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Nikon D800 vs Pentax K-1

The Nikon D800 and the Pentax K-1 are two digital cameras that were officially introduced, respectively, in February 2012 and February 2016. Both are DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) cameras that are equipped with a full frame sensor. Both cameras offer a resolution of 36.2 megapixels.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications
Nikon D800
versus
Pentax K-1
Nikon D800   Pentax K-1
Digital single lens reflex Digital single lens reflex
Nikon F mount lenses Pentax K mount lenses
36.2 MP – Full Frame sensor 36.2 MP – Full Frame sensor
1080/30p Video 1080/60i Video
ISO 100-6,400 (50 - 25,600) ISO 100-204,800
Optical viewfinder Optical viewfinder
3.2" LCD – 921k dots 3.2" LCD – 1037k dots
Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive) Fully flexible screen (no touchscreen)
4 shutter flaps per second 4.4 shutter flaps per second
Lens stabilization onlyIn-body stabilization
Weathersealed bodyWeathersealed body
900 shots per battery charge760 shots per battery charge
146 x 123 x 82 mm, 1000 g 137 x 110 x 86 mm, 1010 g
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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Nikon D800 and the Pentax K-1? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

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Body comparison

An illustration of the physical size and weight of the Nikon D800 and the Pentax K-1 is provided in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All size dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The K-1 can be obtained in two different colors (black, silver), while the D800 is only available in black.

Size Nikon D800 vs Pentax K-1
Compare D800 versus K-1 top
Comparison D800 or K-1 rear

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Pentax K-1 is notably smaller (16 percent) than the Nikon D800. However, the K-1 is slightly heavier (1 percent) than the D800. In this context, it is worth noting that both cameras are splash and dust-proof and can, hence, be used in inclement weather conditions or harsh environments.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses that both of these cameras require. Hence, you might want to study and compare the specifications of available lenses in order to get the full picture of the size and weight of the two camera systems.

Concerning battery life, the D800 gets 900 shots out of its Nikon EN-EL15 battery, while the K-1 can take 760 images on a single charge of its Pentax D-LI90 power pack.

The adjacent table lists the principal physical characteristics of the two cameras alongside a wider set of alternatives. In case you want to display and compare another camera duo, you can use the CAM-parator app to select your camera combination among a large number of options.

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Body Specifications
  empty Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price
Street
Price
1.
 
Nikon D800 146 mm 123 mm 82 mm 1000 g 900 i Feb 2012 EUR 2 899ebay.com
2.
 
Pentax K-1 137 mm 110 mm 86 mm 1010 g 760 i Feb 2016 EUR 1 999ebay.com
3.
 
Canon 5D Mark III 152 mm 116 mm 76 mm 950 g 950 i Mar 2012 EUR 3 299ebay.com
4.
 
Canon 5D Mark IV 151 mm 116 mm 76 mm 890 g 900 i Aug 2016 EUR 4 065 amazon.com
5.
 
Nikon D4 160 mm 157 mm 91 mm 1340 g 2600 i Jan 2012 EUR 5 999ebay.com
6.
 
Nikon D500 147 mm 115 mm 81 mm 860 g 1240 i Jan 2016 EUR 2 399ebay.com
7.
 
Nikon D600 141 mm 113 mm 82 mm 850 g 900 i Sep 2012 EUR 2 149ebay.com
8.
 
Nikon D610 141 mm 113 mm 82 mm 850 g 900 i Oct 2013 EUR 1 949ebay.com
9.
 
Nikon D700 147 mm 123 mm 77 mm 1074 g 1000 i Jul 2008 EUR 2 599ebay.com
10.
 
Nikon D800E 146 mm 123 mm 82 mm 1000 g 900 i Feb 2012 EUR 3 219ebay.com
11.
 
Nikon D810 146 mm 123 mm 82 mm 980 g 1200 i Jun 2014 EUR 3 299ebay.com
12.
 
Nikon D850 146 mm 124 mm 79 mm 1005 g 1840 i Jul 2017 EUR 3 799 amazon.com
13.
 
Nikon Df 144 mm 110 mm 67 mm 760 g 1400 i Nov 2013 EUR 2 999ebay.com
14.
 
