Pentax K-70 Review

Name: Pentax K-70
Brand: Pentax

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Main Features

24MP - APS-C CMOS Sensor

No Optical low-pass (anti-aliasing) filter

ISO 100 - 102400

Sensor-shift Image Stabilization

3" Fully Articulated Screen

Optical (pentaprism) viewfinder

6.0fps continuous shooting

Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video

Built-in Wireless

688g. 126 x 93 x 74 mm

Weather Sealed Body

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Pentax K-70 Overview

Launched in June 2016 , Pentax K-70 is a 24.0MP Entry-Level DSLR camera with a APS-C (23.5 x 15.6 mm ) sized CMOS sensor, built-in Image Stabilization, weather sealed body, Fully articulated screen and Pentax KAF2 lens mount.

Pentax K-70 Review - Click for Table of Contents

Overview
Pros and Cons
Lens Mount and Lenses
Sensor and Photography Features
Physical Specs
LCD and Viewfinder
Connectivity, Storage and Battery
Video
Other Features
Photography Type Scores
Alternatives
Popular Comparisons
Frequently Asked Questions
Detailed Specifications

Pentax K-70 is the latest member of Pentax's Entry-Level DSLR class cameras. Below you can see the latest models in this class and how their main specs have changed with each new model.

Pentax Entry-Level DSLR Series History

Model	Release Date	Sensor	Max FPS	Dimensions	Weight
Pentax K-70	2016	24.0MP - APS-C	6.0 fps	126 x 93 x 74mm	688g
Pentax K-S2 Compare	2015	20.0MP - APS-C	5.4 fps	91 x 123 x 73mm	678g
Pentax K-50 Compare	2013	16.0MP - APS-C	6.0 fps	130 x 97 x 71mm	650g
Pentax K-500 Compare	2013	16.0MP - APS-C	6.0 fps	130 x 97 x 71mm	646g
Pentax K-r Compare	2011	12.0MP - APS-C	6.0 fps	125 x 97 x 68mm	598g

Check the link below to compare specs of the latest cameras in this series side by side:
Pentax K-70 vs K-S2 vs K-50 vs K-500 vs K-r

Alternative Model names found for Pentax K-70: K70, K-70 Mark I, K-70 Mark 1, K-70 Mk1 and K-70 MKI.

Pentax K-70 PROs and CONs Review

Now let's get in to more details of our Pentax K-70 review by analysing its specs and features and listing out its pros and cons compared to average competitor cameras in its class.

PROs

Built-in Wireless (Wi-fi)

Image Stabilization

Articulating Screen

Full HD Video

Optical Built-in Viewfinder

Face Detection Focusing

24.0MP - High Resolution Sensor

102.400 Max ISO

11 Focus Points

921k dots LCD Resolution

1/6000s High Shutter Speed

6.0fps Shooting w/ Mechanical Shutter

External Microphone Port

Environmental Sealing

Timelapse Recording

9 Cross Type Focus Points

Wide AE Bracketing Range: ±5 EV

Flash Sync Port

Selfie & Vlogger Friendly LCD Screen

Sensor Shift High Resolution Mode

Anti Alias Filter Simulator

Astro Tracer feature for Astrophotography

Remote control with a smartphone

Compatible with fast UHS-I cards

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Buy Pentax K-70 from AMAZON or B&H PHOTO

CONs

No Touch Screen

Low Battery Life: 410 shots

Heavy Body: 688g

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Pentax K-70 Physical Specs

Pentax K-70 weighs 688 g (1.52 lb / 24.27 oz) and has external dimensions of 126 x 93 x 74 mm (4.94 x 3.66 x 2.91″). Considering that the average weight of DSLR type cameras is 773g, its weight is about average in its class. With a thickness of 74mm, it also has an average thickness.

Weight Comparison

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Pentax K-70

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Thickness Comparison

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Pentax K-70

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Here is the front and top view image of Pentax K-70 with the dimensions:

Front and Top View External Dimensions and Size of Pentax K-70 Camera Body

In order to give you a better idea about the real life size of Pentax K-70, we have added an image of how it looks next to a credit card and an AA type battery.

Physical size of the Pentax K-70 Body Compared to a Credit Card and an AA Battery

Below you can find the comparison of the weight and thickness of Pentax K-70 with its main competitors:

Pentax K-70 Size Compared to Main Competitors

Model	Weight	vs K-70	Thickness	vs K-70
Pentax KP Compare	703g	15g heavier	76mm	2mm thicker
Nikon D5600 Compare	465g	223g lighter	70mm	4mm thinner
Pentax K-S2 Compare	678g	10g lighter	73mm	1mm thinner
Pentax K-3 Compare	800g	112g heavier	77mm	3mm thicker
Pentax K-3 III Compare	820g	132g heavier	74mm	equal thickness
Pentax K-50 Compare	650g	38g lighter	71mm	3mm thinner
Pentax K-3 II Compare	800g	112g heavier	77mm	3mm thicker
Nikon D7500 Compare	720g	32g heavier	73mm	1mm thinner

Weather Sealing

Pentax K-70 has environmental sealings on its body which makes it a weather resistant camera, providing resistance against the water and dust getting in to the camera. If you like outdoors photography and want to be able to use your camera in extreme conditions, Pentax K-70 will serve you well. If you attach one of these Pentax K-70 weather Sealed lenses to your camera, you will have a great all weather kit.

