Originally posted by monochrome The staid tradition and form of black cameras offered a perfect opportunity for Newson to introduce new design ideas. The reaction was so predictable it was actually banal. I wonder, had Pentax released the K-01 in a shell reminiscent of the MX, whether Sony and Olympus would have company in the design imaginations of hip consumers today.
Having had a exposure to the broad range of vintage camera design, my opinion is that the K-01 was not particularly bizarre. Any objections I had were based on usability and handling. The former, I won't blame Newson for. It was not his fault that a proper viewfinder was not in the target spec. He might take some blame, however, for the K-01 having the handling characteristics of a chunk of adobe. I know, many people really like the feel of the camera in the hand, but I tried one with several different lenses and was unable to manage a working balance. No sale to me despite very attractive pricing.
Steve