Thanks Marc Newson

**monochrome** · 05-04-2013, 05:51 PM

Originally posted by Kobayashi.K

The silver parts on the silver+black version, and the top of the black and the yellow versions, is that metal or silver paint?

Originally posted by THoog

It's paint. I just got my first beauty mark (scuff) on the top of my Black Friday Black body, and the metal underneath is a lighter color.

It is painted metal. One of the selling points of the camera is the metal frame and the metal buttons and dials. The top and bottom plates and the mount protrusion are, I believe, polycarbonate.

**Ash** · 05-04-2013, 05:53 PM

I'm interested to know that if the K-01 is considered in such an ordinary light by members on this forum, why aren't there at least some K-01 cameras being sold on the forum marketplace?

I haven't seen a K-01 on the marketplace for a while now, and I've been looking for one, so I'm checking the marketplace a few times a week...

**squareeyes** · 05-04-2013, 06:46 PM - **1 Like**

to like it is to keep it!

I think the majority of those who hold it in "ordinary" regard are those who do not own own.

And even the most dissatisfied owners have the lower opinion tempered by the image quality and features of an incredibly inexpensive camera.

NickLarsson · 05-04-2013, 07:10 PM

Originally posted by squareeyes

to like it is to keep it!

I think the majority of those who hold it in "ordinary" regard are those who do not own own.

And even the most dissatisfied owners have the lower opinion tempered by the image quality and features of an incredibly inexpensive camera.

+1

Also with the recent $250 kits, the resale value is pretty low right now.

Pioneer · 05-04-2013, 07:27 PM - **1 Like**

I am not a huge fan of digital. I still prefer my old film cameras. But the K-01 and the Q have become the two cameras I reach for first when I want to use digital. I just picked mine up on sale but it would still be a terrific little camera even if the price were higher. I can see why there are very few coming up for sale in the classifieds. In my opinion, the reviewers had it wrong. Sure, the little rubber door is a nuisance. Sure, the display will occasionally flare out in direct sunlight. Yeah, I wish the green button was easier to hit as well. But I have yet to see the perfect camera. They all have issues that irritate us. But the sum is a great camera, even with a couple minuses.

If you want one, hit the sales. I suspect that they will sell out pretty soon. Too bad they were discontinued but maybe it will turn into a cult collectible?

**kiwi_jono** · 05-05-2013, 01:21 AM

+1
I'm very impressed!

I saw the $250 deal post here on PF and thought this would make a great camera for my wife. We took it this weekend during a short trip to Australia (sadly to attend a funeral) because it is more compact than my K-5 (somewhat at least) and we expected to be taking some video.
Here are my first impressions of the K-01:
1. Indoor shooting (moderate light) the camera really shines! We did not use the flash at all and the images look fairly clean at ISO 3200 (for some reason better than I am seeing with my copy of the K-5).
2. The red button set up to shoot video is really great! I used to moan about camera reviews that criticised Pentax cameras because they did not have a one press video record button but now I'm sold - its such a convenient feature.
3. Focus peaking works pretty well with manual lenses indoors (outdoors is another matter).
4. We received a surprising number of complements and enquiries about the K-01. A lot of people genuinely like the look of it (ours is the yellow bumble bee version). And I'm warming to it all the time!
5. Outdoors image quality is excellent.
6. Battery life was perfectly adequate for us - we have 2 batteries but one was sufficient for a days casual shooting.
7. I quite like the feel of it in my hands. Once you get used to button placement, I think its pretty easy to use.
8. Automatic exposure is excellent. Perfect for my wife.
9. Auto focus accuracy (set to Contrast / single point) is also excellent.
10. Auto focus speed is better than I was expecting (from reviews I had read) and definitely good enough for general use.
11. Video quality is very good.

My one gripe (which is out weighed by the positive points), is that it is very difficult to shoot with manual focus lenses outdoors (at least on sunny days anyway). I gave up trying to use the A50 f1.7 we had with us outdoors and stuck with my old 18-55. Its just too hard to see focus peaking on the display in bright light without some sort of hood / shade.

That said I was surprised with the results with the kit lens - very much helped by focus and exposure being spot on. Example: Byron Bay Lighthouse - walkway | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

While it does not replace my K-5, I can see that my Wife may have to pry it out of my hands quite a bit!

Kobayashi.K · 05-05-2013, 03:30 AM

Considering the good reviews, Mark Newson and also the designers at Pentax, must be frustrated that this camera wasn't a success financially. I guess they already analyzed where it went wrong, and hopefully they are planning some sort of successor.

