What is there left to write about the Pentax K1mkii? It is a camera that was released in April 2018 that was an upgrade to the original K1 which debuted two years previous. The internet provides an enormous resource of information pertaining to both products, so writing this article may seem moot. In the fast moving world of camera development, the K1mkii is ancient and from a technical perspective some would argue that the DSLR is a relic from bygone times, ergo it is obsolete.
I am rapidly approaching the three year mark in my project to scan our vast film archive. Admittedly I am taking my time and working on it only when I feel like it, so progress is a little slower than anticipated. This approach probably has a lot to do with why I am less than 50% of the way through the task along with the fact that it has been an enormous learning curve.
When Leica announced a silver version of the SL2 camera body in July 2023 I immediately sat up and took notice. I have always had a weakness for silver bodies which can be traced back to my first days of camera ownership. Initially there were three sticking points that reluctantly made me pass it by; 1) I had taken delivery of a SL2-s a few weeks prior to the announcement. 2) The cost was very high - much higher than the SL2-s. 3) At that time I was not keen on the higher (47) megapixel count.
Not being one to waste any time once my 2025 camera gear budget was available, I started scouring the sales for one of the smallest short telephoto lenses in existence. I had become intrigued by this 70mm lens some months ago after reading much positive information from many sources. SRS Microsystems in Watford had a deal on the lens that I could not pass up, so barely a day into the new year I was playing with my new toy.
Santa was exceptionally kind in 2024 as a silver edition of Pentax’s K1 mkii was waiting under the Christmas Tree for me! To be honest it was not a surprise as the family had purchased and squirrelled it away during the summer after I found one brand new in the box. As I had spent my 2024 camera allowance by the time I found it, a generous combined family Christmas and Birthday present was the only way I could secure it.
Writing a recent review of the Pentax 31mm Limited lens did something strange to me that I would never have imagined happening, as I opened my laptop to begin writing down my thoughts. It becomes stranger when I factor in that the lens is by no means a recent acquisition, having been in use by us for more than a decade. The 31 along with a 15mm Limited and 100mm macro have been Ethan’s staple equipment for his Pentax K3 Prestige for all of this time, so I was used to seeing and using his system. Before this, he also had the 20-40mm Limited and 16-50mm zooms, which were sold to help finance what he uses now.
Camera systems come and go. Manufacturers go out of business and technology forces change. Choosing not to adapt is a risky business unless a product occupies or finds a niche that can be exploited. The digital revolution has been one of the biggest shake-ups that the camera industry has endured, particularly if we factor in the rise of the smart phone. Some respectable brands with long pedigrees have ceased to exist, others assimilated into larger names.