This camera is so incredibly important at the moment. Nikon and Canon are trying to build mirrorless cameras and have to decide between the existing lens mount and a new one. This camera shows how a mirrorless with DSLR lenses could look like...
I was expecting Kai to rip this one apart (with humor) but quite the contrary I think Kai actually get's the point of the camera which is refreshing. :) And I agree with him, the spirit of trying new things in design should never be trampled on.
Got this in baby blue just for the fun of it. It does a great job as a camera, and gets a lot of attention when out. I still like the viewfinder on my K3, but this is fun. I like the style, many don't, but that's what styles are about. It joins my Q7 (yellow) on the fun shelf.
I love the DigitalRev reviews, they are informative, humorous and I don't find them bias either giving pros and cons even with cameras as radical as this. Thank you.
I @ replied you guys earlier in the week and said I hated this camera. It's not so much the design, which is kind of cool, it's that they removed the mirror but didn't shorten the mirror box. They could have kept the same mount and given away an extension tube with the camera, and developed some great lenses taking advantage of the short flange distance. I know Pentax have had some troubles, but they jumped into mirrorless with a thoughtless technical design. Also no EVF :(
Have to add that the space that mirror left inside could be use screw focus to the inside and not to outside with the posibility to have more compacts lenses. Brilliant Pentax!
As Pentax K-01 keep the original flange distance between sensor and the lens produce to have more DOF than common MILC. Because of making thinner the flange distance, common MILC get similar results as P&S, but with better optic. Pentax take the challenge to compress the fragil part of a DSLR, the lens, without a worse handling(grip).
This isn't Pentax's small mirrorless camera though. They have the Q for that. This is a mirrorless camera aimed at the DSLR market and having seen one they are built pretty solid. I just wish they had a view finder.
im digging how it looks, may look into it as a starter digital since it should be cheap being two years old and that it isn't ugly and it has a k-mount!
This looks more crisp than the Canon 5dm3 review that was filmed with the 5Dm3. I guess they changed their video export settings. I wonder what they were?
Just bought it and it performs just as good as my D5100. Biggest issue is no view finder. New firmware is great. Huge price reduction. Isn't that big in my hands because I am probably 3x as big of a guy as Kai. The design is fresh, any real artist can see that. Video is better than most cams under $1000. Really any camera comes down to extremely high end AF lenses with top grade memory cards and of course the person behind the camera. Those are the real reasons behind great digital video.
I'm quite amazed that after Kai changes, holds a yellow camera, has Alamby and Lok follow him, and purposefully looks and acts ridiculously, still hardly anyone looks at them.
Interestingly, across Victoria Park (where the opening sequence was shot), there's a Furniture Store not far from the Park Lane Hotel -- that would probably have Marc Newson chairs or lamps on display.
Been researching a dslr to purchase for months now and I'll tell you what, the Pentax K30 just seems to offer more camera for the money not to mention the K5...Nothing matches it in it's class, speed, build quality, weather sealed,great picture quality, and nice lenses available.
Also, I forgot, I'll be using it with an LCDVF, I'm not after a small camera, just a good one. No view finder is no problem really, the LCDVF works great on the K-5 (where I use it for video), why not on the K-01?
Hi guys at DR I just got a Pentax k-01 and was hoping you would do a review on how meany different Leans availability for this model as well as leans mounts and can you go over focus peaking. I love the show keep it up. ps. I love my banana brick
Denver, CO (April 16, 2012) - PENTAX RICOH IMAGING AMERICAS CORPORATION is pleased to announce that the PENTAX K-01 interchangeable lens camera (ILC), designed by world-renowned industrial designer Marc Newson and launched in March 2012, has been selected as a Product Design 2012 winner at this year’s prestigious red dot design awards in Germany.
For the same reason guitarists and bassists buy instruments that aren't Fender or Gibson. Variety is a great thing, and the competition it generates is even better, especially from the consumer side. Even if i do own a Canon, i also enjoy having more choices.
"Although it surely isn't Pentax's best-performing lens" (@8:15) Actually the DA 40 XS 'kit lens' for the K-01 is based on the DA40 Limited, which is one of the sharpest modern K-mount lenses (see Photozone for evidence). In fact the optics are the same - they just made the lens body smaller and plastic.
