K-01 announcement

[mattb]

As some of you have probably seen elsewhere on the 'net Pentax announced their new mirrorless camera, the K-01 this morning. It sounds like it's basically a K-5 without a viewfinder and a new image processing engine as far as I can tell.

The proof will be in the images but I could see this being a good backup or smaller/lighter body for those who shoot a Pentax dSLR. It will natively use all the same lenses which is smart IMO.
Posters on other sites are both praising and criticizing it which is pretty much how new cameras are received in cyberspace.
I think it looks pretty nice but would have liked to see some kind of viewfinder on it. I'm hoping for one in a future revision. One of these with weather sealing and a EVF could be a small powerhouse for outdoors photographers.
The new da40sx looks pretty neat. I thought my da40 Limited was small, but this is almost half as thin and is claimed to be the thinnest interchangeable lens ever! Optically, I love my da40 and the size is great too.
For those who are upset because they think it's ugly, I have to wonder why you buy a camera. Is it how it looks or how it sees? I'm much more into the latter.

Here's the specs from Pentax:
CAMERA HARDWARE
MODEL: K-01
TYPE: Digital Hybrid ILC

SENSOR
Type: CMOS w primary color filter and integrated Shake/Dust Reduction sensor-shift system
Size: APS-C (23.7 x 15.7mm)
Color depth: 8 bits/channel JPG, 12 bits/channel RAW
Effective pixels: 16.28
Total pixels: 16.49
Recorded resolutions
Still 3 : 2: 16M (4928x3264), 12M (4224x2816), 8M (3456x2304), 5M (2688x1792)
Still 4 : 3: 14M (4352x3264), 11M (3840x2880), 7M (3072x2304), 4M (2304x1728)
Still 16 : 9: 13M (4928x2776), 10M (4224x2376), 6M (3456x1944), 4M (2688x1512)
Still 1 : 1: 10M (3264x3264), 8M (2880x2880), 5M (2304x2304), 3M (1728x1728)
Movie (resolution/FPS): 1920x1080p30/25/24, 1280x720p60/50/30/25/24, 640x480p30/25/24
Quality levels: *** Best, ** Better, * Good
Dust Removal: SP coating w ultrasonic vibration to low pass filter

LENS MOUNT
Type/construction: PENTAX KAF2 bayonet stainless steel mount
Usable lenses: PENTAX KAF3, KAF2, KAF, and KA (K-mount, 35mm screwmount, 645/67 med format lenses useable w adapter and/or restrictions)
SDM function: Yes
Power zoom function: n/a

FOCUS SYSTEM
Type: TTL Contrast Detection AF
Sensitivity range: EV 1-18 (ISO 100)
Focus modes: AF Single (w focus lock, focus/release priority selectable), Face Detection AF, Tracking AF, Manual
Focus point adjustment: Auto 81 Point, User-Selectable, Center
AF assist: LED dedicated AF assist lamp, AF Autozoom (2X, 4X, 6X), Focus Peaking

VIEWFINDER
Type: n/a

LCD MONITOR
Type: 3.0” TFT color LCD w brightness/color adjustment
Resolution: 921,000 dots
Wide angle viewable: Yes (approx 170° horizontal/vertical)

LIVE VIEW
Type: TTL by CMOS image sensor
Field Of View: 100%
Display Modes: Grid (4x4, Golden Ratio, Scale), Bright/Dark Indication, Histogram

BUILT-IN FLASH
Type: Retractable P-TTL auto popup flash
Guide number: 12m (ISO 100)
Coverage: 28mm equivalent
Flash modes: Auto, Auto + Redeye, On, On + Redeye, Slow Sync, Slow Sync + Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Off
Flash exposure compensation: -2 to 1 EV

EXTERNAL FLASH
Type: Hotshoe P-TTL, high speed sync w PENTAX dedicated flash
Synchronization speed: 1/180 sec

STORAGE MEDIA
Internal memory: n/a
Removable memory: SD, SDHC, SDXC (UHS Speed Class 1 supported)

INTERFACES
Ports: USB 2.0 hi-speed, AV out, HDMI out (Type C, Mini), 3.5mm stereo mic in
Video out: HD (via HDMI) NTSC, PAL
Printer interfaces: n/a

