Hands-On Photos of the K-01 from Pentax Singapore User Group

jjhenders · 02-03-2012, 10:23 PM - **1 Like**

I hate to be negative, but I think that's about as ugly a camera as I've ever seen. Makes me glad I've got my beautiful red Kx.

Eagle_Friends · 02-03-2012, 10:24 PM

wow! wonderful!

**piledon** · 02-03-2012, 10:24 PM

Image looks very good and sharp for ISO6400! So at least the electronics are as excellent as Pentax should be...

i83N · 02-03-2012, 10:26 PM

nice work with high iso (:

riff · 02-03-2012, 10:34 PM

Thanks for the hands on report creampuff. Very interesting, if I had a studio I would be buying one for the studio.

Mods could we maybe have just one thread for all the bitching moaning and trash talking. I'm about ready to 'splode.

crossmr · 02-03-2012, 10:45 PM

Originally posted by creampuff

Yeah, we do things fast here in Singapore.

BTW the K-01 battery life is very good so far (rated about 500 shots).

I don't find that very good. I get 1700 on a single set of battries on my K-m (no flash, but autofocus)

Quote:

Mods could we maybe have just one thread for all the bitching moaning and trash talking. I'm about ready to 'splode.

I say, it's a discussion forum, let people discuss. Things have pros and cons and a love-fest doesn't give anyone a fair picture and honestly forcing that would only taint the perspective.

Personally I don't really find anything appealing about this camera at all.
I don't want to be fighting with a viewfinder in bright light and the design really doesn't do anything for me.

bhairavp · 02-03-2012, 10:55 PM

How can you compare a viewfinder equipped Km to a Liveview only K01 in terms of battery life?

Livewireshock · 02-03-2012, 11:12 PM

How about the ergonomics of the camera? Is it menu hell or intuitive delight?

riff · 02-03-2012, 11:14 PM - **2 Likes**

Originally posted by crossmr

I don't find that very good. I get 1700 on a single set of battries on my K-m (no flash, but autofocus)

You should get a film camera, thousands of shots from a single battery! (assuming they are up to your high aesthetic standards)

Originally posted by crossmr

let people discuss

I welcome discussion. You thinking of starting some?

hcc · 02-03-2012, 11:36 PM

Great thread. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and opinion. This is super.

PF members are greatful for the useful input..

crossmr · 02-03-2012, 11:41 PM

Originally posted by riff

You should get a film camera, thousands of shots from a single battery! (assuming they are up to your high aesthetic standards)

I welcome discussion. You thinking of starting some?

Really? Because all I see thus far is a resort to sniping sarcasm because someone isn't giving the camera the love you think it deserves, and trying to keep that conversation to some restricted spot so that it doesn't spoil what you have in mind.

Quote:

How can you compare a viewfinder equipped Km to a Liveview only K01 in terms of battery life?

That's kind of the point, and one of the reasons the camera does nothing for me.

At the price point, I'm not sure who exactly this camera is supposed to be targeted at. A viewfinder functions as more than simply a way to look at what you're shooting. It puts your body into a specific position that helps you stabilize the camera.

Falke · 02-03-2012, 11:47 PM

I wonder about the shot with the lady whether it was taken with a tripod. At 1/8 of a second it is pretty sharp. Unfortunately there is more sharpness behind the face/eyes of the lady as indicated by hair on the left behind the face. So there is a bit of a backfocus.
Now my second question: was "face detect" turned on? If it was then I would expect a better result with the focus actually being on the face. I don't want to sound harsh, just critical and I am mostly grateful that I am able to look at a shot in the first place. Cheers.

robgo2 · 02-03-2012, 11:57 PM

Originally posted by crossmr

At the price point, I'm not sure who exactly this camera is supposed to be targeted at. A viewfinder functions as more than simply a way to look at what you're shooting. It puts your body into a specific position that helps you stabilize the camera.

Please consider that a decent EVF would have added about $250 to the cost of the camera and, thus, placed it beyond reach of many in the targeted market. Do not think for one moment that Pentax did not consider it. Too bad for you that they ruled you out of their market and settled on lower cost. So, in the end, it was a simple marketing decision. Deal with it. At $799, this camera offers a lot, even without a VF. But don't lose hope. Your dream camera may yet come along.

