Designed by Marc Newson, one of the world’s most acclaimed and influential contemporary designers. The PENTAX K-01 offers a full array of advanced functions, including a 16 megapixel CMOS image sensor with low image noise and multiple aspect ratios, high-speed burst shooting, an extra-wide sensitivity range and Full HD video recording, in a camera body with remarkable form and function.

Colour Choices:

    K-01 Features

  • Immaculate, tasteful design by Marc Newson
    The contemporary, timeless design of the PENTAX K-01’s body consists of neat, straight lines to optimize both functionality and visual attractiveness. Original-design push buttons and control levers are efficiently laid out across the body, while brilliant colours are used on two key buttons for instant recognition: red for the video recording button, and green for the functional green button. The mode dial and the power switch are made of high-quality aluminum alloy, while the memory card slot and connectors on the comfortable, easy-to-hold grip are covered with protective rubber. Marc Newson’s original design scheme is evident in all elements of the K-01, including the product logo, the camera strap (included) and even the start-up screen that comes on when the K-01’s power is turned on.
  • Exceptional image quality
    The K-01 comes equipped with a newly developed 16.28 effective megapixel CMOS image sensor measuring 23.7 millimeters by 15.7 millimeters. This extra-large sensor assures high-speed readout of image data signals. The “PRIME M” imaging engine assures first-rate movie recording performance in a digital interchangeable lens camera. It offers an extra-wide sensitivity range — from ISO 100 to ISO 12800, or to ISO 25600 when expanded using a custom function — while minimizing digital noise at all sensitivity levels.
  • Compatibility with all PENTAX K-mount lenses
    The PENTAX K-01 is accepts a wide array of PENTAX interchangeable K-mount lenses* including those produced for film-format SLR cameras. With this lens compatibility, you’re sure to find the most suitable lens for a particular subject or scene and create the desired visual effect and perspective with great ease.
    *K-, KA- KAF, KAF2, and KAF3- mount lenses can be used with the PENTAX K-01, while screw-mount lenses, 645-system lenses and 67-system lenses can be used with an adapter. Some functions may not be available on certain lenses.
  • High-quality video recording
    The Full HD video-recording function captures high-quality movie clips (1920 x 1080 pixels). With the H.264 recording format, it offers a choice of frame rate (30, 25 or 24 frames per second) to accommodate user-specific applications. Add personal touches to recorded clips by using various Custom Images, or use the interval movie shooting mode to record the subject in a series of video clips. The PENTAX K-01 also comes with an HDMI type C terminal, which allows you to simultaneously output both Full HD movie clips and stereo sound, as well as an external microphone input terminal.
  • New-generation HDR mode
    The HDR (High Dynamic Range) mode can be instantly selected with a turn of the mode dial. You can take advantage of newly added features to select one of three exposure increments as well as the level of effects, while an automatic position adjustment function assures precise alignment of three images, even when they are taken with a handheld K-01.
  • A selection of image processing tools for personalized expressions
    The Custom Image function allows you to select the most appropriate finishing touch for a particular subject or scene to express your personal creative intention or taste. Choose from 11 Custom Image settings, including Bleach Bypass to create a dramatic visual effect used in motion pictures, and Cross Process to produce a fanciful image with unusual colours. Use the 19 distinctive digital filters to easily apply different visual effects to recorded images. You can even apply multiple digital filters to a single image, giving you even more creative options.
  • Smooth, quiet, high-speed burst shooting
    The PENTAX K-01’s high-speed burst shooting mode comes in handy when preserving the action of fast-moving subjects in a series of images, capturing up to six images per second. The K-01 offers exceptionally silent mechanical operation that allows users to concentrate on photography even when shooting such subjects as stage performances.
  • Large, wide-angle 3.0-inch LCD monitor with approx. 921,000 dots
    The PENTAX K-01 has a large, easy-to-view, high-resolution 3.0-inch colour LCD monitor with approximately 921,000 dots. Its wide-view design assures a clear view of the monitor from approximately 170 degrees horizontally and vertically, which is useful in low- and high-angle shooting.
  • PENTAX-original SR mechanism for sharp, blur-free images
    The PENTAX K-01 incorporates the PENTAX-developed SR (Shake Reduction) mechanism. Usable with all compatible lenses, including those produced for film-format SLR cameras, this mechanism produces sharp, blur-free images even under demanding conditions that are prone to camera shake, such as when using a telephoto lens, shooting in the dark without flash illumination, or capturing landscapes in the twilight.
  • Effortless, user-friendly Auto Picture and Scene modes
    The PENTAX-original, user-friendly Auto Picture mode selects the most appropriate shooting mode for a given subject or scene from Portrait, Landscape, Macro and other distinctive shooting modes, while optimizing all camera settings, such as aperture, shutter speed, white balance, saturation, contrast and sharpness, allowing you to concentrate on image composition and shutter opportunity. The K-01 also offers 19 different Scene modes, which simplifies the photographing of difficult subjects or demanding scenes — such as Night Scene Portrait mode, Pet mode, and Backlight Silhouette mode — simply by choosing the corresponding icon on the camera’s LCD monitor.
  • Other features
    • TTL image-sensor metering, with a choice of multi-segment, center-weighted and spot modes
    • Contrast-detection autofocus system, with 81 selectable focus points
    • DR (Dust Removal) mechanism to shake off dust adhering to the surface of the CMOS image sensor
    • CTE white-balance control mode to emphasize the predominant colour of a particular scene, such as the sunset
    • A choice of four image sizes (4:3, 3:2, 16:9 and 1:1) to accommodate different subjects and applications
    • Multi-exposure mode (up to nine exposures on a single image), with an auto exposure compensation function
    • Interval shooting mode, useful in time lapse recording of landscapes and flowers/plants from an exact same location and angle

