Pentax Q

The Pentax Q is a mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera introduced by Pentax on June 23, 2011.

Pentax Q

Pentax Q with zoom lens
Overview
Maker	Pentax
Type	Mirrorless
Lens
Lens mount	Pentax Q-mount, bayonet, stainless steel mount
Sensor/medium
Image sensor type	BSI-CMOS sensor
Image sensor size	1/2.3″ (1/1.7″ for Q7 and Q-S1), 12.4 megapixel
Maximum resolution	4:3 native: 4000 x 3000, 3456x2592, 2688x2016, 1920x1440
ASA/ISO range	125-6400 (Q, Q10), 100-12800 (Q7, Q-S1)
Recording medium	SD, SDHC, SDXC
Focusing
Focus	autofocus with manual override
Flash
Flash	built-in: P-TTL, popup extension, GN 7m, 1/2000 s sync (leaf shutter), 1/13 s (electronic); external P-TTL, 1/250 s sync
Shutter
Frame rate	5-frame burst; 1.5fps sustained
Shutter	electronic, leaf shutter in lens where applicable
Shutter speeds	30 s to 1/2000 s mechanical; 2 s to 1/8000 s electronic
Viewfinder
Viewfinder	optional optical suitable for 8.5 mm f/1.9 lens
Image processing
Custom WB	auto, CTE, manual set; presets: daylight, shade, cloudy, fluorescent (D, N, W, L), tungsten, flash; fine adjustment available in all modes
General
Video/movie recording	1920x1080 30fps, 1280x720 30fps, 640x480 30fps
Rear LCD monitor	360x320x4 luminance-R-G-B HVGA; color LCD
Battery	proprietary, rechargeable li-ion battery, Pentax D-LI68
Data Port(s)	USB 2.0
Body composition or special features	mechanical sensor-shift image stabilization (photography); electronic image stabilization (video)
Dimensions	98 x 57 x 31 mm (3.86 x 2.24 x 1.22")
Weight	180 g (0.40 lb / 6.35 oz)
Made in	Philippines

Characteristics

Introduced as "The world's smallest interchangeable lens system camera…"[1] The Pentax Q system is composed of four bodies (Q, Q10, Q-7, Q-S1) and eight lenses: the 01 prime normal, the 02 wide-tele zoom, 03 fish-eye, the 04 "toy" wide angle, the 05 "toy" telephoto, the 06 telephoto zoom, the 07 "mount shield" lens, and the 08 ultra-wide zoom. The zooms and prime normal lenses have leaf shutters (with built-in neutral density filters) and sync with flash up to 1/2000 of a second. The other lenses use the camera's electronic shutter. The 09 macro lens was prototyped but never released. Modern Pentax K mount lenses can be used on the Q with an adapter that has a mechanical shutter. Other adapted lenses use the electronic shutter.

The camera's small sensor size (1/2.3") means that the Q has a crop factor of 5.6× (compared to full-frame 35mm cameras), as well as a short flange focal distance (FFD). With the 5.6× crop factor, a 100mm macro lens (for example) results in a 35mm equivalent field of view (FOV) of a 560mm telephoto. An additional implication of the 5.6× crop factor and associated optics is that depth of field (DOF) is increased proportionally for a given aperture setting (in comparison to the 35mm equivalent DOF at the same aperture). This means that in some applications the small Pentax Q sensor offers an advantage over larger formats. This also allows the Pentax Q lenses to be proportionally smaller than lenses designed for larger formats.

The short FFD of the Pentax Q enables it to accept manual focus lenses from many manufacturers (via adapters) including Nikon F, Leica M and 39M, Olympus OM, Canon FD, Minolta, M42 screw mount, C-Mount, D-Mount, Pentax K, and Pentax Auto 110.[2]

The Pentax Q has a wide range of digital effects and controls including High Dynamic Range (HDR), multiple scene modes, and a bokeh function which, when activated, can enable a pseudo shallow focus effect.

The camera is equipped with sensor-shift image stabilization technology to improve image quality at slow shutter speeds or when using telephoto lenses. It has a "focus peaking" function as well. Sensor shift and focus peaking functions also work with adapted lenses.

The Q7 and Q-S1 models have a larger sensor size (1/1.7") resulting in a crop factor of 4.6×.

References

1. http://ricohimaging.com/products/q-series/
2. "Lens Adapters | B&H Photo Video". Bhphotovideo.com. Retrieved 2013-06-16.

External links

• Specs at DPReview