Rob

netrex · 02-04-2012, 12:05 AM - **1 Like**

It would have been interesting to see that picture from the K-5 as well. I don't think it would have been any worse =)

Thanks you for the pictures of the camera. I love the look of this camera, and I'm getting one for sure (not because the looks though).

Yes, it doesn't have a viewfinder, but put on an LCDVF or if you don't like that, find one you do like and use that. This will be great for video (better than the K-5 for video actually), time lapse and most other kinds of photography IMO. Specially if you have manual focus lenses! It has focus peaking, this will make things a lot easier for manual focus if it works properly. If AF is not too slow, it also will be good for most kinds of photography. If it's fast, maybe even sports.

I don't see anything wrong with this camera. Pentaxian1 on YouTube says this about the video: "The exposure can be controlled via aperture or shutter speed, choosing one or the other. The video file itself is limited to 25 min max recording time, which is hard coded independent of the memory card or battery power. However, it will stop recording if needed if the camera/battery get too hot." On my K-5 I get a max of 5m23s with 1080p full quality. This is because the camera thinks this will fill 4GB, yet I don't have a video file yet that has been over 3GB. The K-01 will be much better here. Also, I live in a cold environment, so overheating hasn't been a problem yet.

I'm looking forward to this camera a lot.

Here is also another article about it (which I'm going to read now): Pentax Launches K-01 Mirrorless Camera, World Misses the Point

ScreamingIdiot · 02-04-2012, 12:11 AM

Im also a K-m owner. The reason our batteries last so long are one the batteries you choose, and second the fact that it DOES have an optical viewfinder. I have always been impressed with what my K-2000 can do for me.. but when I look at K-01 I see just how far dated my camera really is. For the price, K-01 just can't be beat.

02-03-2012, 11:36 PM	#25
hcc Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Brisbane, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,002	Great thread. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and opinion. This is super. PF members are greatful for the useful input.. Last edited by hcc; 02-04-2012 at 01:37 AM.

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02-03-2012, 10:23 PM - 1 Like	#16
jjhenders Inactive Account Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Broadway, VA Photos: Albums Posts: 99	I hate to be negative, but I think that's about as ugly a camera as I've ever seen. Makes me glad I've got my beautiful red Kx.

02-03-2012, 10:24 PM	#17
Eagle_Friends Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 971	wow! wonderful!

02-03-2012, 10:24 PM	#18
piledon Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: San Francisco Photos: Gallery Posts: 128	Image looks very good and sharp for ISO6400! So at least the electronics are as excellent as Pentax should be...

02-03-2012, 10:26 PM	#19
i83N Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Lithuania Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,203	nice work with high iso (:

02-03-2012, 10:34 PM	#20
riff Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Photos: Albums Posts: 1,408	Thanks for the hands on report creampuff. Very interesting, if I had a studio I would be buying one for the studio. Mods could we maybe have just one thread for all the bitching moaning and trash talking. I'm about ready to 'splode.

02-03-2012, 10:45 PM	#21
crossmr Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Liverpool, UK Posts: 318	Originally posted by creampuff Yeah, we do things fast here in Singapore. BTW the K-01 battery life is very good so far (rated about 500 shots). I don't find that very good. I get 1700 on a single set of battries on my K-m (no flash, but autofocus) Quote: Mods could we maybe have just one thread for all the bitching moaning and trash talking. I'm about ready to 'splode. I say, it's a discussion forum, let people discuss. Things have pros and cons and a love-fest doesn't give anyone a fair picture and honestly forcing that would only taint the perspective. Personally I don't really find anything appealing about this camera at all. I don't want to be fighting with a viewfinder in bright light and the design really doesn't do anything for me.

02-03-2012, 10:55 PM	#22
bhairavp Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Mumbai, India Posts: 399	How can you compare a viewfinder equipped Km to a Liveview only K01 in terms of battery life?

02-03-2012, 11:12 PM	#23
Livewireshock Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Lismore, NSW, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 144	How about the ergonomics of the camera? Is it menu hell or intuitive delight?

