Pentax K-01, Ugliest Camera Ever

[regularchickens]

Originally Posted by loneranger

what is in that chimney sticking out.

Shades of the Nikon Photomic Ftn's massive metered prism. It wasn't exactly svelte, either.

I see DNA from both the GXR and the Q in this. And somebody's grandfather was a K-1000. So we have a mirrorless that's a bit smaller than a Pentax manual film body... but retains the hump and mirror box. Why? Oh, right, so that they wouldn't have to roll out a new line of lenses.

[batterytypehah!]

Originally Posted by Disaster_Area

looks like one of those all-plastic fake SLR's from the 80's... the ones that were fixed focus point and shoots disguised as an SLR, with names like Mikkon and Cannon

My thought, too. Crossed with Thomas the Tank Engine, for that really young demographic.

[charjohncarter]

Ugly: who cares, what is the image quality? Can we use any of the 10 million lenses made for it? Is that penta hump for a future EVF or does it have one?

Size: K-01-12.1cm wide x 7.9cm high x 5.9 cm deep; K-5-131 x 97 x 73 mm, so smaller. Sony NEX-7-119.9 x 66.9 x 42.8 mm. Surprisingly, it isn't too much deeper than the NEX-7.

[Darthfeeble]

How about the quality of the picture that it takes? Does anyone care about that? S

[chrishayton]

Looking at the photo it looks to be an internal lens. In other words maybe it will fit K mount lenses but it will also have some new lenses only for use in this new mirror less mount where the optic cell is in the camera (non retrofocus maybe) Therefore its still small and completely backwards compatible ( but no M mount!)

[KoNickon]

Hey, we would have all bitched if we were unable to use all those Pentax SLR lenses, right? I've seen uglier cameras, for sure (think Agfa and Voigtlander rangefinders of the 1960s).

[ChrisN]

Originally Posted by Darthfeeble

How about the quality of the picture that it takes? Does anyone care about that? S

No. The only important thing is how we feel the other cool people will feel about us if we use it.

At this stage I can't see an advantage over the K5. Any ideas?

[Archlich]

Originally Posted by charjohncarter

Ugly: who cares, what is the image quality? Can we use any of the 10 million lenses made for it? Is that penta hump for a future EVF or does it have one?

Size: K-01-12.1cm wide x 7.9cm high x 5.9 cm deep; K-5-131 x 97 x 73 mm, so smaller. Sony NEX-7-119.9 x 66.9 x 42.8 mm. Surprisingly, it isn't too much deeper than the NEX-7.

It has the 16MP sony sensor, which means same image quality as the K-5, D7000, NEX5N and a65, etc.

The hump is built-in flash.

Pentax is just too attached to their DA lens lineup...

[ChrisN]

Originally Posted by btgc

Nice or ugly, that's not that important. But 60mm eq. FOV - anyone?

40mm pancake lens, 60mm-equivalent field of view (135 format standard). It's an odd length, but some like it a lot. There was a time when many SLRs came with a 58mm standard lens! Pentax's 43mm lens is quite nice, even on the crop sensor. The DA21mm lens (31mm-equivalent) could be quite nice on this body.

[Corto]

I like it.

But then I also drink expensive wines from papercups and drive a pick up truck.

[rbelyell]

Originally Posted by Darthfeeble

How about the quality of the picture that it takes? Does anyone care about that? S

it cant take good pictures if youre focusing while hoding it as you would a child with a dirty diaper.

[MaxElmar]

Looks yuk. (But that's not very important.)

But native k-Mount? Really? How about a new mount and good quality adapters for K & M42?

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, now advanced technology makes it possible to have a mirrorless camera with absolutely NO size advantage over DSLR. And you will be happy to pay extra for the empty space where the mirror used to be.

What the heck is in the water over there at Pentax?

[dreilly]

I heard the IQ blows the X-1 Pro out of the water!