Derek999 · 05-05-2013, 04:30 AM

I for one, hope that any successor to the K-01 is limited to a major firmware update rather than a new body.
My K-01 is almost everything I could desire but there are one or two additions I could think of that would make it closer to perfect.
ie. a sensor shift capability to mimic perspective control (if that is possible with current anti-shake system), plus a slightly higher profile release button (I have an adhesive plastic button fitted to raise mine and it makes so much difference)

Whatever, I will not be parted from my current body!

bossa · 05-05-2013, 05:50 AM

I've got two D800E's, a K-5 and a K-01 and the camera I use the most is my K-01. I love that little camera.

**monochrome** · 05-05-2013, 05:58 AM

How on Earth did this camera fail?

Ferdinand · 05-05-2013, 06:13 AM

I guess that Marc Newson's design might be one reason why you could get this camera so cheaply...So he probably deserve praising for that, although not from Pentax...

I guess that a retro style camera with better ergonomics (e.g. tilt screen, touch functionality, perhaps EVF...) would have been much more successful.

TaoMaas · 05-05-2013, 06:14 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by monochrome

How on Earth did this camera fail?

initial price. Just way too high, IMHO. I REALLY like my K-01 and its image quality. It's like a P&S on steroids...a LOT of steroids!

**monochrome** · 05-05-2013, 07:41 AM

Originally posted by TaoMaas

initial price. Just way too high, IMHO. I REALLY like my K-01 and its image quality. It's like a P&S on steroids...a LOT of steroids!

Yeah, me too. I pre-ordered it and I don't regret at all what I paid for it.

TaoMaas · 05-05-2013, 07:52 AM

Originally posted by Ferdinand

I guess that Marc Newson's design might be one reason why you could get this camera so cheaply...

The design is a plus, in my mind. The camera feels great in-hand...very solid...very easy to hold. It's not perfect, but it's nowhere near as bad as some folks try to make it out to be.

Steve.Ledger · 05-05-2013, 01:58 PM

I don't think the camera failed. If anything, the consumer failed.

05-04-2013, 06:46 PM - 1 Like	#33
squareeyes Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2010 Photos: Gallery Posts: 189	To use it is to like it to like it is to keep it! I think the majority of those who hold it in "ordinary" regard are those who do not own own. And even the most dissatisfied owners have the lower opinion tempered by the image quality and features of an incredibly inexpensive camera.

05-05-2013, 04:30 AM	#38
Derek999 New Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: St. Andrews, Fife, Scotland, UK Posts: 8	Thanks Marc Newson I for one, hope that any successor to the K-01 is limited to a major firmware update rather than a new body. My K-01 is almost everything I could desire but there are one or two additions I could think of that would make it closer to perfect. ie. a sensor shift capability to mimic perspective control (if that is possible with current anti-shake system), plus a slightly higher profile release button (I have an adhesive plastic button fitted to raise mine and it makes so much difference) Whatever, I will not be parted from my current body!

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05-04-2013, 05:51 PM	#31
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	Originally posted by Kobayashi.K The silver parts on the silver+black version, and the top of the black and the yellow versions, is that metal or silver paint? Originally posted by THoog It's paint. I just got my first beauty mark (scuff) on the top of my Black Friday Black body, and the metal underneath is a lighter color. It is painted metal. One of the selling points of the camera is the metal frame and the metal buttons and dials. The top and bottom plates and the mount protrusion are, I believe, polycarbonate.

05-04-2013, 05:53 PM	#32
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920	I'm interested to know that if the K-01 is considered in such an ordinary light by members on this forum, why aren't there at least some K-01 cameras being sold on the forum marketplace? I haven't seen a K-01 on the marketplace for a while now, and I've been looking for one, so I'm checking the marketplace a few times a week...

05-04-2013, 07:10 PM	#34
NickLarsson Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Paris, France Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,390	Originally posted by squareeyes to like it is to keep it! I think the majority of those who hold it in "ordinary" regard are those who do not own own. And even the most dissatisfied owners have the lower opinion tempered by the image quality and features of an incredibly inexpensive camera. +1 Also with the recent $250 kits, the resale value is pretty low right now.

05-04-2013, 07:27 PM - 1 Like	#35
Pioneer Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Wandering the Streets Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,411	I am not a huge fan of digital. I still prefer my old film cameras. But the K-01 and the Q have become the two cameras I reach for first when I want to use digital. I just picked mine up on sale but it would still be a terrific little camera even if the price were higher. I can see why there are very few coming up for sale in the classifieds. In my opinion, the reviewers had it wrong. Sure, the little rubber door is a nuisance. Sure, the display will occasionally flare out in direct sunlight. Yeah, I wish the green button was easier to hit as well. But I have yet to see the perfect camera. They all have issues that irritate us. But the sum is a great camera, even with a couple minuses. If you want one, hit the sales. I suspect that they will sell out pretty soon. Too bad they were discontinued but maybe it will turn into a cult collectible?

