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Pentax K-1 PDF User Manual

Did you lose or misplace the instruction manual that came with your Pentax K-1? It happens all too easily, but fortunately Pentax makes a soft copy available that you can browse through online, print out, or download (see the pdf file below). It is certainly good practice to carefully familiarize oneself with the many different functionalities and options that the K-1 offers, and the official user manual is without doubt an authoritative and comprehensive source of respective information.

That said, the instruction booklet can be a dry read, so that a dedicated camera guide book from a professional photographer that illustrates the camera's core functions in a real life photography context can be a very helpful complement. Yes, getting one of these camera guides (see here at amazon) would involve an additional expense, but if that book helps to exploit the camera's potential to the full, the (small) additional investment may well be worth it.

Also, you might want to check out the video tutorial on the Pentax K-1 below.

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In any case, the K-1 is an advanced imaging tool, whose many features merit serious attention. This DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) camera was officially introduced on February 17th, 2016, which means that, as of today, the camera is 2963 days old (young?). The camera has meanwhile been discontinued and was succeeded by the Pentax K-1 II as a replacement in the same line of cameras.

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Pentax's operating manual for the K-1

The camera's operating manual is 140 pages long. The pdf version is embedded below. As you browse through, you will hopefully find the information you are looking for. You can also print out a hard copy by right clicking on the manual and then choosing the respective menu option. For convenience, a summary of the key specs of the K-1 is included towards the bottom of this webpage.

Don't forget to bookmark this page for future reference (Ctrl-Shift-D on a Windows PC; Cmd-Shift-D on a Mac). Happy browsing!

Click on the button below to download the pdf version of the Pentax K-1 manual to your computer. The file will open in a new browser window.

Download the Manual

If you prefer to read the user guide in another language, please check the respective availability on Pentax's support site. That site also provides complementary online resources, such as information on the compatibility of various camera accessories or the availability of firmware updates that are not necessarily comprehensively covered in the instruction manual.

Printed, hardcopy versions of the Pentax K-1 manual can sometimes be found online. You can check the availability on amazon and ebay via the buttons below.

amazon.com ebay.com

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Video tutorial for the Pentax K-1

Perhaps instead of reading through a manual or operations guide, you might prefer to better familiarize yourself with your K-1 by watching a video tutorial. It can notably help to quickly get to know the key functions and to set up your camera according to your particular preferences and needs.

Once again, the Pentax K-1 is a sophisticated imaging tool and not exploiting its capabilities to the full would be a pity. Hence, taking the time to study online information material or to read through a well-written camera guide book is highly recommended to make the most of your purchase.

Find K-1 guide book at
amazon.com

Pentax K-1 FAQ

Below are some additional questions and answers concerning some particular features of the K-1.

What is the technology behind the imaging sensor in the Pentax K-1?

The camera is build around a CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensor.

Which image processing chip is used in the Pentax K-1 to convert the raw signal into an image file and perform noise reduction and image sharpening?

Pentax equipped the K-1 with the PRIME IV image processor.

What is the ISO sensitivity range of the Pentax K-1?

The camera has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 204800.

What is the life expectancy of the shutter in the Pentax K-1?

Pentax mentions a shutter rating of 300 000 actuations for the K-1. This number represents a Mean Time before Failure, that is an average value. The shutter might fail earlier, or it might last longer. Anyway, in order to exhaust the expected shutter life of the K-1 over, say, three years, one would have to take about 300 pictures each and every day.

How do I find the shutter count on my Pentax K-1?

Pentax embeds the number of shutter actuations in image metadata. You can check the number of shots that your K-1 has taken up to now by uploading a recent image to the free online shutter count finder app.

Do I need to purchase an external camera trigger to shoot time-lapse sequences with the Pentax K-1?

No, the Pentax K-1 has an intervalometer built-in, so that low frequency shooting (for example, flower blooming, sunset, moon rise) can be undertaken without the need to purchase a separate external intervalometer and related software.