[Johann Espiritu]

It does *kinda* look like the Digilux 1...



If if feels solid in your hands, though, it might make up for it's odd looks.

[benlees]

You wanted a Fuji X pro 1 but got this instead. Sweet.

[dreilly]

Of course design and appearance matters. Do you dress up for an interview? Do you shave before a date? Would the Marines be taken as seriously if they walked around with dull swords and old flannel shirts sticking out of their flies?

So I'll state for the record that one of the considerations I have in buying a camera is the design and appearance. I spend a lot of time with this thing in my hand and yes, it's part of my persona like my boots, watch, and favorite wool coat. When I'm on a paying job, I want my appearance and the appearance of my equipment to look serious, professional, and like it was designed by somebody who had an idea or two rolling around in their heads. And yeah, I want it to work well as a tool. They're both essential to a good camera, in my opinion. To say otherwise is to discount the important role of the industrial designer.

If there are any Danes on the forum, I'd love for you to speak up on this matter. In my time in Denmark I rarely saw anything for sale that didn't have some thoughtful design behind it.

[dreilly]

Originally Posted by Johann Espiritu

You know, this reminds me of Destro.

And not much reminds me of Destro. But I think that's my deep-seeded hostility towards cameras that mix silver and black metal together.

[nighstar]

the camera doesn't look ugly to me..... odd, maybe, but ugly? no.

and besides, it's the photos it takes that matter.

[Taipei-metro]

I need to upgrade my ★ist DL
It won't be this 01.
K-01, sounds like a Hoya filter.
This one is still Pentax
http://a.img-dpreview.com/reviews/pe...ages/intro.jpg
Fits my hand.

[n5jrn]

Originally Posted by chris00nj

As a result, the camera is just as big as an SLR, which erases the primary advantage of going mirror-less.

That's the main reason I thought the concept of making such a camera (EVIL, but to take SLR lenses) a bit odd and in fact doubted the veracity of the early rumors about such a beast.

[Corto]

Originally Posted by dreilly

Of course design and appearance matters. Do you dress up for an interview? Do you shave before a date? Would the Marines be taken as seriously if they walked around with dull swords and old flannel shirts sticking out of their flies?

I have No Idea what Field you work in, But In the years I spent as a AV pro NOBODY gave a rats ass about what the Equipment looked like.

[lynnb]

I've figured it out. That thing sticking up between the lens mount and the grip is an oil filler cap. I hope it uses 100% synthetic.
I'm glad Ricoh bought Pentax. If this body proves unpopular, at least there are significant financial resources to mitigate any blips in revenue.
There are some really ugly cameras out there that have excellent IQ.

[Johann Espiritu]

Originally Posted by dreilly

You know, this reminds me of Destro.

Hahaha! You're right, it does resemble him a bit. So what camera would be the Baroness?

[Benjamin Oliver]

Maybe it's designed like that so that they can put a mechanism in the moves the sensor relative to the lens mount. You can then put any lens on it. . . . . Doubt it though

[CK Dexter Haven]

Originally Posted by Corto

I have No Idea what Field you work in, But In the years I spent as a AV pro NOBODY gave a rats ass about what the Equipment looked like.

Thing is, this isn't an Equalizer you can stick into a 1u rack space and forget about. I'm like the Dane. Anything i have to live with, wear, and/or use on a daily basis has to be designed to a certain standard.

While i certainly 'get' that some people feel tools are tools and pants are pants and cars are cars... i'm not one of those people. I don't want to be the type who is proud of a stunted aesthetic sensibility. Frankly, i'm always a bit surprised when someone who is supposedly involved in aesthetic pursuits (photography) somehow limits their aesthetic interests when it comes to industrial design.

My "field," at present, is graphic design. In the years i've spent in my field, EVERYONE gives a rats ass what the equipment looks like. It's probably why Macs are the industry standard. Conversely, i would never think to ask an AV Pro for design/fashion/decor advice.