Olympus E-M1 II 134 mm 91 mm 67 mm 574 g 440 i Sep 2016 EUR 1 999ebay.com
15.
 
Pentax K-1 II 137 mm 110 mm 86 mm 1010 g 670 i Feb 2018 EUR 1 999 amazon.com
16.
 
Sony A99 II 143 mm 104 mm 76 mm 849 g 490 i Sep 2016 EUR 3 599ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
  empty Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price
Street
Price
  empty Camera
Model

The price is, of course, an important factor in any camera decision. The listed launch prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The K-1 was launched at a markedly lower price (by 40 percent) than the D800, which puts it into a different market segment. Normally, street prices remain initially close to the MSRP, but after a couple of months, the first discounts appear. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down.

Sensor comparison

The imaging sensor is at the core of digital cameras and its size is one of the main determining factors of image quality. A large sensor will generally have larger individual pixels that offer better low-light sensitivity, provide wider dynamic range, and have richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Furthermore, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more possibilities to use shallow depth-of-field in order to isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors are more costly to manufacture and tend to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Both cameras under consideration feature a full frame sensor and have a format factor (sometimes also referred to as "crop factor") of 1.0. Within the spectrum of camera sensors, this places the review cameras among the large-sensor cameras that aim for top notch image quality. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

Nikon D800 and Pentax K-1 sensor measures

The two cameras under review do not only share the same sensor size, but also offer an identical resolution of 36.2 megapixels. This similarity in sensor specs implies that both the D800 and the K-1 have the same pixel density, as well as the same pixel size. It should, however, be noted that the K-1 is much more recent (by 4 years) than the D800, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that the K-1 has no anti-alias filter installed, so that it can capture all the detail its sensor resolves.

Unlike the D800, the K-1 has the capacity to capture high quality composite images by combining multiple shots after shifting its sensor by miniscule distances. This multi-shot, pixel-shift mode is most suitable for photography of stationary objects (landscapes, studio scenes).

The Nikon D800 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 6400, which can be extended to ISO 50-25600. The corresponding ISO settings for the Pentax K-1 are ISO 100 to ISO 204800 (no boost).

Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

D800 versus K-1 MP

Since 2007, DXO Mark has published sensor performance measurements that have been derived using a consistent methodology. This service determines an overall sensor rating, as well as sub-scores for low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and color depth ("DXO Portrait"). The Overall DXO ratings for the two cameras under consideration are close, suggesting that they provide similar imaging performance. The adjacent table reports on the physical sensor characteristics and the outcomes of the DXO sensor quality tests for a sample of comparator-cameras.

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Sensor Characteristics
  empty Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
1.
 
Nikon D800 Full Frame 36.2 7360 49121080/30p25.314.4285395
2.
 
Pentax K-1 Full Frame 36.2 7360 49121080/60i25.414.6328096
3.
 
Canon 5D Mark III Full Frame 22.1 5760 38401080/30p24.011.7229381
4.
 
Canon 5D Mark IV Full Frame 30.1 6720 44804K/30p24.813.6299591
5.
 
Nikon D4 Full Frame 16.2 4928 32801080/30p24.713.1296589
6.
 
Nikon D500 APS-C 20.7 5568 37124K/30p24.014.0132483
7.
 
Nikon D600 Full Frame 24.2 6016 40161080/30p25.114.2298094
8.
 
Nikon D610 Full Frame 24.2 6016 40161080/30p25.114.4292594
9.
 
Nikon D700 Full Frame 12.1 4256 2832i23.512.2230380
10.
 
Nikon D800E Full Frame 36.2 7360 49121080/30p25.614.3297996
11.
 
Nikon D810 Full Frame 36.2 7360 49121080/60p25.714.8285397
12.
 
Nikon D850 Full Frame 45.4 8256 55044K/30p26.414.82660100
13.
 
Nikon Df Full Frame 16.2 4928 3280i24.613.1327989
14.
 
Olympus E-M1 II Four Thirds 20.2 5184 38884K/30p23.712.8131280
15.
 
Pentax K-1 II Full Frame 36.2 7360 49121080/60i25.114.0269893
16.
 