I feel like this is a fair review of the camera. It's a very fun to use camera that has great IQ, though not the best performer in terms of speed. For those who want a cheap solution I'd really recommend looking at this camera. It's good enough to really get you into photography, but it's lacking in just the right places to make you want more in the future when you expand and know what you need. This camera plus the Pentax-F 35-70mm would be able to serve any novice amazingly for quite a while, at a very very cheap price point.
I really like this camera. It is different and does great pictures. The only negative point is for me the missing Vf, but with such a design who cares about VF. I think I'll get one.
I never wrote mirrorless==thin, but I can put my E-PL2+20/1.7 in my pocket. That's normally all I need as it has a built-in flash and no adapter is needed because there are many m4/3 lenses. A mirrorless can be smaller, lighter, and/or cheaper because the lack of a flapping mirror and OVF; see the PEN's, NEX's (some with same 16MP sensor as K-01), etc. Nothing against Pentax, especially that I almost bought a K-5, but the K-01 doesn't seem to have anything going for it, except for the designer.
I like the quirky design. I'm guessing the camera didn't sell well, because they are getting heavily discounted. As a result you seem to get a lot of camera for your dollars. I'm kind of torn whether to get this or some type of Sony NEX. Fujifilm are out of my league price wise.
I use an old Pentax Spotomatic for B/W. Great to see Pentax breaking some new ground. I actually might consider this camera if it comes at a reasonable price.
I can't understand why people always think it's either one or another with form and function. Great designs take both into consideration. For example, Leicas look good, because they use great materials and the camera itself is as pure as it has been for many decades. Timeless is the word. As for function, well to me its beauty derives from its obviousness in function. It all just plays together really.
I think it looks pretty cool, and as it's also available in traditional black and silver, the yellow is hardly representative. I guess with the way Pentax is marketing it, using the yellow, they are inviting the kind of frivolous look at it we get in this video. I might get one eventually for my Pentax lenses, who knows.
Afraid I don't quite follow your reasoning. How does what the lens _body_ is made of have anything to do with its optical quality? For reference, all current variants of the legendary Canon 70-200 L have a polycarbonate (plastic) lens body.
Complaints about ergonomics are exaggerated, especially the supposed difficulty reaching the green button (not) and closing the flap (easy). K-01 has a refreshing form factor, he finally says, and the flap closes easily. Complains about autofocus without mentioning innovative focus peaking. Marc Newsom did a good job with Pentax brilliant realization that mirrorless retention of K-mount required innovative design. K-01 hits the target right on the bullseye. I'm enjoying mine immensely.
A fair review highlighting the strengths of the K-01. I only with the boys at Pentax made the K-01 look more like the Fuji Ex-1. It seems with Pentax being the out of the box leader, they would have went with a retro inspired looking camera.Nonetheless, the camera can be had for a steal online, which makes discovery of its true virtues more likely.
I actually dont mind its looks when its all black with silver. With that sensor quality and all the K lenses, ltds & pancakes, if I didnt already have a K7 I'd be very tempted. Perhaps they couldve reduced the width of the body a little either side of the mount by not trying to use the K5 battery...
The best camera design so far. Why be like others? It's pentax way, they always do different products. And that's good in these days when everything looks the same.
Pentax managed to fit 30+ years of lenses into a mirrorless camera...DAMN!!!!!!!!!!! The K5`s replacement will give Canon and Nikon engineers many sleepless nights. At least the work stress wont be as bad as the folks over at Foxconn.
![I.N "HALLUCINATION" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/n5B5q1Hwt_U/mqdefault.jpg)
Watching this vintage review, buying one in 2024.
This camera is so incredibly important at the moment. Nikon and Canon are trying to build mirrorless cameras and have to decide between the existing lens mount and a new one. This camera shows how a mirrorless with DSLR lenses could look like...
BIG FACTS!
I was expecting Kai to rip this one apart (with humor) but quite the contrary I think Kai actually get's the point of the camera which is refreshing. :) And I agree with him, the spirit of trying new things in design should never be trampled on.
Nah it’s stupid. He’s just a Pentax fan is all.
