The K-50 can be customized in 120 different two-tone combinations.
(Credit:
Lori Grunin/CNET)
Essentially a tweaked version of its predecessor, the K-30, that can be two-toned to your heart’s delight (starting now), the Pentax K-50 doesn’t seem like much of an update, apart from the colors and a nonspecific update to the autofocus system. That said, it still seems like a good deal, given that it retains the same weather-sealed body as the K-30. And Pentax jumps back into the entry-level competition with the K-500, a less expensive version of the K-50 that lacks the weather sealing and only comes in serious black. The end result is a pretty aggressively priced sub-$1,000 dSLR lineup.
Pentax K-50 and K-500 photos and photo samples
Given how few changes there are to the hardware — during its briefing Pentax basically highlighted the color choice and wireless support via better integration with Eye-Fi cards — there’s not a lot to say here. If you can find the K-30 at cheaper prices as it’s phased out of the market, you might want to jump on it. Unless you really want to hold out for a camera in Lilly Pulitzer pink and green.
Here’s how they stack up to their main competitors (I dropped the K-30 from the table for space, but aside from its pricing its specifications are close to identical to the new models):
 Canon EOS Rebel SL1 Nikon D3200 Pentax K-500 Pentax K-50 Pentax K-5 II/IIs Sensor (effective resolution) 18MP Hybrid CMOS II 24.2MP CMOS 16.3MP CMOS
(12 bits) 16.3MP CMOS
(12 bits) 16.3MP CMOS
(14 bits) 22.3mm x 14.9mm 23.2mm x 15.4mm 23.7mm x 15.7mm 23.7mm x 15.7mm 23.7mm x 15.7mm Focal-length multiplier 1.6x 1.5x 1.5x 1.5x 1.5x Sensitivity range ISO 100 – ISO 12800 ISO 100 (expanded)/
200 – ISO 6400/12800 (expanded) ISO 100 – ISO 51200 ISO 100 – ISO 51200 ISO 80 (expanded)/
100 – ISO 12800/
51200 (expanded) Continuous shooting 4fps
8 raw/unlimited JPEG 4fps
n/a 6fps
8 raw/30 JPEG 6fps
8 raw/30 JPEG 7fps
8 raw/30 JPEG Viewfinder (mag/
effective mag) 95% coverage
0.85x/0.53x
Optical
95% coverage
0.80x/0.53x
Optical
100% coverage
0.92x/0.61x Optical
100% coverage
0.92x/0.61x Optical
100% coverage
0.92x/0.61x Autofocus 9-pt AF
center cross-type;
31-point contrast AF 11-pt AF
center cross-type 11-pt AF
9 cross-type
(SAFOX IXi+) 11-pt AF
9 cross-type
(SAFOX IXi+) 11-pt AF
9 cross-type
(SAFOX X) AF sensitivity -0.5 to 18 EV -1 to 19 EV -1 to 18 EV -1 to 18 EV -3 to 18 EV Shutter speed 1/4,000 to 30 secs; bulb; 1/200 x-sync 1/4,000 to 30 secs; bulb; 1/200 sec x-sync 1/6,000 to 30 secs; bulb; 1/180 sec x-sync 1/6,000 to 30 secs; bulb; 1/180 sec x-sync 1/8,000 to 30 secs; bulb; 1/180 sec x-sync Metering 63-zone iFCL 420-pixel 3D color matrix metering II 77-segment 77-segment 77-segment Metering sensitivity 1 to 20 EV 0 to 20 EV 0 to 22 EV 0 to 22 EV 0 to 22 EV Video H.264 QuickTime MOV 1080/30p/ 25p/24p; 720/60p/ 50p 1080/30p/ 25p/24p; 720/60p/50p H.264 QuickTime MOV H.264 QuickTime MOV 1080/30p/
24p/25p; 720/50p/60p H.264 QuickTime MOV 1080/30p/
24p/25p; 720/50p/60p 1080/25p; 720/30p/25p Motion JPEG AVI Audio Mono; mic input Mono; mic input Mono Mono Mono; mic input Manual aperture and shutter in video Yes Yes n/a n/a n/a Image stabilization Optical Optical Sensor shift Sensor shift Sensor shift LCD size 3-inch fixed touch screen
1.04 MP 3-inch fixed
921,000 dots 3-inch fixed
921,000 dots 3-inch fixed
921,000 dots 3-inch fixed
921,000 dots Memory slots 1 x SDXC 1 x SDXC 1 x SDXC 1 x SDXC 1 x SDXC/SDHC
(SDXC requires firmware upgrade) Wireless flash Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Battery life (CIPA rating) 380 shots 540 shots 710 (AA lithium); 410 (lithium ion) 710 (AA lithium); 410 (lithium ion) 740 shots Dimensions (WHD, inches) 4.6 x 3.6 x 2.7 5 x 3.8 x 3.1 5.1 x 3.8 x 2.8 5.1 x 3.8 x 2.8 5.2 x 3.8 x 2.9 Body operating weight (ounces) 14.9 17.6 22.9 (est) 22.9 (est) 26.1 (est) Mfr. price $649.99 (body only) n/a n/a $699.95 (body only) $999.95/
$1,099.95 (body only) $799.99 (with 18-55mm STM lens) $699.95 (with 18-55mm lens) $599.95 (with 18-55mm DA lens) $779.95 (with 18-55mm WR lens) $1,149.95 (with 18-55mm WR lens)/n/a n/a n/a $699.95 (with 18-55mm DA and 50-200 DA lenses) $879.95 (with 18-55mm WR and 50-200 WR lenses) $1,349.95/n/a (with 18-135mm WR lens) Release date April 2013
April 2012 July 2013 July 2013 October 2012
Despite retaining last year’s specifications, the K-50 stands up pretty well to Nikon and Canon’s offerings at similar prices — it’s still faster at continuous shooting, with a better viewfinder (though the comparatively slow 1/180 flash sync speed will disappoint strobists). It’s a shade bigger and heavier than the competition, but it also can take AA-size batteries and incorporates sensor-shift image stabilization, so you don’t have to worry about buying stabilized lenses — something I increasingly appreciate as I accumulate lenses. And Pentax has always been good about offering a broad, enthusiast-friendly feature set, including fan favorites like time lapse.
Pentax aggressively prices its K-500 dSLR, aggressively colors its K-50
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