Sony A99 II Full Frame 42.2 7952 53044K/30p25.413.4231792
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.
  empty Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
  empty Camera
Model

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but also of capturing video footage. Both cameras under consideration are equipped with sensors that have a sufficiently high read-out speed for moving images, but the K-1 provides a faster frame rate than the D800. It can shoot movie footage at 1080/60i, while the Nikon is limited to 1080/30p.

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The D800 and the K-1 are similar in the sense that both have an optical viewfinder. The latter is useful for getting a clear image for framing even in brightly lit environments. The viewfinders of both cameras offer the same field of view (100%), as well as the same magnification (0.70x). The table below summarizes some of the other core capabilities of the Nikon D800 and Pentax K-1 in connection with corresponding information for a sample of similar cameras.

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Core Features
  empty Camera
Model
Viewfinder
(Type or
000 dots)
Control
Panel
(yes/no)
LCD
Specifications
(inch/000 dots)
LCD
Attach-
ment
Touch
Screen
(yes/no)
Max
Shutter
Speed *
Max
Shutter
Flaps *
Built-in
Flash
(yes/no)
Built-in
Image
Stab
1.
 
Nikon D800optical i3.2 / 921 fixed i 1/8000s 4.0/s i i
2.
 
Pentax K-1optical i3.2 / 1037 full-flex i 1/8000s 4.4/s i i
3.
 
Canon 5D Mark IIIoptical i3.2 / 1040 fixed i 1/8000s 6.0/s i i
4.
 
Canon 5D Mark IVoptical i3.2 / 1620 fixed i 1/8000s 7.0/s i i
5.
 
Nikon D4optical i3.2 / 921 fixed i 1/8000s 11.0/s i i
6.
 
Nikon D500optical i3.2 / 2359 tilting i 1/8000s 10.0/s i i
7.
 
Nikon D600optical i3.0 / 921 fixed i 1/4000s 5.5/s i i
8.
 
Nikon D610optical i3.2 / 921 fixed i 1/4000s 6.0/s i i
9.
 
Nikon D700optical i3.0 / 922 fixed i 1/8000s 8.0/s i i
10.
 
Nikon D800Eoptical i3.2 / 921 fixed i 1/8000s 4.0/s i i
11.
 
Nikon D810optical i3.2 / 1229 fixed i 1/8000s 5.0/s i i
12.
 
Nikon D850optical i3.2 / 2359 tilting i 1/8000s 9.0/s i i
13.
 
Nikon Dfoptical i3.2 / 921 fixed i 1/4000s 5.5/s i i
14.
 
Olympus E-M1 II2360 i3.0 / 1037 swivel i 1/8000s 18.0/s i i
15.
 
Pentax K-1 IIoptical i3.2 / 1037 full-flex i 1/8000s 4.4/s i i
16.
 
Sony A99 II2400 i3.0 / 1229 full-flex i 1/8000s 12.0/s i i
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.
  empty Camera
Model
Viewfinder
(Type or
000 dots)
Control
Panel
(yes/no)
LCD
Specifications
(inch/000 dots)
LCD
Attach-
ment
Touch
Screen
(yes/no)
Max
Shutter
Speed *
Max
Shutter
Flaps *
Built-in
Flash
(yes/no)
Built-in
Image
Stab
  empty Camera
Model

One difference between the cameras concerns the presence of an on-board flash. The D800 has one, while the K-1 does not. While the built-in flash of the D800 is not very powerful, it can at times be useful as a fill-in light.

The Nikon D800 and the Pentax K-1 both have an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.

The D800 writes its imaging data to Compact Flash or SDXC cards, while the K-1 uses SDXC cards. Both cameras feature dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. Both cameras can use UHS-I cards, which provide for Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 104 MB/s.

Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Nikon D800 and Pentax K-1 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

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Input-Output Connections
  empty Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
1.
 
Nikon D800imono / monoiimini3.0iii
2.
 
Pentax K-1istereo / monoiimicro2.0iii
3.
 
Canon 5D Mark IIIimono / monoiimini2.0iii
4.
 
Canon 5D Mark IVimono / monoiimini3.0iii
5.
 
Nikon D4imono / monoiimicro2.0iii
6.
 
Nikon D500istereo / monoiimini3.0iii
7.
 
Nikon D600imono / monoiimini2.0iii
8.
 
Nikon D610imono / monoiimini2.0iii
9.
 
