PENTAX Q
A pocket-size, go-anywhere digital interchangeable lens system camera:
featuring the world’s lightest and smallest body* made possible by a brand-new PENTAX original imaging system
HOYA CORPORATION PENTAX Imaging Systems Division is pleased to announce the launch of the PENTAX Q digital interchangeable lens system camera. Thanks to its innovative, PENTAX developed imaging system, this new model has an astonishingly compact and lightweight body. The user can more easily and actively enjoy the high-quality images and wide range of visual expressions that are only available with digital interchangeable lens cameras.
The PENTAX Q was designed and developed in response to user requests for a more compact, maneuverable digital interchangeable-lens camera than those available in the existing PENTAX lineup – a camera that could go anywhere and be used in all kinds of occasion more easily and freely. Starting with a high-resolution, back illuminated 1/2.3-inch CMOS image sensor, the PENTAX Q offers a full range of advanced features, including the newly developed, super-compact Q-mount lenses perfectly proportioned to the compact CMOS image sensor, and an innovative optical construction free of an optical finder and a mirror. These features are the key to the creation of the world’s smallest and lightest digital interchangeable-lens camera system.*
The camera also provides solid, dependable performance, thanks to such features as: approximately 12.4 effective megapixels to deliver high-quality, high-resolution still images and Full HD movies; high speed continuous shooting at a maximum speed of five images per second; high sensitivity of ISO 6400; and a magnesium-alloy body finish. It even offers such functional, user-friendly features as a multi-mode exposure system including the Aperture-Priority AE mode and a custom image function to give the most appropriate finishing touch to each image. Just as for conventional digital SLR models, the PENTAX Q is equipped with a set of dependable devices – an in-body SR (Shake Reduction) mechanism and a DRII (Dust Removal II) anti-dust mechanism - so that even beginners can effortlessly capture beautiful, brilliant images free of blurring or spots. The PENTAX Q also offers the latest image-processing tools, including a bokeh control function to adjust the intensity of the out-of-focus effect around the subject to a desired level, and a creative Smart Effect function to produce highly artistic images with distinctive touches, like those produced by a cross process.
By adding the new Q mount to existing K and 645 medium-format mounts, PENTAX now offers three different lens mounts to further enhance the creativity and versatility of its digital interchangeable-lens camera systems.
* The world’s smallest and lightest digital interchangeable lens system camera, as of June 15, 2011 (based on PENTAX’s research).
Major Features
-
The world’s smallest, lightest camera body, featuring newly developed Q mount system
The PENTAX Q features the newly developed Q mount, with a mount diameter shortened to approximately two-thirds of that of the conventional K mount. This was made possible by reducing the flange back (the distance from the lens mount surface to the image sensor surface) to nearly one-fifth of that of the K mount, as well as by optimizing the size of image circle of its lenses to be proportioned to the size of the compact image sensor. The Q mount system also eliminates an optical finder, mirror box, focusing plate and AF sensor, making the PENTAX Q’s body the smallest and lightest in its class. The body has been made of magnesium-alloy, which gives an elegant, high-quality texture to the compact, lightweight camera body while improving its durability. The PENTAX Q even offers a choice of white and black body colors. -
Exceptional image quality delivered by digital interchangeable lens system camera
The PENTAX Q comes equipped with back illuminated 1/2.3-inch CMOS image sensor, which delivers beautiful, high-resolution images with approximately 12.4 effective megapixels. This is made possible by its high efficient light gathering optical construction that assures excellent high sensitivity and low noise characteristics and a high speed readout of image data signals. The PENTAX Q also features a new generation imaging engine integrating the best of PENTAX’s state-of-the-art digital imaging technologies, developed and accumulated over many years of digital SLR camera development. By coupling this imaging engine with exclusively designed, high performance Q mount lenses, the PENTAX Q delivers clear, high contrast images rich in gradation and texture, even at edges. With high sensitivity noise minimized, the photographer can use the entire sensitivity range – from ISO 125 to the highest ISO 6400 – without worrying about annoying digital noise. By taking advantage of the HDR (High Dynamic Range) function that produces one composite photo from multiple images, it’s easy to create beautiful images with an extra wide dynamic range and free of white-washed and blacked-out areas. -
Innovative creative tool to add personal touches to the images with great ease
The PENTAX Q offers a totally new style of photo shooting. By coupling the new Smart Effect function offering nine distinctive visual expressions via the easy access Quick-Dial positioned on the camera’s front panel, the photographer can effortlessly add a desired finishing touch to an image, while previewing the effect on the LCD monitor. The Quick-Dial has four positions, to which four favorite Smart Effect modes can be assigned in advance. The ever-popular Custom Image and Digital Filter functions have been further enhanced to provide an even greater range of image processing tools. In order to customize the PENTAX Q to accommodate specific shooting styles and user preferences, the user can also assign other options such as a custom image setting, a digital filter or an aspect ratio setting to the Quick-Dial.