Is it difficult to use manual focus lenses with the Pentax K-1?

The K-1 offers focus peaking as a manual focus aid. This feature works by placing a colored highlight on in-focus zones within the image.

Does the Pentax K-1 feature an autofocus assist light?

Yes, the camera has a lamp built-in that can illuminate the subject and improve autofocus in low-light settings.

What is the fastest shutter speed that can be used with the Pentax K-1 for flash photography?

The K-1's flash sync speed is 1/200 sec.

Does the Pentax K-1 support the Ultra High Speed (UHS) bus interface for SD cards?

Yes, the camera can indeed use UHS-I cards (data transfer speed of up to 104 MB/s).

Which battery does the Pentax K-1 use?

The camera gets its power from the Pentax D-LI90 (here at amazon), which is a rechargeable Lithium-Ion power pack.

Is there a vertical grip available for the Pentax K-1?

Yes, Pentax offers the D-BG6 as an optional accessory to facilitate shooting in portrait orientation and to provide additional battery power.

Does the Pentax K-1 support geotagging?

The K-1 has a built-in GPS (Global Positioning System) module and can embed location information in the EXIF data of the captured image.

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Further reading

How does the K-1 stack up against available alternatives? If you would like to see a side-by-side review with another camera, just use the search menu below. There is also a set of direct links to comparison reviews that other users of the CAM-parator app explored.

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    Core camera specifications

    Here is a list of the main features and technical characteristics of the Pentax K-1.

    Specifications Summary
    Camera Model Pentax K-1
    Camera Type Digital single lens reflex
    Camera Lens Pentax K mount lenses
    Launch Date February 2016
    Launch Price USD 1 799
    Sensor Specs
    Sensor Technology CMOS
    Sensor Format Full Frame Sensor
    Sensor Size 35.9 x 24.0 mm
    Sensor Area 862 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 43.2 mm
    Crop Factor 1.0x
    Sensor Resolution 36.2 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 7 360 x 4 912 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 4.88 μm
    Pixel Density 4.20 MP/cm2
    Moiré control no AA filter
    Movie Capability 1080/60i Video
    ISO Setting 100 - 204 800 ISO
    Image Processor PRIME IV
    DXO Sensor Quality (score) 96
    DXO Color Depth (bits) 25.4
    DXO Dynamic Range (EV) 14.6
    DXO Low Light (ISO) 3280
    Screen Specs
    Viewfinder Type Optical viewfinder
    Viewfinder Field of View 100%
    Viewfinder Magnification 0.70x
    Top-Level Screen Control Panel
    LCD Framing Live View
    LCD Size 3.2 inch
    LCD Resolution 1037k dots
    LCD Attachment Fully flexible screen
    V-logging Friendliness No front-flip
    Touch Input No touchscreen
    Shooting Specs
    Focus System Phase-detect AF
    Manual Focusing AidFocus Peaking
    Maximum Shutter Speed 1/8000s
    Continuous Shooting 4.4 shutter flaps/s
    Shutter Life Expectancy300 000 actuations
    Silent Shootingno E-Shutter
    Time Lapse PhotographyIntervalometer Built-in
    Image StabilizationIn-body stabilization
    Fill Flash no On-Board Flash
    Storage Medium SDXC cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Dual card slots
    UHS card support UHS-I
    Connectivity Specs
    External Flash Hotshoe
    Studio Flash PC Sync socket
    USB Connector USB 2.0
    HDMI Port micro HDMI
    Microphone Port External MIC port
    Headphone Socket Headphone port
    Wifi Support Wifi built-in
    Geotagging GPS built-in
    Body Specs
    Environmental SealingWeathersealed body
    Battery Type Pentax D-LI90 power pack
    Battery Life (CIPA)760 shots per charge
    Body Dimensions 137 x 110 x 86 mm
    (5.4 x 4.3 x 3.4 in)
    Camera Weight 1 010 g (35.6 oz)

    Did you notice an error on this page? If so, please get in touch, so that we can correct the information.

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