| Latest Review Posted | Pentax K-01
A maligned design
The Pentax K-01 is Pentax's first entry into the "bigger sensor" mirrorless interchangeable lens camera race. Pentax apparently wanted to distinguish itself in this category, so it tried to give the K-01 something different. One, Pentax designed the K-01 to be compatible even with its 40-year-old lenses, without fiddling with an adapter. This was intended to endear it to Pentax users who have old 35mm-format lenses. Unfortunately, this goal meant that the K-01 would have to be bigger (deeper) than other MILCs. The K-01 would have to be as deep as a DSLR, even without the DSLR mirror. And so the size alienated the non-Pentax crowd. Indeed the K-01 is a monster when compared to the sleek MILCs of Samsung and Sony. It’s that goal (and its price at launch) that I believe doomed the K-01 to fail commercially. Not many will prefer a fat mama who can cook, if you can get a supermodel for the same dowry.
Second, Pentax decided to give the K-01 a different look. So who is Marc Newsson whose name is on the bottom of the K-01? He’s an Aussie industrial designer who designs anything from bathroom plumbing to jet packs and space jets. Indeed a broad range of products, and in between he designed the Pentax K-01 – his first foray into cameras, and hopefully his last. The K-01 will be remembered for its much maligned looks. My take on this is that the design-wise the camera has some obvious faults. Spend a day with it and you’ll know that Marc Newsson does ... |
