Upgrade Guide
Pentax K-1→Pentax WG-90
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Situational
One clear hardware improvement over the K-1. Worth it if that specific upgrade aligns with what you shoot.
What's new in the WG-90
-
Generation8 years newer (2024 vs 2016)
Unchanged or similar
-
Resolution16MP (down from 36MP — optimised for low light)
Suitability by genre
Base scores — computed from verified specs for an enthusiast shooting photo and video. The Upgrade Checker adjusts them for your skill level.
| Genre | K-1 | WG-90 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | -3.6 | ||
| Street | +0.7 | ||
| Travel | +1.1 | ||
| Wedding & Events | -4.3 | ||
| Documentary | -1.2 | ||
| Sports & Action | — | ||
| Landscape | -3.2 | ||
| Wildlife | — | ||
| Casual | +2.5 | ||
| Food | -2.4 | ||
| Macro | -2.3 | ||
| Architecture | -3.8 | ||
| Astrophotography | -5.0 | ||
| Underwater | — | ||
| Fun & simple | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | K-1 | WG-90 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £475 used | £379 | |
| Released | 2016 | 2024 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 36.4MP full-frame CMOS | 16MP 1/2.3-inch BSI CMOS | |
| Resolution | 36MP | 16MP | ↓ |
| Video | Full HD 1080/60i, 30p | 1080p/30p | |
| Autofocus | SAFOX 12 phase-detect AF, 33 points (25 cross-type) | Contrast-detect AF | |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis sensor-shift Shake Reduction II, 5 stops | No stabilisation | |
| Burst Rate | 4.4fps | 1fps | ↓ |
| Battery Life | ~760 shots (CIPA) | 260 shots (CIPA, estimated) | ↓ |
| Weight | 1010g (with battery) | 194g (with battery and card) | ↑ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes | |
| Viewfinder | Pentaprism, ~100%, 0.70x | None (screen only) | |
| Screen | 3.2" Flexible-tilt LCD, 1.04M dots | Fixed screen, no touch | |
| Mount | Pentax KAF2 (K-mount) | Fixed 5x zoom lens (28-140mm equivalent) | |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD slots | Single SD |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See K-1 and WG-90 next to each other with our interactive comparison tool.
Get a personalised upgrade score
Run the upgrade checker →
Tell us what you shoot and we'll score the WG-90 against your specific genres — not just specs.
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