[Review] Pentax K-01

The new Pentax K-01 is another bold effort from the manufacturer that is known for pushing camera size, color, durability, and now, design, to the limit. The contemporary, timeless K-01 houses a full array of advanced functions and user-friendly features in a camera body with remarkable form and function. Pentax mirror-less camera featuring the contemporary styling by world renowned designer Marc Newson. Large 16 megapixel APS-C sized CMOS sensor with low noise image capture with ISO range of 100-25600. Machined aluminum frame under a stylish black, white or yellow exterior. Supports all Pentax K-mount lens and is compatible with 25+ million Pentax K mount lenses. Full HD 1080p video capture @ 30 FPS with h.264 compression (60FPS at 720p). Sensor shift shake and dust reduction compatible with every Pentax K mount lens. Fast 6 FPS burst mode with shutter speeds from 1/4000 to 30 seconds and bulb with a silent shutter action. Shooting modes include P, AV, TV and M as well as powerful automatic modes, creative filters and finishing options. In camera HDR mode combines bracketed user-specified exposures into a single, perfectly blended still image. Built in pop up flash and external hotshoe compatible with modern Pentax flash units. Captures JPG still images as well as open standard DNG RAW.


Newson's retro-meets-contemporary design is evident in all elements of the
K-01 including the product logo, camera strap (included) and start-up screen that appears when the K-01 is powered on. Buttons, shutter release and control levers are purposefully placed and accented with colors. The mode dial and power switch are made of high-quality aluminum alloy, while the memory card slot and grip connectors are covered with protective rubber.

Video record options are flexible, offering the photographer to select aperture or shutter exposure control, and Pentax Shake Reduction helps stabilize captured video. Users may add personal touches to recorded clips using various Custom Image modes or record subjects in a series of video clips with the Interval Movie Shooting mode. The Pentax K-01 also comes with an HDMI terminal (which allows the user to simultaneously output both Full HD movie clips and stereo sound) as well as an external microphone input terminal.

The Pentax K-01 is equipped with a newly developed CMOS image sensor measuring 23.7 millimeters by 15.7 millimeters. With approximately 16.28 effective megapixels, this sensor assures high-speed readout of image data signals.

The High Dynamic Range mode is accessible with a turn of the mode dial and allows users to select one of three exposure increments as well as the level of effect, while an automatic position adjustment function assures precise alignment of three images even when they are taken with a handheld K-01.

The Pentax K-01's high-speed burst shooting mode comes in handy when preserving the action of fast-moving subjects in a series of images, since it captures up to five images per second.

Two of the 11 Custom Images functions are Bleach Bypass to create a dramatic visual effect used in motion pictures and Cross Process to produce a fanciful image with unusual colors. The K-01 also features 19 distinctive digital filters including Miniature to convert an actual scene into an image full of miniature models for an unusual visual effect.

The Pentax K-01 features a large, easy-to-view, high-resolution 3.0 inch color LCD monitor with approximately 921,000 dots. The wide-view design assures a clear view of the monitor from approximately 170 degrees horizontally and vertically, which is useful in low and high-angle shooting.

The Pentax K-01 features the Pentax-original, user-friendly Auto Picture mode, which selects the most appropriate shooting mode for a given subject or scene from Portrait, Landscape, Macro and other distinctive shooting modes, while optimizing all camera settings, such as aperture, shutter speed, white balance, saturation, contrast and sharpness.

The Pentax K-01 incorporates the Pentax-developed SR mechanism, which effectively reduces annoying camera shake by approximately four shutter steps. Usable with all compatible lenses, including those produced for film-format SLR cameras, this mechanism produces sharp, blur-free images even under demanding conditions that are prone to camera shake, such as when using a telephoto lens, shooting in the dark without flash illumination, or capturing landscapes in the twilight. Equipped with the Pentax O-GPS1 device (an optional GPS unit launched in June 2011), the K-01's SR system helps astrophotographers track and shoot celestial bodies.

QUICK PREVIEW

• 16 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor with low noise image capture at ISO range 100-25600
• Gorgeous contemporary styling by world renowned designer Marc Newson
• Mirrorless body design with Pentax K mount lens compatibility that allows any Pentax K mount lens to work
• Full HD 1080p video capture @ 30FPS with h.264 compression (60FPS at 720p)
• Fast 6 FPS burst mode ideal for fast action photography
• Shutter speeds from 1/4000 to 30 seconds and bulb with a silent shutter action
• Focus peaking mode provides fast and accurate manual focusing for critical focus applications
• In-camera HDR mode combines bracketed user-specified exposures into a single, perfectly blended still image

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Pentax K-01
Reviewed by Garg Ankit Rating: 3.5