Upgrade Guide
Pentax WG-8→Pentax Pentax K-1 Mark II
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Worthwhile
Clear improvements over the WG-8. Whether it justifies the cost depends on which upgrades matter most to your shooting.
What's new in the Pentax K-1 Mark II
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Resolution36MP vs 20MP (+16MP)
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Burst rate4.4fps vs 1fps
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Battery life670 shots (CIPA) vs 340 shots (CIPA)
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 | WG-8 | Pentax K-1 Mark II | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | +3.5 | ||
| Street | -0.5 | ||
| Travel | -1.0 | ||
| Wedding & Events | +4.2 | ||
| Filmmaking | — | ||
| Documentary | +1.0 | ||
| Landscape | +3.0 | ||
| Casual | -2.1 | ||
| Food | +2.5 | ||
| Macro | +2.3 | ||
| Architecture | +3.7 | ||
| Astrophotography | +5.1 | ||
| Underwater | — | ||
| Fun & simple | — | ||
| Sports & Action | — | ||
| Wildlife | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | WG-8 | Pentax K-1 Mark II | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £479 | £1,899 | |
| Released | 2022 | 2018 | ↓ |
| Sensor | 20MP 1/2.3-inch BSI CMOS | 36.4MP full-frame CMOS (no AA filter) | |
| Resolution | 20MP | 36MP | ↑ |
| Video | 4K | 1080p only, no 4K | |
| Autofocus | Contrast-detect AF | SAFOX 12, 33-point DSLR phase-detect AF | |
| Stabilisation | No stabilisation | 5-axis Shake Reduction II (in-body) | |
| Burst Rate | 1fps | 4.4fps | ↑ |
| Battery Life | 340 shots (CIPA) | 670 shots (CIPA) | ↑ |
| Weight | 242g (with battery and card) | 1010g (with battery and card) | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes | |
| Viewfinder | None (screen only) | Optical pentaprism, 0.7x magnification, 100% coverage | |
| Screen | Fixed screen, no touch | Multi-axis tilting screen (up/down/side), no touchscreen | |
| Mount | Fixed zoom lens | Pentax KAF2 (K-mount) | |
| Memory Cards | Single SD (FlashAir compatible) + 27MB internal buffer | Dual SD (UHS-I) |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See WG-8 and Pentax K-1 Mark II 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 Pentax K-1 Mark II against your specific genres — not just specs.
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