Pentax K70 Review

Ricoh announces splash-proof hobby DSLR Pentax K-70: With equipment above class level

With the Pentax K-70, Ricoh presents a new DSLR hobby model that should replace the K-50. The K-70 offers an extremely generous equipment package at a price that is 100 Euros below that of the Nikon D5500, which is partly only to be found in clearly higher-class DSLRs. This includes dust and splash water protection with 100 seals, and the SLR camera doesn’t mind frost either. The 100 percent prism finder is also unusual in this class. In addition, the K-70 is the first DSLR to offer a hybrid autofocus with contrast and phase autofocus directly via the image sensor in addition to the usual phase autofocus.

Pentax DSLRs are trademarked by their seal against the penetration of splash water and dust, Pentax itself speaks of “DNA”. So you don’t have to worry about the valuable technology on the beach, in rain or frost, but you can rely on the reliable function of the DSLR – assuming an appropriately sealed lens. But also here Pentax offers a particularly broad program from the favorable beginner lens up to expensive top optics. The image sensor used is a new CMOS with 24 megapixels resolution, which does not require a low-pass filter. The Prime MII image processor is designed to provide fast image processing and good noise reduction up to high ISO 102.400.

With 100 seals, the robust Pentax K-70 protects its interior from dust and splash water. Even frost down to -10 °C doesn’t bother her. [Photo: Pentax]

The “DNA” can also include the movable bearing of the sensor, which Pentax uses for much more than just the 4.5 f-stop image stabilizer. The displacement of the sensor also allows, for example, a shift effect to compensate for falling lines in architectural photography or to compensate for the earth’s rotation in astrophotography. In addition, there is the clever Pixel Shift Resolution technology, which takes a picture four times in order to increase the resolution. If you want, you can activate a low-pass filter simulation that also uses the image stabilizer and eliminates moirés by shaking the sensor slightly during exposure.

The SAFOX X autofocus module of the K-70, on the other hand, has to be satisfied with eleven measuring fields, nine of which are designed as cross sensors. For image series with up to six frames per second, the autofocus can be adjusted, and the 1/6,000 second shutter is also above class. The optical reflex viewfinder works with a high-quality pentaprism, which is normally only found in more expensive DSLRs. At 0.95x magnification (0.63x corresponding to 35mm), 100 percent of the image field is covered. Those who would still like to work with the digital viewfinder image of the Live View can do so via the 7.5 centimetre screen, which has a resolution of 920,000 pixels. Thanks to the swivelling and rotating mechanism, the monitor image can also be viewed from unusual perspectives, for example when taking macro pictures close to the ground. Since Pentax is the first DSLR to integrate a hybrid AF with phase sensors and contrast autofocus on the sensor, the autofocus should also work fast enough in Live View.

The 0.95x magnifying glass Pentax prism viewfinder with 100 percent field coverage of the Pentax K-70 is normally only found in higher class DSLRs. [Photo: Pentax]

In addition to photos, the K-70 is also capable of recording videos with stereo sound (internal or external) and in Full HD resolution, as well as with focus tracking thanks to the hybrid AF. If you use the interval function, you can even have the photos added up as 4K video. In addition to the classic programs P, A, S and M, the user also has TAv (time and aperture are preselected with ISO automatic) and, of course, an automatic function available for photos. In addition, there is face recognition when using the Live View and numerous effect filters, some of which can be applied before and some after recording. If you take pictures in Raw, you can also develop the pictures directly in the camera.

In addition to numerous, partly programmable keys, two control wheels and three user programs are available on the program selector wheel for operation. Thanks to the built-in WLAN, the K-70 can also be remote-controlled via smartphone app, and wireless image transmission is of course also possible. By the way, the lithium-ion battery offers a range of 650 photos, a clear advantage of DSLRs over non-reflecting system cameras, at least as long as you don’t use the power-guzzling Live View.

The Pentax K-70 has a swivelling and rotating 7.5 centimeter screen to offer and even in Live View has a phase autofocus thanks to hybrid AF on the image sensor. [Photo: Pentax]

The Pentax K-70 will be available at a price of almost 700 euros, although Ricoh has not yet announced a market launch date. According to Ricoh, the Pentax K-70 will be available as a set with the splash-proof universal zoom smc Pentax-DA 18-135 mm F3.5-5.6 ED AL DC WR at a price of almost 1,000 euros.

Pentax K70 Datasheet