Pentax K-S1 review

Flashing lights, different colours, are all these gimmicks hiding a decent camera?

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Pentax K-S1

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Pentax K-S1 sample image

Colours directly from the camera are bright and punchy displaying a good sense of warmth and vibrancy.

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Pentax K-S1 sample image

Here we can see that the camera has perhaps underexposed a little, something which happens less with the K-S1 than some other models in the range.

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Pentax K-S1 sample image

This camera does a much better job than some other Pentax cameras of producing accurate exposures without having to rely on exposure compensation.

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Pentax K-S1 sample image

There's a good amount of detail resolved by the camera's 20 million pixel sensor without an anti-aliasing filter.

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Pentax K-S1 sample image

You can change the look of colours by using different Custom Image settings, this one was shot with the landscape setting activated.

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Pentax K-S1 sample image

Out of focus areas are rendered nicely by the K-S1.

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Pentax K-S1 sample image

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Pentax K-S1 sample image

The noise in this image, shot at ISO 3200, is barely apparent, even when you're examining the image at 100%.

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Pentax K-S1 sample image

Generally speaking, the camera's automatic white balance setting does a good job of producing accurate colours, perhaps erring a little towards yellowish or warm tones under artificial lighting.

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Effects

Use these digital filters for maximum creative effect.

Pentax K-S1 sample image

Faded color.

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Pentax K-S1 sample image

Clear tone.

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Pentax K-S1 sample image

Brilliant color.

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Pentax K-S1 sample image

Unicolor bold.

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Pentax K-S1 sample image

Vintage color.

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Pentax K-S1 sample image

Cross processing.

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Pentax K-S1 sample image

Warm fade.

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Pentax K-S1 sample image

Bold monochrome.

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Pentax K-S1 sample image

Infrared filter.

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Pentax K-S1 sample image

Vibrant Color Enhance.

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Amy Davies
Amy Davies

Amy has been writing about cameras, photography and associated tech since 2009. Amy was once part of the photography testing team for Future Publishing working across TechRadar, Digital Camera, PhotoPlus, N Photo and Photography Week. For her photography, she has won awards and has been exhibited. She often partakes in unusual projects - including one intense year where she used a different camera every single day. Amy is currently the Features Editor at Amateur Photographer magazine, and in her increasingly little spare time works across a number of high-profile publications including Wired, Stuff, Digital Camera World, Expert Reviews, and just a little off-tangent, PetsRadar.