MX-1 or original Q???

The Q can't use an aperture larger than f/8 when used with an external flash??

If you want MX-1 form factor and the ability to use external flash, there's a certain other camera that uses the same lens/sensor assembly and has a hotshoe, though it's not a Pentax so clearly takes horrible photos...

Well Jonathan-Mac, we are talking about Pentax cameras on Pentax User, so other makes aren't part of our brief. There are Olympus cameras very similar to the MX-1, but you won't get the same Pentax colour from them, excellent as they may well be.

Anyway, back to the Q, I often use apertures of f/11 - f/16 with studio flash and these are not available on the Q or the MX-1. They are available on the Ricoh GR, but the wide angle lens isn't what we normally look for in studio portraiture.

Having played a bit more...

I'd say the MX-1 comes up from the compact side, whereas the Q is down from the SLR side of things.

Both have a lovely finish, but by way of a quick comparison:

MX-1
- No option to save the last image as RAW
- Fewer colour modes ("Portrait" mode is my favourite!)
- Heavier
- No hot shoe (not a big issue TBH)
- More difficult to change SD card (probably use USB cable to MX-1)

+ Dual axis spirit levels
+ Flippy LCD
+ Super close 1cm macro
+ 4x zoom
+ Faster AF (at least it feels that way!)
+ Face detection (including smiles & blink detection)


Q
- Slightly lower IQ
- Slower AF
- Requirement to clean sensor (mine is set to clean on startup)

+ Save last shot as RAW very useful!
+ More colour options
+ Front selector dial is 'creative' (and I like this a lot)
+ Smaller
+ Hot shoe
+ Fractionally better quality feel to controls
+ "Cute" factor


As John suggests, if money were not an issue, then the Q7 would be excellent! But the MX-1 was almost half the price A firmware upgrade on the MX-1 to add a "save-to-RAW" option (and additional colour modes) would go most of the way for me.

Both delightful to use, with the Pentax UI which is so comfortable, they are approaching photography from slightly different angles. Both capable of excellent results!

Matt

Just a pity the Q7 hasn't the build quality of the original Q.

It's always going to be down to what you want it for. I find the build quality of the Q and IQ astounding with the 01 Prime compared to any previous compact I've had and I can stick it in the smallest of pockets or leave it in the glove compartment of my car. For happy snapping and more I love it. Of course for me it is the interchangeable lenses that I like. The results with the 300 DA* as an ultra telephoto can be superb and that's what makes it for me.

I've been tempted by a Q for a while; my secondary, Kr, is just that bit to big.

I've read good things about the Fuji XE2 (but I'm on the wrong forum for that one), so I'll be looking up the MX1 now too.

Just a quick update folks - I got a Ricoh GR instead! Thanks for your previous comments and suggestions and here are a few snaps from my GR:

https://www.pentaxuser.com/forum/topic/a-few-snaps-from-my-new-gr--47857

D