POWER SUPPLY
Power source: Rechargeable Li-Ion Battery D-LI90
Recordable images: Approx 540 (approx 500 w 50% flash, CIPA)
Playback time: Approx 320 min
Movie recording time: 25 min (max record time for a single file)
AC adapter available: Yes (optional)

PHYSICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Body dimensions (W x H x D): 4.8 x 3.1 x 2.3”
Body weight
Without battery or removable memory: 16.9 oz
Loaded and ready: 19.8 oz
Construction material(s): Machined aluminum frame with rubber accents
Weather resistant: n/a
Operating temperature: 32-104°F

LANGUAGE SUPPORT
English, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Dutch, Danish, Swedish, Finnish, Polish, Czech, Hungarian, Turkish, Greek, Russian, Korean, Traditional/Simplified Chinese, Japanese

IMAGE CAPTURE

IMAGE STABILIZATION
Type: Sensor-shift Shake Reduction (4 stops max)

METERING SYSTEM
Type: TTL image sensor metering
Sensitivity range: EV -1 to 21 (ISO 100, 50mm F1.4)
Multi-segment: Yes (1024 segments)
Center weighted: Yes
Spot: Yes
Exposure compensation: +/- 3 EV (1/3 and 1/2 steps)
Exposure lock: Yes (via AF/AE-L button)
Exposure bracketing: Yes (3 frames, up to +/- 3 EV in 1/2 steps)

ISO SENSITIVITY
Auto: ISO 100-12800 (1, 1/2, 1/3 steps), expandable to ISO 100-25600, auto ISO range selectable
Manual: ISO 100-12800 (1, 1/2, 1/3 steps), expandable to ISO 100-25600

WHITE BALANCE*
Auto preset modes: Auto, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Fluorescent (D, N, W, L), Tungsten, Flash, CTE
Manual mode(s): Yes
* WB fine adjustment available in all modes

SHUTTER
Type: Electronically controlled focal plane shutter
Shutter speed: 1/4000 to 30 sec (1/3 or 1/2 steps), Bulb

CAPTURE MODES
Mode selection: Auto Picture, Scene (SCN), HDR (JPG only), Flash Off, Bulb (B), Metered Manual (M), Aperture Priority (Av), Shutter Priority (TV), Program (P), Movie
Auto Picture modes: Standard, Portrait, Landscape, Macro, Moving Object, Night Scene Portrait, Night Scene, Blue Sky, Forest
Scene modes: Portrait, Landscape, Macro, Moving Object, Night Scene Portrait, Sunset, Blue Sky, Forest, Night Scene, Night Scene HDR (JPG only), Night Snap, Food, Pet, Kids, Surf & Snow, Backlight Silhouette, Candlelight, Stage Lighting, Museum
Custom Image modes (including fine adjustment): Bright, Natural, Portrait, Landscape, Vibrant, Radiant, Muted, Bleach Bypass, Reversal Film, Monochrome (including film filters, infrared, sepia toning), Cross Processing (creative random effect generation)
Green simplified mode available: n/a
Face detection available: Yes (up to 16 faces)
P/A/S/M/B: P, A, S, M, B
Date stamp: n/a
Digital filters (capture): Extract Color, Toy Camera, Retro, High Contrast, Shading, Invert Color, Color
Dynamic Range adjustment: Yes (highlight and shadow correction)
Digital level: n/a
File/Folder customization: Folder name (standard, date), embed copyright

DRIVE MODES
Mode selection: Single, Continuous (Hi, Lo), Self Timer (12s, 2s), Infrared Remote (0s, 3s), Auto Bracketing (3 frames, up to +/- 3 EV in 1/2 steps)
Continuous FPS: Approx 6 FPS (JPG, Continuous Hi), Approx 3 FPS (JPG, Continuous Lo)
Multi-exposure: Yes (2-9 shots, auto exposure adjustment selectable)
Interval: Yes (1s to 24h, up to 999 shots, delayed start available)
HDR: Auto, HDR1, HDR2, HDR3, (exposure adjustable +/- 1, 2, or 3 EV steps, JPG only)

