Pentax recently announced their long-anticipated entry into the full-frame market, the K-1. Coupled with a slew of interesting and useful features, the camera looks to be a serious contender for those who demand the utmost capability from their gear and like to explore different photographic genres. Pentax has now released sample images from the new camera, including one that shows off its pixel-shifting technology.
The new K-1 brings with it Pentax's tradition of putting unique capabilities in their rugged, small cameras. Features such as AstroTracer, which shifts the sensor to counteract the earth's rotation during nighttime exposures help to distinguish it from the crowd and make it a viable alternative to more mainstream brands (the geek in me is quite tempted by such features).
The K-1 also features pixel-shifting technology with motion correction, which shifts the sensor ever so slightly between exposures to allow for the creation of super high-resolution images, even if there is some subject motion between captures. Check out the difference it makes below.
Notice that not only is resolution improved, tonal gradients, color information, and luminosity transitions benefit from the technology. Be sure to check out more sample images on Pentax's website. You can pre-order the new K-1 here.
Images used with permission of Pentax.
The Pixel Shifting Technology is hard to beat, and was proven to work well with the K-3ii. The problem is that the subject should be static. Therefore, it is not useful when the wind is blowing leaves on a tree, but is very useful for product, reproduction and most architectural photography. The features of the camera--weatherproofing, in-camera shake reduction, PST, Astro tracking, etc.-- is industry leading. The price is very aggressive. I hope Ricoh sells enough so Sigma will make more lenses in the Pentax mount.
The k1 has a new twist to this feature since the k3ii = when motion is detected, only the first frame will be used in areas with motion. Also, shake reduction now works with this feature on and many with beta versions say using this handheld with moderate shutter speeds works great.
Thank you for correcting me about that. I now can't wait to try it out once the rental shops (BorrowLense, etc.) get copies of it.
Turns out that this feature is also available to K-3 II owners in post with a recent update to Pentax's Digital Camera Utility ver. 5.5.1 There's a discussion over here ... http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/172-pentax-k-3/321244-pixel-shift-mot...
I used to shoot with Pentax. I loved their cameras, even Pentax (Tokinas) lenses where ok.
But Autofocus was terrible. Only reason I switched to Nikon. Some how I believe Autofocus still doesn't looks promising, comparing to Canon and Nikon (i hope I'm wrong). Everything else, looks amazing about this camera.
The AstroTracer feature looks interesting and a useful feature that my Canon doesn't have.
Come on, in the before/after images the differences are so subtle only a pixel-peeper would care.
or they're small images on the web, which means you can't see much of a difference. Who knows how much of a difference it makes (yet), but it could be very noticeable in print
The full-sized images on the Pentax site show better.
Agreed. It's a night and day difference when you look at the full files. Pretty impressive!
So we should see any difference on a 300x300 pixel image? Good one, a really good joke. XD
Hope they come out with some good glass. I am not enthused by three rebadged Tamrons. Doesn't seem like they want to make a lineup as quilt one together. Hope they surprise with 5 new primes or something.
The 15-30 and 24-70 are rebadged tamrons - the 70-200, 150-450, and 28-105 are Pentax designs.
For primes, Pentax has the 31, 35, 43, 50, 55, 77, 100, 200, 300, and 560 that have been tested to work on full frame sensors.
I've been using the Sigma 24 f1.8 on crop sensors and works well. I've heard the Sigma 28 is very similar. The Sigma 30 f1.4 is very sharp in the center, but weak in the corners. The Sigma 70 and 105 are outstanding macros, but I prefer the DFA100WR by Pentax.
The da70, da*60-250, and da40 pancake are reported to be ok w/ slight vignetting which improves when stopped down.
PentaxForums has started a list of lenses (both Pentax and 3rd party) that have been tested on either the k1 betas, a7's, or film cams.
I do hope Pentax comes out with something in the 20-24 and 135 areas - and if they can make them as compact and high quality as their FA LImited primes, that would be great.