K-01 Specifications

Type Lens-interchangeable SL digital-still camera
Effective Pixels 16.28 megapixels
Sensor Type: CMOS with primary colour filter and integrated Shake/Dust Reduction sensor-movement system
Size: APS-C (23.7 x 15.7mm)
Total Pixels: 16.49 megapixels
Recorded Pixels JPEG
Still 3:2: 16M (4928x3264), 12M (4224x2816), 8M (3456x2304),
              5M (2688x1792)
Still 4:3: 14M (4352x3264), 11M (3840x2880), 7M (3072x2304),
              4M (2304x1728)
Still 16:9: 13M (4928x2776), 10M (4224x2376), 6M (3456x1944),
              4M (2688x1512)
Still 1:1: 10M (3264x3264), 8M (2880x2880), 5M (2304x2304),
              3M (1728x1728)

Movie (resolution/FPS): 1920x1080p30/25/24,
           1280x720p60/50/30/25/24, 640x480p30/25/24
Sensitivity Auto: ISO 100-12800 (1, 1/2, 1/3 steps), expandable to ISO 100-25600, auto ISO range selectable
Manual: ISO 100-12800 (1, 1/2, 1/3 steps), expandable to ISO 100-25600
Recording Formats Still: RAW (DNG), JPG (EXIF 2.3), DCF 2.0 compliant, DPOF
Movie (compression): MP4 (AVC h.264), AVI/MJPG for Interval Movie
Image Formats RAW (12 bit):DNG
JPEG:★★★ Best, ★★ Better, ★Good
RAW and JPEG simultaneously recordable
Storage Media SD, SDHC, SDXC (UHS Speed Class 1 supported)
Lens Mount PENTAX KAF2 bayonet stainless steel mount
Usable Lens PENTAX KAF3, KAF2, KAF, and KA (K-mount, 35mm screwmount, 645/67 med format lenses useable w adapter and/or restrictions)
SDM function: Yes SDM function: Yes
Focusing System
Type Contrast Detection AF
Modes AF Single (with focus lock, focus/release priority selectable), Face Detection AF, Tracking AF, Manual
Focus Point Adjustment Auto 81 Point, User-Selectable, Center
AF assist LED dedicated AF assist lamp, AF Autozoom (2X, 4X, 6X), Focus Peaking
Exposure Control
Metering System TTL image sensor metering
Metering Modes (1) Multi-segment metering
(2) Center-weighted
(3) Spot
Metering Range EV -1 to 21 (ISO 100, 50mm F1.4)
Exposure Modes Auto Picture, Scene (SCN), HDR (JPG only), Bulb (B), Metered Manual (M), Aperture Priority (Av), Shutter Priority (TV), Program (P), Movie
Auto Picture Mode: Standard, Portrait, Landscape, Macro, Moving Object, Night Scene Portrait, Night Scene, Blue Sky, Forest
Scene Modes:
Portrait, Landscape, Macro, Moving Object, Night Scene Portrait, Sunset, Blue Sky, Forest, Night Scene, Night Scene HDR (JPG only), Night Snap, Food, Pet, Kids, Surf & Snow, Backlight Silhouette, Candlelight, Stage Lighting, Museum
Capture Modes Custom Image modes (including fine adjustment): Bright, Natural, Portrait, Landscape, Vibrant, Radiant, Muted, Bleach Bypass, Reversal Film, Monochrome (including film filters, infrared, sepia toning), Cross Processing (creative random effect generation)
Exposure Compensation ±3 EV (1/3 and 1/2 steps)
AE Lock Yes (available via programmable AF/AE-L button)
Exposure Bracketing Yes (3 frames, up to ±3 EV in 1/2 steps)
Playback Modes Mode Selection: One Shot (no data, standard data, detailed data, histogram, color channel histogram), Multi Image Display (4, 9, 16, 36, 81 thumbnails), Magnification (up to 16X, scrollable, quick zoom), Movie Playback (no data, standard data, detailed data), Image Rotation, Bright/Dark Indication, Copyright Info, Calendar Filmstrip, Folder, Save RAW Data From JPG (if available in buffer memory), Select & Delete, Slideshow

