National Geographic sends K-01 into space

Tanzer · 02-07-2014, 09:25 PM - **3 Likes**

National Geographic sent some cameras into space, and captured some awesome video/photos of the Grand Canyon:

You Tube

The K-01 is immediately recognizable at 0:54. The lens looks like an M50 1.7 or 2.0, not sure because the lens is partially taped over, but f/8 is in orange, if that is a clue.

The rig also carries two Canon P&S cameras, a GoPro, plus one other camera. Presumably they all survived the crash landing.

I should mention, that while searching around to see if anyone else had posted this, I found this other thread from 2008:
https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/6-pentax-dslr-discussion/31970-pentax-k10d-space.html

j2photos · 02-07-2014, 09:49 PM

Nice find! It is really cool to see Pentax gear used in unorthodox ways

dmc · 02-07-2014, 09:56 PM

Is this because they considered the K-01 a tough camera, or because it was expendable? Either way, thanks for this, a great use for a very good camera!

meeverett · 02-07-2014, 10:57 PM

Cool. Maybe they got a good deal on it?

Originally posted by dmc

Is this because they considered the K-01 a tough camera, or because it was expendable? Either way, thanks for this, a great use for a very good camera!

**RobA_Oz** · 02-07-2014, 11:21 PM

Nice idea, but I would have hoped National Geographic would have considered that terrestrial helium is a non-renewable resource, and looked at using hydrogen instead (I went to post this comment on YouTube, but Google was too difficult to log in to, and, judging by some of the inane comments posted there, I wonder why anyone would expose themselves to it). I know hydrogen is more difficult to contain, but it is a renewable resource. I'm sure they could have improvised a more controlled descent, too.

I imagine the whole thing was done on a shoestring, but the K-01 was probably chosen as much for its APS-C sensor and light weight, as for its probable low cost.

stevebrot · 02-07-2014, 11:26 PM

The lens looks to be a Pentax-M 28/2.8. Cheap, small, and readily available.

Steve

rmalbers · 02-08-2014, 08:05 AM

Nice, thanks for posting this!

calculator01 · 02-08-2014, 08:58 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by RobA_Oz

Nice idea, but I would have hoped National Geographic would have considered that terrestrial helium is a non-renewable resource, and looked at using hydrogen instead (I went to post this comment on YouTube, but Google was too difficult to log in to, and, judging by some of the inane comments posted there, I wonder why anyone would expose themselves to it). I know hydrogen is more difficult to contain, but it is a renewable resource. I'm sure they could have improvised a more controlled descent, too.

I imagine the whole thing was done on a shoestring, but the K-01 was probably chosen as much for its APS-C sensor and light weight, as for its probable low cost.

I think most people shy away from hydrogen ever since the Hindenburg

Na Horuk · 02-08-2014, 04:40 PM

Awesome catch! Btw, weren't there some threads of someone sending Pentax cameras into the sky with weather balloons? Quite some time ago

Tanzer · 02-08-2014, 05:27 PM

Originally posted by Na Horuk

Awesome catch! Btw, weren't there some threads of someone sending Pentax cameras into the sky with weather balloons? Quite some time ago

Thanks! I found one related thread linked it at the bottom of my OP:

Originally posted by Tanzer

I should mention, that while searching around to see if anyone else had posted this, I found this other thread from 2008:
https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/6-pentax-dslr-discussion/31970-pentax-k10d-space.html

Check that out too. Maybe this was the one you were thinking of?

RonHendriks1966 · 02-08-2014, 05:59 PM

Looks great.

Doundounba · 02-08-2014, 06:20 PM

Maybe it's this guy? Asked about K-01 and weird artefacts when sending the camera up on a weather balloon with a 28mm lens...

EDIT: also (from the linked thread above) Near Space Ballooning and lo and behold, in the pics from launch #6 are pics of the Grand Canyon... Name matches too. It's him.

rawr · 02-08-2014, 06:25 PM

Originally posted by Doundounba

Maybe it's this guy? Asked about K-01 and weird artefacts when sending the camera up on a weather balloon with a 28mm lens...

I remember that thread. He got some interesting images out of the experiment, for all the wrong reasons of course.

Doundounba · 02-08-2014, 06:33 PM

Looks like he got much better results from the K-01 in launch #6, and in the video he explicitely says the K-01 is getting a heat pack because it didn't like the cold the previous time.

