Pentax KF Camera with DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL WR Lens

Pentax KF Camera with DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL WR Lens Summary

This kit pairs the latest APS-C format Pentax KF Camera with the versatile standard Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL WR Zoom Lens. This provides a 28-85mm zoom range in full-frame equivalent, which is ideal for diverse subjects, including portraits and landscapes, astro and travel.

Both the KF camera body and lens are weather sealed, with the body boasting 100 points of weather sealing to protect against moisture, dust and extreme cold conditions. This makes the Pentax KF Camera with DA 18-55mm AL WR Lens ideal for outdoor photographers in particular, especially with advanced features such as the high resolution Pixel Shift mode, res-light LCD function and a design, which has been adapted to work perfectly even when wearing gloves.

The Pentax DSLR houses the latest 24.24 megapixel sensor, which is paired with a Pentax-original SR (Shake Reduction) mechanism, enabling 4.5-stops of shake compensation, high resolution shooting and excellent low light performance. The imaging sensor delivers extremely low noise results even up to ISO 102400, while the 100% field of view glass prism provides exceptional clear previews.

Key Pentax KF Camera Features

• 24.24 effective megapixels
• High ISO 102400
• AA-filter-free optical design delivers super high resolution images.
• Dust-proof, weather-resistant construction with 100 seals throughout the body
• Designed for excellent handling even with gloves
• Red-lighted monitor for astro photography
• High-quality glass prism with approximately 100% FOV and 0.95-times magnification
• Air-gapless vari-angle LCD monitor effectively reduces reflections
• 4.5-stop body stabilisation (IBIS) and Image sensor designed to tilt in all directions
• Super high resolution Pixel Shift feature
• AA (anti-aliasing) filter simulator, for moiré reduction when required
• Prepared for advanced astronomical photography with optional O-GPS2 GPS Unit
• Auto Horizon Correction
• Hybrid AF system for high-speed AF during Live View shooting
• High-precision autofocus system with SAFOX X AF sensor module, with 11 sensors including nine cross-type sensors in the middle
• Interval shooting
• Wireless LAN connection for smartphone operation with free ImageSync App
• 77-segment multi-pattern metering system
• DR (Dust Removal) mechanism
• High-speed shutter unit up to 1/6000 second

Key Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL WR Lens Features

• Compact, lightweight K-Mount zoom weighing just 230g
• Versatile 3x zoom range gives effective focal length of 28-85mm (full-frame equivalent)
• Super multi coating (SMC) reduces flare and ghosting
• Weather sealed construction matching the camera body
• 25cm minimum focusing distance
• Compact 52mm thread for lens filters

Pentax KF Camera with DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL WR Lens in More Detail

Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL WR Lens

This general-purpose standard zoom features a versatile 3x range, with an updated weather resistant design which matches the body, allowing you to shoot even when the weather turns bad during wind, rain, fog and snow. An equivalent focal length of 27.5mm wide angle to 84.5mm short telephoto (full frame equivalent) provides a versatile range to capture diverse subjects from portraits to landscapes, travel and virtually anything in between.

Perfect for rugged outdoor photography

The Pentax KF is a dependable performer even in demanding settings during rain or at locations prone to dust and freezing temperatures. This is due to a combination of being a compact, easy-to-carry body with a dust-proof, weather-resistant construction featuring 100 seals throughout the body and outstanding cold-proof performance at temperatures down to -10°C.

The grip and control buttons on the back panel, as well as mode dials have all been designed and contoured for optimum operability in active outdoor shooting even while wearing gloves — such as when mountain climbing, camping or during sporting events. In addition to its outdoor-friendly LCD monitor, with a brightness level which can be instantly adjusted to ambient lighting levels, it also features a red-light monitor display function, which works best when you have become accustomed to a dark location during astro photography.

Clear-view optical viewfinder

The Pentax KF incorporates a glass prism finder with the same optics and coatings as those used in higher-level models. With approximately 100% field of view and nearly 0.95x magnification, the camera’s viewfinder provides a large, clear view of your subject for quick, easy confirmation of focusing and framing. It also provides a double e-dial system from premium camera models, and Pentax-original shooting features, such as the Hyper Program system, which allows the user to instantly switch the exposure mode from Program to Aperture-priority or Shutter-priority without taking their eye off the viewfinder.

The Pentax KF vari-angle LCD monitor allows the monitor to be positioned at the desired angle, making it easier to compose images in a wide variety of situation including high-angle shooting, low-angle shots taken from ground-level or for night photography with the camera pointed upwards.

The LCD also features a unique air-gapless construction, in which the air space between the high-definition LCD panel with approximately 1,037,000 dots and the protective cover has been filled with a special resin material. This effectively reduces reflections and dispersion of light for improved visibility during outdoor shooting.

Pentax shake reduction system with Pixel Shift Resolution

In-body SR mechanism (IBIS)

Thanks to the built-in Pentax-original SR (Shake Reduction) mechanism, the Pentax KF effectively minimises camera shake and delivers sharp, blur-free images, even in shaky conditions such as when using a telephoto lens, shooting in low-light, or while capturing sunsets. Using a high-accuracy gyro sensor, it provides 4.5-stops compensation. When panning, the mechanism automatically detects the direction of the camera’s movement and efficiently controls the SR unit to produce the best image possible without requiring any mode switching.