Mode palette: Image Rotation, Digital Filter, Resize, Cropping, Index, Protect, Slideshow, Cross Processing, RAW Development, Movie Edit, DPOF
Digital Filter Capture: Extract Colour, Toy Camera, Retro, High Contrast, Shading, Invert Colour, Colour

Playback: Monochrome, Extract Colour, Toy Camera, Retro, High Contrast, Shading, Invert Colour, Colour, Tone Expansion, Sketch Filter, Watercolor, Pastel, Posterization, Miniature, Soft, Starburst, Fisheye, Slim, Base Parameter Adj
White Balance Auto preset modes: Auto preset modes: Auto, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Fluorescent (D, N, W, L), Tungsten, Flash, CTE , Manual
* WB fine adjustment available in all modes
Shutter Type: Electronically controlled focal plane shutter
Shutter Speed: 1/4000 to 30 sec (1/3 or 1/2 steps), Bulb
Drive Modes Mode selection: Single, Continuous (Hi, Lo), Self Timer (12s, 2s), Infrared Remote (0s, 3s), Auto Bracketing (3 frames, up to +/- 3 EV in 1/2 steps)
Continuous FPS: Approx 6 FPS (JPG, Continuous Hi), Approx 3 FPS (JPG, Continuous Lo)
LCD Monitor Type: 3.0" TFT colour LCD monitor with brightness/colour adjustment
Resolution: 921,000 dots
Wide angle viewable: Yes
Live View Type: TTL by CMOS image sensor
Field Of View: 100%
Display Modes: Grid (4x4, Golden Ratio, Scale), Bright/Dark Indication, Histogram
Built-in Flash Type: Retractable P-TTL auto/manual pop-up flash
Guide number: 12 (100/m)
Coverage: 28mm wide angle (equiv. 35mm)
Flash modes: Auto, Auto + Redeye, On, On + Redeye, Slow Sync, Slow Sync + Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Off
Flash exposure compensation: -2 to +1 EV
External Flash Synchronization Type: Hotshoe P-TTL, high speed sync w PENTAX dedicated flash
Synchronization speed: 1/180 sec
Custom Function 16 custom-programmable functions available
Image Stabilization Type: Sensor-shift Shake Reduction
Dust Removal Type: SP coating with ultrasonic vibration to low pass filter
Time World Time: 75 cities (28 time zones)
Language English, French, German, Spanish, Swedish, Dutch, Italian, Russian, Portuguese, Danish, Finnish, Polish, Czech, Hungarian, Turkish, Greek
Interfaces Ports: USB 2.0 hi-speed, AV out, HDMI out (Type C, Mini), 3.5mm stereo mic in
Video Output HD (via HDMI), NTSC, PAL
Power Sources Power source: Rechargeable Li-Ion battery D-LI90
Recordable images: Approx 540 (approx 500 w 50% flash, CIPA)
Playback time: Approx. 320 min*
Movie recording time: Approx. 25 min (max record time for a single file)
* Tested in compliance with CIPA standard. Actual results may vary depending on shooting conditions/circumstances
Dimensions (W x H x D): 121 mm × 79 mm × 59 mm (4.8 x 3.1 x 2.3")
Weight Without battery or removable memory: 480g (16.9 oz)
560g (19.8 oz) w/dedicated battery & SD memory card
Construction material(s) Machined aluminum frame with rubber accents
Operating temperature 0 to 40°C (32-104°F)

K-01 Accessories

  • AC Adapter Kit K-AC1202U
    Model No. 38899
  • Battery Charger Kit K-BC90
    Model No. 39835
  • Rechargeable L-ION Battery D-LI90
    Model No. 39830
  • Strap O-ST120
    Model No. 38910
  • AV Cable I-AVC7
    Model No. 39552
  • Remote Control F
    Model No. 37377
  • Waterproof Remote Control O-RC1
    Model No. 39892

What’s In the Box

  • K-01 body
  • Rechargeable Lithium-ion Battery D-LI90
  • Battery Charger
  • AC plug cord
  • USB cable
  • Strap, designed by Marc Newson
  • Software (CD-ROM)
Model No. 15222
K-01 Body – Black/Black

Model No. 15242
K-01 Body – Black/Black with
smc-PENTAX-DA 40mm F2.8 XS Lens

Model No. 15342
K-01 Body – Black/Yellow with
smc-PENTAX-DA 40mm F2.8 XS Lens

Model No. 15400
K-01 Body – White/Black with
smc-PENTAX-DA 40mm F2.8 XS Lens

Operating Manual: Link to Manual