PENTAX has devoted much of its effort to the downsizing of the camera body. By optimizing the design of internal components and mechanisms, it has succeeded in packaging exceptional imaging power, supported by original technologies and a host of advanced functions, in the PENTAX KP’s compact, slim body. It assures casual, carefree shooting not only during daily outings, but also on trips and outdoor activities.
The PENTAX KP features a new 24-megapixel AA Filter-less APS-C sized CMOS sensor for outstanding image quality. This new sensor enables shooting in extremely low-light conditions, with sensitivity to ISO 819200, making the camera ideal for low-light photography.
Coupled with the PENTAX original Accelerator Unit, Ricoh’s own-developed processing device, the PRIME IV effectively suppress the noise and reproduces fine-detailed, color rich images even at high ISO level.
Pixel Shift Resolution is a system apart from the conventional Bayer system, which captures single unit of color data in one pixel. Pixel Shift Resolution captures four images of the same scene by shifting the image sensor by single pixel, using the SR (Shake Reduction) mechanism. With this, each pixel captures all colors to give you a super-high-resolution images with much finer details, while significantly lowering the level of high-sensitivity noise. The PENTAX KP Pixel Shift Resolution also offers a Motion Correction function which detects moving objects and subtracts the moving pixels from the final composite image.
The PENTAX KP comes equipped with the innovative sensor-shift-type SR II (Shake Reduction II), which assures optimum compensation effect for all lenses. In addition to common camera shake caused by pitch and yaw, this five-axis mechanism also compensates for camera shake caused by horizontal and vertical shift (often generated in macro photography) and camera shake caused by roll, which is difficult to handle by lens-installed shake reduction mechanisms. Thanks to a wide compensation range of five shutter steps,* it benefits a number of handheld applications, such as when using a telephoto lens or shooting in poorly-lit locations, to capture sharp, blur-free images.
Thanks to a nearly 100-percent field of view, the PENTAX KP’s viewfinder provides an image field almost identical in size to that of the captured image. The optical design provides a real-time view of the subject, while its glass pentaprism delivers a large, well-defined image field at approximately 0.95-times magnification (with a 50mm F1.4 lens set at infinity). The Natural Bright Matte III focusing screen makes it easy to identify the in-focus point even during manual-focus operation. This standard focusing screen is replaceable with optional screens to accommodate specialized applications.
The PENTAX KP’s 3.0-inch LCD monitor has approximately 921,000 dots, and provides a vertical tilt function to facilitate high- and low-angle shooting. It also comes equipped with such convenient features as: the Outdoor View Setting mode, which instantly sets the optimum monitor brightness level for a given lighting condition; and a red-lighted monitor display function, which facilitates monitor viewing when the photographer’s eyes have become accustomed to a dark location during nighttime photography.
The PENTAX KP features an outdoor-friendly LCD monitor whose brightness level can be instantly adjusted to the desired level: brighter during outdoor shooting in sunshine, or dimmer during nightscape photography. Because the monitor settings are assigned to the Function dial as the default setting of the Smart Function, you can quickly set the desired brightness level with a single twist of the dial. This monitor also provides a Night Vision LCD Display function, which prevents eye strain or fatigue after they have become accustomed to a dark location during astronomical and nighttime photography. By assigning this function to the Fx1 button, you can instantly switch the display mode between normal display and Night Vision LCD Display with pushbutton ease.
The PENTAX KP’s exterior casing is made of highly rigid, lightweight magnesium alloy with remarkable durability and outstanding electromagnetic-shielding performance. Coupled with a high-rigidity, corrosion-resistant metallic chassis, it forms an extremely durable, dependable body structure.
To prevent the intrusion of water and dust into the interior, the PENTAX KP features 67 sealing parts, applied to the control buttons and dials, covers and exterior joints. By mounting an AW- or WR-series lens* and the optional, weather-resistant D-BG7 battery grip, they form a highly airtight digital imaging system that assures dependable performance even under unfavorable weather conditions.*
Anticipating use in the bitter-cold winter or high-latitude, low-temperature locations, PENTAX has subjected the PENTAX KP to exacting environmental tests at temperatures as low as -10°C, and gathered a vast amount of data on operational precision, response and stability, as well as fluctuations in battery voltage.* As the result, it assures solid, trouble-free operation when recording valuable scenes.
By applying ultrasonic vibrations generated by a piezoelectric element to the optical glass panel placed in front of the image sensor, this mechanism effectively removes dust particles clinging to the image sensor surface, and prevents annoying dust spots from appearing on captured images.
The PENTAX-original Smart Function lets you select the desired function using the Function dial, then choose the desired setting using the setting dial. This innovative, two-dial operation system greatly improves the camera’s operability. In addition to four preset positions,* the Function dial also provides three custom positions (C1 to C3), to which you can assign the desired functions for instant, single-action switching.
The PENTAX KP provides three Fx buttons to which you can assign frequently used functions. You can also customize the function of the AF/AE-L button, or assign a different set of functions to the front and rear e-dials and/or the green button for each exposure mode.
The PENTAX KP provides a choice of mechanical and electronic shutter modes. In the electronic shutter mode,* the shutter unit produces very little noise and vibration during shutter-curtain operation, making it ideal for shooting in locations where silence is required. This mode also provides a top shutter speed of 1/24000 second, making it handy when you want to use an open aperture in bright, sunny locations. In Live View or mirror lock-up shooting, it provides even quieter, lower-vibration operation.
When the optional O-GPS1 GPS Unit is mounted,* the PENTAX KP captures beautiful images of celestial bodies without the aid of an equatorial platform. Based on the data obtained by the GPS unit, it calculates the movement of celestial bodies with great accuracy, then shifts the image sensor in synchronization with this motion. Since it captures stars without a streaking effect even during extended exposures, you can record faint stars as point images.
The PENTAX KP features a built-in flash unit with a guide number of approximately six (at ISO 100/m). Using this flash unit or a dedicated accessory flash unit* mounted on the camera’s hot shoe as a controller, you can control the timing of flash discharge and adjust the illumination level from a distance. This simplifies complicated flash applications such as a multi-flash setup, while creating a true-to-life sense of depth and well-defined shadows.
By connecting the PENTAX KP via USB to a personal computer equipped with the IMAGE Transmitter 2 tethering software*, you can adjust the camera’s exposure settings, release its shutter while observing a Live View image, and confirm captured images on your computer. You can even program the system to automatically transmit captured images to your computer and save them in its storage for time-efficient operation.
The PENTAX KP provides a set of wireless LAN (Wi-Fi) functions for operation using mobile devices such as smartphones and tablet computers. By installing the dedicated Image Sync application* in your mobile device, you can also browse captured images and remotely control camera operations from a distance.**
The PENTAX KP lets you replace its grip to accommodate a particular lens or suit your preferences in holding comfort or shooting style.*
These new functions allow you to capture three different images of the same scene or subject with a single shutter release, without affecting the overall exposure level. Since they don’t require time-consuming manual operation to shift exposure settings, you can concentrate on a shutter chance and image composition.
This function continuously captures three images with different depths of field by automatically raising or lowering the aperture setting in steps.
This function continuously captures three images with different expressions of motion by automatically raising or lowering the shutter speed in steps.