02-03-2012, 11:14 PM - 2 Likes	#24
riff Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Photos: Albums Posts: 1,408	Originally posted by crossmr I don't find that very good. I get 1700 on a single set of battries on my K-m (no flash, but autofocus) You should get a film camera, thousands of shots from a single battery! (assuming they are up to your high aesthetic standards) Originally posted by crossmr let people discuss I welcome discussion. You thinking of starting some?

02-03-2012, 11:41 PM	#26
crossmr Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Liverpool, UK Posts: 318	Originally posted by riff You should get a film camera, thousands of shots from a single battery! (assuming they are up to your high aesthetic standards) I welcome discussion. You thinking of starting some? Really? Because all I see thus far is a resort to sniping sarcasm because someone isn't giving the camera the love you think it deserves, and trying to keep that conversation to some restricted spot so that it doesn't spoil what you have in mind. Quote: How can you compare a viewfinder equipped Km to a Liveview only K01 in terms of battery life? That's kind of the point, and one of the reasons the camera does nothing for me. At the price point, I'm not sure who exactly this camera is supposed to be targeted at. A viewfinder functions as more than simply a way to look at what you're shooting. It puts your body into a specific position that helps you stabilize the camera.

02-03-2012, 11:47 PM	#27
Falke Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Northern NSW Australia Photos: Albums Posts: 186	I wonder about the shot with the lady whether it was taken with a tripod. At 1/8 of a second it is pretty sharp. Unfortunately there is more sharpness behind the face/eyes of the lady as indicated by hair on the left behind the face. So there is a bit of a backfocus. Now my second question: was "face detect" turned on? If it was then I would expect a better result with the focus actually being on the face. I don't want to sound harsh, just critical and I am mostly grateful that I am able to look at a shot in the first place. Cheers.

02-03-2012, 11:57 PM	#28
robgo2 Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: New Mexico Photos: Albums Posts: 1,125	Originally posted by crossmr At the price point, I'm not sure who exactly this camera is supposed to be targeted at. A viewfinder functions as more than simply a way to look at what you're shooting. It puts your body into a specific position that helps you stabilize the camera. Please consider that a decent EVF would have added about $250 to the cost of the camera and, thus, placed it beyond reach of many in the targeted market. Do not think for one moment that Pentax did not consider it. Too bad for you that they ruled you out of their market and settled on lower cost. So, in the end, it was a simple marketing decision. Deal with it. At $799, this camera offers a lot, even without a VF. But don't lose hope. Your dream camera may yet come along. Rob

02-04-2012, 12:05 AM - 1 Like	#29
netrex Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Alta Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 279	It would have been interesting to see that picture from the K-5 as well. I don't think it would have been any worse =) Thanks you for the pictures of the camera. I love the look of this camera, and I'm getting one for sure (not because the looks though). Yes, it doesn't have a viewfinder, but put on an LCDVF or if you don't like that, find one you do like and use that. This will be great for video (better than the K-5 for video actually), time lapse and most other kinds of photography IMO. Specially if you have manual focus lenses! It has focus peaking, this will make things a lot easier for manual focus if it works properly. If AF is not too slow, it also will be good for most kinds of photography. If it's fast, maybe even sports. I don't see anything wrong with this camera. Pentaxian1 on YouTube says this about the video: "The exposure can be controlled via aperture or shutter speed, choosing one or the other. The video file itself is limited to 25 min max recording time, which is hard coded independent of the memory card or battery power. However, it will stop recording if needed if the camera/battery get too hot." On my K-5 I get a max of 5m23s with 1080p full quality. This is because the camera thinks this will fill 4GB, yet I don't have a video file yet that has been over 3GB. The K-01 will be much better here. Also, I live in a cold environment, so overheating hasn't been a problem yet. I'm looking forward to this camera a lot. Here is also another article about it (which I'm going to read now): Pentax Launches K-01 Mirrorless Camera, World Misses the Point

02-04-2012, 12:11 AM	#30
ScreamingIdiot Inactive Account Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 95	Im also a K-m owner. The reason our batteries last so long are one the batteries you choose, and second the fact that it DOES have an optical viewfinder. I have always been impressed with what my K-2000 can do for me.. but when I look at K-01 I see just how far dated my camera really is. For the price, K-01 just can't be beat.