Nikon D700ii / iiimini2.0iii
10.
 
Nikon D800Eimono / monoiimini3.0iii
11.
 
Nikon D810istereo / monoiimini3.0iii
12.
 
Nikon D850istereo / monoiimini3.0iii
13.
 
Nikon Dfii / iiimini2.0iii
14.
 
Olympus E-M1 IIistereo / monoiimicro3.0iii
15.
 
Pentax K-1 IIistereo / monoiimicro2.0iii
16.
 
Sony A99 IIistereo / monoiimicro2.0iii
  empty Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
  empty Camera
Model

It is notable that the K-1 offers wifi support, which can be a very convenient means to transfer image data to an off-camera location. In contrast, the D800 does not provide wifi capability.

Both cameras feature a PC Sync terminal to control professional strobe lights, which will be appreciated by studio photographers.

Travel and landscape photographers will find it useful that the K-1 has an internal geolocalization sensor and can record GPS coordinates in its EXIF data.

Both the D800 and the K-1 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The D800 was replaced by the Nikon D810, while the K-1 was followed by the Pentax K-1 II. Further information on the features and operation of the D800 and K-1 can be found, respectively, in the Nikon D800 Manual (free pdf) or the online Pentax K-1 Manual.

Review summary

So what conclusions can be drawn? Which of the two cameras – the Nikon D800 or the Pentax K-1 – has the upper hand? Is one clearly better than the other? A synthesis of the relative strong points of each of the models is listed below.

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Reasons to prefer the Nikon D800:

  • Better moiré control: Has an anti-alias filter to avoid artificial patterns to appear in images.
  • Longer lasting: Can take more shots (900 versus 760) on a single battery charge.
  • Easier fill-in: Is equipped with a small onboard flash to brighten deep shadow areas.
  • Faster data transfer: Supports a more advanced USB protocol (3.0 vs 2.0).
  • More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in February 2012).

ilogo

Advantages of the Pentax K-1:

  • Maximized detail: Lacks an anti-alias filter to exploit the sensor's full resolution potential.
  • High quality composites: Can combine several shots after pixel-shifting its sensor.
  • Better video: Provides higher movie framerates (1080/60i versus 1080/30p).
  • More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (1037k vs 921k dots).
  • More flexible LCD: Has a full-flex screen for odd-angle shots in portrait or landscape orientation.
  • More compact: Is smaller (137x110mm vs 146x123mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.
  • Sharper images: Has stabilization technology built-in to reduce the impact of hand-shake.
  • Easier geotagging: Features an internal GPS sensor to log localization data.
  • Easier file upload: Has wifi built in for automatic backup or image transfer to the web.
  • More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (40 percent cheaper at launch).
  • More modern: Reflects 4 years of technical progress since the D800 launch.

If the count of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a measure, the K-1 is the clear winner of the contest (11 : 5 points). However, the relevance of individual strengths will vary across photographers, so that you might want to apply your own weighing scheme to the summary points when reflecting and deciding on a new camera. A professional wildlife photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a family photog, and a person interested in architecture has distinct needs from a sports shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

D800 05:11 K-1

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Nikon D800 and the Pentax K-1 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best DSLR Camera listing whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of technical specifications can provide a useful overview of the capabilities of different cameras, it remains partial and cannot reveal, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance when actually working with the D800 or the K-1. User reviews, such as those found at amazon, can sometimes inform about these issues, but such feedback is often incomplete, inconsistent, and biased.

Expert reviews

This is where reviews by experts come in. The table below provides a synthesis of the camera assessments of some of the best known photo-gear review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

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Expert Camera Reviews
  empty  Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price
Street
Price
1.
 
Nikon D8005/5+ +..82/1005/55/5 Feb 2012 EUR 2 899ebay.com
2.
 
Pentax K-15/5....84/1005/55/5 Feb 2016 EUR 1 999ebay.com
3.
 
Canon 5D Mark III..+ +..82/1004.5/54.5/5 Mar 2012 EUR 3 299ebay.com
4.
 
Canon 5D Mark IV4.5/5+ +4/587/1004.5/54.5/5 Aug 2016 EUR 4 065 amazon.com
5.
 
Nikon D4........4.5/54.5/5 Jan 2012 EUR 5 999ebay.com
6.
 
