Pentax K-01

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    Highlights

    • 16 MP APS-C CMOS Sensor
    • 100 - 12,800 Native ISO
    • 81 Focus Points (81 Cross-type)
    • Image Stabilization
    • 3.0" 921k dot Fixed Screen
    • 6.0 fps Continuous Shooting
    • 1920 x 1080 Video Shooting
    • 25 min Video Recording Limit
    • Built-in Flash
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    Overview

    Pentax K-01 was announced in 2012 and is an APS-C (23.7 x 15.7 mm) Mirrorless camera with 16 Megapixel CMOS sensor. Its native ISO ranges from 100 to 12,800 and expands to 100 - 25,600 in boosted mode. The camera has a Fixed 3.0" screen with 921k dot resolution. It has a built-in Sensor Shift in body image stabilization.

    Pentax K-01 can capture video up to 1920 x 1080 resolution.

    Pros and Cons

    In this section we present pros and cons of Pentax K-01.

    PROS

    •   Cheap
    •   Video Capture
    •   81 Focus Points
    •   Face Detection
    •   Live View Autofocus
    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Built-in Flash
    •   HDMI Output
    •   Orientation Sensor

    CONS

    •   Low Bit Depth
    •   0 Cross-type Focus Points
    •   Fixed Screen
    •   No Viewfinder
    •   Low Video Resolution - 1920 x 1080
    •   Low Video Recording Limit
    •   No Headphone Output
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   No Built-In Wi-Fi
    •   No Built-In Bluetooth
    •   No Environmental Sealing
    •   Short Battery Life - 540 shots

    And here are some specifications which fall into average criteria and are neither in PROs nor in CONs category:

    AVERAGE

    •   Sensor Resolution - 16 Megapixel
    •   100 Lowest Native ISO
    •   12,800 Highest Native ISO
    •   Screen Size - 3.0"
    •   Screen Resolution - 921k dot
    •   Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain) - 1/4000 sec
    •   Max Continuous Shooting - 6.0 fps
    •   Max Flash Sync Speed - 1/180 sec
    •   DxO Overall Score - 79
    •   Weight - 561 g (1.24 lb / 19.79 oz)

    Screen

    Fixed screen

    Pentax K-01 has a 3.0" Fixed screen with 921k dot resolution.

    Sensor

    Pentax K-01 features a 16 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor with dimensions of 23.7 x 15.7 mm and a total area of 372.1 mm2. Its native ISO range is 100 - 12,800 and expands to 100 - 25,600 in boosted mode.


    Here is a sensor size comparison chart where you can see how Pentax K-01's APS-C sensor compares with other types of sensors:

    Sensor size chart
    Sensor Dimensions Area Aspect Ratio Crop Factor
    Image cannot be displayedMedium Format44 x 33 mm1452 mm24:30.79x
    Image cannot be displayedFull Frame36 x 24 mm864 mm23:21x
    Image cannot be displayedAPS-H27 x 18 mm486 mm23:21.3x
    Image cannot be displayedAPS-C23.7 x 15.7 mm372.1 mm23:21.5x
    Image cannot be displayedAPS-C (Canon)22.3 x 14.9 mm332.3 mm23:21.6x
    Image cannot be displayedMicro Four Thirds17.4 x 13 mm226.2 mm24:32x
    Image cannot be displayed1-inch13.2 x 8.8 mm116.2 mm23:22.7x
    Image cannot be displayed1/1.7-inch7.44 x 5.58 mm41.5 mm24:34.7x
    Image cannot be displayed1/2.3-inch6.17 x 4.55 mm28.1 mm24:35.6x

    Photography Features

    Camera can take pictures up to 4928 x 3264 resolution. It can also take pictures with lower resolutions like 4352 x 3264, 4224 x 2816, 4928 x 2776, 4224 x 2376, 3840 x 2880, 3456 x 2304, 3456x1944, 3264 x 3264, 3072 x 2304, 2880 x 2880, 2688 x 1792, 2688 x 1512, 2304 x 2304, 2304 x 1728, 1728 x 1728 with 1:1, 4:3, 3:2, 16:9 aspect ratios.


    Lens Mount

    Pentax K-01 has Pentax KAF2 lens mount. Due to APS-C sensor its crop factor (also called lens multiplier) is 1.5x. This means that a 35mm equivalent focal length of the mounted lens will be equal to its actual focal length times 1.5.


    In-Body Image Stabilization

    The camera has a built-in Sensor Shift in-body image stabilization (IBIS). This means that you are still getting vibration reduction when camera is paired with non-image stabilizied lenses. It also works with lenses with optical image stabilization and in combination can achieve even better compensation.

    Check out the cameras which are frequently compared to Pentax K-01.

    Connectivity, Battery and Storage

    USB Input and HDMI Output

    Pentax K-01 has a USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) input for data transfer. There is a Mini Type C HDMI connector for video signal output.


    Battery

    Pentax K-01 comes with D-LI90 battery pack with battery life of 540 shots.


    External Storage Slots

    The camera has a single SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I) card slot.

    Other Features

    Shutter

    Pentax K-01's shutter speed can go up to 1/4000 sec. Camera can shoot continuously up to 6.0 fps.


