The Q represents an evolution in interchangeable lens digital camera design, featuring the world’s smallest and lightest body. Experience the PENTAX Q. The Camera. Evolved.
Q-Mount Lens System
The Q features the newly designed PENTAX Q-mount lens system for convenient interchangeability with a variety of specialty Q lenses. Choose from a selection of prime, zoom, fisheye lenses, and more to suit just about any photographic need.
12.4 Megapixels
Enjoy exceptional image quality in 12.4 megapixels courtesy of the Q’s 1/2.3 inch backlit CMOS image sensor. Capable of producing 12 bit DNG RAW and JPG images, the backlit CMOS sensor is a highly efficient light-gathering instrument designed specifically to produce very low noise at high levels of sensitivity.
Durable
Though extremely compact, the Q is also surprisingly durable, sporting lightweight, scratch resistant magnesium alloy covers.
Traditional DSLR Shooting Modes
Experienced photographers will enjoy the power and flexibility of traditional DSLR shooting modes such as Program, Aperture/Shutter Priority, and Metered Manual exposure control. Yet casual shooters will appreciate the highly convenient automatic modes such as the set-it-and-forget-it PENTAX Auto Picture and 21 scene modes.
Customizable Quick Dial
Conveniently choose from a variety of creative modes, Smart Effect options, or camera settings to assign to the Q’s Quick Dial located on the front of the camera. Easily customize the setting or effect using the Quick Dial’s 4 positions, allowing you to concentrate on photography without having to explore the camera’s menu system.
HDR Capture
In-camera HDR capture mode shoots 3 images of varying exposures, blending them to bring out the details in even the darkest shadows and brightest highlights of extreme contrast shots.
1080p HD Video
Shoot high quality motion video with stunning full 1080p HD clarity at 30 frames per second. The Q efficiently processes the full HD video using high quality h.264 compression for superior color and detail. Explore creative video effects through the use of custom image modes, digital video filters, and interval shooting; or select from a variety of Q lenses to realize your perfect artistic vision.
Sensor-Shift Shake Reduction
Capture stabilized, blur and dust free images even in low lighting courtesy of the Q’s sensor-shift Shake Reduction system with integrated DRII Dust Reduction. Body-based Shake Reduction operates independently of the Q’s lenses, allowing the same level of stabilization regardless of lens selection.
3 Inch LCD Monitor
Easily capture or review images and video using the Q’s large 3 inch LCD monitor. The high quality LCD features HVGA resolution with 460,000 dots, as well as viewing angles up to 170 degrees horizontally and vertically.
5 FPS
Capture even the fastest action with a 5 frames per second continuous shooting mode, ideal for sporting events, children at play, or any fast action situation.
Bokeh Control Filter
Enjoy effortless bokeh control with the Q’s bokeh control filter. Traditionally controlled through a DSLR lens’s aperture, bokeh is the out of focus part of the background that helps to emphasize the subject, drawing the viewer’s eyes to the most important part of the photo. The Q assists the experienced and casual photographer alike by offering a fine degree of extra control over image bokeh via an in-camera filter operation.
Smart Effects Mode
New Smart Effects modes enhance digital photography by applying a series of effects to images to achieve high quality finishing. Brilliant Color, Vintage Color, Warm Fade, Bold Monochrome, and Water Color are just some of the Smart Effects available, which can also be assigned to the Q’s Quick Dial.
USER Modes For Creativity
Powerful USER modes allow the creative photographer to save a series of favorite camera settings, filters, and custom image modes for instant reuse.
1/2000 to 30 Second Shutter Speeds
Shutter speeds range from 1/2000 to 30 seconds, perfect for freezing fast action or capturing long nighttime exposures. Bulb mode adds flexibility for low light photography and motion effects.
Built-In Popup Flash
The Q’s built-in popup flash adds the perfect amount of extra light to an image, while its high extension naturally reduces the redeye effect common to compact cameras. The Q’s flash is effective to 23 feet at 200 ISO, and covers a wide angle 28 degree field of view.
