[glanglois]

All it really is, is a p&s with interchangeable lenses, which make it more fiddly.

It doesn't have any real benefits over a good overall p&s like Sony HX5v.

Sony benefits;

• 24 - 250 zoom - good glass
  
• 10fps shooting with tracking - yes it works
  
• panorama mode - it definitely has it's place - just sweep left to right
  
• twilight mode - at high iso it take 6 shots and blends together
  
• very very good HD video incorporating a dual optical image stabilizer for very smooth hand held video even while walking
  
• less then half the price

Oh I forgot about macro as well

IQ - good enough which is governed by the sensor size - which is never ever ever ever going to be at the level of a larger sensor given the same technology

If I'm taking a scenic shot with lets say a Nex with the 16mm pancake and the tog with with his uber expensive Q - which camera is going to deliver the best IQ??

Certainly not the Q

So what is one actually paying for in the Q???

Perhaps nothing special other than the points above. We'll see when production copies are available and their performance/IQ is examined. This is certainly a niche product at this point but it's also just the start of a new product line.

[Kenn100D]

All it really is, is a p&s with interchangeable lenses, which make it more fiddly.

It doesn't have any real benefits over a good overall p&s like Sony HX5v.

Sony benefits;

• 24 - 250 zoom - good glass
  
• 10fps shooting with tracking - yes it works
  
• panorama mode - it definitely has it's place - just sweep left to right
  
• twilight mode - at high iso it take 6 shots and blends together
  
• very very good HD video incorporating a dual optical image stabilizer for very smooth hand held video even while walking
  
• less then half the price

Oh I forgot about macro as well

IQ - good enough which is governed by the sensor size - which is never ever ever ever going to be at the level of a larger sensor given the same technology

If I'm taking a scenic shot with lets say a Nex with the 16mm pancake and the tog with with his uber expensive Q - which camera is going to deliver the best IQ??

Certainly not the Q

So what is one actually paying for in the Q???

Your paying for the glass. Sensor is new we have to test it. Electronics are getting smaller and better.

[Raffwal]

Your paying for the glass.

The glass which Pentax believes in so much that they even call it "TOY" themselves.

[eddie1960]

The glass which Pentax believes in so much that they even call it "TOY" themselves.

they don't call the prime or the zoom Toy, just the lenses (which are cheap) that affect a Toy look
the camera comes with what looks to be a beter than average lens for the small sensor category

[Kenn100D]

The glass which Pentax believes in so much that they even call it "TOY" themselves.

Also, the lenses that will come be definitely good. Some rumor, Oly might go for Q-Mount camera. -Local Source

[uccemebug]

they don't call the prime or the zoom Toy, just the lenses (which are cheap) that affect a Toy look the camera comes with what looks to be a beter than average lens for the small sensor category

What are they going to do when they want to introduce a new lens? Just add a "6" model? Given that "4" and "5" are Toy models, how will they distinguish 6 from its numeric neighbours? "NOT A TOY"? Or will it be model "1.5: we forgot the wide prime".

[eddie1960]

What are they going to do when they want to introduce a new lens? Just add a "6" model? Given that "4" and "5" are Toy models, how will they distinguish 6 from its numeric neighbours? "NOT A TOY"? Or will it be model "1.5: we forgot the wide prime".

if it's the wide prime it will have to be 0.75

1.5 will be the tele

[jsherman999]

What are they going to do when they want to introduce a new lens? Just add a "6" model? Given that "4" and "5" are Toy models, how will they distinguish 6 from its numeric neighbours? "NOT A TOY"? Or will it be model "1.5: we forgot the wide prime".

rofl

very good.

[Christine Tham]

It doesn't have any real benefits over a good overall p&s like Sony HX5v.

Sony benefits;
[LIST][*]24 - 250 zoom - good glass

Am I the only one that choked while reading that?

24-250 - good glass - isn't that an oxymoron, like "military intelligence"? :-)

Sorry, couldn't resist. I might need to look at the Sony HX5V - sounds like an interesting camera.

[Ash]

Am I the only one that choked while reading that?

24-250 - good glass - isn't that an oxymoron, like "military intelligence"?

Nah, but there wasn't much point responding to it - we can become quite fickle when new technology entices us

[Christine Tham]

Nah, but there wasn't much point responding to it - we can become quite fickle when new technology entices us

Well, I took the poster seriously and did some research on the Sony camera.

Nice ... but not really in the same category. In fact the reviews I read said the image quality was soft, colours were off and pictures look way over-processed.

I don't think it's fair to lump the Q with P&S cameras like the Sony with tons of gimmicky features.

To me, the attraction of the Q is that it's essentially a miniaturised Kr with similar controls. For that, I'll gladly pay a premium over a gimmick.

[jsherman999]

To me, the attraction of the Q is that it's essentially a miniaturised Kr with similar controls. For that, I'll gladly pay a premium over a gimmick.

Essentially a miniaturized K-r?!?

With a much tinier sensor, capable of very little DOF control, probably nothing wider than 24mm (135 equiv,) and even with BLI, 'good' IQ (non-NR'd) ending at ISO 800. I wonder what sort of DR we're talking about, also.

"gimmick" does come to mind.

But they did make it look like a mini DSLR on a keychain, all for a low starting price of $800!

Although, in reality it's still this:



.

(2006 'Q' prototype)



.

[Christine Tham]

Essentially a miniaturized K-r?!?

Essentially, yes, in terms of shooting controls and the availability of a standard prime lens, which is all that I care about.

To me photography isn't about image quality, or sensor size, ...

Every day, great photos are taken on iPhones, and lots of bad photos on expensive full frame cameras.

At the end of the day, photography is about the right moment, and the right opportunity. A miniaturised camera with good control of shooting parameters and a standard lens will allow me to realise more moments and more opportunities. That, to me, is the value proposition of the Q.

[Fontan]

Essentially, yes, in terms of shooting controls and the availability of a standard prime lens, which is all that I care about.

To me photography isn't about image quality, or sensor size, ...

Every day, great photos are taken on iPhones, and lots of bad photos on expensive full frame cameras.

At the end of the day, photography is about the right moment, and the right opportunity. A miniaturised camera with good control of shooting parameters and a standard lens will allow me to realise more moments and more opportunities. That, to me, is the value proposition of the Q.

I am pretty sure that photography is all about which brand of camera you shoot with.

[Christine Tham]

I am pretty sure that photography is all about which brand of camera you shoot with.

LOL - how true, how true ...

In that case, no one here is a photographer ...

I'm so lucky I own a Canon compact (in pink) ...