.PEF · 2018 · 36 MP full-frame

Pentax K-1 Mark II RAW Files: Open, Cull & Edit .PEF Free

An updated version of Pentax's full-frame flagship with improved handheld pixel-shift processing for landscape photographers. As with the original K-1, bracketed and pixel-shift sequences are common and produce large related file sets. Automated sorting of those sets before processing keeps the landscape workflow efficient.

Pentax K-1 Mark II RAW at a glance

RAW formatPEF — Pentax Electronic Format (.PEF)
Sensor36 MP full-frame
Resolution36 megapixels
Typical RAW sizeabout 36-45 MB
Released2018
RAW options14-bit PEF RAW with lossless compression; DNG is also available in-camera.

Editing K-1 Mark II files with imagic

imagic opens .PEF files from the Pentax K-1 Mark II natively on Windows and macOS. Point it at a card or shoot folder and it builds previews, scores every frame for sharpness, closed eyes, and composition, and groups near-duplicate bursts — so a full shoot collapses to its keepers before you edit anything.

Processing runs through the bundled RawTherapee engine, entirely on your machine: batch-apply one look across the keepers and export JPEGs in a single pass. Nothing uploads, which matters at about 36-45 MB per frame. The 7-day trial is full-featured and needs no card; licenses are one-time, from €19.

Frequently asked questions

What RAW format does the Pentax K-1 Mark II use?

The Pentax K-1 Mark II writes PEF files with the .PEF extension. 14-bit PEF RAW with lossless compression; DNG is also available in-camera.

How big are Pentax K-1 Mark II RAW files?

Expect about 36-45 MB per frame from the 36 MP full-frame sensor, depending on compression settings and scene detail. A full shoot adds up quickly, which is why culling before editing matters on this body.

How can I open Pentax K-1 Mark II .PEF files for free?

imagic opens PEF files from the Pentax K-1 Mark II natively on Windows and macOS — the 7-day trial needs no card. It culls the shoot with AI quality scoring, groups duplicates, and batch-processes keepers locally through its RawTherapee engine.

More about PEF

The K-1 Mark II's .PEF files share their structure with every Pentax (Ricoh Imaging) body using PEF — the full PEF guide covers compression variants, free openers, and conversion options in depth.

Other Pentax bodies

Pentax KP Pentax K-3 Mark III Pentax K-3 Pentax K-S2 Pentax K-3 II Pentax K-70 Pentax K-1

Cull a K-1 Mark II shoot before your coffee cools

AI quality scoring, duplicate grouping, and local batch processing for .PEF — free for 7 days, no card required.

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