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PENTAX K-S1

PENTAX K-S1

Posted by Broadway Camera on 2014-08-30

Experience photography in a new light with the PENTAX K-S1. Whether you’re new to photography or a skilled enthusiast, the K-S1 offers you the ability to take your imaging to the next level. The K-S1 incorporates new elements that optimize digital innovations, such as a compact, modern design and an inventive interface system. The addition of LED lights adds brilliance to its exterior, while enhancing functionality. The K-S1 also provides other outstanding features, rivaling those of high-end models, including: the PENTAX-developed anti-aliasing filter simulator (first incorporated on the PENTAX K-3), an optical viewfinder with a glass pentaprism to provide approximately 100% field of view, and an in-body shake reduction mechanism. If you’re looking to upgrade your mobile photography, the PENTAX K-S1 is sure to smooth the transition with compactness, style and outstanding performance.

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Illuminated Interface for intuitive camera operation
The PENTAX K-S1’s power switch, mode dial, OK button and grip all feature LED illumination; each of which indicates the current status of camera operation. The LEDs for the power switch, for instance, stay green during still-image shooting, but change colour to red during movie recording. When the Face Detection function is activated, the number of LEDs illuminated on the grip corresponds with the number of faces that have been detected. The grip LEDs also act as a countdown timer during self timer operation. This LED body illumination gives a decorative illumination to the choice of distinctive body colours; furthering the look of the camera as a sophisticated digital device.

Compact, lightweight body with distinctive design
The K-S1 camera body’s main chassis, including the grip, is designed to be compact in size and sophisticated in appearance, while the pentaprism employs a solid, time-proven design that easily matches high-grade SLR cameras. By harmonizing these dissimilar elements, the K-S1 delivers a body design that is totally original and remarkably fashionable.

High-resolution images produced by the 20.12 megapixel CMOS sensor with a super-high sensitivity of ISO 51200
The K-S1 is equipped with a newly developed CMOS image sensor with approximately 20.12 effective megapixels to deliver super-high-resolution images. It is also designed without an optical AA (anti-aliasing) filter to optimize the imaging power of the sensor. By coupling this image sensor with the high-performance PRIME MII imaging engine, the K-S1 delivers true-to-life, detailed images by effectively minimizing noise at all sensitivity levels, even during super-high-sensitivity shooting at ISO 51200.

In-body shake reduction (SR) mechanism, and AA (anti-aliasing) filter simulator for effective moiré reduction

  1. In-body SR (Shake Reduction) mechanism
    The K-S1 features the PENTAX-developed SR (Shake Reduction) mechanism to effectively minimize camera shake and assure sharp, blur-free images, even in camera-shake-prone conditions such as when using a telephoto lens, shooting low-light scenes with incident light only, or photographing sunset scenes.
  2. Innovative AA (anti-aliasing) filter simulator*
    By applying microscopic vibrations to the image sensor unit at the sub-pixel level during image exposure, the K-S1’s AA filter simulator provides the same level of moiré-reduction effect as an optical AA filter. Unlike an optical AA filter, which always creates the same result, this innovative simulator lets the user not only switch the AA filter effect on and off, but also adjust the level of the effect
  3. ASTRO TRACER support
    The K-S1’s SR unit has a flexible design that shifts the image sensor horizontally (left/right), vertically (up/down), and rotationally. Taking advantage of this flexibility, the K-S1 provides a host of handy shooting functions, including ASTRO TRACER, which simplifies advanced astronomical photography in combination with the optional GPS unit, O-GPS1.                       

Optical viewfinder with 100-percent field of view
The K-S1 is equipped with a glass pentaprism finder featuring the same optics and coatings as those used in higher-level models. It assures the highest level of viewfinder brightness in its class, with a magnification of approximately 0.95 times to provide a broad image field for easy focusing and framing.

High-speed shutter to capture fast-moving subjects in crisp focus
The K-S1 provides a top shutter speed of 1/6000 second to capture the decisive moment. Coupled with its high-speed continuous shooting function (with a top speed of 5.4 images per second), it lets the photographer freeze once-in-a-lifetime shutter opportunities.

High-precision AF with SAFOX IXi+ AF sensor module
The K-S1 features the SAFOX IXi+ AF sensor module, which assures responsive, high-precision autofocus operation with 11 sensors, including nine cross-type sensors. It also provides a spot beam to assist AF operation in poorly lit locations. Its select-area expansion function ensures that the sensor module keeps tracking a moving subject, even when the subject moves out of a pre-assigned auto-tracking area, by assessing the distance data collected by neighboring focus sensors. The AF hold function maintains the in-focus position, even when the AF system loses track of the subject after once capturing it in focus. These functions combine to improve the camera’s accuracy in the detection of moving subjects when its focus mode is set to AUTO, and upgrade its auto-tracking performance of these subjects when using a telephoto lens.

A selection of image-processing tools for creative, personalized expressions
By setting the Mode dial to the EFFECT position, the user can apply the desired visual effect to an image while previewing the outcome on the LCD monitor. It provides a choice of 10 distinctive effects, including three new options: “Fresh” with a crystal-clean finishing touch; “Fade Colour” for an elegant finish with subdued colours; and “Infrared” for a black-and-white finish like that of an infrared photo. The K-S1 also provides 21 digital filters (nine of them applicable during shooting), including a new “Colour Replacement” filter.

Dependable lens aberration compensation system
In addition to the effective compensation for distortion, chromatic aberration and peripheral brightness, the K-S1 also provides compensation function for diffraction, which deteriorates image resolution when a small aperture is used.

Connected device functions**
The optional FLUCARD FOR PENTAX 16GB memory card can release the K-S1’s shutter, provide a live-view image, and browse and download the images recorded on the card using a smartphone or other wireless and web browser enabled device.

** These functions support smartphones operating iOS6 or later and Android 4.2 or later

0-inch, high-resolution LCD monitor, and newly designed, easy-to-use interface
The K-S1 features a high-resolution, wide-view LCD monitor with approximately 921,000 dots. It also provides a status screen employing the newly-designed GUI (Graphical User Interface), which allows the user to confirm functions and settings assigned to the four-way controller and the OK button at a glance. The RICOH RT font has been used for on-screen menus to improve readability.

Full HD movie recording with stereo audio
The K-S1 captures beautiful Full HD movie clips (1920 x 1080 pixels; 30/25/24 frame rate) in the H.264 recording format, which assures flawless, high-quality movies even with fast-moving subjects. It is also equipped with a built-in stereo microphone for recording natural sound during Full HD movie recording.

Other features

  • Compatible with Eye-Fi wireless LAN memory cards
  • 77-segment, multi-pattern metering system for high-precision light measurement
  • DR (Dust Removal) mechanism for effective elimination of dust on the image sensor using ultrasonic vibration
  • Digital Camera Utility 5 software (latest version) included