Pentax Announces K-01 “Pretty Ugly” Mirrorless Camera

Ugly? This was and still is the word used by some commentators to describe the new Pentax camera, the K-01. I won’t say it’s ugly though. Neither do I want to say it’s pretty. It’s Pentax. It’s just that. First thing first, it’s a K-mount camera, meaning all existing K-mount lenses are compatible with it. Which is a good thing, because users are not forced to buy into a new system altogether.

Pentax K-01 Black

Also announced together with the K-01 is a super thin lens — thinner than the thinnest Pancake — which is also compatible with all Pentax modern DSLRs. The hotshoe on the K-01 is also compatible with all Pentax flashguns, or designed-for-Pentax third party flashes, such as the Metz Mecablitz, I presume.

Slim… smc PENTAX-DA 40mm F2.8 XS Lens

Here are the key features of the K-01: Priced at US$749 (body only) or US$899 with the thin kit, durable machined aluminum frame in black, white, or yellow exterior; compatible all PENTAX K-mount lenses spanning decades, 16 megapixel APS-C sized CMOS image sensor with multiple aspect ratios, 3-inch LCD with 920,000 dots, full HD 1080p video capture at 30 FPS with h.264 compression (60 FPS at 720p), sensor-shift PENTAX Shake and Dust Reduction system which is compatible with every mounted PENTAX lens, 6 FPS burst mode, ISO 100-25600, focus peaking mode for fast and accurate manual focusing for critical focus applications. It also the first mirrorless to provide a native support of DSLR lenses.

Here are the things I hope to see but didn’t: an EVF, a full frame sensor, a tilt-swivel LCD screen, weather-sealing.

With the new Prime M processor, the K-01 sensor is said to be able to top the image quality of Pentax K-5, arguably one of the best-performing APS-C cameras, even in today’s standard.

Pentax K-01 Silver

Here are some words of the K-01 designer Marc Newson:

A hands-on preview of the K-01:

Posts Related to Pentax Announces K-01 “Pretty Ugly” Mirrorless Camera

• Pentax FF Mirrorless

  Pentax FF Mirrorless: jipau.com This not a rumour, neither this is the truth, so this should be treated as such. With that off my nicotine-asphalted chest, ...

• 

  Pentax OPTIO H90 Camera Special

• Pentax K-01 vs Fujifilm X-Pro1

  Here is a feature comparison between the newly announced Pentax K-01 and Fujifilm X-Pro1. I’ve tried my best to ensure the accuracy of this table but ...