Pentax K-01 Review

Who is it For?

We can highly recommend the Pentax K-01 for anyone who is looking to step up from a point-and-shoot to a more advanced digital camera, especially if your primary goal is to have good image quality.  The wide selection of lenses available in the K-mount as well as the low price of legacy lenses makes it a great choice if you're on a budget.  The K-01 supports a wide variety of scene modes (as well as a fully automated shooting mode) for beginners and still supports a full range of manual options for more advanced users.

In addition, the K-01 makes for an outstanding video camera, and its small size could make it an excellent choice for event videography (and photography, if you need to switch to shooting stills). The K-01 should also be considered by users otherwise looking into getting an introductory-level DSLR.  If you're used to LCD viewfinders, then you'll be able to easily transition to using the K-01, as its menu systems are quite intuitive.

Finally, if you're considering a backup camera and are currently using a Pentax DSLR, you might consider getting the K-01: it delivers the controls of the K-r and the image quality of the K-5 in an even smaller package!