Pentax Q

Camera model

Pentax Q
Overview
Pentax Q with zoom lens
Maker	Pentax
Type	Mirrorless
Lens
Lens mount	Pentax Q-mount, bayonet, stainless steel mount
Sensor/medium
Sensor type	BSI-CMOS sensor
Sensor size	1/2.3 in (6.17 x 4.55 mm) (1/1.7 in for Q7 and Q-S1), 12.4 megapixel
Maximum resolution	4:3 native: 4000 x 3000, 3456x2592, 2688x2016, 1920x1440
Film speed	125-6400 (Q, Q10), 100-12800 (Q7, Q-S1)
Recording medium	SD, SDHC, SDXC
Focusing
Focus	autofocus with manual override
Flash
Flash	built-in: P-TTL, popup extension, GN 7m, 1/2000 s sync (leaf shutter), 1/13 s (electronic); external P-TTL, 1/250 s sync
Shutter
Frame rate	5-frame burst; 1.5fps sustained
Shutter	electronic, leaf shutter in lens where applicable
Shutter speeds	30 s to 1/2000 s mechanical; 2 s to 1/8000 s electronic
Viewfinder
Viewfinder	optional optical suitable for 8.5 mm f/1.9 lens
Image processing
White balance	auto, CTE, manual set; presets: daylight, shade, cloudy, fluorescent (D, N, W, L), tungsten, flash; fine adjustment available in all modes
General
Video recording	1920x1080 30fps, 1280x720 30fps, 640x480 30fps
LCD screen	360x320x4 luminance-R-G-B HVGA; color LCD
Battery	proprietary, rechargeable li-ion battery, Pentax D-LI68
Data Port(s)	USB 2.0
Body features	mechanical sensor-shift image stabilization (photography); electronic image stabilization (video)
Dimensions	98 x 57 x 31 mm (3.86 x 2.24 x 1.22")
Weight	180 g (0.40 lb / 6.35 oz)
Made in	Philippines

The Pentax Q is a mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera introduced by Pentax on June 23, 2011.

Characteristics

Introduced as "The world's smallest interchangeable lens system camera..."^[1] The Pentax Q system is composed of four bodies (Q, Q10, Q7, Q-S1) and eight lenses: the 01 prime normal, the 02 wide-tele zoom, 03 fish-eye, the 04 "toy" wide angle, the 05 "toy" telephoto, the 06 telephoto zoom, the 07 "mount shield" lens, and the 08 ultra-wide zoom. The zooms and prime normal lenses have leaf shutters (with built-in neutral density filters) and sync with flash up to 1/2000 of a second. The other lenses use the camera's electronic shutter. The 09 macro lens was prototyped but never released. Modern Pentax K mount lenses can be used on the Q with an adapter that has a mechanical shutter. Other adapted lenses use the electronic shutter.

The camera's small sensor size (1/2.3 inches) means that the Q has a crop factor of 5.6× (compared to full-frame 35mm cameras), as well as a short flange focal distance (FFD). With the 5.6× crop factor, a 100mm macro lens (for example) results in a 35mm equivalent field of view (FOV) of a 560mm telephoto. An additional implication of the 5.6× crop factor and associated optics is that depth of field (DOF) is increased proportionally for a given aperture setting (in comparison to the 35mm equivalent DOF at the same aperture). This means that in some applications the small Pentax Q sensor offers an advantage over larger formats. This also allows the Pentax Q lenses to be proportionally smaller than lenses designed for larger formats.

The short FFD of the Pentax Q enables it to accept manual focus lenses from many manufacturers (via adapters) including Nikon F, Leica M and 39M, Olympus OM, Canon FD, Minolta, M42 screw mount, C-Mount, D-Mount, Pentax K, and Pentax Auto 110.^[2]

The Pentax Q has a wide range of digital effects and controls including high dynamic range (HDR), multiple scene modes, and a bokeh function which, when activated, can enable a pseudo shallow-focus effect.

The camera is equipped with sensor-shift image stabilization technology to improve image quality at slow shutter speeds or when using telephoto lenses. It has a focus peaking function as well. Sensor shift and focus peaking functions also work with adapted lenses.

The Q7 and Q-S1 models have a larger sensor size (1/1.7 inches) resulting in a crop factor of 4.6×.

References

^ "Q series | Product Categories | Ricoh Imaging". ricohimaging.com. Archived from the original on 2015-09-09.
^ "Lens Adapters | B&H Photo Video". Bhphotovideo.com. Retrieved 2013-06-16.

External links

Specs at DPReview
Contemporary YouTube review of the camera

Pentax digital interchangeable lens camera timeline

Type	Sensor	Class	2003		2004		2005			2006			2007		2008		2009		2010			2011		2012			2013				2014			2015		2016			2017	2018		2019	2020	2021		2022		2023	2024

DSLR	MF	Professional																		645D												*645Z*
	FF																																				*K-1*				*K-1 II*
	APS-C	High-end																																	*K-3 II*										*K-3 III*
																														*K-3*
		Advanced																K-7			K-5					K-5 II / K-5 IIs
				*ist D								K10D			K20D																								KP
		Midrange									K100D			100DS	K200D										K-30				K-50									*K-70*									KF
		Entry-level				*ist DS			*ist DS2												K-r								K-500					*K-S2*
								*ist DL		DL2		K110D				K-m/K2000			K-x														*K-S1*

MILC	APS-C	K-mount																						K-01
	1/1.7"	Q-mount																										Q7
																																	Q-S1
	1/2.3"																						Q			Q10

DSLR	Prototypes		MZ-D (2000) 645D Prototype (2006) AP 50th Anniv. (2007)
Type	Sensor	Class
			2003		2004		2005			2006			2007		2008		2009		2010			2011		2012			2013				2014			2015		2016			2017	2018		2019	2020	2021		2022		2023	2024