• 1/1.7 inch 43.3mm2
  • 12.0 megapixels
  • 28.00mm - 112.00mm (35mm eq.)
  • APS-C 372.1mm2
  • 16.3 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 51,200
  • Detailed specifications
  • Pentax MX-1
  • Pentax K-50
Links
Prices: Compare Prices Compare Prices
Manufacturer URL: Manufacturer website Manufacturer website
Predecessor:   Pentax K-30
K-30 vs K-50
Successor:   Pentax K-70
K-50 vs K-70
General
Model Number: MX-1 K-50
Alternate Model Number(s):    
Camera Format: Mid-Sized SLR
Currently Manufactured: No No
Retail Price: $499.95 $779.95
Street Price: $1,289.00 $149.00
Date Available: 2013-02-15 2013-07-15
Tripod Mount: Yes Yes
Weight: 14.1 oz (399 g)
includes batteries
31.9 oz (904 g)
includes batteries, kit lens
Size: 4.8 x 2.4 x 2.0 in.
(122 x 61 x 51 mm)
5.1 x 3.8 x 2.8 in.
(130 x 97 x 71 mm)
Waterproof: No No
Waterproof Depth: n/a n/a
Image Sensor
Sensor Type: CMOS CMOS
Sensor Manufacturer: BSI CMOS Sony
Effective Megapixels: 12.0 16.3
Sensor Format: 1/1.7 inch APS-C
Sensor size: 43.32mm2 (7.6mm x 5.7mm) 372.09mm2 (23.70mm x 15.70mm)
Approximate Pixel Pitch: 1.90 microns 4.81 microns
Focal Length Multiplier: n/a 1.5x
Aspect Ratio: 4:3 3:2
Color Filter Type: RGBG RGBG
Anti Aliasing Filter:   Fixed
Self-Cleaning: Yes Yes
Sensor shift image stabilization: Yes Yes
On-Sensor Phase Detect: No No
DxO Sensor Score: 49 79
DxO Color Depth Score (bits): 20.4 23.7
DxO Dynamic Range Score (evs): 11.3 13.0
DxO Maximum Effective ISO Score (iso): 208 1,120
Image Capture
Image Resolution: 4000 x 3000 (12.0 MP, 4:3),
3984 x 2656 (10.6 MP, 3:2),
3968 x 2232 (8.9 MP, 16:9),
3072 x 2304 (7.1 MP, 4:3),
3072 x 2048 (6.3 MP, 3:2),
3072 x 1728 (5.3 MP, 16:9),
2592 x 1728 (4.5 MP, 3:2),
2560 x 1440 (3.7 MP, 16:9),
2048 x 1152 (2.4 MP, 16:9)
4928 x 3264 (16.1 MP, Other),
4224 x 2816 (11.9 MP, 3:2),
3456 x 2304 (8.0 MP, 3:2),
2688 x 1792 (4.8 MP, 3:2)
Image File Format: JPEG (Exif 2.3), 12-bit DNG RAW JPEG (EXIF 2.3), 12-bit RAW (.DNG), RAW+JPEG
Continuous-mode frames/second: 4.0 6.0
Video Capture
Can take movies: Yes Yes
Movie Resolution: 1920x1080 (30p)
1280x720 (60p/​30p)
640x480 (120p)
1920x1080 (30p/​25p/​24p)
1280x720 (60p/​50p/​30p/​25p/​24p)
640x480 (30p/​25p/​24p)
Movie File Format: MOV (MPEG-4 AVC/H.264) with stereo sound MOV MPEG-4 AVC (H.264) with monaural audio
Composite Video Out: Yes Yes
NTSC/PAL Switchable Video: Yes Yes
Video Usable as Viewfinder: No
HD Video Out: Yes No
HD Video Connection: HDMI
Lens & Optics
Lens Mount: n/a Pentax K (KA/KAF/KAF2/3)
Lens: smc Pentax Lens, 11 elements in 8 groups (4 aspherical elements) smc PENTAX-DA L 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL WR; 11 elements in 8 groups, 6 bladed diaphragm
Focal Length (35mm equivalent): 28 - 112mm 27 - 83mm
Focal Length (actual): 6 - 24mm 18 - 55mm
Zoom Ratio: 4.00x 3.06x
Aperture Range: f/1.8 (W) / f/2.5 (T) - f/8 f/3.5 - f/22 (wide) / f/5.6 - f/38 (tele)
Integrated ND Filter: Yes No
Normal Focus Range: 40 cm to Infinity
15.6 in to Infinity
25 cm to Infinity
9.8 in to Infinity
Macro Focus Range: 1 - 20 cm
0.4 - 7.9 in
 
Filter Thread: n/a 52.0mm
Thread Type: n/a n/a
Optical Image Stabilization: No No
Digital Zoom: Yes No
Digital Zoom Values: Up to 1.95x n/a
Auto Focus
Auto Focus: Yes Yes
