great video!

İ almaya wanted this same switch but failed everyrime

Which camera ?

As I've heard K1 II has a noise reduction baked in raw files. Idk from which iso it starts but I assume from not that high. It's just I'm considering K-1 mark I for astro photography and that noise reduction thing is really bothering me :c (but at the same time mark II has better AF)

Nice video and review of that lens But I don't hear a review or a commentary from the firmware that just destroyed these cameras behind a paywall although I still need to get that lens and by the way that lens was specifically designed and made for the K1 and the K1 Mark II that's the reason why is that the focus didn't really work at all on the K3 or the K3 Mark II or the K3 Mark 3 and it barely did a lot better with the K3 monochrome And because of the firmware issue I'm not getting another pen text until they get it fixed The camera that is I'm keeping what I have it's going to be a long time before I even decide to get another Pentax camera because what they did and I am a user of Pentax for the past 48 years they just screwed me over like it was nothing over their greed and I work so damn hard so hard I worked for just to get this camera 8 years straight I worked to get it and they just matter of 4 months after I get it they destroyed it with the firmware

I have both K-3 mk iii versions, color and mono. I've really enjoyed the mono. I'm curious now that you have said the output of converted K-1 mk ii B&W pics are about same as the mono! While I have never gone DSLR full frame....you have me thinking about picking up a used mk ii !!!

Lovely review and pictures. Makes me definitely interested in the camera and as someone who is also looking at a Leica M mono, this could be a serious alternative for someone who has not yet bought into the Leica system.

Thanks, great presentation!

I've used only Pentax since 1967; from the Asahi Pentax to the K-1. The K-1 is simply awesome. With better marketing, I think Pentax would be among the current leaders.

that eye reflection self portrait made me lol

It does not take a diploma at MIT to know that K1 is better than the Monochrome toy.... it is the flagship. Reality is in colors. Yet, I have some reserve in listening to a review that boasts K1ii over Monochrome saying that the photographer use images pretty much straight out of camera: every digital image need an amount of rework and one of the very good aspects of K1 sensor, is indeed the fact that it produces one of the best workable RAW file around. Said that, Pentax AF functions and camera reactivity are prehistoric. Usable, but prehistoric. LCD reliability too is completely of chart. The lack of an illuminated focus confirmation in the viewfinder also is a serious lack IMO. And the lack of a reliable and dedicated tethering system also is a huge fault. I am an avid user of K1ii and I like it very much, but it really sucks seeing the disregard of Pentax for it and for its potentialities. They do not like to mix with software and mobile engineers to exploits everything it could be done these days with it. With the DFA lenses, a more precise and fast AF, integration with software and WIFI, it could be an awesome competitor to medium format for studio, at a ludicrous fraction of the money you are requested for a Phase One, Hassel or Fuji medium format setup.

Re Auto focus on the K3 III Mono, given your experience, and depth of knowledge, why not contact Pentax/Ricoh and explain your attempts at working with the camera? A professional email to corporate with your background would probably help their engineers. They would probably service your camera for free, and fully test it. Great photos, thanks! Good luck.

My dad is a collector of Pentax and he gave me all his manual k mount lenses so got the K1 markII 2 years ago and really like the. camera. the versatility is so good, stars tracking is great too.

nice Review. i have this lens for around 2 years. and i use it for wildlife walks when i really want a better quality then the 55-300 plm... but i mostly use it for Astrophotography... it is a really nice combo with the K3-III for most things in the sky... was really awesome with the Atlas Komet.. the build in Astrotracer is awesome in the k3-III... you really should try that if you haven´t set to astrotracer typ3. siince you have the mono.. you should try that...

Art & Mastery, thank you.

I have a K-1 and love it. Too bad Pentax may not continue on with it. 😞

Thank you for the good, honest overview. I agree with what you said about the K-1 being a camera to be used with a specific purpose in mind. That is where it shines: when you plan the trip/studio shoot, have your lens selection ready and then being able to put it in the mud, sand, etc. Your pictures demonstrate that very well. And the AF is even exceptional as long as your subject isn't moving too fast. That's where the AF of the K-3 iii really does a much better job in my opinion. Like you, I've also had some issues in getting to know that camera's AF system and now I pretty much enjoy it. It is very capable (but not perfect yet). Looking forward to your future videos.

I own both the APSC KS1 and KS2. Way better than my APSC canon dslr or any of my Sony APSC models that I used to own. I use the KS1 with my manual focus Pentax 50mm lens only as it pushes me to slow down.

Finally somebody with the same opinion. The autofocus of the Pentax K1 mk II is just fine. I've never had any issue getting sharp images with this camera. If you fail to deliver with this camera it's either a bad copy, wrong settings or just poor technique. I wouldn't want to swap my trusty Pentax for any other camera.

in the last few years ive been using vintage manual focus pentax lenses, very impressed with the build quality, does this camera work well with legacy glass?

I had the Monochrome and the K1 Mark II and kept the K1 Mark II. The monochrome is awesome, but the K3 III body is not my favorite. Lack of aspect ratios and a tilt screen make it kinda a lot of cash for something that's not quite everything I could want.

