PMA 2011 Sydney (includes photos of the Pentax Q)

Christine Tham · 06-25-2011, 12:30 AM - **1 Like**

Look, but no touch - apparently they are not allowed to let people touch the camera and take photos (it's a beta version of the firmware), but the Q will be available in Australia "sometime in July" retailing for A$799 with the prime lens (which is a very good price compared to GF3 - A$799 body only, Canon S95 A$599):

This is the size of the camera compared to my hand (by the way, that's the zoom lens on the camera, not the prime, which is considerably smaller):

I am not sure I like the white - it's slightly creamy in colour and looks a bit cheap (the black looks better but boring - how I wish they had made it in silver):

The pink K-r on the other hand definitely looks cheap and tacky - I'm glad I didn't buy it, it looks like an oversized cheap toy:

The new Panasonic GF3 in my hand - not much bigger than the Q - I would consider the GF3 to be the closes competitor to the Q:

The G3 is significantly bulkier than the Q or the GF3 - not in the same league. It's definitely way too big for my needs - it looks like a slightly cut down SLR and definitely not pocketable (or handbaggable):

On the plus side the G3 has a reasonable number of SLR-like controls at the back:

The Sandisk Extreme Pro booth babes (they were impressed I was actually using an Extreme Pro card in my K-5):

Canon high end telephotos:

Finally, a photo of me at PMA:

Christine Tham · 06-25-2011, 12:35 AM

Oops, forgot to include two nice Jill-E bags:

goldpopper · 06-25-2011, 01:27 AM

I saw today as well at the expo...its very very small ! I think I would find it too small for my use.

juu · 06-25-2011, 01:41 AM

The Q looks better in your shots than in official Pentax marketing pictures.

steve1307 · 06-25-2011, 04:41 AM

Originally posted by juu

The Q looks better in your shots than in official Pentax marketing pictures.

Yes, it does. nice shots Christine.

The Q's werent mock up (so CRK said) and were working "beta" models. I figured they wouldnt let anyone stick a memory card in one but, I was hoping to at least hold one to see it was built nicely (like a Fuji X100). I was told that they were under strict instructions to keep them locked up. I thought that might be because I looked a bit dodgy.
I think July might be a bit optimsitic.

I wasnt expecting much from CRK but was a still a bit disappointed.
Played with a K-5 +17-70 (felt heavy) & 645D (felt realllllly heavy) but there was no 50-135 no 15,35,40 or 70 (but 3 silver FA & a 21) and no 18-135. The prices they were quoting were all RRP.
If wanted to test lenses for potential purchase I'd have been better off going to DCW.

I was going to whip out my Extreme Pro (SD card) for the Sandisk girls but I've only got a small 8Gig one, so they'd probably just point and laugh.

I think the guys with the Cannons were checking out the lower portion of those 2 Sandisk promo girls.

Worth going to, but I spent more time looking at the photo awards and print displays.

**Aristophanes** · 06-25-2011, 05:03 AM

Hold on!

The K-r is the same colour as the Jill-E bags :-)

Pantone has been busy at one end of the spectrum.

The Canon S95 street price is ~US$360 now, so A$350. Almost 40% off list.

The Q kit could be sub-$500 by Christmas.

We all need to hope the Yen starts tanking.

steve1307 · 06-25-2011, 05:31 AM

Originally posted by Aristophanes

Hold on!

The K-r is the same colour as the Jill-E bags :-)

Pantone has been busy at one end of the spectrum.

The Canon S95 street price is ~US$360 now, so A$350. Almost 40% off list.

The Q kit could be sub-$500 by Christmas.

We all need to hope the Yen starts tanking.

Australia still has inflated prices in stores:

Even though the Q "defies" comparison here a some local comparisons which I looked at at PMA today.

Canon S95 is about A$510
Panasonic LX5 (24-90zoom) about A$620
Panasonic GF2 +1lens about A$820
no prices on the GF3 yet
Sony NEX5 +18-55 about A$850

but...Fuji X100 about A$1200 same as the U.S.

pop4 · 06-25-2011, 05:47 AM

Originally posted by Christine Tham

Look, but no touch - apparently they are not allowed to let people touch the camera and take photos (it's a beta version of the firmware), but the Q will be available in Australia "sometime in July" retailing for A$799 with the prime lens (which is a very good price compared to GF3 - A$799 body only, Canon S95 A$599):

Originally posted by steve1307

The Q's werent mock up (so CRK said) and were working "beta" models. I figured they wouldnt let anyone stick a memory card in one but, I was hoping to at least hold one to see it was built nicely (like a Fuji X100). I was told that they were under strict instructions to keep them locked up. I thought that might be because I looked a bit dodgy.
I think July might be a bit optimsitic.