Nikon D5005/5+ +4.7/591/1004.5/55/5 Jan 2016 EUR 2 399ebay.com
7.
 
Nikon D6004/5+ +..87/1005/54.5/5 Sep 2012 EUR 2 149ebay.com
8.
 
Nikon D6104/5+ +..87/1004.5/54.5/5 Oct 2013 EUR 1 949ebay.com
9.
 
Nikon D700..89/100..+ +4.5/54.5/5 Jul 2008 EUR 2 599ebay.com
10.
 
Nikon D800E......84/1005/55/5 Feb 2012 EUR 3 219ebay.com
11.
 
Nikon D8105/5..5/586/1005/54.5/5 Jun 2014 EUR 3 299ebay.com
12.
 
Nikon D8504.5/5+ +5/589/1004.5/55/5 Jul 2017 EUR 3 799 amazon.com
13.
 
Nikon Df4/5....81/1004/54/5 Nov 2013 EUR 2 999ebay.com
14.
 
Olympus E-M1 II5/5+ +5/585/1004.5/54.5/5 Sep 2016 EUR 1 999ebay.com
15.
 
Pentax K-1 II....4.5/579/1004.5/54.5/5 Feb 2018 EUR 1 999 amazon.com
16.
 
Sony A99 II....4.5/585/1004.5/54.5/5 Sep 2016 EUR 3 599ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.
  empty  Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price
Street
Price
  empty  Camera 
 Model 

The above review scores should be interpreted with care, though. The ratings were established in reference to similarly priced cameras that were available in the market at the time of the review. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and comparing ratings of very distinct cameras or ones that are far apart in terms of their release date have little meaning. Also, kindly note that some of the listed sites have over time developped their review approaches and their reporting style.

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Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you are interested in seeing how other cameras pair up, just make your choice using the following search menu. Alternatively, you can follow any of the listed hyperlinks for comparisons that others found interesting.

