Pentax K-1 Mark II

The K-1 Mark II is a full frame DSLR released in 2018, with an optical pentaprism viewfinder. It is a substantial camera at about 1010 grams, so it rewards a planned, deliberate way of working over casual carrying.

Its combination of resolution, in-body stabilisation and weather sealing suits landscape, travel and outdoor photographers who take their time over frames rather than chasing fast action.

Owning it means accepting a few compromises. Video tops out at Full HD, there is no touchscreen, and burst shooting reaches 4.4 frames per second at most. For stills-first work in changeable weather, the core package lines up well.

At the heart of the camera is a 36 megapixel full frame CMOS sensor working with the Prime IV processor. That resolution leaves room to crop tightly and still print large, which matters for landscape, architecture and detail-driven work.

Sensitivity runs from ISO 100 to 819200. That is an extremely wide span of available settings, reaching far beyond typical daylight requirements.

In-body stabilisation reduces camera shake, so handheld shooting at slower shutter speeds becomes practical, including with lenses that have no stabilisation of their own.

Autofocus uses 33 points, and the burst rate tops out at 4.4 frames per second, which favours considered, static or slow moving subjects over fast action sequences. A maximum shutter speed of 1/8000s helps when you want wide apertures in bright light, and the Pentax KAF4 mount anchors the lens system.

The K-1 Mark II records Full HD video, with a maximum frame rate of 60fps. The two figures are separate limits in the specifications, so a combined Full HD 60fps mode is not confirmed here. Files are saved as MPEG-4 H.264.

There is no 4K mode. That positions the camera for clips that support a stills project or straightforward web delivery, rather than footage needing cropping room or large screen playback.

A built-in timelapse function shoots interval sequences without an external trigger, which pairs well with the weather sealed body for long outdoor shoots.

If video features heavily in your buying decision, the Full HD ceiling is the main trade-off to accept. The supplied modes cover the basics of motion work without reaching further.

The body is weather sealed for shooting in poor conditions. Combined with built-in GPS for tagging shoot locations, it is a practical tool for landscape and travel photography.

The 3.2 inch TFT LCD offers a sharp 1,037,000 dot view and flips out for waist level or overhead framing. There is no touch input, so menus and focus points are set with buttons and dials.

Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are both on board for wireless connection to other devices. Live view rounds out the shooting options when the optical viewfinder does not suit the angle.

There is no built-in flash. The body supports external flash, so indoor scenes or daylight fill light mean carrying a separate unit in the bag.

Two card slots accept SD, SDHC and SDXC memory with UHS-I support. That gives you room for extra capacity on a long shoot, or simply a second card ready when one fills.

The D-LI90 battery is rated at 670 shots per charge. The conditions behind that figure are not stated here, so treat it as a guide and carry a spare for a heavy day.

There is no USB charging, so the battery cannot be topped up from a cable between shoots. Starting each day with a full charge matters more here than with cameras that can top up over USB.