Canon 1DX vs Pentax K-1 II

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Canon 1DX vs Pentax K-1 II

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35mm 864.0mm²
18.1 megapixels
ISO 100 - 51,200

Go in depth with our full Canon 1DX Review.
See real-world photos taken with the 1DX.

35mm 861.6mm²
36.4 megapixels
ISO 100 - 819,200

Go in depth with our full Pentax K-1 II Review.
How does it shoot? Pentax K-1 II in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the K-1 II.
Compare Pentax K-1 II image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Pentax K-1 II conclusion.

Succeeded by the Canon 1DX Mark II
Compare 1DX vs 1DX Mark II
Compare Canon 1DX Mark II vs Pentax K-1 II

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Differences

Canon 1DX advantages over Pentax K-1 II

Bigger pixels
~ 6.94 vs 4.88 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
Fast startup
~0.50 vs 1.4 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
Longer stills battery life
More info

Longer stills battery life

Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

1120 vs 670 shots
Capture more photos
More cross-type AF points
41 vs 25
Cross-type AF points improve autofocus performance
More viewfinder magnification
0.76x vs 0.70x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
More AF points
61 vs 33
More AF points improve autofocus
Faster JPEG shooting
12.0 fps vs 4.5 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
12.0 fps vs 4.6 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Bigger RAW buffer
31 vs 17 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)

Pentax K-1 II advantages over Canon 1DX

Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Yes vs No
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
Tiltable Screen
Tiltable vs Fixed
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
High resolution composite
Yes vs No
Combine multiple shots to form a super hi-res version
Built-in Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi vs None
Share your photos wirelessly
Built-in GPS
GPS vs None
Geotag your photos
Newer
7 years vs 12 years old
Newer cameras often support more advanced features
Lighter weight
1010g vs 1551g
Lighter weight
More pixels
36.4 vs 18.1 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Headphone jack
Yes vs No
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Optional anti-aliasing filter
Optional vs Fixed
Lets you choose sharper photos or reduced moiré
Higher extended ISO
819200 vs 204800 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

Eye-level viewfinder
Both provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
Top deck display
Both provide
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
External Mic Jack
Both provide
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
Pentaprism viewfinder
Both provide
Much better viewfinder picture fidelity
HDMI out
Both provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
Hot shoe
Both provide
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
Dual card slots
Both provide
Gives you more storage flexibility
Bulb shutter
Both provide
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

Tilt-swivel screen
Neither provide
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
Touchscreen
Neither provide
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
In-camera panoramas
Neither provide
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
NFC
Neither provide
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
Built-in Bluetooth
Neither provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
On-sensor phase detect
Neither provide
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Internal flash
Neither provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
Slow-motion videos
Neither provide
Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read 1DX User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read K-1 II User Reviews

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Buy the Canon 1DX

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Body Only
Kit with 28-105mm Lens

All K-1 II Deals

Review Excerpt

We haven’t reviewed the Canon 1DX.
Read our Canon 1DX Initial Test

Excellent build and comfortable handling; Bright, roomy viewfinder and articulated LCD; Great image quality; Good performance for the class; In-camera stabilization, GPS and Wi-Fi; Incredibly feature-rich design.
Bulkier than APS-C DSLRs; Top ISOs are for the spec sheet, not the real world; JPEGs are a bit punchy by default; Slow startup; Below-average battery life; Only a relatively modest update to the K-1.
Read our Pentax K-1 II Review

The Competition

Compared to Nikon D4

Canon 1DX

Nikon D4

$5299
35mm

More cross-type AF points
Less shutter lag

$4500
35mm

Fast startup
More dynamic range

Compare Canon 1DX vs Nikon D4

Pentax K-1 II

Nikon D4

$1747
35mm

Focus peaking
Less expensive

$4500
35mm

Bigger pixels
Fast startup

Compare Pentax K-1 II vs Nikon D4

Compared to Canon EOS-1D C

Canon 1DX

Canon EOS-1D C

$5299
35mm

Less expensive

$6989
35mm

Shoot 4K video
Headphone jack

Compare Canon 1DX vs Canon EOS-1D C

Pentax K-1 II

Canon EOS-1D C

$1747
35mm

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$6989
35mm

Bigger pixels
Shoot 4K video

Compare Pentax K-1 II vs Canon EOS-1D C

Compared to Nikon D4S

Canon 1DX

Nikon D4S

$5299
35mm

More cross-type AF points
Less shutter lag

$5399
35mm

Fast startup
Higher effective ISO

Compare Canon 1DX vs Nikon D4S

Pentax K-1 II

Nikon D4S

$1747
35mm

Focus peaking
Less expensive

$5399
35mm

Bigger pixels
Fast startup

Compare Pentax K-1 II vs Nikon D4S

Compared to Canon 5D Mark IV

Canon 1DX

Canon 5D Mark IV

$5299
35mm

Bigger pixels
Longer stills battery life

$2249
35mm

Shoot 4K video
Touchscreen

Compare Canon 1DX vs Canon 5D Mark IV

Pentax K-1 II

Canon 5D Mark IV

$1747
35mm

Less expensive
Focus peaking

$2249
35mm

Shoot 4K video
Touchscreen

Compare Pentax K-1 II vs Canon 5D Mark IV

Compared to Nikon D850

Canon 1DX

Nikon D850

$5299
35mm

Bigger pixels
Has anti-aliasing filter

$2597
35mm

Focus peaking
Shoot 4K video

Compare Canon 1DX vs Nikon D850

Pentax K-1 II

Nikon D850

$1747
35mm

In-Camera Image Stabilization
High resolution composite

$2597
35mm

Shoot 4K video
Touchscreen

Compare Pentax K-1 II vs Nikon D850

Compare Other Cameras?