The Pentax K-70 is mid-class with a starting price of 700 euros, but has some advantages that are more suitable for more expensive cameras, about 100 seals to protect against splashes and dust.
New sensor, new processor
The K-70 is the new reformer in the Pentax system and mixes the APS-C mid-range. With its new sensor, it raises the nominal resolution of 20 (K-S2) to 24 megapixels, thus closing up to top cameras such as the semiprofessional K-3 II. It expands the sensitivity range from a maximum of ISO 51,200 to 102,400. For this purpose, it receives advanced functions known as the "Pixel Shift Resolution" from the K-3II and introduces a hybrid autofocus at Pentax, which provides the basis for tracking the sharpness during filming. Like the K-S2, the K-70 will be launching for just under 700 euros, with the Kit lens DA 18-135 mm / 3,5-5,6 ED AL [IF] DC WR Euro. This is between the K-S2, which is now around € 100 cheaper and better than the entry-level camera, and the K-3II, which is 200 euros more expensive.
Sealed plastic housing
As with the K-3 II, the new APS-C sensor of the K-70 does not have a low-pass filter to prevent any loss of resolution. In its place, a two-stage configurable AA filter simulation should avoid disturbing moiré effects by means of microvibrations of the sensor. However, it only works at shutter speeds of at least 1/1000 s and costs resolution. Therefore, it is disabled at the factory and should only be temporarily switched on. Pentax has also worked on the processor and trimmed it to an even more effective noise reduction - with success as our test results show. In addition, the K-70 saves 14-bit raw data in the PEF and DNG format like the big sister, which creates the prerequisites for a good drawing in shadow areas. The K-S2, on the other hand, must have the color depth of a 12-bit image converter.
SLR Viewfinder and Flip Monitor
According to the manufacturer, the K-70 is equipped with 100 potential weak points, so that moisture, dust and sand can not penetrate easily into the camera and can settle on the sensor, even at temperatures as high as -10 ° C, In this price class an unusual luxury, which passionate landscape photographers usually reluctantly forgo. The K-70 handheld, compact case, which is 682 g, is 100 g lighter than the K-3 II
Exposure Control
Lesetipp: Pentax K-3 II in the test
However, the K-70 does not consist entirely of magnesium as the big sister model, but only in the core of die-cast aluminum, outside of plastic and acts haptically like what it is: a mid-class SLR. In contrast to the K-3 II, it has integrated a WLAN module for wireless data transfer. With the "Image Sync" application, smartphones and tablets mutate as needed to remote control and display an electronic control image. The flash-out flash is average performance with guide number 9, but can not be used as a master to control wireless external flash units. A rechargeable battery is sufficient for about 480 pictures or 270 minutes of playback, according to the Pentax.
The solid pentaprism scanner shows a clear image with an effective 0.63x magnification and covers the entire image field. It is complemented by the rear 3-inch monitor. It can be extended by 180 degrees, rotated approximately 270 degrees around its own axis, and adjusted to a bright environment with the "View settings outside" option in two steps. On the other hand, the photographer can darken the display at night in the same place and, in addition, use the option "Night vision display" to color red so that it does not irritate the eye.
For the exposure measurement 77 fields are still available for the new Pentax. In addition to the usual (partial) manual modes, the mode wheel makes fully automatic, motional programs and three user-defined profiles directly accessible - so the K-70 meets both ambitious amateur photographers and inexperienced beginners. Anyone who wants to determine how the camera adjusts their JPEG images can influence under "User-defined image": roughly through presets like "portrait" and "landscape", fine by control for color saturation, hue, hi- / low key , Contrast, sharpness, shine and shadow adjustment. In the quick menu you can find a spotlight and shadow correction. Practical: The camera-ready RAW converter not only handles single-layer processing, but also batch processing.
In the viewfinder mode, the K-70 is satisfied with a simple phase autofocus solution whose 11 AF fields (9 cross sensors) do not take into account a relatively large image area. The photographer can choose between a 5-field, 11-field and spot measurement, and there is also an autofocus tracking mode for moving subjects.
Lesetipp: Pentax K-Serie - all DSLRs in the test
During the autofocus operation, the panning speed increases by 0.44 to 0.48 sec instead of by 0.62 / 0.61 (K-3II) and 0.54 / 0.63 sec (K- S2), the speed remains virtually unchanged and disappointing in the live view mode, despite the new hybrid car focus.
With 0.89 / 1.14 s trip delay, recording of moving objects is difficult. After all, the 11 fields for the contrast measurement are then covered by a generous 3,445 sectors for phase detection, covering the entire display field. In addition, the continuous hybrid autofocus AF-C remains active during filming. With automatic "A range of AF points", he took the test only occasionally when the camera swung from a close subject to a total or vice versa. With a fixed AF field, the tracking system reacted more quickly to such changes, but was mostly looking for the right sharpness and did not find it often. The K-70 shoots at an average frequency of 5 B / s for the middle class.
Compared to the K-3 II, the K-70 lacks the upper info display to display the most important shooting parameters. It also saves selected controls such as the separate video trigger and AF point selector. Nevertheless, the K-70 can be operated efficiently and usually intuitively. If you want, you can set the AF field selection to one of the two definable function keys and fill the quick menu (info key) exactly with the options that you often need.
Autofocus and Performance
To do this, use the Info button to open the quick menu and use the exposure compensation, OK and direction buttons to select the desired parameter for the respective menu position. In manual mode, the two multifunctional dials are used to change aperture and shutter speed, the Pentax-type green button to return to the exposure settings suggested by the camera. The main menu appears initially complex, but scrolling through the 17 pages and 5 categories is easy thanks to the dialing wheels. If the option "Save menu position" is activated, the K-70 automatically jumps to the most recently used entry when opening the menu.
The K-3 II has long earned the buyer's tip and has repeatedly proven that it is so far, the best APS-C SLR cameras. The K-70 works with the same nominal resolution as the larger sister and also without low-pass filter. Does it offer a picture quality at a lower price? The results of the measurements give a clear answer: At ISO 100 and 400, the K-70 reaches the same point as the K-3 II. At ISO 800 and higher sensitivities, the Pentax K-70 scores with its weaker noise (eg 1, 2 instead of 1.7 VN at ISO 800) and higher dynamics (eg 10 instead of 9 diaphragms at ISO 800). In addition, the images of the K-70 created with higher ISO numbers are slightly more contrasting and detailed than those of the K-3 II. This matches the better DLhigh values (eg 915 instead of 837 LP / BH at ISO 800) And the DL low (eg, 706 instead of 651 LP / BH at ISO 1600) higher than ISO 1600, and resolutions (1607 instead of 1589 LP / BH at ISO 1600). The K-70, however, brings more artifacts to fine structures. Still a great performance compared to the K-S2.
Operation
The K-70 is one of the best splash-proof DSLR cameras on the market and can easily take it in the laboratory with some top-APS-C cameras. In fact, with higher ISO 800 sensitivities, it offers better image quality than the K-3II and a faster phase autofocus - for less money. Its plastic-coated housing drops haptically against the body of the K-3 II, and the hybrid autofocus currently offers hardly any advantages compared to the contrast autofocus of the older models K-3 II and K-S2. Nevertheless, the Pentax K-70 gets highly deserved the Kautipp price / performance.
Image quality
Conclusion
No comments:
Post a Comment