Pentax K-01 images -- what do you think?

[shots worth sharing]

<p>I'm willing to be convinced (by sales numbers) that there's a market for this but it ain't me. As far as I'm concerned the best easy-to-carry & handle back-up for a K-5 is another K-5. </p>

[joe ogiba]

<p>Miserere is a still only shooter I bet and if he shot video like I do he would sing a different tune. The K-01 will be the best camera for shooting video with K-mount lenses . The NEX needs a $400 adapter to use Sony A mount lenses and none have SR !<br /><br /><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7167/6817055283_0b410df6f1_b.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="907" /><br>

<img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7145/6818735491_dedd30aa30_b.jpg" alt="" width="1000" height="667" /></p>

[hinman]

<p>Joe, I have the NEX and I don't think I will spend money on the <a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/819768-REG/Sony_LA_EA2_A_Mount_Lens_to_NEX.html">Sony LA-AE2 adapter</a> and it is <strong>$325</strong> listed in BH. And why SR/OSS if you shoot video on a tripod? I will prefer <a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/543261-REG/Voigtlander_BA243B_Nokton_Classic_35mm_f_1_4.html">Voiglander 35mm f/1.4</a> and shoot with MF, weight is <strong>7 oz</strong> and filter size is <strong>43mm</strong>. And I think your Pentax picture is the lens with FA 77mm f/1.8 and not the 31mm f/1.8. The pictures are not scaled for comparison. </p>

<p>I try not to form an opinion on K01 but I do have polarizing views that change daily on the subject. If it can shoot video better than any other MILC, it will be a huge gain but jury is not out until proven. Pentax has no mentioning about such claim that its video beats others. Without any video footage out and real user assessment, I don't see the excitement yet. </p>

[hinman]

<p>I was wrong on the Pentax picture. The lens mounted is indeed the 31mm and the lens standing is the 77mm. Anyway, the pictures are not scaled to give a meaningful comparison. Maybe a Samyang 35mm f/1.4 in K-mount mounted on both K-01 and NEX with adapter will be more meaningful. To see the actual video footage with NEX 5N and Samyang 35mm f/1.4, you can make reference to this article with a video made with the combination</p>

<ul>

<li><a href="http://philipbloom.net/2011/10/25/anthonyvizzari/">http://philipbloom.net/2011/10/25/anthonyvizzari/</a></li>

</ul>

[miserere_mei]

<blockquote>

<p>Joe Ogiba wrote:<br>

Miserere is a still only shooter I bet and if he shot video like I do he would sing a different tune.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>Joe, if you read my opinion piece on <a href="http://www.camera-enthusiast.com/news/photo-technique/form-over-function-or-why-the-pentax-k-01-was-a-bad-idea/">Camera-Enthusiast</a>, you'll see that video is the one area where I think the K-01 might excel.</p>

[miserere_mei]

<blockquote>

<p>R.T. wrote:<br>

Unrelated, but I was looking at pictures of the Ricoh GXR last night... is it just me, or does the K-01 bear a slight resemblance? It's too bad that camerasize.com doesn't have the GXR/A12-module combo; it would be cool to see them side by side.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>The GXR is a <em>small</em> camera, but still manages to have great ergonomics. The best I could find for you was this comparison of the GXR to the Fuji X100, Leica X1 and Sony NEX-5:</p>

<p>http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1013&message=37797801</p>

<p>You can then <a href="http://camerasize.com/compare/#133,285">compare the K-01 to the Fuji X100</a> to get a feel of what the GXR looks like next to the K-01.</p>

[jeremy_corbin]

<p>Without a VF of the E or O variety I really feel that this K-01 would be best served as someone's non-pro rig or someone that shoot's video where the camera is caged. You can't view anything through the VF easily when the camera is caged anyway. This camera could be a monumental step for independent film makers. </p>

[miserere_mei]

<p>Another size comparison: Ricoh GXR vs Panny GF2:</p>

<p>

[rparmar]

<p>This camera has inspired me!</p>

<p>To buy another Olympus PEN at a fraction of the price and a fraction of the size.</p>

<p>You will see (some of) my Pentax gear come up for sale over the next little while. I'll keep my best lenses to fit to the PEN, where they expose more accurately and automatically (no crippled mount!).</p>

<p>Down the line I'll buy into the OM-D system, which has just leap-frogged Pentax by about five years. It even includes a weather-sealed flash. Now how long have we been asking for that?</p>

[miserere_mei]

The upcoming Olympus EM5 does look very interesting, especially

with the recent and upcoming metal primes Oly has released.