    Flash

    Pentax K-01 has a built-in flash with maximum range of 12.00 m at ISO 100 and also accepts external flash which can be connected via Hot Shoe. The fastest flash synchronization speed is 1/180 sec.

    Physical Parameters

    Pentax K-01 has dimensions of 122 x 79 x 58 mm (4.8 x 3.11 x 2.28"). It weighs 561 g (1.24 lb / 19.79 oz) which is neither heavy nor lightweight.

    122 mm (4.8")

    79 mm (3.11")

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    79 mm (3.11")

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    58 mm (2.28")

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    Pentax K-01 dimensions

    Pentax K-01 for Different Types of Photography

    We give scores to the camera for different type of photography based on its features and specifications. Let us see how Pentax K-01 is suitable for six different types of photography.


    Landscape Photography

    GOOD
    70

    Pentax K-01 gets a score of 70 and is GOOD choice for Landscape photography.

    •   Screen Resolution - 921k dot
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   No Environmental Sealing

    Sports Photography

    AVERAGE
    69

    Pentax K-01 gets a score of 69 and is AVERAGE choice for Sports photography.

    •   12,800 Highest Native ISO
    •   81 Focus Points
    •   0 Cross-type Focus Points
    •   Face Detection
    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Screen Resolution - 921k dot
    •   No Viewfinder
    •   Max Continuous Shooting - 6.0 fps
    •   Short Battery Life - 540 shots
    •   Orientation Sensor

    Wildlife Photography

    AVERAGE
    62

    Pentax K-01 gets a score of 62 and is AVERAGE choice for Wildlife photography.

    •   12,800 Highest Native ISO
    •   81 Focus Points
    •   0 Cross-type Focus Points
    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Screen Resolution - 921k dot
    •   No Viewfinder
    •   Max Continuous Shooting - 6.0 fps
    •   No Environmental Sealing
    •   Short Battery Life - 540 shots
    •   Orientation Sensor

    Portrait Photography

    GOOD
    81

    Pentax K-01 gets a score of 81 and is GOOD choice for Portrait photography.

    •   81 Focus Points
    •   0 Cross-type Focus Points
    •   Face Detection
    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Screen Size - 3.0"
    •   Screen Resolution - 921k dot
    •   Max Flash Sync Speed - 1/180 sec
    •   Orientation Sensor

    Street Photography

    GOOD
    81

    Pentax K-01 gets a score of 81 and is GOOD choice for Street photography.

    •   81 Focus Points
    •   0 Cross-type Focus Points
    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Fixed Screen
    •   Screen Resolution - 921k dot
    •   No Viewfinder
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   No Environmental Sealing
    •   Weight - 561 g (1.24 lb / 19.79 oz)

    Travel Photography

    GOOD
    79

    Pentax K-01 gets a score of 79 and is GOOD choice for Travel photography.

    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Fixed Screen
    •   Screen Resolution - 921k dot
    •   Low Video Resolution - 1920 x 1080
    •   Low Video Recording Limit
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   No Environmental Sealing
    •   Weight - 561 g (1.24 lb / 19.79 oz)
    •   Short Battery Life - 540 shots

    Pentax K-01 Evaluation

    We evaluate Pentax K-01 and give score of 64 out of 100. We also give separate scores for 7 different categories according to the available features and specifications some of which are listed below. These evaluations are relative and may change each time a new camera is added to the database.


    OVERALL
    64

    Sensor

    AVERAGE
    69

    We give Pentax K-01 a score of 69 for Sensor parameters.

    •   Sensor Resolution - 16 Megapixel
    •   100 Lowest Native ISO
    •   12,800 Highest Native ISO
    •   DxO Overall Score - 79

    Photo

    GOOD
    75

    We give Pentax K-01 a score of 75 for Photo parameters.

    •   Low Bit Depth
    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain) - 1/4000 sec
    •   Max Continuous Shooting - 6.0 fps
    •   Max Flash Sync Speed - 1/180 sec

    Video

    POOR
    45

    We give Pentax K-01 a score of 45 for Video parameters.

    •   Image Stabilization
    •   Low Video Resolution - 1920 x 1080
    •   Low Video Recording Limit

    Focusing

    AVERAGE
    62

    We give Pentax K-01 a score of 62 for Focusing parameters.

    •   81 Focus Points
    •   0 Cross-type Focus Points
    •   Face Detection
    •   Live View Autofocus

    Screen and Viewfinder

    AVERAGE
    57

    We give Pentax K-01 a score of 57 for Screen and Viewfinder parameters.

    •   Fixed Screen
    •   Screen Size - 3.0"
    •   Screen Resolution - 921k dot
    •   No Viewfinder

    Connectivity

    GOOD
    78

    We give Pentax K-01 a score of 78 for Connectivity parameters.

    •   HDMI Output
    •   No Headphone Output
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   No Built-In Wi-Fi
    •   No Built-In Bluetooth

    Battery, Storage and Physical

    POOR
    42

    We give Pentax K-01 a score of 42 for Battery, Storage and Physical parameters.

    •   No Environmental Sealing
    •   Weight - 561 g (1.24 lb / 19.79 oz)
    •   Short Battery Life - 540 shots


    For a full specification list please go to the specifications page:

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