KFvs ZV-E1
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.
Video Creators, Vloggers & Filmmakers — ZV-E1 (2023): Full-frame video quality in a vlogging body — exceptional low-light performance and a genuinely compact form factor.
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-E1 (2023)
- Video creators who want full-frame low-light quality in a compact body
- Vloggers stepping up from APS-C who prioritise image quality over resolution
- Filmmakers who want S-Log3 and cinematic colour in a run-and-gun package
- A7S III users who want the same sensor in a smaller, lighter body
Quick take: The kf has the highest resolution at 24mp; the kf is the most affordable; only the kf is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | KF (2022) | ZV-E1 (2023) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £700 | £1,999 |
| Sensor | 24.2MP APS-C CMOS | 12.1MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS Exmor R |
| Resolution | 24.2MP | 12.1MP |
| Video | 1080p/60p | 4K/60p (S-Cinetone, S-Log3), 4K/120p, 1080p/240p |
| Autofocus | SAFOX 13 phase-detect AF with 11 points | Real-time Tracking AF with subject recognition |
| Stabilisation | In-body Shake Reduction (SR II), up to 5.5 stops | IBIS — Active Mode for video |
| Burst Rate | 6fps | 10fps |
| Battery Life | ~410 shots (CIPA) | ~570 shots (CIPA) / ~105 min video |
| Weight | 643g (body only) | 483g (with battery) |
| Dimensions | 131.0 × 101.0 × 76.0mm | 121.4 × 71.6 × 54.3mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | No |
| Viewfinder | Optical pentamirror, 0.95× magnification, ~100% coverage | None — screen only |
| Screen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen, 1.04M dots | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen |
| Mount | Pentax KF-mount | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-I slot | Single CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | USB, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 3.5mm mic, Multi-Interface Shoe |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | KF | ZV-E1 |
|---|---|---|
| Landscape | ||
| Travel | ||
| Portrait | ||
| Wildlife | — | |
| Casual | — | |
| Street | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Low Light | — |
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