HDMI Port
A built-in micro HDMI port is perfect for outputting high resolution images and video, with sound, to modern HDTVs.
SD, SDHC, and SDXC Memorey Cards
The Q is compatible with the latest generation SD, SDHC, and SDXC memory cards for ultra-high capacity storage as well as outstanding image file portability.
RAW File Processing
The Q includes SILKYPIX Developer Studio 3 software for powerful and flexible RAW file processing. In-camera RAW image development is also supported.
External Viewfinder Available Separately
Compose images and video either with the Q’s LCD monitor or using a shoe-mounted viewfinder attachment available as an optional accessory. The External Viewfinder O-VF1 makes an excellent accessory to the Q, offering outstanding compositional framing, even in the brightest sunlight where viewing an LCD screen is traditionally a challenge.
Read more on PhotoRumors.com: http://photorumors.com/2011/06/22/pentax-q-worlds-smallest-and-lightest-interchangeable-lens-digital-camera/#ixzz1Q4De5EbM
14 Responses
Could it BE any uglier? Who exactly is this camera for? This is going to fail miserably (and not b/c it’s ugly).
It could be for all the people who want more telephoto than a point and shoot gives them, or people who want wider, or people who size/mass is really important.
This, 4/3, APS, FF, Medium Format… in that order each puts less stress on the lens system to resolve, and gives shallower DOF at equivalent FOV.
If you want infinite DOF at wide apertures smaller sensors are better.
The back illuminated CCD should help the noise some and the HDR mode looks interesting, it might make up for some of the sensor DR shortcomings (if they exist).
It may well fail particularly in the US because of low market presence for Pentax cameras, but I don’t see why this is any worse than an LX5 or a XZ-1 certainly, having to pay a bit more for interchangeable lenses is fine, and it could be the best 1/2.3 sensor camera to date. Plenty are sold… No reason it should cost much more to make (lens excluded).
Field of view (focal length range), size/mass, build quality, etc. demands have all been met with existing point and shoot cameras. You want “more telephoto”? How about one of these?
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/cameras/sony_hx_100v.shtml
This camera will barely be smaller than a NEX, which has an APS-C sensor. You want more depth of field? Stop down. Faster shutter speed? Bump up the ISO. The NEX can give you just as much DoF and will have cleaner images at ISO 400 (maybe 800?) than this has at 100. But what if you want less DoF on this Pentax? Oh I know–use the DoF filter!! LOL
HDR mode?! I should hope this has one, because sensor’s DR will be so limited compared to an APS-C or even m4/3 sensor. HDR mode… haha! Try using that when something is moving.
You (and maybe you alone) will be paying more for the inconvenience of an interchangeable lens camera, but getting none of the benefits of one. Oh, oh–maybe the toy lenses will turn out to be real gems!
Thumbs up if you think this camera is Fucken Ugly!
And what’s with the color too?
looks cheap.
Magnesium-alloy… Like a Pro camera…
It comes in black…
Bokeh control filter?! Perhaps this is an attempt to make up for the small sensor …
Maybe 4/3 cameras will adopt it next for the same reason 😉 It is all relative my friend.
Preview: http://www.dpreview.com/previews/pentaxQ/
It probably didn’t need the grip, but the black model looks very nice. So do the lenses. High hopes for the larger sensor pentax to come. I wish Olympus or Panasonic would use more magnesium/rubber grip.
Ok, the toy lenses are manual. Why are they so big then?
The camera width is exactly the same as the GF3, and the lenses seem to be the same size as m43 pancakes. Yes, it’s smaller in height and width, but the depth is what counts towards pocketability.
Ew!, pretty much sums it up! ): but it definitely could have been a great camera, but it can only get better from here! HOPEFULLY!
This camera is a joke. For $800, I get a camera with a small sensor that is no better than the sensor in a standard pocket camera. How much do I really need a tiny camera with tiny lenses that shoots low-quality photos?
Flash was designed by WALL-E!