The Pentax K-70 is an appealing SLR for photographers who don't often dabble in video capture. Its all-weather design is appealing for nature and landscape work, especially when coupled with the Pixel Shift Resolution feature.

24MP image sensor; Vari-angle display; In-body image stabilization.Pixel Shift Resolution and AA Simulation options; Weather-sealed design; Pentaprism viewfinder; Strong dedicated APS-C lens library

Burst shooting rate doesn't match up to specs; Modest Raw shooting buffer; Clunky Wi-Fi app

The Pentax K-70 takes place of the K-S2, with ergonomic improvements that make it feel like a much more serious camera, and Raw image quality that is among the best the APS-C sensor size has to offer.

Landscape photographers; available light shooters; current Pentax owners looking for an affordable second body

Photographers looking to pack light; video shooters; action shooters

by Mike Tomkins If you've been following our site for a while, you'll likely know that I'm a big fan of Ricoh's Pentax brand, and its excellent K-series line of DSLR cameras. The company has produced some really impressive products in the last seven and a half years since it launched the K-7, the...

Huge bang for the buck; Great image quality; Excellent high ISO performance; Fast autofocus; Good burst frame rate with deep buffer; Pentaprism viewfinder; Twin control dials; Articulated LCD; Comprehensive weather-sealing and freeze-proofing; Unbelievable wealth of rare to unique (yet very useful)...

Wi-Fi wireless communication is slow, clumsy and unintuitive; Video autofocus is prone to hunting or racking focus; Slow buffer clearing; Rather heavy for an entry-level DSLR; Autofocus and metering systems are a bit dated; Below average battery life, Warm Auto white balance in tungsten lighting,...

For most of the digital era, Pentax has maintained several distinct DSLR lines. At the top has been the line currently represented by the K-3 II -the prosumer line, offering the robust handling and powerful feature set of leading full-frame cameras, but built around an APS-C sensor.

Class-leading image quality; Class-leading low-light AF; Articulating LCD; 100% coverage optical finder; Weather sealing; All lenses stabilized; Built-in WiFi; Great ergonomics; Compact design; Many customizable controls; Solid build quality; Several features borrowed from K-1; Speedy overall...

Out of date autofocus system; Hybrid AF only works in video; doesn't work well; Heavy for its size; Small RAW buffer; Poor JPEG compression; Comparatively loud shutter; Poor Live View button placement; Poor battery life; No wireless flash control

When picturing a high end DSLR camera we don't usually see wind, dust, rain and snow, however for those shooting outdoors or even just travelling, it's flagrantly obvious how important durability is. You don't want to be carefully nursing a vulnerable piece of technology.

It has some lovely pluses, the weather sealing, the tilt/twist screen is a boon for those who like low level macro shots, and it is nice and light. Oh and of course it has the same sensor as the K-3 so the image quality is fantastic!

Same sensor as the K-3, weather sealing, flip/tilt/twist screen; Size

only 11 AF points, cheaper shutter system which is noisier; strange shape behind the grip

I have had the Pentax K-70 for about 6 months. I bought it to replace the K-50 which I loved until it stopped working. This camera has the worst picture quality of any camera I have ever known. I am planning to go to Canon. I am done with Pentax.

The Pentax K-70 itself is really good. It's a compact, solid and very well specified camera that also delivers good value for money. It's packed with innovative features, and there's enough here to keep novices, enthusiasts and even more experienced photographers occupied for a long time to come.

Compact and rugged; Hybrid live view autofocus; Innovative anti-shake tech

Poor kit lens performance; Relatively few autofocus points; Reliance on interactive display

I have to admit to having a soft spot for Pentax DSLRs; I've used them on and off for almost a decade, and have always found them capable and pleasant to shoot with. But one thing I really don't understand is their naming convention.

Effective in-body image stabilisation that works with every lens; Large; bright viewfinder is the best in class; Good contingent of external controls makes it easy to change settings

Relatively slow and clunky live view; In-camera JPEG processing needs a lot of twekaing for the best results; LCD screen isn't touch sensitive

If like me you enjoy a good manual then this unit should make you happy. The manual I saw was in PDF format – sadly not something to read in the bath – and it is 156 pages with 144 pages before the safety and warranty pages, bliss.