<Smart Effect modes>
- Brilliant Color: Creates a lively atmosphere by raising the saturation level almost to the point of color saturation.
- Unicolor Bold: Creates an extremely high contrast image that retains one particular color in the image.
- Vintage Color: Produces a toy-camera-like effect, with a choice of several different finishing touches.
- Cross Processing: Produces a unique image with unusual colors, as if treated with the cross processing** used in film photography.
- Warm Fade: Creates a low contrast image with the white balance slightly shifted to pink shades.
- Tone Expansion: Produces a dramatic image with an artistic finishing touch, close to an intensified HDR (High Dynamic Range) effect.
- Bold Monochrome: Produces a low-key, high contrast image with enhanced sharpness.
- Water Color: Creates a watercolor-like finishing touch.
- Vibrant Color Enhance: Creates a flowery atmosphere with slightly enhanced contrast.
- USER: Used to enter a user-selected combination of custom image mode and a digital filter.
** A film development technique that uses an unconventional film developer to create a distinctive finishing touch with dramatic colors.
-
High quality, Full HD movie recording
The PENTAX Q comes equipped with a Full HD movie recording function employing the H.264 recording format, allowing user to capture high quality, extended movie clips (1920 x 1080 pixels) at a frame rate of 30 frames per second. The user can also take advantage of interchangeable Q-mount lenses to produce distinctive perspectives, or make effective use of the Smart Effect modes*** and other in-body movie editing tools to produce creative, dramatic visual expressions with great ease, even during movie recording. The PENTAX Q also provides a micro-HDMI terminal (type D), which allows the user to simultaneously output both Full HD movie clips and sound to external devices via a single terminal.
*** The frame rate may vary when a selected Smart Effect mode requires nonstandard image processing.
-
Effortless Bokeh control
The PENTAX Q comes equipped with newly developed bokeh control function, which allows user to capture the image with obtrusive objects in the field of view optimally defocused. With this function, the camera will automatically judge the focused subject as well as relative distance of each object from the camera in the field of view to apply optimal defocus effect to each object to stand out the main subject(s). This function will allow even a first-time digital photographer to easily capture the images with such effects as background defocus or foreground defocus that otherwise require certain extent of familiarity with the photography.
-
SR mechanism for sharp, blur-free images
The PENTAX Q incorporates the PENTAX-developed SR (Shake Reduction) mechanism, which automatically shifts the CMOS image sensor to offset camera shake detected by the camera’s motion sensor. As a result, the PENTAX Q produces sharp, blur-free images even under demanding conditions that are prone to camera shake, such as when using a telephoto lens, shooting in the dark without flash illumination, or capturing landscapes in the twilight.
-
Dependable features available only with digital interchangeable lens cameras
The PENTAX Q offers a host of user-friendly, functional features available only with digital interchangeable-lens cameras. Its top shutter speed of 1/2000 second freezes the decisive moment of the subject’s action. To accommodate user preferences and varying photographic applications, it also offers a choice of four different exposure modes: the user-friendly Programmed AE (P) mode that automatically selects an optimum combination of aperture and shutter speed; the Aperture-Priority AE (AV) and Shutter-Priority AE (TV) modes that allow the photographer to faithfully reproduce specific creative intentions on resulting images; and the Metered Manual (M) mode. It even allows the photographer to instantly switch from the P mode to the AV or TV mode with a simple turn of an electronic dial.
-
Large, wide view LCD monitor
The PENTAX Q features a large, easy-to-view, high resolution 3.0-inch color LCD monitor with approximately 460,000 dots. Its wide view design assures a clear view of the monitor from approximately 170 degrees horizontally and vertically, making it particularly useful in low and high angle shooting.