Same thing happened to me and "kyteflyer", as mentioned in the PMA thread: we could look at them, but they weren't moving out of their display case. I guess we all look dodgy

I was also told a July release, but the Q isn't something that interests me.

Originally posted by steve1307

Even though the Q "defies" comparison here a some local comparisons which I looked at at PMA today.

Were they the "RRP"s that you were looking at? Street price tends to be a bit lower then the RRP/MSRP. I mean, the 645D had RRP as A$13000, but you can buy them for around A$11000 in stores.

steve1307 · 06-25-2011, 07:43 AM

Originally posted by pop4

Were they the "RRP"s that you were looking at? Street price tends to be a bit lower then the RRP/MSRP. I mean, the 645D had RRP as A$13000, but you can buy them for around A$11000 in stores.

The pricing sheets on the CRK stand were all RRP. ie much more than store price like you said, so I didnt take much notice of them.

For Sydney stores, I Look at DCW or digidirect or dirtcheap or camera-warehouse or vanbar for online prices.
The compact camera prices S95, LX5 etc I listed came from those.

The US stores list these cameras much lower so the Q at $700US seems way overpriced in comparison. A$700 in store here is kind of in the middle above the S95 and LX5 non interchangeble lend and the 4/3's camera.

Comparison, in price only I am talking about. Yes, the sensor is tiny but if it were bigger then it would be NEX or GF2 sized and more expensive.

The Pentax Q doesn't have any directly comparable competitors but probably doesnt have a direct market either.

If the sensor really IS very good in the Q (ie better than the other Sony compacts) then maybe.

Christine Tham · 06-25-2011, 11:57 AM

Originally posted by pop4

Same thing happened to me and "kyteflyer", as mentioned in the PMA thread: we could look at them, but they weren't moving out of their display case. I guess we all look dodgy

No, they were really under strict orders, I'm sure you guys looked well ... like photographers.

I know both Anthony and Corey at the stand, and they have no problems letting me borrow expensive lenses for a test in the past, and they said they would have been shot just for unlocking the display cabinet.

I even pleaded with Robert Kennedy to allow me to just hold it in my hand (and hold my Hello Kitty K-5 as ransom) but he wouldn't do it.

Christine Tham · 06-25-2011, 12:00 PM

Originally posted by steve1307

no prices on the GF3 yet

I think you need to speak to Aki at the Panasonic stand - she has firm pricing on the GF3 (I think she is higher up on the totem pole than the other gophers manning the stands) - she gave me firm prices on the GF3 ($999 with the twin lens kit) - because I told her I was very keen to buy one.

She also let me play with her GF3 and the two Leica lenses, which wasn't locked and tethered to a pole. AND she let me put my SD card into her GF3.

RonHendriks1966 · 06-25-2011, 03:32 PM

Great work Christine! A picture of a yellow K-r?

Christine Tham · 06-25-2011, 05:17 PM

Originally posted by RonHendriks1966

Great work Christine! A picture of a yellow K-r?

Sorry, no yellow in Australia - only black, white, red and pink.

pop4 · 06-25-2011, 05:21 PM

Originally posted by Christine Tham

she gave me firm prices on the GF3 ($999 with the twin lens kit) - because I told her I was very keen to buy one.

Whether you're really keen to buy one, or it was just a ploy to get to play with the GF3, I'd hold off till at least Thursday; the Olympus rep mentioned that they'll have an announcement regarding their next M4/3 cameras, and from what he said, there'll be lens announcements as well as the camera announcements.

Christine Tham · 06-25-2011, 05:31 PM

Originally posted by pop4

Whether you're really keen to buy one, or it was just a ploy to get to play with the GF3, I'd hold off till at least Thursday; the Olympus rep mentioned that they'll have an announcement regarding their next M4/3 cameras, and from what he said, there'll be lens announcements as well as the camera announcements.

Yeah, I got the same info from the Olympus rep.

It's kind of embarassing actually - the rep was extolling the features of the current generation to a random newbie, and I walked up to him and said "Look, I know I shouldn't be asking this, but when are the new models going to be announced???"

He stammered, uhmed and ahhed a fair bit before whispering "Thursday."

Upon which the newbie said "Why didn't you tell me new models are going to come out???"

Oops.

I said to him "You should really have the new models on display." The poor rep agreed with me and said "I know. We tried, but Japan wouldn't let us."