Pentax K-70 Lens Mount and Lenses

Pentax K-70 has a Pentax KAF2 lens mount and currently there are 156 native lenses available for this mount. Pentax K mount has backward compatibility for all the K mount lenses produced since 1975 so Pentax users has access to a large selection of manual era native lenses in addition to the modern AF lenses.

K-70 also has a Sensor based Image Stabilization system which means that all of these lenses will be stabilized when used on K-70. Pentax claims that the image stabilization of K-70 is effective up to 4.5 stops. Sensor based image stabilization is one of the most useful features that you can have in an ILC.

Weather Sealed Lenses for Pentax K-70

There are 26 lenses with weather sealing for Pentax K-70 that you can couple with its weather sealed body.

Here are some of the most popular Pentax K-70 Lenses on Camera Decision:

Popular Pentax KAF2 Mount Lenses for Pentax K-70

Model	Focal Length equiv.	Coverage	Weight	Focusing	Street Price
Pentax smc FA 50mm F1.4	75mm	35mm FF	220gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
HD Pentax DA 55-300mm F4.0-5.8 ED WR	82.5-450mm	APS-C / DX	466gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Pentax DA 18-50mm F4.5-5.6 DC WR RE	27-75mm	APS-C / DX	158gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
HD Pentax D FA 24-70mm F2.8 ED SDM WR	36-105mm	35mm FF	787gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
HD PENTAX-DA 55-300mm F4.5-6.3 ED PLM WR RE	82.5-450mm	APS-C / DX	471gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Pentax D FA 70-200mm F2.8ED DC AW	105-300mm	35mm FF	1755gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Pentax smc DA 50mm F1.8	75mm	35mm FF	122gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Pentax smc DA 18-270mm F3.5-6.3 ED SDM	27-405mm	APS-C / DX	453gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo

Check our Pentax K-70 Lenses page for more detailed lens search.

Pentax K-70 Sensor and Photography Features

Pentax K-70 has a 24.0MP APS-C (23.5 x 15.6 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features PRIME MII processor. You can shoot at maximum resolution of 6000 x 4000 pixels with aspect ratios of and 3:2. K-70 has a native ISO range of 100 - 102400 and it can save files in RAW format which gives you a wider room for post processing.

Pentax K-70 is not the highest resolution APS-C camera. Canon M6 MII with its 33.0MP sensor is leading in this class. Check the comparison of Pentax K-70 vs Canon M6 MII or take a look at Highest resolution DSLR cameras list.

High Resolution Mode

Pentax K-70 has a special High Resolution mode where the camera takes multiple images of a scene while moving its sensor using the sensor shift image stabilization system and combine them automatically to create a much higher resolution image. This feature works best with static scenes and using a tripod is a must to minimize stitching artifacts.

Anti-Aliasing Filter

Another important feature about Pentax K-70's sensor is the lack of anti-alias (Low-pass) filter. Removing anti-aliasing filter increases the sharpness and level of detail but on the other side it also increases the chance of moire occurring in certain scenes. But wait! K-70 takes care of this problem for you. It has a unique and adjustable Anti-Aliasing Filter Simulator mode which can create the effects of a Low Pass filter electronically when you want to avoid moire.

Let's look at how the size of the Pentax K-70's APS-C sensor compares with other standard sensor sizes.

Comparison image of Pentax K-70 Sensor Size with other standard sensors

Pentax K-70 LCD and Viewfinder

Pentax K-70 has a Fully Articulated 3.00-inch LCD screen with a resolution of 921k dots. Articulated screens are more video oriented compared to only tilting or fixed screens. On the other hand, photography oriented users generally prefer tilting screens. Both the screen size and the screen resolution is up to the standards of this class.

For those of you who loves shooting selfies, self or group photos, Pentax K-70 will make your life easier with its Selfie friendly screen. Another group of users who will take advantage of K-70's LCD screen are Vloggers and any video creators who are working in a single-person setup.

K-70 has a built-in Optical (pentaprism) viewfinder, making it easier to shoot in direct sunlight and in other situations where it might be difficult to view the LCD monitor. The viewfinder has a coverage of 100% and a magnification ratio of 0.63x. 100% coverage ensures that what you see in the viewfinder while shooting matches exactly what you will get later in your image, helping accurate framing your shots and minimizes the need for cropping images later.

