Since I work on many portrait assignments, it’s essential for me to effectively communicate with my subjects. There are rare cases, however, where the size of the camera or the loudness of its shutter release makes my subjects feel intimidated or tense even before we start communicating with each other. It’s especially true with little children or inexperienced models who are not yet accustomed to photo sessions.

When I held the PENTAX K-1 Mark II in my hand for the first time, however, I felt that I no longer needed to have these worries. It features a very compact body, despite its 35mm full-frame design, and has such a pleasant shutter release sound that I knew my subjects would not be nervous, and it could help create a relaxed, nonchalant atmosphere so they would be almost unaware that they were right in the middle of a shooting session. The grip is not too small nor too cumbersome, but fits perfectly in my hand and provides a firm grip for my right hand. When I look into the optical viewfinder, I get a large, clear view of the subject. It is stable and well-balanced, even with a large-aperture lens is mounted. Its dials and buttons are superbly positioned, so I can control them with slight fingertip action, without worrying about operational errors. They are all laid out perfectly within easy reach of my fingers, so that there is no need for repositioning my hold on the grip.

I believe that, in portrait photography, a camera’s response time is one of the most crucial factors. The PENTAX K-1 Mark II suffers from very little time lag from the shutter release to preview of the captured image. Since the size of a captured image can be flawlessly enlarged or reduced with simple dial operations, the finished image can be viewed and shared by my entire team on the spot. It produces a true-to-life, high-resolution image of the subject’s details, such as the luster and fineness of hair and eyelashes, and the delicate texture of skin and lips.

The camera’s autofocus speed and range are much better than the PENTAX 645Z or K-3. Since I can shoot images smoothly and swiftly, I feel that this camera is very well-suited to photography of children.

I hope that many users will fully enjoy portrait photography with the PETNAX K-1 Mark II.