06-25-2011, 12:30 AM - 1 Like	#1
Christine Tham Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Sydney, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,269	PMA 2011 Sydney (includes photos of the Pentax Q) Look, but no touch - apparently they are not allowed to let people touch the camera and take photos (it's a beta version of the firmware), but the Q will be available in Australia "sometime in July" retailing for A$799 with the prime lens (which is a very good price compared to GF3 - A$799 body only, Canon S95 A$599): This is the size of the camera compared to my hand (by the way, that's the zoom lens on the camera, not the prime, which is considerably smaller): I am not sure I like the white - it's slightly creamy in colour and looks a bit cheap (the black looks better but boring - how I wish they had made it in silver): The pink K-r on the other hand definitely looks cheap and tacky - I'm glad I didn't buy it, it looks like an oversized cheap toy: The new Panasonic GF3 in my hand - not much bigger than the Q - I would consider the GF3 to be the closes competitor to the Q: The G3 is significantly bulkier than the Q or the GF3 - not in the same league. It's definitely way too big for my needs - it looks like a slightly cut down SLR and definitely not pocketable (or handbaggable): On the plus side the G3 has a reasonable number of SLR-like controls at the back: The Sandisk Extreme Pro booth babes (they were impressed I was actually using an Extreme Pro card in my K-5): Canon high end telephotos: Finally, a photo of me at PMA:

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06-25-2011, 12:35 AM	#2
Christine Tham Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Sydney, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,269 Original Poster	Oops, forgot to include two nice Jill-E bags:

06-25-2011, 01:27 AM	#3
goldpopper Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: sydney Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 73	I saw today as well at the expo...its very very small ! I think I would find it too small for my use.

06-25-2011, 01:41 AM	#4
juu Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 680	The Q looks better in your shots than in official Pentax marketing pictures.

06-25-2011, 04:41 AM	#5
steve1307 Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Sydney Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,130	Originally posted by juu The Q looks better in your shots than in official Pentax marketing pictures. Yes, it does. nice shots Christine. The Q's werent mock up (so CRK said) and were working "beta" models. I figured they wouldnt let anyone stick a memory card in one but, I was hoping to at least hold one to see it was built nicely (like a Fuji X100). I was told that they were under strict instructions to keep them locked up. I thought that might be because I looked a bit dodgy. I think July might be a bit optimsitic. I wasnt expecting much from CRK but was a still a bit disappointed. Played with a K-5 +17-70 (felt heavy) & 645D (felt realllllly heavy) but there was no 50-135 no 15,35,40 or 70 (but 3 silver FA & a 21) and no 18-135. The prices they were quoting were all RRP. If wanted to test lenses for potential purchase I'd have been better off going to DCW. I was going to whip out my Extreme Pro (SD card) for the Sandisk girls but I've only got a small 8Gig one, so they'd probably just point and laugh. I think the guys with the Cannons were checking out the lower portion of those 2 Sandisk promo girls. Worth going to, but I spent more time looking at the photo awards and print displays.

06-25-2011, 05:03 AM	#6
Aristophanes Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Rankin Inlet, Nunavut Photos: Albums Posts: 3,948	Hold on! The K-r is the same colour as the Jill-E bags :-) Pantone has been busy at one end of the spectrum. The Canon S95 street price is ~US$360 now, so A$350. Almost 40% off list. The Q kit could be sub-$500 by Christmas. We all need to hope the Yen starts tanking.

06-25-2011, 05:31 AM	#7
steve1307 Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Sydney Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,130	Originally posted by Aristophanes Hold on! The K-r is the same colour as the Jill-E bags :-) Pantone has been busy at one end of the spectrum. The Canon S95 street price is ~US$360 now, so A$350. Almost 40% off list. The Q kit could be sub-$500 by Christmas. We all need to hope the Yen starts tanking. Australia still has inflated prices in stores: Even though the Q "defies" comparison here a some local comparisons which I looked at at PMA today. Canon S95 is about A$510 Panasonic LX5 (24-90zoom) about A$620 Panasonic GF2 +1lens about A$820 no prices on the GF3 yet Sony NEX5 +18-55 about A$850 but...Fuji X100 about A$1200 same as the U.S.

06-25-2011, 05:47 AM	#8
pop4 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: YMML Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,879	Originally posted by Christine Tham Look, but no touch - apparently they are not allowed to let people touch the camera and take photos (it's a beta version of the firmware), but the Q will be available in Australia "sometime in July" retailing for A$799 with the prime lens (which is a very good price compared to GF3 - A$799 body only, Canon S95 A$599): Originally posted by steve1307 The Q's werent mock up (so CRK said) and were working "beta" models. I figured they wouldnt let anyone stick a memory card in one but, I was hoping to at least hold one to see it was built nicely (like a Fuji X100). I was told that they were under strict instructions to keep them locked up. I thought that might be because I looked a bit dodgy. I think July might be a bit optimsitic. Same thing happened to me and "kyteflyer", as mentioned in the PMA thread: we could look at them, but they weren't moving out of their display case. I guess we all look dodgy I was also told a July release, but the Q isn't something that interests me. Originally posted by steve1307 Even though the Q "defies" comparison here a some local comparisons which I looked at at PMA today. Were they the "RRP"s that you were looking at? Street price tends to be a bit lower then the RRP/MSRP. I mean, the 645D had RRP as A$13000, but you can buy them for around A$11000 in stores.

