Digital SLR Photography

YOU’VEGOTTOfeelalittlesorryforPentaxDSLRusers.WhilsttherehasbeenasolidchoiceofexcellentAPS-Cmodelsavailableinrecentyears,theonethingthathasbeenmissingfromtherangehasbeenafull-frameoption.Therefore,newsoftheK-1willhavebeengreetedbyPentaxenthusiastswithrelish.And,withoutgivingtoomuchaway,formost,thewaitwillhavebeenworthit.Pentax'slatestfl agshipmodelmighthavetakenanagetoarrive,butitpromisestoofferapackagetokeepthemostseriousphotographerscontent.Beforejumpingintohowithandlesandwhatitoffershowever,it'sworthtakingnoteofitsprice.Ataround£1,800body-only,theK-1costssignificantlylessthansimilarly-featuredrivals,suchasthe£2,400NikonD810.Whichisespeciallyimpressiveonceyouseewhatithastooffer.Aswithotherrecenttop-endPentaxDSLRs,theK-1isachunkybeastwithangularlinesthat'sunlikethesmoother,curvierbodiesyou'llfi ndonthelikesofaCanonorNikon.Itsweatherproofbodysportsapremiumfeel–theterm'builtlikeatank'couldeasilyhavebeenpennedfortheK-1.Thecamerahandleslikeadream,withtheextra-largehandgripprovidingasecureholdandthepronouncedbuttonsandchunkyknobshelpingmakethecamerafasterandeasiertooperate.Thisisfurtheraidedbyallthedialsandbuttonsbeingclearlymarkedandneatlypositioned.Thedialontherightofthetop-plateisworthalittlestudy–itoffersthechancetoaccess``````(andchangeviathetop-platedial)anumberofsecondaryfunctions,suchasWi-Fi,bracketingandviewfindergridoverlay.Atfi rst,Iwasscepticalaboutit,butthemoreI'veusedtheK-1,themoreIthinkithasmerit.Twofurtherareasofthecamera'sset-updeservespecialpraisetoo.Thefi rstistheopticalviewfinder,whichissimplysuperb.Itprovidesabrightandsharpimage,0.7xmagnificationandnear-100%fi eld-of-view.Theviewfinderalsosportsaneatoverlaythatallowsforachoiceofdisplays,suchasagridpatternordigitallevel.Thesecondisthe3.2inLCDmonitor.Whatimpressesmostisnotitsresolution,whichisexcellent,orthegaplessresinlayerdesignthatreducesinternalrefl ections,norisittheoutdoorviewsettingsthatboostitsvisibilityinsunlight.WhatIlikemostisthefl exiblemountthatallowsthemonitortobeusedandlockedinawidevarietyofangles.ThemaininterestoftheK-1'sspecificationisundoubtedlythefull-framesensor.Its36.4-millionpixelresolutionandlackofanti-aliasingfi ltermeansPentaxfi nallyhasamodeltorivalstheCanons,NikonsandSonysforresolution.Oneadvantageithasoverallotherfull-framemodelsisbody-integralstabilisation,whichisclaimedtogiveupto fi vestopsbenefit.FileprocessingishandledbyaPRIMEIVimagingenginethatallowsfull-frameimagestobecapturedatupto 4.4frames-per-seconds(6.5fpsforcroppedAPS-Cimages),withanextensiveISOrangefrom100allthewayupto204800.AndwhiletheK-1offers FullHD``````video,itdoeslackthecapabilitytoshoot4K.AninnovationthatissuretobenefitimagequalityontheK-1isthePixelShiftResolutionSystem.Itcapturesfourimagesofthesceneandshiftsthesensorbyasinglepixelforeachimage,thenmergesthemintoone.It'sclaimedtohelpreducenoiseandprovidemoreaccuratecolourreproduction.TheK-1'sAFsystemhasbeendevelopedtocoverawiderareathanconventionalarrays.SportinganewAFsensormodule,theSAFOX12,theK-1boasts33AFpoints,including25cross-typesensors.Alongwithbeingabletoselectindividualpointsorhaveallactive,you'realsoabletoselectsmallerAFzonesmadeupofninesensors.Themeteringsystemofferspatternsmuchlikethatfoundonmostothercameras,withachoiceofmulti-zone,spotandcentre-weightedaveragepatterns,alongwithachoiceofoverridessuchasAE-lockandAEB.The86,000-pixelRGBmeteringsensoralsoassessesthesubject'sshape,colourandmovementtoprovidetheprocessorwithmoreaccurateanalysisofthescene.AnotherinnovationontheK-1isits fourassistlampsthatlightupkeyareasaroundthecamera,suchasmemorycardslotandlensmount,tohelpoperationinthedark.Thereareseveralotherfeat uresthatnormallywe'dcoverinmoredetail,buthaven'tthespaceduetothedepthoftheK-1'sspecification.ThisincludesintegralWi-Fi,built-inGPSmoduleandelectroniccompass,intervaltimer,digitalfi ltersandanastrotracerfortrackingcelestialbodies!Gear/Full-framedigitalSLRPENTAXK-1Atlonglastthewaitis over. Pentaxusershaveafull-frameDSLRonofferand,aswefi ndout,fortherighttypesofsubjectitcouldbearevelation``````Test:DANIELLEZANO``````SPECIFICATIONSPrice:£1,800(bodyonly)Imagesensor:Full-frameCMOS(35.9x24mm)Resolution:36.4-megapixelsMaximumimageresolution:7360x4912pixelsAFsystem:33-point(25cross-type)Metering:86,000-pixelRGBsensor.Multi-zone,spot¢re- weightedISOrange:100-204800Shutterspeeds:1/8000sec-30seconds&BulbContinuousframerate :4.4frames-per-secondLCD:3.2in1,037,000-dotfl exi-tiltTFTStora ge:Dual-slotSD(SDHC/SDXC)Size:110x136.5x85.5mmWeight:1,010g(includingbatteryandcard)Website:www.ricoh-imaging.co.uk104 Digital SLR PhotographyNove mber2016MoreangularindesignthanitsCanonandNikoncounterparts,theweatherproofPentaxK-1iswelldesignedandajoytouse.