Pentax Q
(Compact interchangeable lens camera)
Pentax marked their entrance into the compact interchangeable lens camera market today with the announcement of the “Q” camera that uses a new Pentax Q mount (along with five strangely named “number” Q lenses). The camera is significantly smaller than competing cameras from the likes of Panasonic, Samsung, Sony and Olympus because of its 1/2.3 inch sensor (closer to the size you’d get in compact cameras rather than digital SLR models).
- 12 megapixel 1/2.3″ backlit CMOS sensor
- Q-mount (5.5X crop factor) lenses
- Sensor-shift image stabilization
- 3 inch LCD (460k pixels)
- Built-in flash and flash hotshoe
- Full manual controls with RAW mode
- 5 frames per second continuous shooting mode
- ISO range: ISO 125 to 6400
- Creative Control mode (rebranded from My Color mode) allows you to use effects on photos
- 1080p Full HD (1920 x 1080 at 30 FPS) movie mode with mono sound
- Takes SD/SDHC/SDXC memory cards
- Uses a lithium-ion battery
- Available in September for $800 (with 85 mm f1.9 Pentax 01 lens)
- Comes in your choice of black or white
The new lenses include:
- Optional optical viewfinder Pentax 01 lens: $250
- Pentax 01 prime 85 mm f1.9, built-in neutral density filter
- Pentax 02 standard zoom 28 – 83 mm, built-in neutral density filter: $300
- Pentax 03 fisheye, 160 degree: $130
- Pentax 04 “toy” wide (provides a ‘faded, nostalgic’ effect to images) 35 mm: $80
- Pentax 05 “toy” telephoto (provides a ‘faded, nostalgic’ effect to images) 100 mm: $80