The black Pentax K-50 DSLR Camera features a 16.3 megapixel APS-C-sized CMOS sensor and PRIME M image processing engine to produce high quality imagery while delivering fast performance throughout the entire camera system. The combination of these two technologies affords a high sensitivity level of ISO 51200, top full-resolution continuous shooting rate of 6 fps, and renders both still images and videos with notable image quality and clarity. Full HD 1080p video recording is supported in multiple frame rates up to 30 fps as well as HD 720p recording up to 60 fps. Video files are recorded in the high quality H.264 AVC/MPEG-4 codec and saved as .MOV files for easier sharing and editing. When recording video or making still imagery with live view, a 3.0" 921k-dot LCD monitor is available and provides a wide viewing angle for improved viewing in a variety of shooting positions.
Benefitting the image quality is the SAFOX IXi+ autofocus system, which works to ensure sharp, accurate focus quickly and smoothly. Additionally, when working with manual focus, focus peaking is available to provide a more objective and comparable method of acquiring critical focus. Also contributing to image sharpness is in-camera sensor shift image stabilization, which reduces the appearance of camera shake by about three shutter speed steps when working in low-light conditions or with longer focal length lenses.
For extensive control over image-making, in-camera RAW (DNG) image processing is available as well as HDR shooting capabilities. For expediting control over the most oft-used functions of the K-50, both the front and rear e-dials are customizable and can be programmed to control an array of exposure settings and camera functions. For creatively modifying imagery in-camera, a variety of filters, scene modes, and auto modes are available to enhance the look and feel of imagery prior to post-processing. In addition to the range of automatic camera settings, traditional manual shooting modes are also available, such as program, shutter-priority, aperture-priority, sensitivity-priority, and manual.
All of the K-50's technologies are housed within a polycarbonate-covered camera body that is supported by a stainless steel chassis. This body design is fully weather-sealed and protects the camera from moisture and dust as well as extreme temperatures from 14-104°. Additionally, the design of the camera allows the use of either the standard lithium-ion battery pack or four AA batteries as its power source when used in conjunction with the optional D-BH109 AA Battery Holder.
Included with the K-50 camera body are the smc Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL WR and the smc Pentax DA 50-200mm f/4-5.6 ED WR lenses, which together provide a 35mm-equivalent focal length range of 27.0-300mm, covering wide-angle to telephoto perspectives to suit working in a wide variety of situations. Both lens constructions integrate aspherical elements to help minimize chromatic aberration as well as improve image sharpness throughout the zoom range. Additionally, both lens bodies have been constructed to the same weather-resistant standards as the K-50 for use in inclement conditions.
Sensor Type | CMOS with primary color filter, integrated Shake/Dust Reduction sensor movement system |
Sensor Size | 23.7 x 15.7mm (APS-C) |
Sensor Color Depth | 8 bits/channel JPG, 12 bits/channel RAW |
Effective Pixels | 16.3 MP |
Total Pixels | 16.5 MP |
Dust Removal | Sensor movement with SP coating on low pass filter |
Pixel Mapping | Yes |
Image Stabilization (Shake Reduction) | Sensor-shift SR with rotational compensation (3 stops avg CIPA, 4 stops max) |
Lens Mount | PENTAX KAF2 bayonet stainless steel mount |
Usable Lenses | PENTAX KAF3, KAF2, KAF, and KA (K mount, 35mm screw-mount, 645/67 med format lenses useable with adapter and/or restrictions) |
SDM Function | Yes |
Power Zoom Function | n/a |