**Ex Finn.** · 02-08-2014, 06:52 PM

PentaxPoke was the pioneer...

02-08-2014, 06:20 PM	#12
Doundounba Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Montréal QC Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,351	Maybe it's this guy? Asked about K-01 and weird artefacts when sending the camera up on a weather balloon with a 28mm lens... EDIT: also (from the linked thread above) Near Space Ballooning and lo and behold, in the pics from launch #6 are pics of the Grand Canyon... Name matches too. It's him. Last edited by Doundounba; 02-08-2014 at 06:27 PM.

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02-07-2014, 09:49 PM	#2
j2photos Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Manteca, CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,653	Nice find! It is really cool to see Pentax gear used in unorthodox ways

02-07-2014, 09:56 PM	#3
dmc Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Calgary, AB Canada Posts: 76	Is this because they considered the K-01 a tough camera, or because it was expendable? Either way, thanks for this, a great use for a very good camera!

02-07-2014, 10:57 PM	#4
meeverett Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Maryville, TN Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 128	Cool. Maybe they got a good deal on it? Originally posted by dmc Is this because they considered the K-01 a tough camera, or because it was expendable? Either way, thanks for this, a great use for a very good camera!

02-07-2014, 11:21 PM	#5
RobA_Oz Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Tasmania, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,197	Nice idea, but I would have hoped National Geographic would have considered that terrestrial helium is a non-renewable resource, and looked at using hydrogen instead (I went to post this comment on YouTube, but Google was too difficult to log in to, and, judging by some of the inane comments posted there, I wonder why anyone would expose themselves to it). I know hydrogen is more difficult to contain, but it is a renewable resource. I'm sure they could have improvised a more controlled descent, too. I imagine the whole thing was done on a shoestring, but the K-01 was probably chosen as much for its APS-C sensor and light weight, as for its probable low cost.

02-07-2014, 11:26 PM	#6
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	The lens looks to be a Pentax-M 28/2.8. Cheap, small, and readily available. Steve

02-08-2014, 08:05 AM	#7
rmalbers Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 104	Nice, thanks for posting this!

02-08-2014, 08:58 AM - 1 Like	#8
calculator01 Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Edmonton, Alberta Photos: Albums Posts: 817	Originally posted by RobA_Oz Nice idea, but I would have hoped National Geographic would have considered that terrestrial helium is a non-renewable resource, and looked at using hydrogen instead (I went to post this comment on YouTube, but Google was too difficult to log in to, and, judging by some of the inane comments posted there, I wonder why anyone would expose themselves to it). I know hydrogen is more difficult to contain, but it is a renewable resource. I'm sure they could have improvised a more controlled descent, too. I imagine the whole thing was done on a shoestring, but the K-01 was probably chosen as much for its APS-C sensor and light weight, as for its probable low cost. I think most people shy away from hydrogen ever since the Hindenburg

02-08-2014, 04:40 PM	#9
Na Horuk Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Slovenia, probably Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,186	Awesome catch! Btw, weren't there some threads of someone sending Pentax cameras into the sky with weather balloons? Quite some time ago

02-08-2014, 05:27 PM	#10
Tanzer Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Perrineville, NJ Posts: 1,375 Original Poster	Originally posted by Na Horuk Awesome catch! Btw, weren't there some threads of someone sending Pentax cameras into the sky with weather balloons? Quite some time ago Thanks! I found one related thread linked it at the bottom of my OP: Originally posted by Tanzer I should mention, that while searching around to see if anyone else had posted this, I found this other thread from 2008: https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/6-pentax-dslr-discussion/31970-pentax-k10d-space.html Check that out too. Maybe this was the one you were thinking of?

02-08-2014, 05:59 PM	#11
RonHendriks1966 Banned Join Date: Jan 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,675	Looks great.

02-08-2014, 06:25 PM	#13
rawr Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 11,913	Originally posted by Doundounba Maybe it's this guy? Asked about K-01 and weird artefacts when sending the camera up on a weather balloon with a 28mm lens... I remember that thread. He got some interesting images out of the experiment, for all the wrong reasons of course.

02-08-2014, 06:33 PM	#14
Doundounba Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Montréal QC Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,351	Looks like he got much better results from the K-01 in launch #6, and in the video he explicitely says the K-01 is getting a heat pack because it didn't like the cold the previous time.

02-08-2014, 06:52 PM	#15
Ex Finn. Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Southern Maryland. Espoo. Kouvola. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,975	PentaxPoke was the pioneer...