Lok forgot to add music starting at 4:50. :)
Pretty sure it was taken out for copyright purposes.
Got this in baby blue just for the fun of it. It does a great job as a camera, and gets a lot of attention when out. I still like the viewfinder on my K3, but this is fun. I like the style, many don't, but that's what styles are about. It joins my Q7 (yellow) on the fun shelf.
I have this camera converted to full spectrum and it has taken some ridiculously amazing photos.
thought i lost kais videos for forever glad to find this hope hes well
I think this video is the first and only Lok's editing fuck up ever.
I love the DigitalRev reviews, they are informative, humorous and I don't find them bias either giving pros and cons even with cameras as radical as this. Thank you.
i appreciate pentax expanding the usage of K mount. now i can have a chance to use my K mount lenses on a mirrorless camera. that's wonderful.
The good days of DigitalRev TV
Do more Pentax reviews! I'm totally in love with this camera!
Even for things I'll never myself pickup I watch your videos just to watch DigitalRev.
Nice image at 9:12 on a subject in the dark. Kai took some great photos with this camera on the fly.
Finally, I'm amongst the first viewers of a DigitalRev video. For a moment, I thought that camera was a toy and that it's a pin-hole camera.
I could almost hear Weid Al Yankovich's "Tacky" soundtrak playing in background! :D
This video looks a lot more crisp compared to the other ones. What was this filmed with?
Nice review. I'm curious what you think of Pentax's flagship DSLR the K5. I hear they have the same sensor. Does it still work the same?
This is way better than the E-M5 review. It's actually entertaining and informative, not a long-running rant.
Wow, that is a crazy looking piece of kit there!
It would be great if more reviews on Pentax camera to be done!!
Pentax is really wonderful !!
I @ replied you guys earlier in the week and said I hated this camera. It's not so much the design, which is kind of cool, it's that they removed the mirror but didn't shorten the mirror box. They could have kept the same mount and given away an extension tube with the camera, and developed some great lenses taking advantage of the short flange distance. I know Pentax have had some troubles, but they jumped into mirrorless with a thoughtless technical design.
Also no EVF :(
oh wow your clothing actually matches the camera pretty well
I am a serious guy but enjoyed this humourous presentation. So different from all other cameras reviews.
Have to add that the space that mirror left inside could be use screw focus to the inside and not to outside with the posibility to have more compacts lenses. Brilliant Pentax!
Who'd have thought there are more than 2 camera companies. Amazing.
The floppy flap would be a definite dealbreaker for me. The USB/cable release port cover on my 400D annoyed me to no end.
I own K-01 and I put vintage k-mount lenses on it
I have just tried a vintage self focusing lens on mine and its different in a positive way .
As Pentax K-01 keep the original flange distance between sensor and the lens produce to have more DOF than common MILC. Because of making thinner the flange distance, common MILC get similar results as P&S, but with better optic. Pentax take the challenge to compress the fragil part of a DSLR, the lens, without a worse handling(grip).
cool camera. A lot ppl gonna hate it, but there will be many who will just fall in love with it..
You guys are amazing when it comes to reviews. very Balanced!
This isn't Pentax's small mirrorless camera though. They have the Q for that. This is a mirrorless camera aimed at the DSLR market and having seen one they are built pretty solid. I just wish they had a view finder.
I wonder why would u really need to change mode dial when camera is on your eye already ??
im digging how it looks, may look into it as a starter digital since it should be cheap being two years old and that it isn't ugly and it has a k-mount!
This looks more crisp than the Canon 5dm3 review that was filmed with the 5Dm3. I guess they changed their video export settings. I wonder what they were?
seriously! the performance is not what i expected from the appearance lol! great camera! +1
Just bought it and it performs just as good as my D5100. Biggest issue is no view finder. New firmware is great. Huge price reduction. Isn't that big in my hands because I am probably 3x as big of a guy as Kai. The design is fresh, any real artist can see that. Video is better than most cams under $1000. Really any camera comes down to extremely high end AF lenses with top grade memory cards and of course the person behind the camera. Those are the real reasons behind great digital video.
I must say it looks a bit better with the standard pentax lens on it. im still not used to it with the pancake lens..