Auto Focus Type: Contrast Detection: Auto, Spot, Tracking , AF Select (25 Points), Infinity Landscape, Manual Focus, Pan Focus, AF Point Switching Phase Detect:: SAFOX IXi+, 11 point (9 cross type focus point in the center), with light wavelength sensor and diffraction lens; Live View: Contrast detection AF (face detection, tracking, select, spot)
Auto Focus Assist Light? Yes Yes
Manual Focus: Yes Yes
Viewfinder
Viewfinder: No / LCD Optical / LCD
Viewfinder Type:   SLR type; eye-level pentaprism, 100% coverage, 0.92x mag., -2.5 to +1.5 diopter, Natural-Bright-Matte III focusing screen (interchangeable)
Focus Peaking: No Yes
EVF Resolution: n/a n/a
Viewfinder Magnification (35mm equivalent):   0.61x
Viewfinder Magnification (nominal/claimed):   0.92x
Display
Eye-level Viewfinder: No Yes
Rear Display: Yes Yes
Rear Display Size (inches): 3.0 3.0
Rear Display Resolution: 921,000 dots (307,000 px) 921,600 dots (307,200 px)
Touchscreen: No No
Articulating Screen: Yes No
Tilt Swivel Screen: No
Selfie Screen: No
Max Playback Zoom: 10.0x 16.0x
Top Deck Display: No
Exposure
Maximum ISO (native): 12800 51200
Minimum ISO (native): 100 100
ISO Settings: Auto (100-12800 with selectable upper limit), 100-12800 Auto, 100-51200 (1, 1/2 or 1/3 EV steps)
Auto ISO Mode: Yes Yes
White Balance Settings: Auto, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Fluorescent light (D:Daylight Color, N:Daylight White, W:Cool White, L:Warm White),Tungsten, Flash Auto, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Fluorescent (D, N, W, L), Tungsten, Flash, CTE, 3 Manual and 3 Kelvin temperature presets
Shutter Speed Range: 1/8000 - 30 sec 1/6000 - 30 sec
Bulb Mode: Yes Yes
Exposure Compensation: +/- 2.0EV in 0.3EV steps +/- 5.0EV in 0.3EV steps
Metering Modes: Multi-segment, Center-weighted, Spot TTL open-aperture: 77-segment, Center-weighted, Spot
Program Auto Exposure: Yes Yes
Aperture Priority: Yes Yes
Shutter Priority: Yes Yes
Full Manual Exposure: Yes Yes
Creative Exposure Modes: Natural Skin Tone, Handheld Night Snap (5M), Night Scene Portrait, Night Scene, Digital Panorama (2M per frame), High Speed Movie (VGA, 120 FPS capture, 30 FPS playback), Time Lapse Movie, Landscape, Blue Sky, Sunset, Flower, Digital SR (ISO 3200-6400 5M), Kids, Pet, Portrait, Food, Fireworks, Surf & Snow, Sport, Fisheye, Sketch, Miniature Filter, Text, Frame Composite (3M); Digital filters (capture): Movie (B&W, Sepia, Fisheye, Miniature, Sketch); Dynamic Range adjustment: Yes (shadow, highlight) Sensitivity Priority, Shutter and Aperture Priority, Scene (Portrait, Landscape, Macro, Moving Object, Night Scene Portrait, Sunset, Blue Sky, Forest, Night Scene, Night Scene HDR (JPG), Night Snap, Food, Pet, Kids, Surf & Snow, Backlight Silhouette, Candlelight, Stage Lighting, Museum); Extract Color, Toy Camera, Retro, High Contrast, Shading, Invert Color, Color; Dynamic range adjustment (Highlight, Shadow); HDR: Auto, HDR 1, HDR 2, HDR 3
Self Timer: 2 or 10; 3 shots after 10 seconds 2 or 12 seconds
Time Lapse (intervalometer): No Yes
High Resolution Composite: No No
Flash
Built-in Flash: Yes Yes
Flash Modes: Auto, Flash Off, Flash On, Red-eye, Slow-speed synchro, Slow-speed+Red-eye, Trailing Curtain Sync P-TTL: On, Redeye, Slow Sync, Slow Sync + Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync
Flash Guide Number (ISO 100): n/a 12.0 m / 39.4 ft.
