Canon
EOS R8
2023Mirrorless
24MP
40fps max
≈16readout ms
102kmax ISO
Low light 461g
New ≈£1,229
Used at MPB*£789–914
R6 Mark II sensor in a light body. A cheap, strong low-light full frame.
Illustration, not a product photo.
Pentax · 2016 · DSLR · Pentax K
Pentax K-1
Weather-sealed full-frame DSLR with Astrotracer and pixel shift.
Full frameOlder modelLandscapeAstrophotography
New ≈No longer sold new
Used at MPB*£784–879
Overview
The Pentax K-1 is a 2016 Full frame 36.4MP DSLR on the Pentax K mount. It shoots up to 4.4 frames per second, records 1080p 30 video and has in-body stabilisation, and it's weather sealed. Weather-sealed full-frame DSLR with Astrotracer and pixel shift.
It's best suited to landscape, astrophotography. In our database, 8 lenses fit it natively (2 from third-party makers such as Samyang, Sigma), 5 more work in crop mode.
Used at MPB it currently sells for £784 to £879 depending on condition, and it's no longer sold new.
Key specifications
| Released | 2016 |
| Type | DSLR |
| Sensor | Full frame (36×24mm, 1× crop) |
| Resolution | 36.4 megapixels |
| Max burst | 4.4 fps |
| Sensor readout | Mechanical shutter (DSLR) |
| Max ISO | 204,800 |
| Low-light score | 4/5 |
| Stabilisation | In-body (IBIS) |
| Viewfinder | Optical |
| Video | 1080p 30 |
| Weather sealed | Yes |
| Weight | 1010 g with battery |
| Mount | Pentax K |
Strengths
- Full-frame sensor for low light and shallow depth of field
- In-body image stabilisation with every lens
- Weather sealing for rain and dust
- Optical viewfinder with zero lag and long battery life
Things to consider
- DSLR: no subject-detection autofocus through the viewfinder, and lens development has stopped
- Older autofocus generation; check shutter count and battery health when buying used
- Heavy body at 1010g
Compatible lenses
8 native · 5 crop mode in our database
| Lens | Fit | Focal | Aperture | Weight | New ≈ | Used (MPB) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pentax HD FA 50mm f/1.8 Portraits | Native First-party | 50mm | f/1.8 | 122g | £199 | — | |
| Samyang 14mm f/2.8 ED AS IF UMC (manual) Astrophotography · Landscape | Native Third-party (manual focus) | 14mm | f/2.8 | 552g | £299 | £112–349 | |
| Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art Everyday & travel · Portraits · Astrophotography | Native Third-party | 35mm | f/1.4 | 665g | £699 | £399–419 | |
| Pentax HD D FA 24-70mm f/2.8 ED SDM WR Everyday & travel | Native First-party | 24-70mm | f/2.8 | 787g | £1,099 | £289–399 | |
| Pentax HD D FA* 50mm f/1.4 SDM AW Portraits | Native First-party | 50mm | f/1.4 | 910g | £1,099 | £389–419 | |
| Pentax HD D FA 70-210mm f/4 ED SDM WR Sports & action | Native First-party | 70-210mm | f/4 | 980g | £1,099 | — | |
| Pentax HD D FA 15-30mm f/2.8 ED SDM WR Landscape · Astrophotography | Native First-party | 15-30mm | f/2.8 | 1040g | £1,399 | — | |
| Pentax HD D FA 150-450mm f/4.5-5.6 ED DC AW Wildlife & animals | Native First-party | 150-450mm | f/4.5-5.6 | 2000g | £1,999 | £1,049–1,179 | |
| Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM Everyday & travel | Native · crop Native, in APS-C mode | 17-50mm | f/2.8 | 565g | £349 | £63–264 | |
| Pentax HD DA 55-300mm f/4.5-6.3 ED PLM WR RE Wildlife & animals · Sports & action | Native · crop Native, in APS-C mode | 55-300mm | f/4.5-6.3 | 442g | £399 | £84–344 | |
| Pentax HD DA 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6 ED DC WR Everyday & travel | Native · crop Native, in APS-C mode | 16-85mm | f/3.5-5.6 | 488g | £549 | £294 | |
| Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM Art Everyday & travel · Portraits · Vlogging & video | Native · crop Native, in APS-C mode | 18-35mm | f/1.8 | 810g | £649 | £294–459 | |
| Pentax HD DA 11-18mm f/2.8 ED DC AW Landscape · Astrophotography | Native · crop Native, in APS-C mode | 11-18mm | f/2.8 | 704g | £899 | £659 |
Similar cameras to compare
Full frame
Canon
EOS-1D X Mark III
2020DSLR
20.1MP
16fps max
OVFviewfinder
102kmax ISO
Low light 1440g · sealed
New ≈£6,999
Used at MPB*£789–2,629
Canon's last pro DSLR: 16fps through the viewfinder and a body built for years of hard use.
Canon
EOS R6
2020MirrorlessOlder model
20MP
20fps max
—readout ms
102kmax ISO
Low light 680g · IBIS · sealed
New ≈No longer sold new
Used at MPB*£809–1,159
20MP is modest, but low light and autofocus are still excellent.
Batteries and memory cards
Battery
Pentax D-LI90 · maker's battery about £71
Battery for the K-1 series and K-3 Mark III. Carry at least one spare.
Card slots
2× SD (UHS-II)
A V30 UHS-I card is enough for stills; a V60 UHS-II card clears bursts faster.
How the K-1 compares
Featured in: best camera for astrophotography
Where to buy
*Used prices on this site come from MPB on 5 November 2026. MPB only lists what it has bought in, so "None listed" means none in their stock that day, not that Pentax K-1 is hard to find. Check these trusted UK dealers too.
MPB ↗UsedOnline used specialist with condition grading and a 12-month warranty. Prices on this site are MPB snapshots.Wex Photo Video ↗New & usedOne of the largest UK photo retailers: official UK stock, a big used department and trade-ins.Park Cameras ↗New & usedSpecialist with stores in West Sussex and London; official UK stock.London Camera Exchange ↗New & usedHigh-street chain across UK towns: inspect used gear in person.Clifton Cameras ↗NewAuthorised UK dealer for Canon, Sony, Nikon and more, with UK warranties.Cotswold Cameras ↗New · grey importCheaper parallel imports. No UK manufacturer warranty; store-backed guarantee instead.
See example photos
Real-world shots taken with the Pentax K-1. Results are searches on each site, so check the camera or lens listed in each photo's details.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Pentax K-1 good for landscape?
Yes. Full-frame sensor for low light and shallow depth of field. In-body image stabilisation with every lens. Pair it with a wide zoom (about 16–35mm equivalent) with a front filter thread for ND and polariser filters.
Is the Pentax K-1 good for astrophotography?
Yes. Full-frame sensor for low light and shallow depth of field. In-body image stabilisation with every lens. Pair it with wide (14–24mm equivalent) and fast (f/2.8 or brighter) to gather starlight.
What lenses fit the Pentax K-1?
It uses the Pentax K mount. 8 lenses in our database fit natively, including 2 third-party options.
How much is a used Pentax K-1?
At MPB, used examples range from £784 to £879 (checked 5 November 2026), depending on cosmetic grade from Heavily used to Like new.
Does the Pentax K-1 have image stabilisation?
Yes, it has in-body image stabilisation (IBIS), so every lens is stabilised.