Engineering:Pentax K-01

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Pentax K-01
Pentax K-01 35mm.jpg
Overview
TypeMirrorless interchangeable-lens camera
Lens
LensPentax KAF2 mount
Sensor/medium
SensorAPS-C CMOS sensor
Sensor size23.7 x 15.7 mm
Maximum resolution16.28 megapixel
Recording mediumSD, HC, SDXC
Exposure/metering
Exposure meteringEV -1 to 21 (ISO 100, 50mm 1.4)
Shutter
Shutter speed range1/4000-30 seconds
Image processing
Image processorPRIME M
General
LCD screen3"
WeightWithout battery or removable memory: 480g (16.9 oz); 560g (19.8 oz) with dedicated battery & SD memory card

Pentax K-01 is a mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera announced in February 2012.[1] It uses the Pentax K mount.[2]

The camera was listed as discontinued in February 2013,[3][4][5][6] but the following July was reintroduced to the Japanese market in a new white and blue colour variant.[7]

Lens compatibility

The Pentax K-01 is the first interchangeable single-lens mirrorless camera which is compatible with lenses from a typical SLR camera without the use of an adapter. This differs from cameras from other manufacturers such as Nikon's Nikon 1 or Pentax's own Pentax Q, where the manufacturers designed a new lens mount specifically for the new camera system.

The camera is compatible with all K mount lenses; K mount lenses started being made in 1975.[8] Lenses without the "A" aperture setting will only meter properly using stop-down metering. Manual focus lenses will continue to function as manual-focus only.

Image quality

The K-01 features the same sensor as the Pentax K-5 and Nikon D7000 DSLRs, a Sony 16 MP sensor. DxOMark has rated the potential image quality of the K-01 as slightly lower than the K-5 and D7000. However, compared to other MILCs, the Pentax K-01 is rated slightly better than the Sony NEX-5N, and slightly below the Sony NEX-7. DxOMark's Sport (low light ISO) rating placed the K-01 first among all MILCs at the time it was tested.[9]

Design

The camera body was designed by Marc Newson.

Awards

The K-01 was selected as a Product Design winner at the 2012 red dot design awards,[10][11] and for a Gold award at the German Design Award 2013.[12]

Variants

The Pentax K-01 was released in four body colour combinations: black body with silver top and black grips, black body with silver top and yellow grips, silver body with black top (Europe only) and white body with black top and black grips. A blue and white version was released in July 2013.[13]

Pentax K-01 5357.jpg 200px Pentax K-01 5370.jpg

Reception

Almost immediately upon its release, the K-01 became one of the most controversial Pentax offerings,[14] with criticism focusing on the Marc Newson design, which many considered made the camera too heavy and uncomfortable to hold, with poorly-placed controls, while acknowledging its strong image quality and low-light / high ISO performance.[15][16] Other reviewers complained about slow autofocusing.[17][18][19] Positive aspects of the K-01 included its image and build quality and its compatibility with all existing Pentax K-mount lenses.[20]

References

  1. "Pentax announces K-01 K-mount APS-C mirrorless camera: Digital Photography Review". Dpreview.com. http://www.dpreview.com/news/2012/02/02/Pentax_K-01_announcement. 
  2. "Pentax K-01 Specifications". http://www.pentaxforums.com/camerareviews/pentax-k-01.html. 
  3. "Pentax K-01 listed as discontinued one year after announcement". 25 February 2013. http://photorumors.com/2013/02/24/pentax-k-01-listed-as-discontinued-one-year-after-announcement/. 
  4. Barribeau, Tim. "Pentax Japan discontinues Marc Newson-designed K-01 compact system camera (UPDATED)". http://www.imaging-resource.com/news/2013/02/25/pentax-japan-discontinues-k-01-compact-system-camera. 
  5. Davies, Amy. "Pentax K-01 CSC discontinued after a year on the market". Future US, Inc.. http://www.techradar.com/us/news/photography-video-capture/cameras/pentax-k-01-csc-discontinued-after-a-year-on-the-market-1133868. 
  6. "Pentax Ricoh discontinues K-01 K-mount mirrorless camera". http://www.dpreview.com/articles/7629667889/pentax-ricoh-discontinues-k-01-k-mount-mirrorless-camera-after-1-year. 
  7. "Back for another try: Pentax K-01 mirrorless camera resurrected in Japan". http://www.imaging-resource.com/news/2013/07/08/back-for-another-try-pentax-k-01-mirrorless-camera-resurrected-in-japan. 
  8. "Review: Pentax K-01 Mirrorless Camera with SLR Lenses". March 27, 2012. http://www.digitalversus.com/digital-camera/pentax-k-01-p12695/review-pentax-k-01-mirrorless-camera-with-slr-lenses-n23852.html. 
  9. "The Pentax K-01, the second-best hybrid sensor". March 29, 2012. http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/News/DxOMark-news/The-Pentax-K-01-the-second-best-hybrid-sensor. 
  10. "PENTAX K-01 Interchangeable Lens Camera Receives Red Dot Design Award". Prweb.com. http://www.prweb.com/releases/2012/4/prweb9402681.htm. 
  11. "PENTAX - Marc Newson-Designed PENTAX K-01 Interchangeable Lens Camera Selected For Prestigious International 2012 Product Design Award". Pentaximaging.com. 2012-04-16. http://www.pentaximaging.com/about/press/272. 
  12. "German Design Council". German-design-council.de. https://www.german-design-council.de/en/designpreise/german-design-award/2013/gewinner/detail.html?PID=63727. 
  13. "Pentax unveils blue and white K-01 in Japan: Digital Photography Review". Dpreview.com. http://www.dpreview.com/news/2013/07/04/pentax-unveils-blue-and-white-k-01-in-japan-k-mount-mirrorless-camera-marc-newson-designed. 
  14. Weidelich, Zig. "Pentax K-01 Still Life test shots posted!". http://www.imaging-resource.com/news/2012/03/23/pentax-k-01-still-life-test-shots-posted. 
  15. Barnett, Shawn, Mike Tomkins, and Zig Weidelich. "Pentax K-01 Review". Imaging Resource. http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/pentax-k01/pentax-k01A.HTM. 
  16. Huff, Steve (16 March 2012). "The Pentax K-01 Camera Review – Design Masterpiece or Design Fail?". http://www.stevehuffphoto.com/2012/03/16/the-pentax-k-01-camera-review-design-masterpiece-or-design-fail/. 
  17. Keller, Jeff. "Pentax K-01 Review". Digital Photography Review. http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/pentax-k-01. 
  18. Grunin, Lori. "Pentax K-01 review: Pentax K-01". CBS Interactive Inc.. http://www.cnet.com/products/pentax-k-01/. 
  19. "Pentax K-01 Performance". http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/pentax-k01/pentax-k01A6.HTM. 
  20. "Pentax K-01 review". 10 July 2012. https://www.theverge.com/2012/7/10/3141812/pentax-k-01-review#comments. 

External links