Upgrade Guide
Pentax K-S1→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 4 key areas at a reasonable price gap. Most K-S1 owners will notice the difference.
What's new in the K-1
-
Resolution36MP vs 20MP (+16MP)
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Weather sealingAdded — fully sealed body
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Battery life~760 shots (CIPA) vs ~410 shots (CIPA)
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Generation2 years newer (2016 vs 2014)
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-S1 | K-1 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | +1.1 | ||
| Street | -0.6 | ||
| Travel | +0.1 | ||
| Wedding & Events | +2.6 | ||
| Documentary | +1.8 | ||
| Sports & Action | +0.7 | ||
| Landscape | +2.8 | ||
| Wildlife | +0.4 | ||
| Casual | -0.4 | ||
| Food | +1.3 | ||
| Macro | +0.9 | ||
| Architecture | +2.4 | ||
| Astrophotography | +3.1 |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | K-S1 | K-1 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £72 used | £475 used | |
| Released | 2014 | 2016 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 20.12MP APS-C CMOS | 36.4MP full-frame CMOS | |
| Resolution | 20MP | 36MP | ↑ |
| Video | Full HD 1080p/30 | Full HD 1080/60i, 30p | |
| Autofocus | SAFOX IX i+ phase-detect AF, 11 points (9 cross-type) | 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 | 5.4fps | 4.4fps | ↓ |
| Battery Life | ~410 shots (CIPA) | ~760 shots (CIPA) | ↑ |
| Weight | 558g (with battery) | 1010g (with battery) | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | Not weather sealed | Yes | ↑ |
| Viewfinder | Pentaprism, ~100%, 0.95x | Pentaprism, ~100%, 0.70x | |
| Screen | 3.0" fixed LCD, 921k dots | 3.2" Flexible-tilt LCD, 1.04M dots | |
| Mount | Pentax KAF2 (K-mount) | Pentax KAF2 (K-mount) | |
| Memory Cards | Single SD slot | Dual SD slots |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See K-S1 and K-1 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 K-1 against your specific genres — not just specs.
Other upgrades from the K-S1
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Camera family history