Focus Type | SAFOX IXi+ TTL phase-detection 11 point (9 cross) wide autofocus system with light wavelength sensor and diffraction lens |
Sensitivity Range | EV -1 to 18 (ISO 100) |
Focus Modes | AF.A (auto), AF.S (single, w focus lock, focus/shutter priority selectable), AF.C (continuous, w focus/FPS priority selectable), Manual |
Focus Point Adjustment | Auto 11 pt., Auto 5 pt., User-Selectable (with Expanded Area AF), Center |
AF Assist | Yes via dedicated LED AF assist lamp |
Focus Peaking | Yes (n/a during active video recording) |
Metering System | Type: TTL open aperture 77 segment metering Sensitivity range: EV 0 to 22 (ISO 100, 50mm F1.4) Metering patterns (multi, center, spot): Multi 77, Center, Spot Exposure compensation: +/- 5 EV (1/3 and 1/2 steps) Exposure lock: Yes Exposure bracketing: 3 frames, up to +/- 3 EV in 1/3 or 1/2 steps |
Shutter | Type: Electronically controlled, vertical-run, focal plane shutter Shutter speed: Auto: 1/6000 to 30 sec., Manual: 1/6000 to 30 sec. (1/3EV steps or 1/2EV steps), Bulb |
Viewfinder | Type: Pentaprism Coverage (field of view): 100% Magnification: 0.92X (w 50mm F1.4 at infinity) Standard focusing screen: Natural-Bright-Matte III (interchangeable) Diopter adjustment: -2.5m to +1.5m Depth of field preview: Optical (diaphragm stop-down), digital |
LCD Monitor | Type: 3.0" TFT color LCD w brightness/color adjustment Resolution: 921,000 dots Wide angle viewable: Yes |
Live View | Type: TTL by CMOS image sensor Field Of View: 100% Display Modes: Magnification (2-6X), Grid Overlay (4x4, Golden Ratio, Scale), Bright/Dark Indication, Histogram |
Built-In Flash | Type: Retractable P-TTL pop-up flash Guide number: 12m (ISO 100) Coverage: 28mm wide angle equivalent Flash modes: P-TTL, Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Trailing Curtain Sync Flash exposure compensation: -2 to +1 EV (1/3 steps) |
External Flash | Type: Hotshoe (P-TTL), high speed sync and wireless with PENTAX dedicated flash Synchronization speed: 1/180 sec |
Storage Media | Internal memory: n/a Removable memory: SD, SDHC, SDXC, (Eye-Fi Card compatible) |
Interfaces | Ports: USB 2.0 hi-speed, AV out USB Connection: MSC / PTP Video out: NTSC, PAL Microphone: Built-in monaural |
Image File | Recorded resolutions: 16M (4928x3264), 12M (4224x2816), 8M (3456x2304), 5M (2688x1792) RAW (4928x3264) Quality levels: Best, Better, Good File formats: RAW (DNG), JPG (EXIF 2.3), DCF 2.0 compliant, DPOF, PIM III Color space: sRGB, AdobeRGB |
ISO Sensitivity | Auto: 100-51200 (1, 1/2, 1/3 steps), auto range selectable Manual: 100-51200 (1, 1/2, 1/3 steps) |
White Balance | Type: Image sensor detection with light wavelength sensor detection Auto preset modes: Auto, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, (D: Daylight Color, N: Daylight White, W: Cool White, L: Warm White), Tungsten, Flash, CTE Manual mode(s): a) 3 manual settings can be configured and saved, b) Kelvin color temperatures can be selected, c) WB settings can be copied from a captured image WB fine adjustment: +/- 7 steps A-B axis or G-M axis |
Mode Selection | Hyper Program (P), Sensitivity Priority (Sv), Shutter Priority (Tv), Aperture Priority (Av), Shutter & Aperture Priority (TAv), Hyper Manual (M), Bulb (B), User (U1, U2), Scene (SCN), Auto Picture (AUTO), Movie |
Auto Picture Modes | Standard, Portrait, Landscape, Macro, Moving Object, Night Scene Portrait, Night Scene, Blue Sky, Forest |
Scene Modes | Portrait, Landscape, Macro, Moving Object, Night Scene Portrait, Sunset, Blue Sky, Forest,Night Scene, Night Scene HDR (JPG), Night Snap, Food, Pet, Kids, Surf & Snow, Backlight Silhouette, Candlelight, Stage Lighting, Museum |
Custom Image Modes | Bright, Natural, Portrait, Landscape, Vibrant, Radiant, Muted, Bleach Bypass, Reversal Film, Monochrome, Cross Processing |
Green Simplified Mode Available | n/a |
Face Detection Available | Yes |
PASMB | P, A, S, M, B (extended modes Sv, TAv) |
Date Stamp | n/a |
Digital Filters Capture | Extract Color, Toy Camera, Retro, High Contrast, Shading, Invert Color, Color |