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  • Fujifilm X-A7
  • Fujifilm X-A10
  • Fujifilm X-E1
  • Fujifilm X-E2
  • Fujifilm X-E2S
  • Fujifilm X-E3
  • Fujifilm X-E4
  • Fujifilm X-E5
  • Fujifilm X-H1
  • Fujifilm X-H2
  • Fujifilm X-H2S
  • Fujifilm X-M1
  • Fujifilm X-M5
  • Fujifilm X-Pro1
  • Fujifilm X-Pro2
  • Fujifilm X-Pro3
  • Fujifilm X-S10
  • Fujifilm X-S20
  • Fujifilm X-T1
  • Fujifilm X-T2
  • Fujifilm X-T3
  • Fujifilm X-T4
  • Fujifilm X-T5
  • Fujifilm X-T10
  • Fujifilm X-T20
  • Fujifilm X-T30
  • Fujifilm X-T30 II
  • Fujifilm X-T50
  • Fujifilm X-T100
  • Fujifilm X-T200
  • Fujifilm X10
  • Fujifilm X20
  • Fujifilm X30
  • Fujifilm X70
  • Fujifilm X100
  • Fujifilm X100S
  • Fujifilm X100T
  • Fujifilm X100F
  • Fujifilm X100V
  • Fujifilm X100VI
  • Fujifilm XF10
  • Fujifilm XQ1
  • Fujifilm XQ2
  • Fujifilm XP120
  • Fujifilm XP130
  • Fujifilm XP140
  • Hasselblad X1D
  • Hasselblad X1D II
  • Hasselblad X2D 100C
  • Kodak AZ901
  • Kodak S-1
  • Leica C-LUX
  • Leica CL
  • Leica D-LUX Typ 109
  • Leica D-LUX 5
  • Leica D-LUX 6
  • Leica D-LUX 7
  • Leica D-LUX 8
  • Leica Digilux 3
  • Leica M Typ 240
  • Leica M-E Typ 240
  • Leica M Typ 262
  • Leica M8
  • Leica M9
  • Leica M10
  • Leica M10-P
  • Leica M10-R
  • Leica M11
  • Leica Q Typ 116
  • Leica Q2
  • Leica Q3
  • Leica S1
  • Leica S2
  • Leica S3
  • Leica S Typ 006
  • Leica S-E Typ 006
  • Leica S Typ 007
  • Leica SL
  • Leica SL2
  • Leica SL2-S
  • Leica SL3
  • Leica SL3-S
  • Leica T
  • Leica TL
  • Leica TL2
  • Leica V-LUX 1
  • Leica V-LUX 2
  • Leica V-LUX 3
  • Leica V-LUX 4
  • Leica V-LUX Typ 114
  • Leica V-LUX 5
  • Leica X1
  • Leica X2
  • Leica X Vario
  • Leica X Typ 113
  • Leica X-U Typ 113
  • Leitz Ur-Leica
  • Nikon 1 J4
  • Nikon 1 J5
  • Nikon 1 V1
  • Nikon 1 V2
  • Nikon 1 V3
  • Nikon Coolpix A
  • Nikon A1000
  • Nikon B500
  • Nikon B600
  • Nikon B700
  • Nikon D1
  • Nikon D1H
  • Nikon D1X
  • Nikon D2H
  • Nikon D2X
  • Nikon D2Xs
  • Nikon D3
  • Nikon D3S
  • Nikon D3X
  • Nikon D4
  • Nikon D4S
  • Nikon D5
  • Nikon D6
  • Nikon D40
  • Nikon D40X
  • Nikon D50
  • Nikon D60
  • Nikon D70
  • Nikon D70s
  • Nikon D80
  • Nikon D90
  • Nikon D100
  • Nikon D200
  • Nikon D300
  • Nikon D300S
  • Nikon D500
  • Nikon D600
  • Nikon D610
  • Nikon D700
  • Nikon D750
  • Nikon D780
  • Nikon D800
  • Nikon D800E
  • Nikon D810
  • Nikon D850
  • Nikon D3000
  • Nikon D3100
  • Nikon D3200
  • Nikon D3300
  • Nikon D3400
  • Nikon D3500
  • Nikon D5000
  • Nikon D5100
  • Nikon D5200
  • Nikon D5300
  • Nikon D5500
  • Nikon D5600
  • Nikon D7000
  • Nikon D7100
  • Nikon D7200
  • Nikon D7500
  • Nikon Df
  • Nikon L840
  • Nikon P900
  • Nikon P950
  • Nikon P1000
  • Nikon P1100
  • Nikon P7800
  • Nikon W150
  • Nikon W300
  • Nikon Z5
  • Nikon Z5 II
  • Nikon Z6
  • Nikon Z6 II
  • Nikon Z6 III
  • Nikon Z7
  • Nikon Z7 II
  • Nikon Z8
  • Nikon Z9
  • Nikon Z30
  • Nikon Z50
  • Nikon Z50 II
  • Nikon Zf
  • Nikon Z fc
  • Olympus E-1
  • Olympus E-3
  • Olympus E-5
  • Olympus E-30
  • Olympus E-300
  • Olympus E-330
  • Olympus E-400
  • Olympus E-410
  • Olympus E-420
  • Olympus E-450
  • Olympus E-500
  • Olympus E-510
  • Olympus E-520
  • Olympus E-600
  • Olympus E-620
  • Olympus E-M1
  • Olympus E-M1 II
  • Olympus E-M1 III
  • Olympus E-M1X
  • Olympus E-M5
  • Olympus E-M5 II
  • Olympus E-M5 III
  • Olympus E-M10
  • Olympus E-M10 II
  • Olympus E-M10 III
  • Olympus E-M10 IV
  • Olympus E-P1
  • Olympus E-P2
  • Olympus E-P3
  • Olympus E-P5
  • Olympus E-P7
  • Olympus E-PL1
  • Olympus E-PL2
  • Olympus E-PL3