Plus, the micro-4/3 system already has a great, affordable,

fastish, compact, normal prime: Panny 20mm f/1.7. No need to

mention AGAIN Pentax doesn't have one, right?

 

Robin, can't say I blame you. Me? I'm waiting for the Samsung

NX20 announcement, but I'll keep an eye on that new Oly.

[pbarnes]

<p>Robin, can you please point to some information, or explain a bit more how K mount lenses work on Oly PENs?</p>

<blockquote>

<p>"I'll keep my best lenses to fit to the PEN, where they expose more accurately and automatically (no crippled mount!)."</p>

</blockquote>

[duane_mills]

<p>It's different, that's for sure. Perhaps has more in common with the Pentax legacy than one would think. You could drive nails with the K1000 and then take photos of your finished house. It looks like the K-01 will be equally capable! Last year I attended a conference and was impressed by a presentation from Mitsubishi Canada's Kevin O'Rourke. Mitsubishi doesn't have deep enough pockets to take on Toyota, Honda or even GM for that matter. Mitsubishi has been aggressively building their customer base by changing the discussion and giving people something to talk about. Pentax seems to be adopting a similar approach. If they recognize that on-line video (such as You Tube) is outperforming on-air video by a ratio of 3-to-1 and that entertaining people rather than selling is the key to making it go viral with Social Media then Pentax could grow market share significantly.</p>

<p>I'm not going to cast any negative thoughts until I try the K-01 first. At $899 cdn with the 40mm f2.8 it looks pretty sweet. The price may be close to the K-5 but will offer a cost advantage over a yet-to-be released K-3 which would probably be around $1,499 cdn. I see the larger screen as having potential with SMC A lenses but will wait and see how it performs in real life. I was considering pulling the trigger on the K-5 with a DA 21 but will wait to try the K-01 first.<br>

Cheers,<br>

Duane</p>

<p> </p>

[laur1]

<blockquote>

<p>Robin, can you please point to some information, or explain a bit more how K mount lenses work on Oly PENs?</p>

</blockquote>

<p>If I may: using simple adapters, they work as MF lenses with manual aperture controls. While the manual aperture may sound bad on an SLR because of the darker viewfinder, this is not an issue with an EVF/LCD. The only problematic lenses are the DAs which have no manual aperture. Those are probably going to be the first lenses that Robin will sell, assuming he made the mistake to buy any. :)<br>

Of course, crop factor will be different. This is why I am looking at a two system combo - MFT + an APS-C one.</p>

[miserere_mei]

<blockquote>

<p>Laurentiu wrote:<br>

The only problematic lenses are the DAs which have no manual aperture.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>There are adapters that have an aperture control wheel. Of course, they cost some $225 instead of the $25 you pay for a simple Chinese adapter on eBay.</p>

[laur1]

<blockquote>

<p>There are adapters that have an aperture control wheel. Of course, they cost some $225 instead of the $25 you pay for a simple Chinese adapter on eBay.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>True, I forgot about those. :) So even DAs can be valuable for those willing to purchase such adapters.</p>

[rparmar]

<p>On the Olympus PEN with my $20 adapter I set the mode to Av, set the aperture on the lens and the camera exposes perfectly (unlike any Pentax model) and automatically (ditto). I have a better LCD and can zoom in for focus assist. Though peaking would be nice too.</p>

<p>You can set the LCD to either compensate for changes in light, or display changes as they occur.</p>

<p>Laurentiu Cristofor wrote:</p>

<blockquote>

<p>Those are probably going to be the first lenses that Robin will sell, assuming he made the mistake to buy any. :)</p>

</blockquote>

<p>Actually, I didn't make that mistake. :-)</p>

<p>All my K-mount prime lenses have an aperture ring, though not so for the zooms. I might keep the DA12-24, though hand-held stitching has become almost magical.</p>