05-05-2013, 01:21 AM	#36
kiwi_jono Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Christchurch, New Zealand Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,437	+1 I'm very impressed! I saw the $250 deal post here on PF and thought this would make a great camera for my wife. We took it this weekend during a short trip to Australia (sadly to attend a funeral) because it is more compact than my K-5 (somewhat at least) and we expected to be taking some video. Here are my first impressions of the K-01: 1. Indoor shooting (moderate light) the camera really shines! We did not use the flash at all and the images look fairly clean at ISO 3200 (for some reason better than I am seeing with my copy of the K-5). 2. The red button set up to shoot video is really great! I used to moan about camera reviews that criticised Pentax cameras because they did not have a one press video record button but now I'm sold - its such a convenient feature. 3. Focus peaking works pretty well with manual lenses indoors (outdoors is another matter). 4. We received a surprising number of complements and enquiries about the K-01. A lot of people genuinely like the look of it (ours is the yellow bumble bee version). And I'm warming to it all the time! 5. Outdoors image quality is excellent. 6. Battery life was perfectly adequate for us - we have 2 batteries but one was sufficient for a days casual shooting. 7. I quite like the feel of it in my hands. Once you get used to button placement, I think its pretty easy to use. 8. Automatic exposure is excellent. Perfect for my wife. 9. Auto focus accuracy (set to Contrast / single point) is also excellent. 10. Auto focus speed is better than I was expecting (from reviews I had read) and definitely good enough for general use. 11. Video quality is very good. My one gripe (which is out weighed by the positive points), is that it is very difficult to shoot with manual focus lenses outdoors (at least on sunny days anyway). I gave up trying to use the A50 f1.7 we had with us outdoors and stuck with my old 18-55. Its just too hard to see focus peaking on the display in bright light without some sort of hood / shade. That said I was surprised with the results with the kit lens - very much helped by focus and exposure being spot on. Example: Byron Bay Lighthouse - walkway \| Flickr - Photo Sharing! While it does not replace my K-5, I can see that my Wife may have to pry it out of my hands quite a bit!

05-05-2013, 03:30 AM	#37
Kobayashi.K Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Photos: Albums Posts: 716	Considering the good reviews, Mark Newson and also the designers at Pentax, must be frustrated that this camera wasn't a success financially. I guess they already analyzed where it went wrong, and hopefully they are planning some sort of successor.

05-05-2013, 05:50 AM	#39
bossa Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Adelaide Posts: 4,546	I've got two D800E's, a K-5 and a K-01 and the camera I use the most is my K-01. I love that little camera.

05-05-2013, 05:58 AM	#40
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	How on Earth did this camera fail?

05-05-2013, 06:13 AM	#41
Ferdinand Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Frankfurt Photos: Albums Posts: 89	I guess that Marc Newson's design might be one reason why you could get this camera so cheaply...So he probably deserve praising for that, although not from Pentax... I guess that a retro style camera with better ergonomics (e.g. tilt screen, touch functionality, perhaps EVF...) would have been much more successful.

05-05-2013, 06:14 AM - 1 Like	#42
TaoMaas Pentaxian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Oklahoma City Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,574	Originally posted by monochrome How on Earth did this camera fail? initial price. Just way too high, IMHO. I REALLY like my K-01 and its image quality. It's like a P&S on steroids...a LOT of steroids!

05-05-2013, 07:41 AM	#43
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	Originally posted by TaoMaas initial price. Just way too high, IMHO. I REALLY like my K-01 and its image quality. It's like a P&S on steroids...a LOT of steroids! Yeah, me too. I pre-ordered it and I don't regret at all what I paid for it.

05-05-2013, 07:52 AM	#44
TaoMaas Pentaxian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Oklahoma City Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,574	Originally posted by Ferdinand I guess that Marc Newson's design might be one reason why you could get this camera so cheaply... The design is a plus, in my mind. The camera feels great in-hand...very solid...very easy to hold. It's not perfect, but it's nowhere near as bad as some folks try to make it out to be.

05-05-2013, 01:58 PM	#45
Steve.Ledger Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Far North Qld Posts: 3,301	I don't think the camera failed. If anything, the consumer failed.