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Pentax

K-1 Mark II

36MP full-frame DSLR with IBIS and rugged build.

$1,999

Launch price

Released Feb 2018

vs
K-70

Pentax

K-70

Weather-sealed APS-C DSLR with IBIS and AA filter simulator.

$649

Launch price

Released Jun 2016

K-1 Mark II is 1.7 years newer.

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Wins

8categories

K-1 Mark II

WildlifePortrait

Wins

3categories

K-70

WildlifePortrait

6 categories tied

Which would you choose?

TL;DR — Key differences

K-1 Mark II wins 4 categories·K-70 wins 1 categories
  • AK-1 Mark II has higher RAW buffer depth (120 frames vs 10 frames)
  • AK-1 Mark II has higher AF points / zones (101 vs 11)
  • BK-70 has higher ISO max (native) (204,800 vs 25,600)
  • AK-1 Mark II has higher Card slots (2 vs 1)
  • AK-1 Mark II has higher EVF resolution (3,690,000 vs 2,360,000)

Key specs at a glance

K-1 Mark IIK-70
Resolution36 MP24.2 MP
SensorFull FrameAPS-C
ISO max25,600204,800
Burst20 fps15 fps
4K60 fps60 fps
IBIS7-stop6-stop
Weight720 g688 g
Battery640 shots

Size and weight, to scale

K-1 Mark II

138 × 98 × 88 mm

720 g (1.59 lb / 25.40 oz)

Credit card shown to scale as a size reference (ISO 7810, 85.6 × 54 mm)

Credit card

85.6 × 54 mm

for scale

K-70 front view

K-70

126 × 93 × 74 mm

688 g (1.52 lb / 24.27 oz)

K-1 Mark II is 13mm wider, 5mm taller, and 14mm thicker than K-70.

K-1 Mark II is 32 g heavier than K-70.

Depth (front-to-back): 88mm K-1 Mark II · 74mm K-70

Back view, to scale

Width × Height — same proportions as the front of the body.

K-1 Mark II

138 × 98 mm

Credit card shown to scale as a size reference (ISO 7810, 85.6 × 54 mm)

Credit card

85.6 × 54 mm

K-70 back view

K-70

126 × 93 mm

Top view, to scale

Width × Depth (front-to-back) — see which body is chunkier on the table.

K-1 Mark II

138 × 88 mm

Credit card shown to scale as a size reference (ISO 7810, 85.6 × 54 mm)

Credit card

85.6 × 54 mm

K-70 top view

K-70

126 × 74 mm

Sensor size, to scale

K-1 Mark II

36 × 24 mm · Full Frame

864 mm² area

K-70

23.5 × 15.6 mm · APS-C

367 mm² area

2.4× larger sensor area = shallower depth of field and better low-light performance.

Lens ecosystem

Native lens selection

K-1 Mark II

✓ more lenses

Pentax K

70+

native lenses available

30 first-party40 third-party

K-70

✓ more lenses

Pentax K

70+

native lenses available

30 first-party40 third-party

Counts include current first-party and major third-party native autofocus lenses.

Use-case scoring

Which one for what?

Algorithmic scores from verified specs · 10 = best in class

Use caseK-1 Mark IIK-70
Portrait
8.0Excellent✓ wins
6.5Good
Sports & Action
6.5Good
6.5Good
Video & Hybrid
6.0Good✓ wins
4.5Fair
Landscape
7.5Good✓ wins
4.0Fair
Travel
7.5Good✓ wins
5.5Fair
Wildlife
9.0Excellent
10.0Excellent✓ wins
Vlogging
5.5Fair✓ wins
5.0Fair

Why pick one over the other

Reasons to choose

K-1 Mark II

  • Dimensions (W×H×D mm)

    Adds 138, 98, 88

  • Card types

    Adds SD UHS-II

  • RAW buffer depth

    120 frames vs 10 frames — higher is better

  • AF points / zones

    101 vs 11 — higher is better

  • AA filter

    Only K-1 Mark II supports it

  • Codecs

    Adds H.265

  • Card slots

    2 vs 1 — higher is better

  • Touchscreen

    Only K-1 Mark II supports it

Reasons to choose

K-70

  • Dimensions (W×H×D mm)

    Adds 125.5, 93, 74

  • Card types

    Adds SD, SDHC, SDXC

  • ISO max (native)

    204,800 vs 25,600 — higher is better

  • EVF magnification

    0.95 × vs 0.78 × — higher is better

  • Weight

    688 g vs 720 g — lower is better

Both cameras share

  • ISO min (native)Both 100
  • AF frame coverageBoth 100 %
  • Eye AFBoth support eye af
  • Animal / bird AFBoth support animal / bird af
  • Pre-Capture / Pre-ReleaseBoth support pre-capture / pre-release
  • 4K max frame rateBoth 60 fps

Pros & cons at a glance

Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.

K-1 Mark II

Pros

  • 36MP FF DSLR
  • IBIS
  • Rugged
  • Affordable used

Cons

  • DSLR
  • Slow AF
  • Heavy

K-70

Pros

  • Weather sealed entry
  • IBIS in DSLR
  • Unique features

Cons

  • DSLR
  • 24MP dated
  • Limited video

Decided which one is right for you?

Compare live prices for the K-1 Mark II and K-70 at major authorized retailers.

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Full specifications

= category winner

K-1 Mark II
K-70
Resolution
36 MP+49%
24.2 MP
Sensor type
Full Frame CMOS
APS-C CMOS
Sensor size
36.0 × 24.0 mm
23.5 x 15.6 mm
AA filter
Yes
No
K-1 Mark II
K-70
Processor
Image processor
Image processor
K-1 Mark II
K-70
ISO min (native)
100
100
ISO max (native)
25,600
204,800+3 stops
ISO max (expanded)
102,400
102,400
K-1 Mark II
K-70
Shutter type
Mechanical + Electronic
Mechanical + Electronic
Max mechanical speed
1/8000 sec
1/6000
Max electronic speed
1/16000 sec
1/16000 sec

Frequently asked

Quick answers generated from verified specs.

Which is better for landscape, K-1 Mark II or K-70?

K-1 Mark II scores 7.5/10 versus 4.0/10 for K-70 — 36MP — ample resolution.

What's the resolution difference between the K-1 Mark II and K-70?

K-1 Mark II is 36 MP and K-70 is 24.2 MP, so the K-1 Mark II captures more detail for cropping and large prints.

Do the K-1 Mark II and K-70 have in-body image stabilization?

K-1 Mark II has 7-stop in-body image stabilization, while K-70 has 6-stop in-body image stabilization.

Which shoots faster bursts — the K-1 Mark II or the K-70?

K-1 Mark II reaches 20 fps electronic. K-70 reaches 15 fps electronic.

What's the weight difference between the K-1 Mark II and K-70?

K-1 Mark II weighs 720 g and K-70 weighs 688 g, so the K-70 is 32 g lighter.

Do the K-1 Mark II and K-70 record 4K video?

K-1 Mark II: 4K up to 60p. K-70: 4K up to 60p.

Are the K-1 Mark II and K-70 weather sealed?

K-1 Mark II: Yes. K-70: Yes.

How much does each cost?

K-1 Mark II launched at $1,999 and K-70 at $649. The K-70 is $1,350 less.

Can't decide between two? Compare a third camera.

Add any camera to get a three-way K-1 Mark II vs K-70 vs X comparison.

Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed July 2026.

Product images courtesy of Pentax press materials.