The True Power of the Pentax Q

This camera/adapter combo is not to be overlooked!

By PF Staff in Articles and Tips on Mar 12, 2013

When it first came out, the Pentax Q didn't attract very much attention in the US, even though it was the smallest interchangeable-lens camera on the market.  Part of the reason for this was that a key part of the Q system was missing: the adapter that allows you to use DSLR lenses on this tiny little camera.  Let's face it: without the adapter, the Q doesn't hold many advantages over the competition.

Now that the Pentax K-mount to Q-mount adapter is available, things have changed completely, however.  As you will learn in our Pentax K to Q adapter review, this handy adapter lets you capture stunning telephoto shots without spending very much on gear.

In fact, with this adapter and a telephoto lens, the Pentax Q can outperform just about any Pentax DSLR when it comes to resolution.  Thanks for the Q's 5.6x crop factor, capturing photos of distant subjects is easier (and more affordable) than ever.  This may be a bit surprising, considering that the Q has a mere 1/2.3" sensor.

As we find in our review, the Q with this adapter and a telephoto lens (< $600 value) comes reasonably close to the image quality of a professional DSLR system valued at over $5000!  There's no question that you're getting much more than your money's worth with the Q and the adapter.

So, if you're a bird shooter or enjoy tele photography, what are you waiting for?  Read the review, get your Q, and then get your adapter. You'll get stunning images and you'll have a lot of fun while you're at it!  Best of all, the Q currently retails for less than $280!

To learn more about the reach of the Pentax Q, please refer to this thread on the forum.  The Q is probably one of the coolest mirrorless cameras on the market today thanks to this adapter!  You don't need to be a Pentax fan to use it, either, as just about any lens can be adapted to it (though the Pentax adapter is much nicer than third-party adapters).  Adapters exist for Canon, Nikon, Olympus, Minolta, M42, and other mounts.

Are there any drawbacks to using the Q with adapted lenses?  We can't refute that there are. Because of the crop factor, even short telephoto lenses will seem very long, and stabilizing your setup may prove difficult.  Without some sort of optical viewfinter or aiming sight, it may also be very hard to quickly locate your subject when using long lenses.  Finally, you don't want to be using your Q's above the minimum ISO of 125 due to loss of detail.  Because the Q's sensor is so small, it does not perform to well in low light.  Fortunately, there are many ways to mitigate these shortcomings, as we mention in the adapter review.  Even though the Q might be very lacking as a walkaround camera compared to the competition, once you master it, you can expect some very impressive telephoto files from it!

To learn more about how the Q perfoms overall, check out our Pentax Q review.