Pentax K-70 Connectivity, Storage and Battery

Pentax K-70 features built-in wireless (Wi-Fi) connectivity ( 802.11b/g/n) which lets you transfer your photos directly to compatible devices without any physical connection. One other feature that we like is the ability to use our smartphone as a remote to control our K-70. You can change camera settings, release shutter, view LCD screen and tranfer files using remote control app.

You can connect K-70 to compatible devices via its HDMI port or USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) port.

Pentax K-70 Battery

Pentax K-70 is powered by D-LI109 battery which provides a battery life of 410 shots according to CIPA standards. Considering that the average battery life of DSLR type cameras is 948 shots, Pentax K-70 has a short battery life for its class so we strongly recommend K-70 owners to invest in some extra batteries.

Battery Life Comparison in Entry-Level DSLR Cameras

Pentax K-70

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Average

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Pentax K-x with its 1900shots is the model with longest battery life among Entry-Level DSLR cameras. Check the comparison of Pentax K-70 vs Pentax K-x or take a look at Longest Battery Life DSLR cameras list.

Pentax K-70 Features Compared to Main Competitors

Model	Max Video	Battery Life	Wi-fi	Bluetooth	NFC
Pentax KP Compare	1920 x 1080	390shots	Yes	No	No
Nikon D5600 Compare	1920 x 1080	820shots	Yes	Yes	Yes
Pentax K-S2 Compare	1920 x 1080	410shots	Yes	No	Yes
Pentax K-3 Compare	1920 x 1080	560shots	No	No	No
Pentax K-3 III Compare	3840 x 2160	800shots	Yes	Yes	No
Pentax K-50 Compare	1920 x 1080	410shots	No	No	No
Pentax K-3 II Compare	1920 x 1080	720shots	No	No	No
Nikon D7500 Compare	3840 x 2160	950shots	Yes	Yes	No

Pentax K-70 Video Features

With Pentax K-70, you can record your videos at a highest resolution of 1920 x 1080 at 60i,50i,30p,25p,24p fps and save in MPEG-4 and H.264 formats. Full HD resolution of Pentax K-70 will be adequate in most of the situations. But if you are after the highest resolution videos available, see our list of Top Cameras with 4K (Ultra-HD) Video.

K-70 has a built-in Stereo microphone and a Mono speaker. Pentax K-70 also has a port for an external microphone so you can record high quality sound with the help of an external microphone. Unfortunately, it doesn't have a headphone port though.

Pentax K-70 Other Features

Max Shutter speed

Pentax K-70 can shoot continuously at max speed of 6.0 fps and has max shutter speed of 1/6000 sec.

Flash

K-70 has a built-in flash, and it also has a flash shoe to mount your external flashes too.

Focusing

Pentax K-70 features both Contrast Detection and Phase Detection autofocus (AF) systems which ensures speed and accuracy of focusing in most situations. The AF system has 11 focus points and 9 of these sensors are of Cross-type. Cross-type sensors locks focus faster and more accurate compared to single type sensors.

Pentax K-70 also features Face detection AF where it intelligently detects the faces in the frame and locks the focus automatically.

Astro Tracer

Pentax K-70 has a creative Astro Tracer mode where the camera utilizes its GPS and sensor shift mechanism to track the motion of the stars and creates a long exposure image without visible star trails. This makes K-70 one of the best equipped camera for Astrophotography.

What type of Photography is Pentax K-70 Good for?

In this section, we review and score Pentax K-70 in 5 different photography areas.

Pentax K-70 for Portrait Photography

Pentax K-70 has a score of 68 for Portrait Photography which makes it a GOOD candidate for this type of photography. If you are looking for a camera that is better suited to Portrait Photography, we recommend you to check our Top 10 DSLR Cameras for Portrait Photography list.

Large APS-C (23.5 x 15.6 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 24.0MP
Image Stabilization

Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling

Read the details of how we scored Pentax K-70 for Portrait Photography

Pentax K-70 for Street Photography

Pentax K-70 has a score of 88 for Street Photography which makes it an EXCELLENT candidate for this type of photography.

Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Fully Articulated LCD Screen

Image Stabilization
Large APS-C (23.5 x 15.6 mm) sensor
Large Body

Read the details of how we scored Pentax K-70 for Street Photography

Pentax K-70 for Sports Photography

Pentax K-70 has a score of 84 for Sports Photography which makes it an EXCELLENT candidate for this type of photography.

Environmental Sealings
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/6000s
9 Cross Type Focus sensors
11 Focus Points
Good Low Light ISO

Wireless Connection
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Image Stabilization
Average Continuous Shooting: 6.0fps

Read the details of how we scored Pentax K-70 for Sports Photography

Pentax K-70 for Daily Photography

Pentax K-70 has a score of 71 for Daily Photography which makes it a GOOD candidate for this type of photography. If you are looking for a camera that is better suited to Daily Photography, we recommend you to check our Top 10 DSLR Cameras for Daily Photography list.

