Decision tools · Compare
KF vs A1
Quick take: The A1 has the highest resolution at 50MP; the KF is the most affordable.
16 specs side by side·16 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.
Sony
A1 2021
Best for Professional sport, wildlife, portrait & hybrid shooting
£4799
new today at Wex Photo Video
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Verdictwhich should you buy?
KF — Landscape & Outdoor: The Pentax KF is a rare thing — a weather-sealed DSLR with in-body stabilisation and an articulating screen at an accessible price. Video is modest at 1080p/60p, but for outdoor and landscape photographers who prefer optical viewfinders and want real weather sealing, the KF delivers in a format that is increasingly hard to find.
A1 — Professional Sport, Wildlife, Portrait & Hybrid Shooting: 50MP, 30fps, 8K — the Sony A1 is the most complete professional camera ever made.
Who should buy what
KF (2022)
is the right camera for you if…
- Outdoor and landscape photographers who want weather sealing at an accessible price
- DSLR users who want IBIS and an articulating screen without switching systems
- Pentax K-mount lens collectors who want a modern body for their glass
- Photographers who prefer the natural feel of an optical viewfinder
A1 (2021)
is the right camera for you if…
- Professional photographers who need resolution and speed without compromise
- Sports and wildlife photographers demanding the absolute fastest Sony
- Studio and fashion photographers who also shoot sport or events
- A9 III or A7R V owners who want a single body that does everything
Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
| Specification | KFPentax · 2022 | A1Sony · 2021 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £849Best | £4,799 |
| Sensor | 24.2MP APS-C CMOS | 50.1MP Full-Frame Stacked BSI CMOS Exmor RS |
| Resolution | 24.2MP | 50.1MPBest |
| Video | 1080p/60p | 8K/30p, 4K/120p, 1080p/240p |
| Autofocus | SAFOX 13 phase-detect AF with 11 points | Real-time Tracking, AI subject recognition — 759 phase-detect points |
| Stabilisation | In-body Shake Reduction (SR II), up to 5.5 stops | IBIS — up to 5.5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 6fps | 30fps electronic with full AF/AEBest |
| Battery Life | ~410 shots (CIPA) | ~430 shots (CIPA)Best |
| Weight | 643g (body only)Best | 737g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 131.0 × 101.0 × 76.0mm | 128.9 × 96.9 × 80.8mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | Optical pentamirror, 0.95× magnification, ~100% coverage | EVF, 9.44M dots, 0.90× magnification, 240fps |
| Screen | 3.0" fully articulating LCD, 1.04M dots (no touch) | 3.0" fully tilting touchscreen |
| Mount | Pentax KF-mount | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I slot | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | USB, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | USB-C, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Bluetooth, Ethernet, HDMI |
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
KF
A1
Portrait
6.1/10
8.2/10
Street
5.5/10
6.1/10
Travel
5.5/10
6.0/10
Wedding & Events
5.0/10
7.9/10
Vlogging & Video
4.5/10
—
Documentary
5.0/10
7.6/10
Sports & Action
5.3/10
8.8/10
Landscape
6.1/10
7.6/10
Wildlife
6.0/10
8.7/10
Casual
4.3/10
4.8/10
Food
5.9/10
7.4/10
Macro
5.4/10
7.3/10
Architecture
6.0/10
7.9/10
Astrophotography
4.8/10
6.8/10
Fun & simple
3.1/10
—
Filmmaking
—
7.8/10
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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