Flash Range Description: 1.31 - 40’ (wide, auto ISO), 1.31 - 29’ (tele, auto ISO) Depends on lens
Max Flash Sync:   1/180
Flash Exposure Compensation: -2 to +1 EV in 0.3EV steps -2 to +1 EV in 0.5EV steps
External Flash Connection: n/a Hot Shoe
Built-In Wireless Flash Control:   Full TTL exposure
Image Storage
Usable Memory Types: SD / SDHC / SDXC SD / SDHC / SDXC
UHS Support:    
Other Memory:    
Dual Card Slots: No No
RAW Capture Support: Yes Yes
Uncompressed Format: 12-bit DNG RAW 12-bit RAW (.DNG), RAW+JPEG
Movie File Format: MOV (MPEG-4 AVC/H.264) with stereo sound MOV MPEG-4 AVC (H.264) with monaural audio
Included Memory: 75.3 MB No memory included
Included Memory Type: Internal  
Connectivity
Built-In Wi-Fi: No No
NFC: No No
Bluetooth: No No
Built-In GPS: No No
Microphone Jack: No No
Headphone Jack: No No
External Connections: USB 2.0 High Speed USB 2.0 High Speed
PictBridge Compliant: No No
DPOF Compliant: Yes Yes
Remote Control: Yes Yes
Remote Control Type: Optional IR Optional Wired or IR
Connections (extended): Micro (Type D) HDMI Wired remote port
Performance Timing
Cycle time for JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame, max resolution): 1.43  
Cycle time for RAW shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame): 1.91  
Buffer size for RAW shooting in single shot mode (frames): 7  
Cycle time for RAW+JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per shot):    
Camera penalizes early shutter press? No
JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps, max resolution): 4.0 6.0
Buffer size for JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames, max resolution): 10 30
RAW shooting speed in burst mode (fps):    
Buffer size for RAW shooting in burst mode (frames):    
RAW+JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps):    
Buffer Size for RAW+JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames):    
Shutter lag (full AF, wide/mid): 0.24 seconds  
Shutter lag (full AF, tele): 0.25 seconds  
Shutter lag (full AF, live view - DSLR):    
Shutter lag (prefocused, live view - DSLR):    
Shutter Lag (manual focus): 0.178 seconds  
Shutter lag (full AF, with flash): 0.30 seconds  
Shutter Lag (prefocused): 0.016 seconds  
Shutter Lag (notes):    
Startup Time: 2.2 seconds  
Play -> Record Time: 1.4 seconds  
Flash cycle time, full power: 4.8 seconds  
Power
Battery Life, Stills (CIPA Rating Monitor/Live View): 290 shots  
Battery Life, Still (CIPA Rating OVF/EVF):   480 shots
Battery Life, Video:    
Battery Form Factor: Proprietary D-Li106 Proprietary; optional D-BH109 AA Battery Holder
Usable Battery Types: Lithium-ion rechargeable D-LI109 Lithium-ion rechargeable
Batteries Included: 1 x Proprietary D-Li106 Lithium-ion rechargeable 1 x Proprietary D-LI109 Lithium-ion rechargeable
Battery Charger Included (dedicated charger or AC/USB adapter): Yes Yes
Dedicated Battery Charger Included:
Internal Charging Supported:
Software
Included Software: Software CD-ROM including SILKYPIX Developer Studio 3.0 LE for PENTAX RICOH IMAGING RAW development software Software CDROM (SILKYPIX Developer Studio for PENTAX included)
OS Compatibility:    
Miscellaneous
Notes & Features: Image Stabilization: Still: Sensor-Shift SR, Digital SR (ISO 100-12800), Dual (SR & Pixel Track SR); Movie: Movie Shake Reduction Mode (Movie SR); (Maximum effect of 3 stops using Sensor-Shift SR); 12-bit RAW (DNG) support, Dual-axial digital level, Dual remote control sensors. Available in black or two-tone silver and black. Replaces K-30: tweaked 16MP sensor, tweaked PRIME M processor, maximum ISO now 51,200, controllable Eye-Fi connection, new WR L kit lenses. Available in 120 colors (20 base colors, 6 grip colors).