Photography Reviews

10 Probing Questions at Headquarters for the Pentax Q Camera

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(“Hey, Sergeant, looks like we have a real pipsqueak under the hot lights today. It shouldn’t be too tough to drag some answers outta this little guy!”)

 

  1. “Are you just another compact camera or something all together different?”

 

I like to think of myself as a uniquely conceived ultra-compact, mirrorless camera. I’m like a compact, in that Pentax gave me the latest compact-camera sensor technology; but I also have interchangeable lenses like an APS-C or Micro Four Thirds cameras. You’ll also notice that I’m constructed with high quality metal parts.

  1. “How big of a sensor could you have, considering how small you are?”

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I have a BSI 12.4-megapixel, backlit, 1/2.33-inch CMOS sensor that results in exceptional image quality in 12-bit DNG RAW and JPEG. I’m known for attracting plenty of light, so my images have very low noise at high levels of ISO sensitivity.

 

  1. “Did I hear right? Do you think you’re some kind of hot shot, taking on airs with features usually only found on high-end cameras?”

I’m not typically the boastful kind, but I must admit I am well appointed, with a flash hot-shoe, control dial on the back, a quick dial on the front, custom green button, infra-red, stereo sound, side battery, separate memory card access, shake reduction (SR) sensor, dust reduction sensor, focus assist lamp and pop up flash.

 

  1. “According to my information, you hang out with five of your buddies. What are their names?”

 

I believe you’re referring to my interchangeable lenses. If you most know, they are Prime (8.5mm, 47mm equivalent, f/1.9) Standard Zoom (27.5–83mm equivalent), Toy Telephoto (100mm equivalent), Fisheye (17.5mm equivalent, 160 degree view), and Toy Wide (35mm equivalent).

 

  1. “It has also come to my attention that you’re a bit slow. What’s that all about?”

Yes, I must confess, when compared to the Samsung NX11 and Olympus E-PL3, my switch-on time is slower as well as my shot-to-shot time with and without a flash. I do have a faster shutter response time, however.

 

  1. “Since you seem to be in a confessing mood, what about the reports of your weak battery rating?”

 

Well, that’s true, but you must understand the bigger picture. Yes, I can deliver 250 shots without a flash and 230 with 50% flash use, before I need new batteries, but that’s better than the Canon PowerShot S95. What don’t you bother him instead of me!

 

  1. “Being such a puny, little guy, I’ll bet your sensitive type. Just how sensitive are you?”

 

If you’re referring to my ISO sensitivity, I do very well to ISO 1,600, which is better than the Nikon Coolpix P300. I start to lose details, however, when I reach ISO 3,200. That bully, the Olympus PEN EPL3, and many other mirrorless cameras can reproduce better details and sharpness in their images, at this sensitivity level.

 

  1. “The word on the street is that you’re bragging everywhere and to everyone about your digital filters. How could a punk like you be so loaded?”

 

I wouldn’t expect a flatfoot to understand that my physical size has nothing to do with my finer assets. I have more digital filters than you’ve ever seen! I’m packed with 11 filters and another 11 color options plus 21 scene modes. I also have the smarts to mix and match these filters and options, and even create customized filters.

 

  1. “Don’t be too smart, you little wise guy, or we’ll put you in the cooler for a few days!! Now, I want to know about your video capabilities.”

 

I can shoot 1080p Full HD video, with stereo sound in MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 at 30fps and segments as long as 25 minutes. Like the big boys, I allow for manual exposure.

 

  1. We’ve had some complaints about your price. How do you respond to those?”

 

With my prime lens (47mm, f/1.9), my kit price is approximately $700 to $800, which makes me a bit more than the Sony NEX-C3, Panasonic FG3 and Olympus PEN Mini EPM1 and a bit less than the Samsung NX200, so I don’t know why consumers who are considering these cameras are complaining about me. They should remember my lenses are the smallest; in fact, you can carry all 5 of them in a pocket.

 

It’s true that I cost approximately twice as much as the Nikon Coolpix P300 or Canon Powershot S95, but, of course, these cameras don’t have interchangeable lenses.

 

“Okay, you’re free to go, but don’t leave town. We want to keep an eye on you and see how the public reacts before we take any further action.”

 

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Photo © PENTAX RICOH IMAGING UK LTD.