is not very tolerant of lenses not electronically coupled, like exotic industrial lenses hanging off the front-standard on the bellows. Unlike the Nikon or the Sony A7rII, the K1 makes it very difficult to modify the LiveView image by changing shutter speed, etc. The LiveView image remains wide open. That part of this new camera is very disappointing.
In short, I just have my toe in the water. Part of me wishes my Nikons could do pixel-shift, because their cameras would be a lot easier for me to use, since I already know them. But the bleeding edge never sleeps and new equipment drives me on.
I am interested to see Sony’s rumored upgrade for the A7rII and Nikons upgrade of the D810 whenever they come. Meanwhile the purity of color of the pixel-shift with the K1 and the overall result is worth checking out IMO.
Photo taken with the Pentax K1, Voigtlander 90mm APO.
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................However, I tried mounting the Pentax K1 on a bellows unit and using lenses like El Nikkor 105mm APO lenses on the front standard. The Pentax K1 is not very tolerant of lenses not electronically coupled, like exotic industrial lenses hanging off the front-standard on the bellows. Unlike the Nikon or the Sony A7rII, the K1 makes it very difficult to modify the LiveView image by changing shutter speed, etc. The LiveView image remains wide open. That part of this new camera is very disappointing....................
Michael:
I don't have a K-1, but I do use a 645Z and my experience has been that the OS/menu is the same for all Pentax DSLRs; my comments are based on the Z. Are you using the camera in M mode? If so, pushing the green button will set the correct shutter speed, regardless of which lens is used and how it is attached. If you then change aperture or shutter speed the display indicates + 5 EV and the LV display will darken or lighten in response to changes and includes focus peaking and blown highlight warnings.
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I'll probably get one relatively soon. Once my outstanding invoices are paid my camera fund will be able to cover it.
I have a bunch of Pentax gear (digital crop, 35mm film, 645 film and digital) going back to film days and am happy with them. They suit my shooting style. I have some converted Leica glass I'd like to try on full frame too since my old 35mm body died.
I bet I'll like it but I might be a fanboy (although I try not to be). :)
I like the look of that 15-30/2.8 as well but I'll need to send out more invoices for that one.
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Michael:
I don't have a K-1, but I do use a 645Z and my experience has been that the OS/menu is the same for all Pentax DSLRs; my comments are based on the Z. Are you using the camera in M mode? If so, pushing the green button will set the correct shutter speed, regardless of which lens is used and how it is attached. If you then change aperture or shutter speed the display indicates + 5 EV and the LV display will darken or lighten in response to changes and includes focus peaking and blown highlight warnings.
That is pretty standard across their dSLRs so I bet it would be the same on the K-1 as well. Good for any lens with an aperture ring and no aperture coupling (SMC, M, and K series lenses as well as adapted ones).
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I've been thru at least a half-dozen camera systems the last 7 or 8 years, the last a Sony a7R2 (too small and otherwise too frustrating). This K-1...
(http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k220/jeffreybehr/0%20Pentax%20K-1%20and%20more/2016May06_RF%20w%2077_1500w_zpsnxaipovz.jpg) (http://s89.photobucket.com/user/jeffreybehr/media/0%20Pentax%20K-1%20and%20more/2016May06_RF%20w%2077_1500w_zpsnxaipovz.jpg.html)
...fits my hands and is VERY capable. I bought some Pentax-brand lenses along with inexpensive Sigmas and Tamrons, but the last couple weeks I've been gathering Zeiss ZK-series lenses (25, 28, 35, 85mm) and now a couple ZF.2-series (21mm and 135mm). The latter are anticipating Leitax's introduction of a F.2-to-K adapter.
I HOPE this is the last camera system this 72-year-old will ever buy. :)
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Just wish they would get some back in stock.
How are you liking the Zeiss lenses?
Sadly, it appears that the 15-30 is now out of stock, (B&H and Adorama)
Paul C
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If I wasn't severely arthritic, I'd jump on the K-1 bandwagon. It's got all the right stuff and more. It's just too heavy and awkward for a decrepit old fart like me to handle.
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I am jumping, but only with regrets of the current Adobe support for multishot and in ability to use Canon or Nikon glass on the K1. If that same camera was mirrorless the line might just be endless as the feature set is hard to pass up. I hope that Adobe re-visits the multishot raw conversion and doesn't do as they did on Fuji, (one pass and really terrible conversion for line details i.e. plastic look which is still there after countless ACR revisions).
Am hoping that C1 will pick up the raw support and have support for multishot.
Paul C
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I'm just frustrated that the Tamron-Pentax lenses sell for a 50% premium over the Tamron versions for Canon/Nikon: I'd like the 24-70 for my K3. So I'll wait for the probably-coming-soon new Sigma.
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That's the half empty way of looking at it, though looking at B&H today the Pentax HD DFA 24-70 and CaNikon Tamron's are priced together at $1300.
The half full way is to remember that the Pentax branded 24-70, while optically identisimilar to the Tamron, uses Pentax's coatings and weather sealing and is stabilized in body. And costs $500-900 less than the other factory options.
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After shooting with the K1 now for 2 weeks, I wanted to give a bit of feedback. So far I have used the 15-30, and 100mm Macro.
Positive impressions:
1. The entire layout of the camera to me is a nice change. The controls on the back of the camera and the LCD take a while to get used to, but once you have
them figured out, to me they make sense.
2. LiveView, by far the best DSLR implementation I have used, (Canon, Nikon, Fuji, Phase One). The ability to use Focus Peaking, and it's a very well done
peaking, is a huge advantage. The use of Live View in Low light rivals Canon, (Nikon can't come close IMO due to excessive noise), and the use in daylight
is greatly helped by the ability to move the screen. I would say the Live View makes up for the less than stellar AF.
