Canon 1DX Mark II vs Pentax K-1

Cameras
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Canon 1DX Mark II vs Pentax K-1

35mm 864.0mm²
20.2 megapixels
ISO 100 - 51,200

Go in depth with our full Canon 1DX Mark II Review.
How does it shoot? Canon 1DX Mark II in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the 1DX Mark II.
Compare Canon 1DX Mark II image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Canon 1DX Mark II conclusion.

35mm 861.6mm²
36.4 megapixels
ISO 100 - 204,800

Go in depth with our full Pentax K-1 Review.
How does it shoot? Pentax K-1 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the K-1.
Compare Pentax K-1 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Pentax K-1 conclusion.

Succeeded by the Canon 1DX Mark III
Compare 1DX Mark II vs 1DX Mark III

Succeeded by the Pentax K-1 II
Compare K-1 vs K-1 II

Compare CANON 1DX MARK III vs PENTAX K-1 II

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Differences

Canon 1DX Mark II advantages over Pentax K-1

Bigger pixels
~ 6.58 vs 4.88 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
Shoot 4K video
4K (DCI) vs 1080p
Make sure you have a fast computer
Touchscreen
Touch vs No touch
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
Fast startup
~0.80 vs 1.2 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
On-sensor phase detect
Yes vs No
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Longer stills battery life
More info

Longer stills battery life

Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

1210 vs 760 shots
Capture more photos
More cross-type AF points
41 vs 25
Cross-type AF points improve autofocus performance
More dots on screen
1620k vs 1037k dots
Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
More viewfinder magnification
0.76x vs 0.70x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
More AF points
61 vs 33
More AF points improve autofocus
Faster JPEG shooting
14.0 fps vs 4.6 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Bigger JPEG buffer
Unlimited vs 74 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
14.1 fps vs 4.6 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Bigger RAW buffer
Unlimited vs 17 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
Slow-motion videos
Yes vs No
Shoot slow-motion videos
Higher extended ISO
409600 vs 204800 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Pentax K-1 advantages over Canon 1DX Mark II

Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Yes vs No
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
Tiltable Screen
Tiltable vs Fixed
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
High resolution composite
Yes vs No
Combine multiple shots to form a super hi-res version
Built-in Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi vs None
Share your photos wirelessly
Lighter weight
1015g vs 1544g
Lighter weight
More pixels
36.4 vs 20.2 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Optional anti-aliasing filter
Optional vs Fixed
Lets you choose sharper photos or reduced moiré

Similarities

Common Strengths

Eye-level viewfinder
Both provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
Built-in GPS
Both provide
Geotag your photos
Top deck display
Both provide
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
External Mic Jack
Both provide
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
Pentaprism viewfinder
Both provide
Much better viewfinder picture fidelity
HDMI out
Both provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
Hot shoe
Both provide
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
Dual card slots
Both provide
Gives you more storage flexibility
Headphone jack
Both provide
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Bulb shutter
Both provide
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

Tilt-swivel screen
Neither provide
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
In-camera panoramas
Neither provide
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
NFC
Neither provide
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
Built-in Bluetooth
Neither provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
Internal flash
Neither provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash

User reviews

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Read K-1 User Reviews

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Review Excerpt

Excellent image quality, especially from RAWs; Fantastic high ISO performance; Fast autofocus with great tracking performance; 14fps burst rate; Amazing buffer capacity; 4K 60p video; Robust build quality.
Very heavy, bulky and expensive; Dual memory card slots use different formats; 29:59 continuous video recording limit; Touchscreen feels underutilized.
Read our Canon 1DX Mark II Review

Unlocks the full potential of full-frame Pentax lenses; Excellent image quality; Great ergonomics and build; Very compact for full-frame; Decent performance; Fast autofocus with great low-light capabilities; Very wide sensitivity range; Bright, accurate viewfinder; Articulated LCD; Stabilization, Wi-Fi and GPS in-camera
No built-in flash strobe; Quite heavy compared to APS-C flagships; Somewhat soft images and blown highlights by default in JPEG mode; Warm Auto white balance indoors; Slow startup and buffer clearing; Small top-deck status display; Weak viewfinder illumination; Below-average battery life for DSLR
Read our Pentax K-1 Review

The Competition

Compared to Canon EOS-1D C

Canon 1DX Mark II

Canon EOS-1D C

$2999
35mm

Touchscreen
Built-in GPS

$6989
35mm

Compare Canon 1DX Mark II vs Canon EOS-1D C

Pentax K-1

Canon EOS-1D C

$1800
35mm

Focus peaking
Less expensive

$6989
35mm

Bigger pixels
Shoot 4K video

Compare Pentax K-1 vs Canon EOS-1D C

Compared to Nikon D4S

Canon 1DX Mark II

Nikon D4S

$2999
35mm

Shoot 4K video
Touchscreen

$5999
35mm

Fast startup
Longer stills battery life

Compare Canon 1DX Mark II vs Nikon D4S

Pentax K-1

Nikon D4S

$1800
35mm

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$5999
35mm

Bigger pixels
Fast startup

Compare Pentax K-1 vs Nikon D4S

Compared to Canon 5DS

Canon 1DX Mark II

Canon 5DS

$2999
35mm

Bigger pixels
Shoot 4K video

$1299
35mm

Less expensive
Fast startup

Compare Canon 1DX Mark II vs Canon 5DS

Pentax K-1

Canon 5DS

$1800
35mm

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$1299
35mm

Fast startup
More cross-type AF points

Compare Pentax K-1 vs Canon 5DS

Compared to Nikon D5

Canon 1DX Mark II

Nikon D5

$2999
35mm

Higher effective ISO
Built-in GPS

$5243
35mm

Less expensive
Fast startup

Compare Canon 1DX Mark II vs Nikon D5

Pentax K-1

Nikon D5

$1800
35mm

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$5243
35mm

Bigger pixels
Shoot 4K video

Compare Pentax K-1 vs Nikon D5

Compared to Pentax K-1 II

Canon 1DX Mark II

Pentax K-1 II

$2999
35mm

Bigger pixels
Shoot 4K video

$1747
35mm

Less expensive
Focus peaking

Compare Canon 1DX Mark II vs Pentax K-1 II

Pentax K-1

Pentax K-1 II

$1800
35mm

$1747
35mm

Higher extended ISO

Compare Pentax K-1 vs Pentax K-1 II

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