Canon SL1 vs Pentax K-1 II

Cameras
Compare Cameras
Canon SL1 vs Pentax K-1 II

APS-C 332.3mm²
18.0 megapixels
ISO 100 - 12,800

Go in depth with our full Canon SL1 Review.
How does it shoot? Canon SL1 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the SL1.
Compare Canon SL1 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Canon SL1 conclusion.

35mm 861.6mm²
36.4 megapixels
ISO 100 - 819,200

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

Succeeded by the Canon SL2
Compare SL1 vs SL2
Compare Canon SL2 vs Pentax K-1 II

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Differences

Canon SL1 advantages over Pentax K-1 II

Less expensive
$549 vs $1997
Save money for lenses or accessories
Touchscreen
Touch vs No touch
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
Fast startup
~0.60 vs 1.4 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
On-sensor phase detect
Yes vs No
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Internal flash
Internal flash vs None
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
Bigger JPEG buffer
1140 vs 77 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)

Pentax K-1 II advantages over Canon SL1

Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Larger sensor
35mm vs APS-C
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
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
Built-in GPS
GPS vs None
Geotag your photos
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

670 vs 380 shots
Capture more photos
More telephoto lens reach
105 mm vs 88 mm
Capture objects farther away with the kit lens
Top deck display
Yes vs No
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
More cross-type AF points
25 vs 1
Cross-type AF points improve autofocus performance
Pentaprism viewfinder
Pentaprism vs Pentamirror
Much better viewfinder picture fidelity
Newer
6 years vs 11 years old
Newer cameras often support more advanced features
Less shutter lag
0.10 vs 0.26 sec
Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
More viewfinder magnification
0.70x vs 0.54x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
More pixels
36.4 vs 18.0 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Dual card slots
Yes vs No
Gives you more storage flexibility
More AF points
33 vs 9
More AF points improve autofocus
Headphone jack
Yes vs No
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Optional anti-aliasing filter
Optional vs Fixed
Lets you choose sharper photos or reduced moiré
Faster JPEG shooting
4.5 fps vs 3.9 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
4.6 fps vs 4.0 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Bigger RAW buffer
17 vs 8 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
Faster shutter
1/8000 vs 1/4000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light
Higher extended ISO
819200 vs 25600 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

Eye-level viewfinder
Both provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
External Mic Jack
Both provide
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
HDMI out
Both provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
Hot shoe
Both provide
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
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
Slow-motion videos
Neither provide
Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read SL1 User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read K-1 II User Reviews

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Buy the Canon SL1

Body Only

Body Only
Kit with 18-55mm Lens

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Buy the Pentax K-1 II

Body Only

Body Only
Kit with 28-105mm Lens

All K-1 II Deals

Review Excerpt

Extremely compact and lightweight for a DSLR; Delivers good image quality that's virtually identical to the Canon T4i/T5i; Accurate and relatively fast autofocus with improved Live View and Movie Hybrid CMOS II AF; Full 1080p HD movie recording; Better-than average kit lens (EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM).
Still not as compact as most mirrorless cameras; Slightly worse than average dynamic range and high ISO performance; Poor battery life.
Read our Canon SL1 Review

Excellent build and comfortable handling; Bright, roomy viewfinder and articulated LCD; Great image quality; Good performance for the class; In-camera stabilization, GPS and Wi-Fi; Incredibly feature-rich design.
Bulkier than APS-C DSLRs; Top ISOs are for the spec sheet, not the real world; JPEGs are a bit punchy by default; Slow startup; Below-average battery life; Only a relatively modest update to the K-1.
Read our Pentax K-1 II Review

The Competition

Compared to Pentax K-5 IIs

Canon SL1

Pentax K-5 IIs

$549
APS-C

Touchscreen
On-sensor phase detect

$497
APS-C

Larger sensor
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Canon SL1 vs Pentax K-5 IIs

Pentax K-1 II

Pentax K-5 IIs

$1747
35mm

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$497
APS-C

Fast startup
Internal flash

Compare Pentax K-1 II vs Pentax K-5 IIs

Compared to Sony A58

Canon SL1

Sony A58

$549
APS-C

Lens selection
Touchscreen

$598
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

Compare Canon SL1 vs Sony A58

Pentax K-1 II

Sony A58

$1747
35mm

Lens selection
Larger sensor

$598
APS-C

In-camera panoramas
Internal flash

Compare Pentax K-1 II vs Sony A58

Compared to Pentax K-S1

Canon SL1

Pentax K-S1

$549
APS-C

Touchscreen
On-sensor phase detect

$502
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

Compare Canon SL1 vs Pentax K-S1

Pentax K-1 II

Pentax K-S1

$1747
35mm

Larger sensor
Tiltable Screen

$502
APS-C

Internal flash
Faster JPEG shooting

Compare Pentax K-1 II vs Pentax K-S1

Compared to Pentax K-1

Canon SL1

Pentax K-1

$549
APS-C

Touchscreen
Fast startup

$1800
35mm

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

Compare Canon SL1 vs Pentax K-1

Pentax K-1 II

Pentax K-1

$1747
35mm

Higher extended ISO

$1800
35mm

Compare Pentax K-1 II vs Pentax K-1

Compared to Nikon D850

Canon SL1

Nikon D850

$549
APS-C

Less expensive
On-sensor phase detect

$2664
35mm

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

Compare Canon SL1 vs Nikon D850

Pentax K-1 II

Nikon D850

$1747
35mm

Less expensive
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$2664
35mm

Shoot 4K video
Touchscreen

Compare Pentax K-1 II vs Nikon D850

Compare Other Cameras?