Upgrade Guide
Pentax K-50→Pentax K-1
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Strong upgrade
The K-1 improves across 3 key areas at a reasonable price gap. Most K-50 owners will notice the difference.
What's new in the K-1
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Resolution36MP vs 16MP (+20MP)
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Battery life~760 shots (CIPA) vs ~410 shots (CIPA)
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Generation3 years newer (2016 vs 2013)
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-50 | K-1 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | +1.3 | ||
| Street | -0.2 | ||
| Travel | — | ||
| Wedding & Events | +2.1 | ||
| Documentary | +1.1 | ||
| Sports & Action | +0.2 | ||
| Landscape | +2.4 | ||
| Wildlife | -0.1 | ||
| Casual | -0.1 | ||
| Food | +1.5 | ||
| Macro | +1.0 | ||
| Architecture | +2.7 | ||
| Astrophotography | +3.0 |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | K-50 | K-1 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | — | £475 used | |
| Released | 2013 | 2016 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 16.3MP APS-C CMOS | 36.4MP full-frame CMOS | |
| Resolution | 16MP | 36MP | ↑ |
| Video | Full HD 1080p/30 | Full HD 1080/60i, 30p | |
| Autofocus | SAFOX IX i+ phase-detect AF, 11 points (9 cross-type); contrast AF with face detection in live view | SAFOX 12 phase-detect AF, 33 points (25 cross-type) | |
| Stabilisation | Sensor-shift Shake Reduction | 5-axis sensor-shift Shake Reduction II, 5 stops | |
| Burst Rate | 6fps | 4.4fps | ↓ |
| Battery Life | ~410 shots (CIPA) | ~760 shots (CIPA) | ↑ |
| Weight | 675g (with battery) | 1010g (with battery) | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes | |
| Viewfinder | Pentaprism, ~100%, 0.92x | Pentaprism, ~100%, 0.70x | |
| Screen | 3.0" fixed LCD, 921k dots | 3.2" Flexible-tilt LCD, 1.04M dots | |
| Mount | Pentax K | Pentax KAF2 (K-mount) | |
| Memory Cards | Single SD slot | Dual SD slots |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See K-50 and K-1 next to each other with our interactive comparison tool.
Get a personalised upgrade score
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Tell us what you shoot and we'll score the K-1 against your specific genres — not just specs.
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