I bought the Q2 Monochrom two weeks ago. I looked at the Pentax, but decided differently for simplicity reasons and camera body size, my "color" camera is the Sony a7C II. I love it so much, no distracting colour's, great low light performance, nice grain and amazing prints.

Yeah, carrying a Pentax K-1 around all day would get tiresome. That is why I carry two of them with a Op-Tech dual camera strap - one with a Tamron 70-200mm and the other with a Pentax 24-70mm. That way I don't have to get tired from continuously changing the lenses. 😎

I have a large collection 0f Pentax cameras with Pentax and Sigma glass and my favorite compact lens that works great on the APSC camera bodies are the 31mm and 77mm limited edition prime lens. I started 16 years ago with a Pentax K100D Super and then the k10 D. My favorite cameras i have, Kp, K3 MKIII and a K1 MKII. I ordered the monochrome k3 and the first run sold out so I ended buying the Nikon ZF.

Enjoying the videos. It's nice to see the opinions of a newcomer to the system. I think for those of us that have shot with the K1 for a while, we sometimes forget how spoiled we are. It is a fantastic camera if it fits your needs. I'm hoping they're working on a mark iii version. Maybe a little lighter, maybe try to address the AF a bit, but overall don't change a whole lot.

I have the K1 -1 and the KP (which is like an APSC "bridge" between the K1 and mark II version) and love these cameras . Also if one shoots in B/W DNG and uses the Digital Utility program that RAW file can be saved as a B/W TIFF.

I am using the predecessor K1 for years now and I totally agrre. It is such a great camera and finally you can use all the outstanding Pentax lenses with K, M and A-mount too. For static subjects it gives the oportunity of a hihger resolution with pixel shift and also for star photography the sensor moves during the exposure for avoiding the stars becoming stripes

Mark 1 is more better. It makes better with noises.

Sad to hear you sold the monochrome but glad you're liking the K1 Mk2. I've been thinking about picking up one to accompany my K3 Mk3 mono.

Pentax need to develop a cohesive set of dedicated Pentax lenses. Pentax managed to do this in the 1960’s, why not now?

My K1 MkI is set up in U1 for Black and White. All the benefits you express here for color and with a flick of the dial - monochrome. Very happy with it.

Aa very underated camera and your beautiful images were amazing 👏

I've had this lens for a couple years mostly for wildlife mainly birds also suffers at the beach I've used it on a number of Pentax cameras a K50, K70 , k3Mark 11 & a K3 Mark 111

Nearly 2 yrs with this lens. Bought it for birding. It's very nice in good light. I wish Pentax cameras had more birding features like newest hybrids do :(

This has to be the best informative video on this lens I have seen, thanks so much 🙏

I've been using this lens with a K3 Mk iii for about 6 months for wildlife. It is as you say really sharp. I'm ok with the weight, I use a Peak design slide strap. I tend to mostly do 2 hour wildlife walks and only take this lens, for all day walks it would get heavy. I had my eye on it for a while but was put off by the cost, when one came along at £1050 in almost new i grabbed it. The sharpness holds up very well even for quite heavy crops, when i do reach the limits, the K3 Mk iii files sharpen well in Topaz. Good video. Thanks

Thank you, I was debating about the K3 mono for a while but I think for my needs a K1 mono would make much more sense

Yeh, I always felt the difference between a dedicated monochrome APS-C is not that much different than full frame. Which is why Pentax need to push out a K-1iim immediately (to tie us over to a K-1iii). Leica know the value of a full frame mono camera, it really does take you into the realm of medium format level of resolution and noise control. APS-C mono is just a harder sale when so many full frame cameras today are affordable and offer great in camera mono profiles. I hear a GRIVm is on the way next year, that would also be appreciated considering the application that this camera suits, it feels like I am contradicting myself a little to feel like a mono only (APS-C) point and shoot is somewhat acceptable but not so much for a ILC APS-C. I am a complicated man.

Wonderful narrative and story! You hit a couple thoughts I’m processing that include reducing gear inventory and going monochrome for a while. I rented the Pentax monochrome body and really struggled with all the options. However, the quality of the images and convenience of digital are amazing! Thanks for sharing your thoughts and I’m subscribing! Good luck!

Just fyi, Ricoh is releasing a new gr4 with a mono sensor in 1st quarter ‘25.👍😀

Those two zooms are great lenses. With macro, I prefer manual focus as a rule. Enjoy!

The K1II is very good but the K3III Monochrome has better deepth rendering and tonal range especially in the blacks.

Thanks! Actually,Olympus looks impressive and how good Canon is! Who would have thought. When back to Russia I'll try to drag out my Nikon D300. Want to compate it with my Sony 🤣

Sooo...your conclusion is that K1 colour files converted to B/W are every bit as good as the files coming out of the K3 iii monochrome?

Very interesting I imagine the k3 monochrome would stand out more with lower light higher iso

That K-1 shot looks great, what lens did you use?

Thank you! The other cheapish monochrome option is Foveon.

Was that your K3III Monochrome?

This was really interesting, thanks for sharing this 👏

Try adding the 1.4 convertor to the 150-450, it’s outstanding.