06-25-2011, 07:43 AM	#9
steve1307 Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Sydney Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,130	Originally posted by pop4 Were they the "RRP"s that you were looking at? Street price tends to be a bit lower then the RRP/MSRP. I mean, the 645D had RRP as A$13000, but you can buy them for around A$11000 in stores. The pricing sheets on the CRK stand were all RRP. ie much more than store price like you said, so I didnt take much notice of them. For Sydney stores, I Look at DCW or digidirect or dirtcheap or camera-warehouse or vanbar for online prices. The compact camera prices S95, LX5 etc I listed came from those. The US stores list these cameras much lower so the Q at $700US seems way overpriced in comparison. A$700 in store here is kind of in the middle above the S95 and LX5 non interchangeble lend and the 4/3's camera. Comparison, in price only I am talking about. Yes, the sensor is tiny but if it were bigger then it would be NEX or GF2 sized and more expensive. The Pentax Q doesn't have any directly comparable competitors but probably doesnt have a direct market either. If the sensor really IS very good in the Q (ie better than the other Sony compacts) then maybe.

06-25-2011, 11:57 AM	#10
Christine Tham Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Sydney, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,269 Original Poster	Originally posted by pop4 Same thing happened to me and "kyteflyer", as mentioned in the PMA thread: we could look at them, but they weren't moving out of their display case. I guess we all look dodgy No, they were really under strict orders, I'm sure you guys looked well ... like photographers. I know both Anthony and Corey at the stand, and they have no problems letting me borrow expensive lenses for a test in the past, and they said they would have been shot just for unlocking the display cabinet. I even pleaded with Robert Kennedy to allow me to just hold it in my hand (and hold my Hello Kitty K-5 as ransom) but he wouldn't do it.

06-25-2011, 12:00 PM	#11
Christine Tham Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Sydney, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,269 Original Poster	Originally posted by steve1307 no prices on the GF3 yet I think you need to speak to Aki at the Panasonic stand - she has firm pricing on the GF3 (I think she is higher up on the totem pole than the other gophers manning the stands) - she gave me firm prices on the GF3 ($999 with the twin lens kit) - because I told her I was very keen to buy one. She also let me play with her GF3 and the two Leica lenses, which wasn't locked and tethered to a pole. AND she let me put my SD card into her GF3.

06-25-2011, 03:32 PM	#12
RonHendriks1966 Banned Join Date: Jan 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,675	Great work Christine! A picture of a yellow K-r?

06-25-2011, 05:17 PM	#13
Christine Tham Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Sydney, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,269 Original Poster	Originally posted by RonHendriks1966 Great work Christine! A picture of a yellow K-r? Sorry, no yellow in Australia - only black, white, red and pink.

06-25-2011, 05:21 PM	#14
pop4 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: YMML Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,879	Originally posted by Christine Tham she gave me firm prices on the GF3 ($999 with the twin lens kit) - because I told her I was very keen to buy one. Whether you're really keen to buy one, or it was just a ploy to get to play with the GF3, I'd hold off till at least Thursday; the Olympus rep mentioned that they'll have an announcement regarding their next M4/3 cameras, and from what he said, there'll be lens announcements as well as the camera announcements.

06-25-2011, 05:31 PM	#15
Christine Tham Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Sydney, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,269 Original Poster	Originally posted by pop4 Whether you're really keen to buy one, or it was just a ploy to get to play with the GF3, I'd hold off till at least Thursday; the Olympus rep mentioned that they'll have an announcement regarding their next M4/3 cameras, and from what he said, there'll be lens announcements as well as the camera announcements. Yeah, I got the same info from the Olympus rep. It's kind of embarassing actually - the rep was extolling the features of the current generation to a random newbie, and I walked up to him and said "Look, I know I shouldn't be asking this, but when are the new models going to be announced???" He stammered, uhmed and ahhed a fair bit before whispering "Thursday." Upon which the newbie said "Why didn't you tell me new models are going to come out???" Oops. I said to him "You should really have the new models on display." The poor rep agreed with me and said "I know. We tried, but Japan wouldn't let us."