  • Olympus E-PL5
  • Olympus E-PL6
  • Olympus E-PL7
  • Olympus E-PL8
  • Olympus E-PL9
  • Olympus E-PL10
  • Olympus E-PM1
  • Olympus E-PM2
  • Olympus PEN-F
  • Olympus Stylus 1
  • Olympus Stylus 1s
  • Olympus TG-4
  • Olympus TG-5
  • Olympus TG-6
  • Olympus XZ-1
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  • OM System OM-1
  • OM System OM-1 II
  • OM System OM-3
  • OM System OM-5
  • OM System OM-5 II
  • OM System TG-7
  • Panasonic FZ80
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  • Panasonic FZ100
  • Panasonic FZ150
  • Panasonic FZ200
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  • Panasonic FZ1000 II
  • Panasonic FZ2500
  • Panasonic G1
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  • Panasonic G3
  • Panasonic G5
  • Panasonic G6
  • Panasonic G7
  • Panasonic G9
  • Panasonic G9 II
  • Panasonic G10
  • Panasonic G85
  • Panasonic G97
  • Panasonic G95
  • Panasonic G100
  • Panasonic GF1
  • Panasonic GF2
  • Panasonic GF3
  • Panasonic GF5
  • Panasonic GF6
  • Panasonic GF7
  • Panasonic GH1
  • Panasonic GH2
  • Panasonic GH3
  • Panasonic GH4
  • Panasonic GH5
  • Panasonic GH5 II
  • Panasonic GH5s
  • Panasonic GH6
  • Panasonic GH7
  • Panasonic GM1
  • Panasonic GM5
  • Panasonic GX1
  • Panasonic GX7
  • Panasonic GX8
  • Panasonic GX9
  • Panasonic GX85
  • Panasonic GX850
  • Panasonic L1
  • Panasonic L10
  • Panasonic LF1
  • Panasonic LX5
  • Panasonic LX7
  • Panasonic LX10
  • Panasonic LX100
  • Panasonic LX100 II
  • Panasonic S1
  • Panasonic S1 II
  • Panasonic S1H
  • Panasonic S1R
  • Panasonic S1R II
  • Panasonic S5
  • Panasonic S5 II
  • Panasonic S9
  • Panasonic TS7
  • Panasonic ZS70
  • Panasonic ZS80
  • Panasonic ZS100
  • Panasonic ZS200
  • Pentax 645D
  • Pentax 645Z
  • Pentax K-1
  • Pentax K-1 II
  • Pentax K-3
  • Pentax K-3 II
  • Pentax K-3 III
  • Pentax K-5
  • Pentax K-5 II
  • Pentax K-30
  • Pentax K-50
  • Pentax K-70
  • Pentax K-500
  • Pentax KP
  • Pentax K-S1
  • Pentax K-S2
  • Pentax MX-1
  • Pentax Q
  • Pentax WG-8
  • Pentax WG-90
  • Pentax WG-1000
  • Ricoh GR
  • Ricoh GR II
  • Ricoh GR III
  • Ricoh GR IIIx
  • Ricoh WG-6
  • Ricoh WG-60
  • Samsung NX1
  • Samsung NX30
  • Samsung NX500
  • Sigma fp
  • Sigma fp L
  • Sony A1
  • Sony A1 II
  • Sony A7
  • Sony A7 II
  • Sony A7 III
  • Sony A7 IV
  • Sony A7C
  • Sony A7C II
  • Sony A7C R
  • Sony A7R
  • Sony A7R II
  • Sony A7R III
  • Sony A7R IIIA
  • Sony A7R IV
  • Sony A7R IVA
  • Sony A7R V
  • Sony A7S
  • Sony A7S II
  • Sony A7S III
  • Sony A9
  • Sony A9 II
  • Sony A9 III
  • Sony A58
  • Sony A68
  • Sony A77
  • Sony A77 II
  • Sony A99
  • Sony A99 II
  • Sony A850
  • Sony A900
  • Sony A3000
  • Sony A5000
  • Sony A5100
  • Sony A6000
  • Sony A6100
  • Sony A6300
  • Sony A6400
  • Sony A6500
  • Sony A6600
  • Sony A6700
  • Sony H200
  • Sony H300
  • Sony H400
  • Sony HX80
  • Sony HX90V
  • Sony HX95
  • Sony HX99
  • Sony HX350
  • Sony HX400V
  • Sony NEX-3
  • Sony NEX-3N
  • Sony NEX-5
  • Sony NEX-5N
  • Sony NEX-5R
  • Sony NEX-5T
  • Sony NEX-6
  • Sony NEX-7
  • Sony NEX-C3
  • Sony NEX-F3
  • Sony RX0
  • Sony RX0 II
  • Sony RX1
  • Sony RX1R
  • Sony RX1R II
  • Sony RX1R III
  • Sony RX10
  • Sony RX10 II
  • Sony RX10 III
  • Sony RX10 IV
  • Sony RX100
  • Sony RX100 II
  • Sony RX100 III
  • Sony RX100 IV
  • Sony RX100 V
  • Sony RX100 VI
  • Sony RX100 VII
  • Sony WX800
  • Sony ZV-1
  • Sony ZV-1 II
  • Sony ZV-1F
  • Sony ZV-E1
  • Sony ZV-E10
  • Sony ZV-E10 II
  • YI M1
  • Zeiss ZX1
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Specifications: Nikon D800 vs Pentax K-1

Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

Camera Specifications
Camera Model Nikon D800 Pentax K-1
Camera Type Digital single lens reflex Digital single lens reflex
Camera Lens Nikon F mount lenses Pentax K mount lenses
Launch Date February 2012 February 2016
Launch Price USD 2,999 USD 1,799
Sensor Specs Nikon D800 Pentax K-1
Sensor Technology CMOS CMOS
Sensor Format Full Frame Sensor Full Frame Sensor
Sensor Size 35.9 x 24.0 mm 35.9 x 24.0 mm
Sensor Area 861.6 mm2 861.6 mm2
Sensor Diagonal 43.2 mm 43.2 mm
Crop Factor 1.0x 1.0x
Sensor Resolution 36.2 Megapixels 36.2 Megapixels
Image Resolution 7360 x 4912 pixels 7360 x 4912 pixels
Pixel Pitch 4.88 μm 4.88 μm
Pixel Density 4.20 MP/cm2 4.20 MP/cm2
Moiré control Anti-Alias filter no AA filter
Movie Capability 1080/30p Video 1080/60i Video
ISO Setting 100 - 6,400 ISO 100 - 204,800 ISO
ISO Boost 50 - 25,600 ISO no Enhancement
Image Processor EXPEED 3 PRIME IV
DXO Sensor Quality (score) 95 96
DXO Color Depth (bits) 25.3 25.4
DXO Dynamic Range (EV) 14.4 14.6
DXO Low Light (ISO) 2853 3280
Screen Specs Nikon D800 Pentax K-1
Viewfinder Type Optical viewfinder Optical viewfinder
Viewfinder Field of View 100% 100%
Viewfinder Magnification 0.70x 0.70x
Top-Level Screen Control Panel Control Panel
LCD Framing Live View Live View
Rear LCD Size 3.2inch 3.2inch
LCD Resolution 921k dots 1037k dots
LCD Attachment Fixed screen Fully flexible screen
Shooting Specs Nikon D800 Pentax K-1
Focus System Phase-detect AF Phase-detect AF
Manual Focusing Aidno Peaking FeatureFocus Peaking
Max Shutter Speed (mechanical) 1/8000s 1/8000s
Continuous Shooting 4 shutter flaps/s 4.4 shutter flaps/s
Shutter Life Expectancy200 000 actuations300 000 actuations
Time-Lapse PhotographyIntervalometer built-inIntervalometer built-in
Image StabilizationLens stabilization onlyIn-body stabilization
Fill Flash Built-in Flash no On-Board Flash
Storage Medium CF or SDXC cards SDXC cards
Single or Dual Card Slots Dual card slots Dual card slots
UHS card support UHS-I UHS-I
Connectivity Specs Nikon D800 Pentax K-1
External Flash Hotshoe Hotshoe
Studio Flash PC Sync socket PC Sync socket
USB Connector USB 3.0 USB 2.0
HDMI Port mini HDMI micro HDMI
Microphone Port External MIC port External MIC port
Headphone Socket Headphone port Headphone port
Wifi Support no Wifi Wifi built-in
Geotagging no internal GPS GPS built-in
Body Specs Nikon D800 Pentax K-1
Environmental SealingWeathersealed bodyWeathersealed body
Battery Type Nikon EN-EL15 Pentax D-LI90
Battery Life (CIPA)900 shots per charge760 shots per charge
Body Dimensions 146 x 123 x 82 mm
(5.7 x 4.8 x 3.2 in)
137 x 110 x 86 mm
(5.4 x 4.3 x 3.4 in)
Camera Weight 1000 g (35.3 oz) 1010 g (35.6 oz)
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