3. LCD, enough said, great design, I wished years ago that someone else would take up Sony's A99 screen, well this is not that, but it's a good second.
4. Lighting, great to be able to use focus point illumination and show a cropped sensor outline unlike other companies. Button illumination that only the D4s
Nikon has similar designs. The use of this camera at night is a great experience.
5. Sensor stabilization, great idea, and Pentax really has taken it to the next level with the Pixel shift, astrotracker and shifting the sensor as a T/S lens (not
very much but it's still able to move sideways)
6. HDR, yes, you can capture a HDR series in camera as raw, (don't believe that has been allowed before)
7. Battery Life, all day on 1 battery, or at night so far 2.5 hours @ 2' 30" stacking. Great milliamp rating.
8. Pixel Shift, yes, it's real and it does make a huge difference. A plus I have found is that LR does a very good job on the files unless you have really fast
moving subject matter (water). The difference in DR, color, and overall details is very impressive. Impressive enough that you should always try this
option unless conditions are really terrible. It's a bit like 3D, but does let you realize just how much is lost in the Bayer process.
9. GPS, and the astrotracker, enough said, if you want to shoot the Milky way, this is your camera, simple fact. You can either use this solution or stand
there with a external tracking device. The need for a super fast lens, is now gone, F2.8 even 3.2 works great, as you can now track a shot of the Milky
way for 2 minutes, 3 minutes etc. Instead of 17 seconds. I am still getting familiar with this tool and waiting for a good night to really test. You can now
work in a much lower ISO, 800 to 1200/1600 keeping the noise down.
10. Good support for raw in both LR and C1, and C1 seems to work with the pixel shift files, (you need to add some more sharpening) but the colors look
great and so far not seeing a lot of aliasing. Still need to work with moving water in both apps.
11. Shadow push at ISO100 is on par with the D810 at 64, also high ISO seems about the same, really getting harsh past 3200.
12. Pro version of Silkypix is a very competent software and has come a long way from when I last looked at it. Still a bit steep to purchase but it does so
far the best conversion on the pixel shift images especially if there is a bit of movement involved.
A few negatives:
1. The software that Pentax gives you, which appears to be a subset of the silkypix, THROW IT AWAY. What a waste. After all the great features that have
added, I hate to see such a worthless piece of software included with the camera. You might as well make the investment in the Full silkypix software
which is not cheap, but does a great job on the pixel shift images (along with the rest of the raw) and handles moving water much better or other similar
subjects.
2. AF, is hit and miss, and hopefully Pentax might improve this in the future with firmware.
3. Brackeing, in M mode, really can't do this, not sure on the logic behind that. First camera I have used that needs to be in Aperture P to bracket correctly.
4. Highlights (this should be number 1) They will blow and blow fast. Really watch your highlights, as you will get pure white really fast. Coming from the
D810, which has a lot more head room on highlights, I have been burned a few times.
5. Lenses, basically Pentax is a APS-C company, with some new zooms. None of the 3rd party companies, Tamron, Sigma are making their high end lenses
in the K mount. I am guess this is because of sales volumes. The Sigma 35mm Art still scratches the front of the camera. Sigma has made notice they
will fix your lens, but no timelines as to when. However I have learned that the excellent 200 F2.8 and 300 F.4 Pentax DA lenses, work on the K1 with no
issues, in that they will work as a full frame lens (that's at least how I understand it) Lots of old manual focus Pentax lenses out there however and some
of them are very good.
6. Lenses Part 2, no way to mount older Nikon or Canon lenses as the focal flange distance is about the same, and one of those two (Nikon ?) may be too
small an opening anyway. All the Zess ZK's are gone except the 35mm F2 which seems to be all over eBay. But will keep my eyes out of others.
Am I selling all my Nikon, no, but I never expect Nikon to make a camera with such a rich feature set or Canon either. Nikon will still be a great birding/wildlife camera but for landscapes, my new goal would be to use the Pixel shift as often as I can.
User base on this camera is very small, but if you are on the fence it's well worth the investment.
Long term, I have no idea how Ricoh support in the US is for either call in questions or repairs.
Paul C
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Paul and Quentin,
Thanks for sharing! Good info as usual!
Best regards
Erik
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Good points and I'm enjoying mine too.
One point of clarification is that my original K-3 can do RAW HDR so that isn't a new feature for the K-1.
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Thanks Matt, overlooked the excellent K3ii.
Paul C
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I've used that RAW HDR on my K-3 a bit and in Auto mode it does a really nice natural-looking job but the two other modes, HDR-1 and HDR-2 do some nasty looking tonemapping or something that screams "HDR!". In auto it's just like the images has more DR and no other frills which is what I prefer. The K-1 Auto HDR seems to act similarly.
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Matt, thanks for the tip.
for the raw, what software are you using? Does LR open the HDR raw?
I assume that the Silkypix Developer studio will also?
Thanks
Paul C
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I just use Lightroom and it's fine with the HDR RAWs which I have the camera set to write as dng files. I tried Silkypix years ago and hated the interface and have not gone back. I realize if I start using pixel shift I may need it try it again but I'm hoping LR gets updated and I don't have to!
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Note, the version of Silkypix that comes with the K1, is terrible. Nothing like the actual program, Silkypix Developer Studio Pro Vr 7. Much better software.
Paul C
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Note, the version of Silkypix that comes with the K1, is terrible. Nothing like the actual program, Silkypix Developer Studio Pro Vr 7. Much better software.
Paul C
Must be just like the one I tried a while back that came with another Pentax camera. I haven't installed it and I hope I don't need to!