Pentax K-01

Yes I totally agree, the K-01 seems to be a K-5 for the uninitiated or the 'photographer stigma' conscious or someone that wants something simpler than a full blown DSLR without having to make sacrifices when it comes to IQ. The OM-D is going the other way, trying to provide a more complete package for more demanding photographers while retaining the advantages of the m4/3 format. Rather unfair comparison.

I wonder what I would do given £1000 to spend- OMD or K-01 and pocket some change. I have a cheap PEN (EP1)already and it's really good but it is limited- I wouldnt use it in low light high ISO situation- but I can stick it in the pocket of a stretchy hoody with pancake attached when I take the dog for a walk.

I wonder whether Pentax have ever considered joining the MFT lot- is it a Oly / Panasonic license? Pentax are capable of getting superb results when using the same sensor as the competition (eg.K5) , I imagine that getting hold of such a sensor maybe difficult.

Is it sacrilege to consider a enthusiast level Pentax without a K mount?

I can't believe people are now asking Pentax to bring out an MFT!
Wouldn't it be easier just to tell them what mount not to bring out?

Lol, well there's an argument for saying that Pentax is in danger of being mightily squeezed by better MFT sensors and cameras on one side and a more fully fleshed out FF market that will be very difficult and expensive to enter on the other side. So relying for the bulk of their revenue on APS-C and a film-era mount for it may not be something Pentax can continue with for that much longer. In this regard, the K-01 may turn out to be more of an ending than a beginning.

I'm not saying that at all!

They don't have a CSC to match the other brands and to produce a genuinely compact camera the K mount may not be suitable- I wondered whether they had considered it. That is all- dont get all Daily Mail on me Outraged from Lancashire!

If you lose the K-mount you are not left with much... Pana and Oly already produce really great m43 cameras, being a third choice in that does not really sound such a good idea.

A more refined K01 on the other side...

A film-era mount? Good grief.

What, pray, is wrong with the K-mount? Would you rather a new mount, and no second-hand lenses?

G

The K mount was a masterpiece from its inception. It has proved possible to adapt it as electronics and then AF have entered the scene and keep an astonishing amount of backwards-compatibility.

I would think of it as an asset, not a drawback.

Nikon and Canon have film era mounts together with
very expensive film era AF that requires a motor in each
lens

People forget how much superior the K mount was compared to
the CZ Contax mount which couldn't be adapted to AF and
eventually led to the end of the Contax system, because
togs didn't fancy buying a 2nd set of very expensive
lenses.

And there was me thinking that the failure of their digital camera was what destroyed Contax.

G

Anyone read the AP hands on of the K-01 yet?

Yes, I've read it. They don't really say anything in terms of conclusions. It reads to me as very bland.

Thanks John, saved me some cash!

Ned's back
He has images of the K-01 with the Ltd primes, and a cool Vimeo shot of the Focus Peaking feature.

K-01 with DA & FA Lenses

K-01 focus peaking

Matt

Hi All,
Thanks to Amazon yesterday I received my new K-01, its the Black and Silver, lovely little camera and it seems easy to use. I did not take any lens with it as I will be using my lenses from my K-5.
I tried my new 16-50 Pentax lens first, " not too practical for the K-01.
however, my DA-21 lens is just perfect on the camera, I have not taken to many pictures yet but the few I did take the quality is amazing. I did not need to wait for the battery to charge as I used my spare battery from my K-5 which is another plus point for the K-01.
Regards Edward