PLAYBACK MODES
Mode selection: One Shot (no data, standard data, detailed data, histogram, color channel histogram), Multi Image Display (4, 9, 16, 36, 81 thumbnails), Magnification (up to 16X, scrollable, quick zoom), Movie Playback (no data, standard data, detailed data), Image Rotation, Bright/Dark Indication, Copyright Info, Calendar Filmstrip, Folder, Save RAW Data From JPG (if available in buffer memory), Select & Delete, Slideshow
Mode pallet: Image Rotation, Digital Filter, Resize, Cropping, Index, Protect, Slideshow, Cross Processing, RAW Development, Movie Edit, DPOF
Digital filters (playback): Monochrome, Extract Color, Toy Camera, Retro, High Contrast, Shading, Invert Color, Color, Tone Expansion, Sketch Filter, Watercolor, Pastel, Posterization, Miniature, Soft, Starburst, Fisheye, Slim, Base Parameter Adj
Movie edit: Movie Divide, Delete Frames, Save JPG

FILE FORMATS
Still: RAW (DNG), JPG (EXIF 2.3), DCF 2.0 compliant, DPOF, PIM III
Movie (compression): MP4 (AVC h.264), AVI/MJPG for Interval Movie

CUSTOM FUNCTIONS
Functions available: 16

[Photo-John]

Too many camera announcements right now! I'm working on an article about the new Pentax right now. I need to go through all the features and specs and compare to the other compact system cameras. I should have an article done in the next couple of hours.

[Greg McCary]

Looks sweet. No EVF? I think the next model would be the one to get. Just like others systems this one is just testing the waters. I hope it goes over well. If it shoots as good as it looks...

[Photo-John]

Looks sweet. No EVF? I think the next model would be the one to get. Just like others systems this one is just testing the waters. I hope it goes over well. If it shoots as good as it looks...

But maybe, it's all about the looks? That's my only concern here. However, to be fair to Pentax, they are going to have to work a little harder than other camera makers to get our attention right now. So good for them for working a new angle on their camera design

[OldClicker]

They really had to make it thick to keep it compatible with all the legacy lenses. Worth it? Would an adapter route be better? - Terry

[mattb]

They really had to make it thick to keep it compatible with all the legacy lenses. Worth it? Would an adapter route be better? - Terry

Maybe but on all the other MILCs the adapter cripples the lens in terms of automation for AF and aperture, doesn't it? If that was the trade off I wouldn't want it (or not as much anyway). Having full compatibility with all those lenses sounds great to me, especially since I already have a bag full of some very nice K mount glass.
The big tradeoff there is this camera is only slightly smaller than my K-x and the K-x has an optical viewfinder.

I'm interested but the no viewfinder part is a big minus for me. I'll wait a year or so and see if there's an add-on VF or a new model with one built in. At that point I might need a replacement for my K-x which is becoming my backup/second body once my K-5 comes (estimated to arrive Monday).

But in general I see this as a positive move for Pentax. Hopefully this is just the beginning!

[OldClicker]

Maybe but on all the other MILCs the adapter cripples the lens in terms of automation for AF and aperture, doesn't it?

No. I think that they all allow AF of at least the lenses with in-lens AF motors. One of the Sony NEX adapters not only allows full AF use of all the Sony/Minolta A-mount lenses, but also adds the fast Phase Detect AF.

I don't think anyone supports the legacy lenses the way Pentax does and this camera certainly emphasizes that this will continue, but it does sacrifice the ‘smaller is better’.

Terry

[Photo-John]

No. I think that they all allow AF of at least the lenses with in-lens AF motors. One of the Sony NEX adapters not only allows full AF use of all the Sony/Minolta A-mount lenses, but also adds the fast Phase Detect AF.

Yeah, the Olympus Four Thirds to Micro Four Thirds adapter doesn't add any limitations. The lens works exactly the same on a Micro Four Thirds camera as it would on a Four Thirds digital SLR. Well, except the auto focus isn't quite as good. But that's a separate problem

[SmartWombat]

I don't see RAW as a quality option ?

[mattb]

I don't see RAW as a quality option ?

It does RAW. I saw that on a list of features somewhere.

[Photo-John]

I don't see RAW as a quality option ?

Yeah, Paul. It does DNG RAW.

[Anbesol]

This is a strange indeed. Not what I was expecting, but kind of cool on its own right. They can indeed keep full frame with this, how much of an advantage will that be when considering the downsides. Hmmm, interesting, I'm curious to see how they flesh this system out over the next year or so.