Nightaxians 16 - What About a Pentax K1 Mark III?

[@florian1200]

Yes! Would love to see a K1 mark III with eye focus! Better video functions would also be welcome.

[@Leleuta]

Whatever it is, I hope it comes out quickly. It's tough to wait. I'm a fan of Pentax, but I wouldn't say I like the slow development and few updates.

[@photologic5900]

Wow is this way overdue.

[@CapeNightPhotography]

It totally is!

[@steffen_a]

I think it’s mostly great the way it is but it lacks some modern technology. I would like to see a faster processor, UHS-II card slots, faster WiFi, USB-C, and the autofocus system from the K-3 III.

[@KenLeePhotography]

All that sounds good. I feel like we left off a bunch of stuff during our very impromptu discussion such as the things that you are mentioning.

[@CapeNightPhotography]

All valid points! I suspect they could do this with little increase in cost.

[@pblogic007]

For me the autofocus is just a killer. Going through light room I have so many blurry eyes from the K1, compared to the Sony A7 IV which nails focus every time. It makes portrait outdoor portrait sessions (proms, seniors etc. where people are moving) and absolute nightmare. K1 would be the perfect camera if the autofocus were at Sony level. I can deal with slower memory cards etc. but I'm missing way too many shots because of the poor auto focus.

[@TheScottab]

I have had my K1i since the day it was released. I have yet to use the video option.

[@KenLeePhotography]

I use it occasionally. It's fine, nothing amazing. But a lot of people are using video functions in cameras now, and I do find it handy even if it's not the reason I purchase the camera.

[@CapeNightPhotography]

Me too! I didn't buy it for video. If I needed video beyond my DJI pocket and my iPhone 14 Pro Max, I'd probably get a Sony or even one of the Canon mirrorless options.

[@petekemp4574]

One thing I wish all pentax's had is an AF adjustment for zoom lenses - like the top end Canons do. Allowing you to set different adjustments for wide and tele end of zoom lenses.

[@KenLeePhotography]

I definitely would like to see them be more competitive with AF in general. I don't know very much about this feature, though, so I find the suggestion especially intriguing! Thanks!

[@CapeNightPhotography]

Yeah, that is certainly a good suggestion. I've learned to live without it but it would be nice to have.

[@photologic5900]

In my use case, the only thing really holding Pentax back is it's horrid auto focus altogether. I haven't used a K3 III, but I miss focus on SO many portrait shots (with moving people especially) with the K1 II. I tried a Sony A7 IV and that was amazing.

[@class_a]

A nice feature would be automated AF micro-adjustments. One should only provide a focus target and the camera should then find the optimal micro-adjustments for the AF itself.

[@CapeNightPhotography]

Great suggestion! I shoot manual 100% of the time but I frequently hear from people who unhappy they are with autofocus in general.

[@TheScottab]

A touch screen like the K3iii would be nice.

[@KenLeePhotography]

Yeah, that would be really great.

[@CapeNightPhotography]

I do love touch screens. Especially interfaces that permit easy swiping.

[@dukenukem5768]

As long as you can turn it off.

[@zardos123ut]

For long intervalometer settings 30sec to 99 hours, have a look at "Pentax astrophotograpy series "episode 3 on you tube

[@KenLeePhotography]

Cool, thanks for the suggestion!!

[@CapeNightPhotography]

Nice! Appreciate the tip!

[@scolaronline1699]

How about touch screen and more focus points wider spread across the frame?

[@patrickcarrierephoto]

Keep as is with the below upgrades & additions: - add more in-camera crop factors, like 16x9 & 4x5, - have a 50-60 megapixel sensor, - add touch screen for focus and capture tap via Liveview, - augment back screen brightness, - please keep articulated screen and somehow include a flip (to be able to see ourselves), - please keep the GPS, - update WiFi technology, - uncropped 4K/30 video with LOG option, - have RAW output via HDMI for live broadcast (Zoom, KZbin, TikTok, etc), - add eye detect focus & tracking (if possible with DSLR?), - augment focusing points, - add precise focusing function (like the K3iii), - augment to 10-12 frames/sec, - augment buffer, - upgrade to be able to use two fast CF/Express or UHS-II cards, - upgrade menu system (like the K3iii), - add to the new AstroTracer mode option (like the K3iii), - longer intervalometer.

[@CapeNightPhotography]

Wow, that is a great list! The frame rate, the eye detect and the 4K video would win a lot of people over for sure who may be looking to other manufacturers as these are missing on the K1 series.

[@ronbokje6213]

Because I have the camera sinds januari I still have to learn a lot, not many things I missing. Canon’s focus bracketing is really interesting for macro.

[@eruizmiro]

I wish there could be a Pentax K3 with tilt screen, like the K1, and some F4 lenses.

