Pentax K-01

Before discussing the more controversial aspect of the Pentax K-01, its un-mirrorless-like camera design, let's establish one overriding fundamental, the images captured by this somewhat unconventional K-01 are velvety.

The photos are reminiscent of the picture quality of a high-end plasma TV. They are saturated, but not overly, with deep rich colors. The subjects are well defined without exhibiting that unnatural in-your-face razor-like sharpness.

Looking at the photos is like swaddling your eyeballs in soft, blue velvet.

We took four cameras to test shoot at the Easter Parade on Fifth Avenue. Whenever we wanted to be assured to catch that special moment, we would reach for the K-01.

After that description, you may be asking why the Pentax K-01 doesn't wrest the top spot from the Sony NEX-5N. The sexy Sony still maintains its Numero Uno ranking because of price, size and auto focus performance.

What's Hot about the Pentax K-01

• 16MP CMOS APS-C sensor
• Velvety image quality and wide dynamic range
• Compatible with a large selection of legacy Pentax K-mount lenses
• Image stabilization integrated in the camera body
• Open standard DNG (digital negative) RAW capture format
• HDR shooting mode
• Peaking feature for assisting focusing
• 1080p video at 30 fps and 720p at 60 fps
• Built-in pop-up flash
• Battery lasts much longer than those in other compact system cameras

What's Not So Caliente about the Pentax K-01

• One of the most expensive cameras in the shootout
• Up to 6 fps burst mode shooting only with JPEGs, RAW capture at a slow 1 fps
• Auto focus can be slow especially in low light
• No auto focus in Video mode
• Hand grip is small
• One of the biggest sized bodies in the shootout
• No electronic viewfinder and the LCD screen does not articulate

Design

Ah, the design of the K-01, much has been written - not all of it kind - about Marc Newson's concept and realization for Pentax's second foray into the mirrorless, compact system camera market. (You can read our review of their inaugural product, the mini-mirrorless, Pentax Q at the end of this shootout.)

I have mixed feelings about K-01's design. I once heard a well-known designer define his profession. He said, "A designer is someone who makes something better."

Not all the changes on the K-01 could be considered "better." Sometimes, they seem to be made for styling rather than ergonomics. For example, the hand grip has been sheared almost to nonexistence. The camera body looks sleeker, but you lose the ability to securely clutch the K-01.

Unlike most of the cameras in this shootout, you will need two hands to hold the K-01, especially if you have any lens (other than the 40mm pancake kit one) attached.

Also, the hinge on the flexible rubber door that covers the SD card slot is fated to rip when you are in a hurry to switch out cards.

To end the kvetch, the K-01 does not have an electronic viewfinder, which means all your framing and reviewing must be done with the 3" LCD screen. Ideally, the screen would articulate, providing the ability to avoid blinding glare. Alas, the screen is fixed.

On the flip side of the design argument, the sculpted aluminum body with the rubber accents looks marvelous and feels substantial.

I like that the K-01 has some meat on its bones. And when I read that one of the reasons for its boxiness was to accommodate legacy lenses without adding an adaptor, the extra girth was definitely justified.

The mode dial combines style and functionality. The red dedicated Movie button is accessible though out of the way of errant fingers.

The layout of the controls on the back is conventional. The on-screen menu is fairly easy to navigate because it is not laden down with extraneous features.

All in all, except for - and this is a major exception - the tiny hand grip, the design of the K-01 is fresh and functional.

Image Quality

I have already waxed eloquent about the wonderful image quality emanating from the 16 megapixel APS-C sized CMOS sensor. I don't know what special sauce Pentax is using, but even the RAW files are deliciously rich.

Easter Day on Fifth Avenue was sunny, which allowed for a low ISO and a high shutter speed. Therefore noise was not a factor.

But even in darker conditions with an ISO of 1600, noise is still not an issue. The image to the right was shot later in the evening at ISO 1600. You can click on it to see a 1:1 pixel crop of the RAW file without any post processing noise reduction.

The K-01 has an ISO range of 100-25600. For the non pixel peepers, noise should not be a major distraction even at ISO 6400. If it is, a little post-processing of the DNG file should solve it.

The K-01's dynamic range is excellent. If you wish to give it an extra kick in the pants, you can turn on one or both of the menu's D-Range settings, Highlight Correction and Shadow Correction.

Of course, if you really desire to extend the dynamic range, Pentax provides an HDR (High Dynamic Range) shooting mode, which creates a composite from three images shot at three different exposures up to + or - 3EV.

The video quality from the K-01 is good, though the image tends to exhibit the shaking Jell-O quality if the camera is panned too quickly. Of course the simple remedy is not to pan the K-01 that fast.

The other drawback when shooting video is that the K-01 does not provide an auto focus feature. Considering how bad and noisy the auto focus is when some cameras shoot video, not having it to tempt you may be a good thing.

With the Peaking assist feature on this Pentax, manual focusing is much easier, accurate, and preferable to the Contrast Detection auto focus method used by other cameras when recording video. Also, the 40mm kit lens focus ring was very smooth.

The K-01 supplies two integrated microphones, which are more functional since the lens is quiet to focus. But you will be better served by a external microphone that you can attach to an mini-plug input on the side of the camera.

Features

As mentioned, the Pentax K-01 offers an HDR shooting feature. Too bad that it doesn't include Panorama or 3D.

If you turn the Mode dial to SCN, Pentax has programmed in 19 different Scene presets including Portrait, Landscape, Macro, Kids, Surf and Snow, and Backlight Silhouette.

If you are capturing JPEGs, you can also choose from Custom Image options like Natural, Radiant, Muted, Bleach Bypass, Monochrome and Cross Processing. Have fun experimenting.

Beyond the handy and workable pop-up flash, the K-01 also furnishes a hot shoe where you can hook an accessory like a microphone or a compatible Pentax external flash unit.

The K-01 provides an integrated image stabilization system, which works with every mounted Pentax lens.

The K-01 does not offer a built-in GPS.

We tested the Pentax K-01 with the 40mm pancake lens, which truly lives up to its name being no bigger than a fluffy silver dollar buttermilk flapjack. At first, you would swear that there was no lens on the camera.

But all of the photos that you see here were shot with that lens, which performed admirably. It is one of a handful of kit lens that I would recommend.

One last note, the battery that comes with the K-01 has the longest life of any of the batteries in this shootout.

Verdict

The Pentax K-01 is not for everyone, especially those looking for almost a pocket-sized mirrorless camera. But its silky image quality should lure many others into giving it serious consideration.

At the time of this writing, the price has dropped on the K-01 making it an even more attractive option when compared to other cameras in this shootout.

Pentax K-01 Photo Gallery

More about the Pentax K-01

Pentax K-01 spec sheet