The Q Mount

The newest camera is here.
This is very small, very nice.

http://www.pentaximaging.com/slr/Q_White/

Looks very nice and so small !
Hope it does well for them in the Japan/China market.
Pete

I'm curious what real conceivable benefit could be had from this. Its in such a strange category, by the time there is a consumer that wants a camera that small, at that price, are they really the consumer that wants interchangeable lens?

The 1/2.3" sensor renders it incapable of competing with Sony NEX or Olympus Pen, or even Canon G series in terms of image quality. What is left is convenience plus variability, for a super-low range compact system. I find it hard to believe that there is a real market for this, but I guess we will find out. Now that the mount is designed, they are fixed to that sensor size.

Q-Mount? hmmm...so does this mean that Pentax is veering away from all of their cameras being able to use any of their legacy lenses?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ken1953

Q-Mount? hmmm...so does this mean that Pentax is veering away from all of their cameras being able to use any of their legacy lenses?

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No - no need to worry about that, Ken. The Q-mount is Pentax's entry into the compact, mirrorless camera market. It's a whole different camera category than their digital SLRs.

I agree with you, to some extent on this, Anbesol. The small sensor size is the key factor with the new camera. Here's my article about the new Pentax Q:

New Pentax Q Interchangeable Lens Camera System >>

I'm not judging it like you are, though. I think there will be people who want the new camera. I just wonder how many. It's an interesting gamble on the part of Pentax.

yes don't panic...
The Japanese market is where this is pitched
Pity their economy is etc

I am having most of my doubts due to its steep starting price. The E-PL1 is going for $400 now, half what the Q is being released for.

I think the only way it could find its market space is by undercutting its competition on price. But, hopefully for Pentax I'm wrong.

This reminds me of the really old 110 film camera Pentax produced. It was a beautiful interchangeable lens system. But the small film size insured that it failed no matter how good Pentax made the system.

I wonder, is this history repeating itself?