I'm quite amazed that after Kai changes, holds a yellow camera, has Alamby and Lok follow him, and purposefully looks and acts ridiculously, still hardly anyone looks at them.
i'm thinking of buying a pentax q10 or olympus epm2. I like the epm2, but no built in flash. What do u suggest is better?
Love the camera (especially the sensor). What's with that high pitched twitchy tone when the video is autofocusing?
Interestingly, across Victoria Park (where the opening sequence was shot), there's a Furniture Store not far from the Park Lane Hotel -- that would probably have Marc Newson chairs or lamps on display.
Wow I hope I can afford this! This show is brilliant! Entertaining with enough info to keep me happy :)
Been researching a dslr to purchase for months now and I'll tell you what, the Pentax K30 just seems to offer more camera for the money not to mention the K5...Nothing matches it in it's class, speed, build quality, weather sealed,great picture quality, and nice lenses available.
Apparently the latest firmware update fixed the slow AF to quite fast. It helped a lot on the K-30 which got the same update.
The dpreview site has a comparison between mirrorless cameras. The K-01 comes out quite decently imho
dont think you change modes while taking a photo. dont see its an issue of the dials location
What do you guys use to film these videos?
Also, I forgot, I'll be using it with an LCDVF, I'm not after a small camera, just a good one. No view finder is no problem really, the LCDVF works great on the K-5 (where I use it for video), why not on the K-01?
Thank F you actually did PENTAX at some point! Please do it again.
Most entertaining camera review I've seen :)
Hi guys at DR I just got a Pentax k-01 and was hoping you would do a review on how meany different Leans availability for this model as well as leans mounts and can you go over focus peaking. I love the show keep it up. ps. I love my banana brick
Denver, CO (April 16, 2012) - PENTAX RICOH IMAGING AMERICAS CORPORATION is pleased to announce that the PENTAX K-01 interchangeable lens camera (ILC), designed by world-renowned industrial designer Marc Newson and launched in March 2012, has been selected as a Product Design 2012 winner at this year’s prestigious red dot design awards in Germany.
10:42 Kodachrome
very nice momento. Are you ever going to use it? even if you use it, can you even get it developed anymore?
For the same reason guitarists and bassists buy instruments that aren't Fender or Gibson.
Variety is a great thing, and the competition it generates is even better, especially from the consumer side.
Even if i do own a Canon, i also enjoy having more choices.
Great review I hope one day I will run into u preferably with one of ur models
"Although it surely isn't Pentax's best-performing lens" (@8:15)
Actually the DA 40 XS 'kit lens' for the K-01 is based on the DA40 Limited, which is one of the sharpest modern K-mount lenses (see Photozone for evidence). In fact the optics are the same - they just made the lens body smaller and plastic.
is possible a comparation with the Pentax K5??
I feel like this is a fair review of the camera. It's a very fun to use camera that has great IQ, though not the best performer in terms of speed. For those who want a cheap solution I'd really recommend looking at this camera.
It's good enough to really get you into photography, but it's lacking in just the right places to make you want more in the future when you expand and know what you need. This camera plus the Pentax-F 35-70mm would be able to serve any novice amazingly for quite a while, at a very very cheap price point.
I really like this camera. It is different and does great pictures. The only negative point is for me the missing Vf, but with such a design who cares about VF. I think I'll get one.
The pentax video looks super crisp too! dang
his outfit fitted perfect with that camera :P
I had this camera for 3 weeks and had no problems with it. It's very good,but it's heavy.
What is the camera used to record this video?
I never wrote mirrorless==thin, but I can put my E-PL2+20/1.7 in my pocket. That's normally all I need as it has a built-in flash and no adapter is needed because there are many m4/3 lenses.
A mirrorless can be smaller, lighter, and/or cheaper because the lack of a flapping mirror and OVF; see the PEN's, NEX's (some with same 16MP sensor as K-01), etc. Nothing against Pentax, especially that I almost bought a K-5, but the K-01 doesn't seem to have anything going for it, except for the designer.
can we get some 645d medium format goodness next?
the park must be your fav place to test the pentax
Wonder if we can get a discount...
