KFvs ZV-1 II
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Landscape & Outdoor — KF (2022): 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.
Pocket Vlogging — ZV-1 II (2023): The best pocket vlogging camera — 1-inch sensor, ultrawide zoom, flip screen, and real-time Eye AF in a shirt pocket.
Who should buy what
KF (2022)
- 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
ZV-1 II (2023)
- Vloggers and content creators who want a pocketable fixed-lens camera
- Travellers who want 4K video and a flip screen in a jacket-pocket size
- ZV-1 owners who want a wider lens and improved subject tracking
- Beginners who want a simple, capable vlogging camera without changing lenses
Quick take: The kf has the highest resolution at 24mp; the zv-1 ii is the most affordable; only the kf is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | KF (2022) | ZV-1 II (2023) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £700 | £649 |
| Sensor | 24.2MP APS-C CMOS | 20.1MP 1-inch Exmor RS CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.2MP | 20.1MP |
| Video | 1080p/60p | 4K/30p, 1080p/120p |
| Autofocus | SAFOX 13 phase-detect AF with 11 points | Phase-detect + contrast, 315 points, Real-time Eye AF |
| Stabilisation | In-body Shake Reduction (SR II), up to 5.5 stops | Optical SteadyShot (OIS) |
| Burst Rate | 6fps | 15fps |
| Battery Life | ~410 shots (CIPA) | ~260 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 643g (body only) | 292g |
| Dimensions | 131.0 × 101.0 × 76.0mm | 105.5 × 60.0 × 43.5mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | No |
| Viewfinder | Optical pentamirror, 0.95× magnification, ~100% coverage | None |
| Screen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen, 1.04M dots | 3.0" fully tilting touchscreen |
| Mount | Pentax KF-mount | Fixed zoom — 18–50mm f/1.8–4.0 equiv |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I slot | Single SD UHS-I slot |
| Connectivity | USB, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic input |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | KF | ZV-1 II |
|---|---|---|
| Landscape | ||
| Travel | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Wildlife | — | |
| Casual | — | |
| Street | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Family & Everyday | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
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Camera family history