Dynamic Range Adjustment | Highlight, shadow |
Digital Level | Viewfinder (horizontal), LCD (horizontal, vertical), SR auto-level function |
File/Folder Customization | Folder name (standard, date), create new folder, embed copyright |
Drive Modes Mode Selection | Single, Continuous (Hi, Lo), Self-Timer (12s, 2s), Remote (0s, 3s), Exposure Bracketing (3 frames) |
Drive Modes Continuous FPS | Continuous Hi: approx. 6.0 FPS (30 JPG, 8 RAW) Continuous Lo: approx. 3.0 FPS (unlimited JPG, 10 RAW) |
Other Modes | Multi-exposure: 2-9 shots, auto exposure adjustment Interval: 999 shots, 3 sec to 24 hr interval, time delay HDR: Auto, HDR 1, HDR 2, HDR 3, pixel alignment, exposure bracket +/- 1-3 EV (1/1 steps) Cable switch: Yes CS-205 (sold separately) |
Playback Mode Selection | Single frame, Multi-image display (4, 9, 16, 36, 81 segmentation), Display magnification (up to 16x, scrolling and quick magnification available), rotating, histogram, bright/dark area warning, copyright display, calendar filmstrip, display, folder display, slideshow, Eye-Fi transfer |
Playback Mode Pallet | Image Rotation, Digital Filter, Resize, Cropping, Index Print, Protect, Slideshow, Save as Manual WB, Save Cross Processing, RAW Development, Movie Edit, DPOF |
Playback Digital Filters | Monochrome, Extract Color, Toy Camera, Retro, High Contrast, Shading, Invert Color, Color, Tone Expansion, Sketch Filter, Water Color, Pastel, Posterization, Miniature, Soft, Starburst, Fish-eye, Slim, Base Parameter Adjustment |
Video Capture Image File Information | Recorded resolutions/FPS: 1920x1080p30/25/24, 1280x720p60/50/30/25/24, 640x480p30/25/24 Quality levels: Best, Better, Good File formats (compression): MOV MPEG-4 AVC (h.264) Sound: Audio gain adj |
Video Capture Modes | Custom Image modes: Bright, Natural, Portrait, Landscape, Vibrant, Radiant, Muted, Bleach Bypass,Reversal Film, Monochrome, Cross Processing Digital filters (capture): Extract Color, Toy Camera, Retro, High Contrast, Shading, Invert Color, Color |
Video Capture Modes cont. | Interval movie: 3 sec., 5 sec., 10 sec., 30 sec., 1 min., 5min., 10 min., 30 min., 1 hr. Recording time: 4 sec. to 99 hr., Start Interval setting: immediately, from the set time, Motion JPEG(AVI) Movie editing functions: Movie Divide, Delete Selected Frames |
File Storage (Based on 4GB Memory) | Still 16MP (3:2) RAW: 150 images Still 16MP (3:2) Best Image Quality: 421 Video 1080p30 Best Image Quality: 0:16:21 Video 1080p24 Best Image Quality: 0:20:21 Video 720p60 Best Image Quality: 0:16:21 Video 720p30 Best Image Quality: 0:28:18 |
Custom Functions | 22 |
Language Support | English, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Dutch, Danish, Swedish, Finnish, Polish, Czech, Hungarian, Turkish, Greek, Russian |
System Requirements | Windows: Windows XP(SP3 or later 32-bit Home/Pro), Vista (32-bit,64-bit), Win 7 (32-bit, 64-bit) Win 8, (can be run as a 32-bit application on any 64-bit edition of Windows). Mac: MacOS X, 10.5, 10.6, 10.7, 10.8 |
Primary Construction Materials | Reinforced polycarbonate over stainless steel chassis |
Operating Temperature | 14-104°F (-10 to 40°C) |
Ruggedized Features | Fully weather sealed throughout body, coldproof |
Battery | Rechargeable Li-Ion battery D-LI109 (included), AA battery holder D-BH109 for 4 AA batteries (sold separately) |
Battery Time Stills | Li-Ion approx. 480 (410 w 50% flash, CIPA), AA lithium approx. 1250 (710 w 50% flash, CIPA) |
Battery Time Movie Playback | Li-Ion approx. 270 min, AA lithium approx. 560 min |
Battery Time Movie Recording | 25 min max time per clip |
AC Adapter Available | Yes. K-AC128 (sold separately) |
Body Dimensions (WxHxD) | 5.1 x 3.8 x 2.8" (129.5 x 96.5 x 71.1mm) |
Body Weight | 20.8 oz (589.67g) without battery or removable memory 22.9 oz (649.20g) loaded and ready |
Reviews Pentax K-50 DSLR Camera with DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL WR Lens and DA 50-200mm f/4-5.6 ED WR Lens (Black) (Pentax Malaysia)