I like the quirky design. I'm guessing the camera didn't sell well, because they are getting heavily discounted. As a result you seem to get a lot of camera for your dollars. I'm kind of torn whether to get this or some type of Sony NEX. Fujifilm are out of my league price wise.
I'll probably get this for time lapse and video, and for my old manual focus lenses (due to the focus peaking). For the rest I'm sticking with my K-5.
I use an old Pentax Spotomatic for B/W. Great to see Pentax breaking some new ground. I actually might consider this camera if it comes at a reasonable price.
I like the way it looks. It's different and not bland like what Canon and Nikon make. I think it would be great if you could choose your own colour.
I can't understand why people always think it's either one or another with form and function. Great designs take both into consideration. For example, Leicas look good, because they use great materials and the camera itself is as pure as it has been for many decades. Timeless is the word. As for function, well to me its beauty derives from its obviousness in function. It all just plays together really.
I think it looks pretty cool, and as it's also available in traditional black and silver, the yellow is hardly representative. I guess with the way Pentax is marketing it, using the yellow, they are inviting the kind of frivolous look at it we get in this video. I might get one eventually for my Pentax lenses, who knows.
Well the style does fits the camera styling.. you are clothed well for the situation yes...
I am sure the innards are not bad but the packing is odd.
At least this design makes me feel I can toss it around and it will still survive
What kind of video camera are you guys using?
Afraid I don't quite follow your reasoning. How does what the lens _body_ is made of have anything to do with its optical quality? For reference, all current variants of the legendary Canon 70-200 L have a polycarbonate (plastic) lens body.
Complaints about ergonomics are exaggerated, especially the supposed difficulty reaching the green button (not) and closing the flap (easy). K-01 has a refreshing form factor, he finally says, and the flap closes easily. Complains about autofocus without mentioning innovative focus peaking. Marc Newsom did a good job with Pentax brilliant realization that mirrorless retention of K-mount required innovative design. K-01 hits the target right on the bullseye. I'm enjoying mine immensely.
0:50 - walking sushi...
A fair review highlighting the strengths of the K-01. I only with the boys at Pentax made the K-01 look more like the Fuji Ex-1. It seems with Pentax being the out of the box leader, they would have went with a retro inspired looking camera.Nonetheless, the camera can be had for a steal online, which makes discovery of its true virtues more likely.
I actually dont mind its looks when its all black with silver. With that sensor quality and all the K lenses, ltds & pancakes, if I didnt already have a K7 I'd be very tempted. Perhaps they couldve reduced the width of the body a little either side of the mount by not trying to use the K5 battery...
Compared to the last Pentax review they did... This one was actually informative.
just got back from hong kong the best holiday experince ever
while taking videos with slr like this one why the brightness changs suddenly?.
The best camera design so far. Why be like others? It's pentax way, they always do different products. And that's good in these days when everything looks the same.
Please review the Pentax K-30. I want to buy it!
class leading mirror-less camera, which is/are? (i really don't know)
Interesting, never considered Pentax before, however that does look slightly awkward to use, nice MC Hammer impression lol
I should buy one of these, great for guitar players. Do some finger stretching while shooting..
Hey I had that camera when I was 7... it was made by Fisher Price and I could see Tigger through the few finder.
What does plastic have to do with the lens performance? L lenses has plastic on its build and they are hella good.
I realize this video is ancient, but I still have to complain about the fact that your threshold settings for noise gate is wrong.
Dude I love your reviews and I don't even care about cameras or photography
besides the audio level, the video is pretty good looking. Image looks really stable! Too bad it came from such a thick, yellow box!!
Pentax managed to fit 30+ years of lenses into a mirrorless camera...DAMN!!!!!!!!!!!
The K5`s replacement will give Canon and Nikon engineers many sleepless nights. At least the work stress wont be as bad as the folks over at Foxconn.
what's with that scarf?
Do a review of the Sigma SD1 since its price dropped dramatically few months ago !!
Could you guys review Nikon P510?? I really want to know about it...
would love to see a review of the Voigtlander Color Skopar 20mm f/3.5 SL-II Aspherical Manual Focus Lens for Canon EOS Film & Digital Cameras