Based on his Talby phone, I think that's what many people though Marc Newsom would deliver too.

Here's how it's being reported in the style/design world:

http://hypebeast.com/2012/02/pentax-k-01-by-marc-newson/

Interestingly the first comment is 'I've never owned a Pentax but this looks like it could be my first.'

That just sounded like Jonathan Martin desperately trying to 'excuse' the oddness of the K-01.

I would have preferred him to say something like 'we appreciate this camera isn't as small as other mirrorless cameras, but our customers have expressed a wish for a relatively compact back-up or video body, with a low cost, simple operation, support for existing lenses and outstanding IQ. We also think this body would be an excellent value entry for new users into the Pentax K-mount system'.

I agree 100%, it just bothers me that they have so obviously tried to make it look smaller, and failed. Why not just flick the Vs to Sony and make it a big, comfortable to hold mirrorless, with that nice, ergonomic grip of the Kr? And pass on to us the cost saving of not including a mirror or EVF!

No, but the K-01 will reduce in price when it hits the street, and the K5 will sustain it's (already low, for what it is) price, more or less, until a K5 replacement appears. These cameras have two different markets entirely.

I believe if the K-01 falls to NEX-competitive prices, used K-mount lenses will become even more sought after. We are all finding the K-01 pretty funny, but the reviews will confirm class leading IQ, for sure, so all is not lost!

If they could have designed out the bulk of the 'mirror box', so the body of the camera was thinner except for the lens mount, it would have looked much smaller... But what Jonathan Martin needed to stress was that there are other advantages to mirrorless than size, and a DSLR sized camera is actually, ergonomically, a better size for some people. If Pentax users want a small mirrorless camera with a new mount, there are plenty of options out there already....

Dargh, but you're gonna have to shoot with that big rubber flappy thing hanging open - all the ports are under it! Honestly this is, at its core, a good product featurewise, and (if I was looking for a bare-bones K-mount shooter) I could cope with the bulk and lack of EVF if the price is right - but in some ways Marc Newson really has managed to make it less user friendly and slightly embarrassing looking....

I knew it was the right time to sell my F50/1.7!

That will no doubt be the long predicted new plastic mounted DA50mm f1.7, a la DA35/2.4. Thanks to Opethian for the inadvertent heads-up last week

The more I'm seeing the less I'm liking, aesthetically. The product would have made sense as a value proposition, i.e. a low cost second body with video capabilities, but I think the Newson involvement and design just amplifies the shortcomings - which would have been bearable if it was just quietly marketed as a cheaper ('value engineered') option than a Pentax DSLR.

They may have come up with a more compelling product if they'd simply produced a Kr with an EVF.

Still, the video capabilities look pretty good, hopefully the advances will springboard into the next gen. DSLR or mirrorless bodies.

Why would you not stick with your Kr anyway?

This is for point n shoot / camphone upgraders who want great IQ, HDR and video... and don't even know what OVF means...