Pixel Shift Resolution System with motion correction

The Pentax KF features the latest super high resolution technology called Pixel Shift Resolution System,* which captures four images of the same scene by shifting the sensor by a single pixel for each image. The camera then synthesises images into a single composite. Compared to the conventional Bayer system, in which each pixel has only a single colour data unit, this innovative system obtains all colour data in every pixel to deliver super-high-resolution images with far more realistic colours and far finer details than those produced by conventional APS-C-size image sensors.

This system even provides a motion correction function,** which automatically detects a moving object during continuous shooting and minimises negative effects during the synthesising process, in order to accommodate a wider range of scenes and subjects.

Innovative AA filter simulator to minimise moiré

By applying microscopic vibrations to the image sensor unit at the sub-pixel level during image exposure, the Pentax KF's AA (anti-aliasing) filter simulator*** provides the same level of moiré reduction as an optical AA filter. Unlike an optical AA filter, which always creates the identical result, this simulator lets you switch the AA filter effect on and off, as well as adjust the level, allowing you to choose the prefect effect for a particular scene, or subject based on the conditions.

Supportive shooting functions

Since the Pentax KF image sensor unit is designed to tilt in all directions, it provides a host of handy shooting functions, including: ASTROTRACER, which simplifies advanced astronomical photography in combination with the optional O-GPS2 GPS Unit; and the Auto Horizon Correction and Extra Sharpness functions.

* When using this system, the user is advised to stabilise the camera firmly on a tripod. When a moving subject is captured in the camera's image field, its image may not be reproduced clearly, either in part or as a whole.

** The movement may not be sufficiently corrected when the object is moving in a certain direction and/or pattern. This function does not guarantee that the movement is properly corrected with all subjects.

*** This function works most effectively with a shutter speed of 1/1000 second or slower. This function may not be combined with some shooting modes, including the Pixel Shift Resolution system.

High-speed Hybrid AF during Live View shooting

The Pentax KF employs a Hybrid AF system during Live View autofocus. By positioning a contrast-detection AF sensor with superior focusing accuracy and a phase-matching AF sensor on the image sensor’s surface, this innovative hybrid system optimises the benefits of both AF systems to assure high-speed, pinpoint AF focusing on the subject.

SAFOX X module high-precision autofocus system

The Pentax KF features the high-precision SAFOX X AF sensor module, which ensures responsive, dependable autofocus. With 11 sensors including nine cross-type sensors in the middle, this AF module assures pinpoint focus on the subject even during now light levels, as low as -3 EV. It also delivers outstanding AF tracking with subjects on the move, thanks to such advanced features and Select-area Expansion function, which automatically refocuses on a moving subject after it moves away from the initial point. It achieves this with the help of neighbouring points; and an AF Hold function that maintains the initial in-focus point even when the module loses sight of the subject.

Diverse custom image modes

The Pentax KF includes the Pentax-developed Custom Image function, which lets the user process an image to express their creative intention, or to suit any particular scene. This includes 14 Custom Image modes, including: SATOBI, which reproduces the colours resembling those of colour pictures in the 60s and 70s, with cyan-tinged blues, subdued yellows and faded reds. Bleach Bypass recreates the profound atmosphere of movie scenes; and Cross Processing, which adds unusual colours to your images. In combination with Pentax Limited-series lenses, which are popular for their distinctive results, the Pentax KF also provides a series of special-edition Custom Image modes.

Comprehensive interval shooting options

The Pentax KF camera provides a host of advanced interval shooting functions, including 4K-resolution Interval Movie, which lets you record a series of still images at a fixed interval and link them into a single 4K-resolution movie file.

Star Stream Movie lets you record star traces or illuminations on a 4K-resolution movie file; while Interval Composite synthesises a composite image with a choice of three synthesis modes – average, additive and comparative.

Wireless LAN for smartphone operation

A host of wireless LAN (Wi-Fi) functions support smartphones and tablet operation. By installing the dedicated Image Sync application, you can remotely check the Live View, capture stills and adjust camera settings including aperture, shutter speed and ISO sensitivity via your mobile device. It is also possible to download images onto the device, and instantly share them on social media sites, for on-the-go creators.

Other notable features

• 77-segment multi-pattern metering system for high-precision light metering
• DR (Dust Removal) mechanism to shake dust off from the surface of the CMOS image sensor
• High-speed shutter unit with a top speed of 1/6000 second, and high-speed continuous shooting function at a top speed of approximately six images per second
• Self-timer function, compatible with the continuous shooting function

What’s in the box

• Pentax KF APS-C Format DSLR Camera Body Black
• Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL WR Lens
• Lens hood
• USB Cable I-USB 166
• Pentax D-LI109 Rechargeable Li-Ion Battery
• Battery Charger D-BC 186
• Pentax Strap O-ST 132
• Pentax Eyecup FR
• Hotshoe Cover KF
• Body Mount Cover