Today Pentax announced the brand-new Q interchangeable lens system camera and five accompanying Q-system lenses. The Pentax Q boasts a range of features and claims to be the "world's smallest and lighest interchangeable lens system camera".*
Key Features
Available in both black and white, the Pentax Q has a retro-styled magnesium alloy body and is equipped with a 3-inch LCD monitor and 1/2.3-inch CMOS image sensor with 12.4 effective megapixel capability. The camera has a sensitivity range up to ISO 6400, full HD movie recording, continuous shooting at up to 5 fps, a maximum shutter speed of 1/2000 and a High Dynamic Range (HDR) function.
The Smart Effect function offers nine creative shooting modes including the high-contrast Funicular Bold mode, the toy camera-inspired Vintage Colour function, Cross Processing and Water Colour. Appealing to beginners, the Pentax Q also features a bokeh control function which allows the user to "easily capture the images with such effects as background defocus".
The built-in flash can be used in either the pop-up or default positions
Lenses
This Q system announcement of course brings with it the launch of a new range of Q-mount lenses:
- The Standard Prime lens has an equivalent focal length of 47mm and a maximum aperture of f/1.9
- The Standard Zoom lens features a 27.5 - 83mm focal length and aperture range of f/2.8 to 4.5
- The Fish Eye lens has an ultra wide 17.5mm focal length and an f/5.6 fixed aperture
- The Toy Lens Wide has a 35mm focal length and fixed aperture of f/7.1
- The Toy Lens Telephoto features a medium telephoto focal length of 100mm and an f/8 fixed aperture
The new range of Q-mounted lenses
A polarizing filter will also be available as an additional accessory to the Standard Prime and Standard Zoom lenses.
Availability
The Pentax Q system camera is now available for pre-order at Wex Photographic.
What are your thoughts on this new addition to the Pentax range?
*as of June 15, 2011 (based on Pentax's research)