Environmental Sealings
Large APS-C (23.5 x 15.6 mm) sensor
Large Body

688g
Body Thickness 74mm

Read the details of how we scored Pentax K-70 for Daily Photography

Pentax K-70 for Landscape Photography

Pentax K-70 has a score of 46 for Landscape Photography which makes it an AVERAGE candidate for this type of photography. If Landscape is important for you, we recommend you to check our Top DSLR Cameras for Landscape Photography list.

Live-view
Large APS-C (23.5 x 15.6 mm) sensor

Very High Resolution Sensor: 24.0MP
Environmental Sealings

Read the details of how we scored Pentax K-70 for Landscape Photography

Pentax K-70 Alternatives

In this section, we analyse how Pentax K-70 compares with other DSLR cameras within a similar price range.

Read a more detailed analysis of Pentax K-70 alternatives.

Popular Comparisons of Pentax K-70

Here is the eight most popular comparisons of Pentax K-70 amongst Camera Decision readers.

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Pentax K-70 Alternatives in Mirrorless Cameras

It would also be interesting to compare Pentax K-70 with Mirrorless Cameras. Below we have listed 4 highest ranked Mirrorless cameras in Pentax K-70's price range.

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Pentax K-70 Conclusion and Scores

Currently, Pentax K-70 has an Overall Score of 76/100 which is based on our evaluation of 69 different technical parameters. Our scores are dynamically updated whenever a new camera is added to our database or when we change our ranking algorithm and the maximum score is always 100. Pentax K-70 is ranked #29 out of 208 in DSLR cameras (Top 20 DSLR), and ranked #89 out of 1233 in all Cameras (Top 20 Overall).

#89 out of 1233 in All Cameras
#29 out of 208 in DSLR Cameras
#2 out of 81 in Entry-Level DSLR Cameras.
#19 out of 261 in APS-C Sensor Cameras.
#25 out of 174 in Cameras with Selfie friendly Screen
#5 out of 33 in Pentax KAF Lens Mount Cameras

Main Scores

Imaging

Features

Value for Money

Portability

Overall Score

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Frequently Asked Questions about Pentax K-70

Does the Pentax K-70 have Image Stabilization?
Does the Pentax K-70 have RAW support?
Does the Pentax K-70 have Weather Sealing?
Does the Pentax K-70 have built-in GPS?
What is the Max ISO of Pentax K-70?
What is the Sensor Size of Pentax K-70?
is the Pentax K-70 a Full Frame (FF) camera?
Does the Pentax K-70 have Touch Screen?
Does the Pentax K-70 have built-in Wireless?
What is the Max Continuous Shooting Speed (fps) of Pentax K-70?
What is the Weight of Pentax K-70?
What are the Dimensions of Pentax K-70?

Pentax K-70 Detailed Specifications

General
Brand	Pentax
Model	Pentax K-70
Announced	2016-06-08
Body Type	Compact SLR
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount	Pentax KAF2
Number of Lenses	156
Focal Length Multiplier	1.5x
Macro Focus Range	n/a
Screen
Screen Type	Fully Articulated
Screen Size	3"
Screen Resolution	921k dots
Live View
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder	Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder Resolution	no electronic viewfinder
Viewfinder Coverage	100%
Viewfinder Magnification	0.63x
Photography Features
Min Shutter Speed	30s
Max Mechanical Shutter Speed	1/6000s
Continuous Shooting	6.0 fps
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Exposure Compensation	Yes
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization
Built-in Flash
Flash Range	12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash Modes	Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, flash on, flash + redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync, manual
External Flash
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Exposure Modes
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score	not tested
DxO Color Depth	not tested
DxO Dynamic Range	not tested
DxO Low Light ISO	not tested
	Report a correction

Sensor
Sensor Type	CMOS
Sensor Size	APS-C
Sensor Dimensions	23.5 x 15.6 mm
Sensor Area	366.60mm²
Sensor Resolution	24 megapixels
Max Image Resolution	6000 x 4000
Max Native ISO	102,400
Min Native ISO	100
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points	11
Number of Cross Focus Points	9
Video Features
Video Resolutions	1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p)
Max Video Resolution	1920 x 1080
Video Formats	MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity	Built-In
HDMI
USB	USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Water Proof
Dust Proof
Shock Proof
Crush Proof
Freeze Proof
Weight	688g
Physical Dimensions	126 x 93 x 74mm
Battery Life	410 shots
Battery Type	Battery Pack
Battery Model	D-LI109
Other Features
Self Timer	Yes (2 or 12 secs, continuous)
Timelapse Recording
GPS	Optional
Storage Type	SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I compatible)
Storage Slots	1