[@CapeNightPhotography]

Once you go tilt, you never go back!!!

[@class_a]

You should be asking for a BSI (back-side illuminated) sensor. As astrophotographers who probably stack images, you should also ask for an option to completely turn of the mandatory denoising of the K-1 II (which the K-1 does not impose on users).

[@CapeNightPhotography]

Good point. I've mentioned the baked in NR on the MKII in other videos and people seemed to be split as to whether or not it helps or hurts. Personally, I want full control of the NR which is why I bought another MK1 body when I needed a second unit as opposed to the newer one.

[@KenLeePhotography]

@@CapeNightPhotography I’d be surprised if they bake this into the next model. It’s been such a point of criticism.

[@sonray4871]

I'd like Pentax to make their own custom L brackets.

[@CapeNightPhotography]

That would be nice, wouldn't it?

[@class_a]

A slow but super precise AF mode would be nice with which the camera pre-focuses using its regular PDAF system but then, just before taking the image, makes final AF adjustments using CDAF.

[@CapeNightPhotography]

Great suggestion! As someone who shoots 100% in manual, I didn't think of that but it would be really useful.

[@ronbokje6213]

Focus stacking in camera

[@SokolHazizi]

After the incremental update with the k1ii the mark iii has to be a major upgrade. Im guessing with all new bells and whistles like we saw on the OG K1. Im an sceptical about the fact that they can put all the new stuff in the old body, who knows , maybe with smaller chip architecture. Personally I wouldn't mind a bit of shape change to fit the new functionality. About the software updates, I think there's a certain limit with the old processor and board. As a sidenote, it would be nice of they could make some of the new features available for the original K1 after they release the mark iii.

[@class_a]

I hope that they do not change the battery. I have a lot of batteries for the K-1 and would not want to have to deal with a new battery type.

[@CapeNightPhotography]

Ugh, yeah that would be the worst. I have six of the batteries. I hate having to maintain different power options for different bodies.

[@billvinson7859]

I want a modified filter to let in more Hydrogen Alpha light into the sensor like the Canon EOS Ra.

[@HusbandnWifeDuo]

Love from Mississauga, Ontario, Canada! we did not understand what you mean by in-camera noise reduction. Don't we have it already in other models where we can have auto or custom noise reduction levels. We use it all the time in our respective Pentax cameras. Is it not there in K-1?

[@roberts5647]

I've had pentax lens sitting unused for many years after the battery on my KR died and had worse low light performance than my cell phone. I might jump on K1 mark ii but curious if folks feel 80% confident a new FF will arrive enetually... then I'd wait. Is a new release at some point likely at this point?

[@christianlainesse4281]

cross functionality between shooting modes and usb charging

[@CapeNightPhotography]

Great suggestion! That would be especially helpful for long stacking sessions.

[@GeorgeENorkus]

I'm a freelance photographer and don't always do night type photos. One thing I'd love to see is a protected button or switch that locks every setting at least until you unlock it. I often need to carry two bodies and would prefer to leave them both on for fast changing. Often I find that a button or dial has been bumped into some other setting. When I tune it off to prevent the setting switch ,that often means I miss the shot while waiting for the K1 camera to turn back on. Frustrating!

[@timliscum2861]

4k video, the auto focus stacking option..

[@michaels8607]

Ok, let's keep 36MP because it's a great balance...Let us have a battery for 1000-2000 shots..let's make sure there's at least 4k@30 video with some good LOG settings..USB active charging..10-15 frame rate...keep the screen or make it a flip screen,maybe touch..Let's do easier and better tethering, so we can connect to smartphones,tablets,and laptops..

[@CapeNightPhotography]

Yep, 4K video with LOG seems to be a pretty popular want. I wonder how much adding that and a touch screen would raise the price. Do you think people would be ok with that or do you think the current feature set and pricing is more important? I think it could go either way.

[@richardgatineau]

I think Pentax ingeneer do a marvelous job with the technology they have.A reliable eye autofocus need a mirorles sensor. New lens, and a faster processor. when you have all those technology. The fun of taking picture is gone. You have nothing to do, except press the shutter.I think it's possible to have a hybrid camera with a better sensor. You need a better processor to achive a good result in thr Ovf and in Live view whit 2 different autofocus system. May be they can built a new autofocus system, but I don't thik they have enough money power. I think we will see some improvement but they will not have the best camera, but they will have something that keep the user. If not, they will disapeer. Excuse my english it is not my first language.

[@ilposten]

I have K-3 II and basically never use ISO higher than 1000. All other manufacturers lets you take un-grainlypictures with higher ISO than that. better video is nice to have as well.

[@CapeNightPhotography]

I've been happy with the performance up to 3200 even if I have to apply some NR in post...but most of my astro work now is tracked at 800 and it is "clean as a whistle."

