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1 J5 vs Pentax K-1 Mark II

Quick take: The Pentax K-1 Mark II has the highest resolution at 36MP; the 1 J5 is the most affordable; only the Pentax K-1 Mark II is weather sealed.

16 specs side by side·14 genres scored·UK prices from Wex Photo Video and Clifton Cameras

How to read this page. Highlighted cells win that row on the spec alone. Genre scores are the engine's base scores (enthusiast, photo and video); Camera Match re-weights them for your level and priorities. Price buttons are affiliate links; the price you pay is the same.

Price buttons are affiliate links — GearFrame may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never affects a score. Learn more

Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
Specification 1 J5Nikon · 2015Pentax K-1 Mark IIPentax · 2018
Price —£1,899
Sensor 20.8MP 1-inch (CX) BSI CMOS36.4MP full-frame CMOS (no AA filter)
Resolution 20.8MP36.4MPBest
Video 4K UHD/15p, 1080p/601080p only, no 4K
Autofocus Hybrid AF: 171 areas, 105 with phase detection; face detection, subject trackingSAFOX 12, 33-point DSLR phase-detect AF
Stabilisation No IBIS (lens-based stabilisation only)5-axis Shake Reduction II (in-body)
Burst Rate 20fpsBest4.4fps
Battery Life ~250 shots (CIPA)670 shots (CIPA)Best
Weight 265g (with battery)Best1010g (with battery and card)
Dimensions 98.3 × 59.7 × 31.5mm—
Weather Sealed Not weather sealedYesBest
Viewfinder None (rear screen only)Optical pentaprism, 0.7x magnification, 100% coverage
Screen 3.0" tilting touchscreen, 1.04M dotsMulti-axis tilting screen (up/down/side), no touchscreen
Mount Nikon 1Pentax KAF2 (K-mount)
Memory Cards Single microSD slotDual SD (UHS-I)
Connectivity USB, micro HDMI, Wi-Fi, NFCUSB, HDMI, Wi-Fi

Wins the row — price, resolution, burst, battery, weight and sealing are compared; text specs aren't ranked.

How they score by genreengine base scores out of 10
Genre
1 J5
Pentax K-1 Mark II
Portrait
4.3/10
6.7/10
Street
6.7/10
4.9/10
Travel
6.1/10
4.9/10
Wedding & Events
2.9/10
6.7/10
Filmmaking
3.2/10
—
Documentary
4.1/10
5.5/10
Sports & Action
4.9/10
5.3/10
Landscape
3.9/10
7.0/10
Wildlife
5.1/10
5.6/10
Casual
5.0/10
3.3/10
Food
4.8/10
6.0/10
Macro
3.4/10
5.3/10
Architecture
3.9/10
6.9/10
Astrophotography
3.0/10
7.3/10

Scores come from the same engine as Camera Match: verified specifications weighted by what each genre needs, with documented adjustments. The product page and this table show the enthusiast base score. See how scores are calculated →

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