Pentax K-50

SLR cameras

A 16-megapixel camera from Pentax with a 2.9-inch LCD, 3x optical zoom, and manual controls.

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CR Expert Take

How did it perform in our expert lab testing?

Overall Score

The Overall Score for this model is derived from our expert lab test results.

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Current Range of Tested SLR cameras

What goes into the Overall Score?

Image quality

/ 5

Ease of use

/ 5

Video quality

/ 5

LCD quality

/ 5

Viewfinder

/ 5

Flash photos

/ 5

Image stabilization

/ 5

Sensor types

/ 5

Battery life (shots)

/ 5

4K video

/ 5

WiFi

/ 5

Test lens

/ 5

Weight (oz.)

/ 5

Megapixels

/ 5

Detailed Test Results

PHOTO QUALITY. This 16-megapixel SLR model captured images with very good quality. Pictures were sharp, which means you can see most details and subtle patterns in the image. In low-light situations without a flash, pictures were not quite as sharp as those of most recommended models. We judged this model excellent for outdoor performance, such as shooting landscapes in the daytime; good for indoor performance, such as photographing a well-lit basketball game in a gym; good for performance under natural light without a flash, such as shooting under an overcast sky; and good for low-light performance without a flash, such as capturing a birthday party. Photos taken in our low-light performance tests displayed little image noise; Subjects retained most of their correct detail and color.

FLASH. The K-50 with the 18-55mm kit lens captured flash shots that were very good. In our distance test, we found the camera's flash could illuminate subjects very well, both near and far. The flash also has excellent, very even coverage.

LENS. This camera has a standard 3x optical zoom lens. The lens also has wide-angle (27.5mm) capability that's useful for landscapes and group portraits, although you may notice a bit of distortion when you’re shooting faces up close, for instance.

IMAGE STABILIZER. This is an important feature; taking hand-held shots at the telephoto end of the zoom range can generally blur or soften images due to the slight movement of your hands. In low-light settings, it sometimes produced blurry photos.

SPEED. In terms of performance, the Pentax K-50 powers up very quickly.

VIDEO. The Pentax K-50 takes good video. It captures full HD video at 1920 x 1080.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS. It has HDR (high-dynamic range) settings. Like all SLRs, it also includes a through-the-lens viewfinder, helpful when composing in bright light; this viewfinder has excellent quality. Like all cameras of this kind, it can capture RAW files, which gives you the most flexibility when manipulating image files with software, and has a hot shoe for attaching an external flash (generally sold separately). This SLR model is smaller and thinner than most in its class. Even though this is a small and light SLR model, it was somewhat difficult to control and to take pictures with.

About

The K-50 is a 16-megapixel camera with an 18mm-55mm kit lens that has a 35mm-equivalent focal length range of 27mm-82.5mm. It has a 2.9-inch LCD (921,000 pixels). It also includes a through-the-lens viewfinder, which is helpful when composing in bright light.

Because it accepts interchangeable lenses, and includes a mirror and a through-the-lens viewfinder, we consider this model an SLR (single-lens reflex) camera.

The camera's kit lens has a maximum aperture of f/3.5. The camera's shutter speed range is 30 seconds to 1/6000 of a second.

The K-50 stores photos and video on SD/SDHC/SDXC memory cards but has no on-board storage. It captures images as JPEG or RAW files at a top resolution of 4928 x 3264 and full HD-resolution video as MOV files at a top resolution of 1920 x 1080.

Like most digital cameras, this model comes with a proprietary rechargeable battery.

This SLR model has 11 autofocus points, 26 exposure modes, and an exposure compensation control that can be set at +/-5 EV. It has exposure bracketing, which allows you to take multiple exposures of a single scene, and a high-dynamic-range mode, which helps capture more of a scene's tonal range than a single photo can. The image stabilization system for this camera is optical.

The K-50 measures 5 inches wide by 3.9 inches high by 3.1 inches deep, and weighs 24 ounces (1.5 pounds) (with battery, memory card, and strap).

Features & Specs

Features

Full frame

Swivelling screen

Hot shoe

Memory card

Color space

Adobe RGB/sRGB

PC flash sync jack

Maximum aperture

Touch screen

Wireless remote

Widest angle (mm)

Live view

Yes

Exposure modes

Exposure compensation

Manual focus

Macro focus

Manual controls

Specs

Image stabilizer

LCD size (in.)

2.9

Max. ISO

51200

35mm equivalent multiplier

1.5

Shutter speed range

30 - 1/6000

Height (in.)

3.9

Width (in.)

Depth (in.)

3.1

Total weight (oz.)

Memory card slots/type

SD/SDHC/SDXC

Max. buffer size JPEG/RAW

Unlimited

LCD pixel count

921k

Still image formats

JPEG, RAW

Price & Shop

Pentax K-50

CR Expert Take

Overall Score

What goes into the Overall Score?

Detailed Test Results

About

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