[@ilposten]

@@CapeNightPhotography thats good to hear.

[@krtkarkrtkar394]

i had K1 and K1 II for 4 years with a lot of lenses , AF always ! unreliable with f 1,4 . 2,8 lenses i had to remade a lot of shots (portraits stuff) it was not good, i switched to mirrorless - all issues gone . eyefocus - top feature, you can even set eyefocus with facemetering - easy working , smaller lenses , AF probably 9,5/10 pictures are focused exactly where you want to - i do not miss pentax honestly - i wish to sell it whole sooner sorry

[@KenLeePhotography]

No apologies needed. I had to switch from a D750 to a K-1 while I was photographing a concert last summer. Same situation, same everything...and I couldn't believe how slow the Pentax AF was. The D750 just locked right on and I never had to worry about it. Almost all keepers. Most of the time for night photography, we don't need fast AF, and what the K-1 does is perfectly fine for locking focus on foreground subjects. But for low-light situations where there's movement and so forth, it's much slower. And yeah, eye-focus is fantastic. What are you using now, out of curiosity?

[@krtkarkrtkar394]

@@KenLeePhotography sony a7r3a , 42 mpx similar IQ like K-1 but i think sony is better in saving highlights , paired with - sigma 14-24 2.8 dn art, sony 35 1.4 gm, sigma 85 1,4 dn art, tamron 70-300 , these are all new mirrorless lenses for reasonable price and i need to say that is much sharper than all my previous pentax stuff

[@CapeNightPhotography]

Totally understandable concern and it sounds like you made the right decision for your use case. I focus manually 100% of the time and so I don't worry too much about AF...but I know for many people this is very important.

[@tomsun3159]

Just found that discussion today, as a Pentax user (K70, K3-II, K1-II) interesting to hear your thoughts and to compare to my own thoughts. Most of the thoughts require a massive faster computational power, its not just to programm a feature you need the needed computational power on hand. More resolution? i really changed my mind beggin for 50+ MP resolution, do we need a higher resolution i highly doubt if you make prints its usually not higher than 300 dpi and usually smaller than a garage door. If you need really a higher resoulution there are medium format cameras available (and i doubt a 60 MP K1-III would be much cheaper than a Fuji or Haaselblad MF, and i doubt you will be satisfied with the current lenses then due to lack of resolution). A faster Autofokus, eye-focus, higher Burstrate, faster saving (necessary other storage format), with keeping the lovely screen (perhaps as Touch), keeping Batteryformat, perhaps a Joystick like the K3-III, K-Bajonett and persuading the 3rd-party lens manufacturers to come back. Resolution perhaps the sensor of the D850, as it seems to be problematic to get the 36MP sensor anymore. And perhaps a K1-III Mono. Larger Battery why? are the two batteries not enough when using the Batterygrip?

[@lev_anni]

I'd remove video capability entirely from Pentax cameras as it's not even close to competitors. Instead I'd add some additional features for photos.

[@xmeda]

It is unlikely that there will be any K1 successor. Lenses are also issue. Tamron discontinued all DSLR lenses recently, so even those DFA15-30, DFA24-70 and DFA70-210/4 will disappear like DA18-270 did while ago. AF540FGZII and AF360FGZII flashes were discontinued already. And somebody wants new FF camera with such environment? For who? Who will pay for some $3000 DSLR with obsolete spec? K1 owners? haha. That would be another Ricoh attempt to kill what remains of Pentax. They need to get rid of obsolete KF and introduce some new low-end affordable body and then ASAP rework K3III from 2015 standards into K3IV with 2025 HW standards and price if worst equal to Fuji X-H2. Because currently they are selling XT-3 level camera for more than what last XT-5 cost. Or rather trying to sell.. there are barely any Pentax sales. Most of the money come from Ricoh GR hipster base. The reason why K1 is still on market is exactly the problem with that whole project. It was old already when launched being barely D800 level with IBIS but without comparable AF or lens support. There was initial boom, but after 1/2 year most demand was satisfied and those things are barely selling when compared to any other DSLR. Also while doing that, they totally reduced any APS-C development during 2012-2016 and lost large amount of such market. So they ended up with incompetitive FF camera system and dying APS-C that used to feed the money bags before. Then cost cutting measures took place and now we have what we have. If at least some APS-C survives, we can be happy... I still hope for some K3III rework with better live-view functionality, articulating LCD and tuned firmware, that should not be too expensive or time consuming to achieve even with reduced team. And also to kill KF and replace it by real new entry level camera that would be both affordable and provide up to date hardware. They need that to gather some customers. Being last DSLR producer it might have some chance. OR Switch to new ILC mount, prepare K mount adaptor and make new cameras. Preferably something comparable to X-H2 There is new department director now, so that old glue might be removed..