-
Dependable DRII mechanism for effective dust removal
The PENTAX Q’s DRII (Dust Removal II) mechanism effectively prevents annoying dust spots from spoiling captured images, even after the user changes lenses out in the open. Like PENTAX’s K-5 and 645D digital SLR cameras, it incorporates highly effective supersonic vibration mechanism, which vibrates image sensor at high speed to shake the dust off its surface.
-
High speed continuous shooting at approximately five images per second
The PENTAX Q’s high speed burst shooting mode allows the photographer to record up to five images (in JPEG recording format) in a single sequence, at a maximum speed of approximately five images per second. This mode comes in handy when trying to preserve the action of fast-moving subjects in a series of images.
-
Built-in auto flash with pop-up mechanism
The PENTAX Q comes with a built-in auto flash (guide number 7 at ISO 200/m). The photographer can either use it at the default position, or raise it to the pop-up position with simple operation to widen its discharge angle to cover a 28mm angle of view (in the 35mm format).
-
Other features
- TTL image-sensor metering, with a choice of multi-segment, center-weighted and spot modes
- Contrast-detection autofocus system, with a face recognition function and 25 selectable focus points
- CTE white-balance control mode to emphasize the predominant color of a particular scene, such as the sunset
- Auto Picture mode for effortless shooting
- 21 scene modes, including new Forest and Stage Lighting options
- A choice of image size (4:3, 3:2, 16:9 or 1:1) to accommodate different subjects and applications
- Multi-exposure mode (up to nine exposures on a single image), with an auto exposure compensation function
- Interval shooting mode, convenient for recording transition of landscapes and flowers/plants from exact same location and angle
- HDR mode to produce photo with an extra wide dynamic range composite photo from three images of varying exposures
- A choice of data storage medium: SD, SDHC and the new-standard SDXC**** memory cards
- SILKY Developer Studio 3 for PENTAX RAW-data development software (developed by Ichikawa Soft Laboratory) included; in-camera RAW-data development also available
**** Not compatible with UHS Speed Class transfer rate.
Optional accessories
- External Viewfinder O-VF1
- Launched on the market together with the PENTAX Q, this optical viewfinder is designed for exclusive use with the new "PENTAX-01 STANDARD PRIME" unifocal standard lens. It offers a clear view of the subject even under harsh sunshine. It also assures image viewing of the subject with no time lag - an important feature in snapshot and portrait photography where the timing of shutter release is crucial.
- Camera Case O-CC115
- Exclusively designed for the PENTAX Q, this camera case has two strap lugs at its sides to keep the camera suspended in a level position, so that the photographer can quickly respond to unexpected shutter opportunities. With the camera inside, this high-grade case looks even more elegant, with a choice of white, black and red colors.
- PENTAX is a trademark of HOYA CORPORATION.
- HDMI, the HDMI Logo and High-Definition Multimedia Interface are trademarks or registered trademarks of HDMI Licensing LLC.
- All other brands or product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.
- Designs and specifications are subjects to change without notice.
PENTAX Q Specifications
Model Description
Type | Lens-interchangeable SL digital-still camera |
---|---|
Lens Mount | PENTAX bayonet Q-mount |
Compatible Lens | Q-mount lenses |
Image Capture Unit
Image Sensor | Type: CMOS sensor with a primary color filter, Size: 1/2.3-inch |
---|---|
Effective Pixels | Approx. 12.4 megapixels |
Total Pixels | Approx. 12.75 megapixels |
Dust Removal | Image sensor cleaning using ultrasonic vibrations "DR II" |
Sensitivity (Standard Output) |
AUTO: ISO 125 to 6400 (1/3 EV steps) Bulb mode: up to ISO 1600 |
Image Stabilizer | Sensor shift Shake Reduction |
File Formats
File Format | RAW (DNG), JPEG (Exif 2.3), DCF2.0 compliant |
---|---|
Recorded Pixels |
|
Quality Level | RAW (12bit): DNG JPEG: (Best), (Better), (Good) RAW and JPEG simultaneously recordable |
Color Space | sRGB, AdobeRGB |
Storage Medium | SD, SDHC, and SDXC Memory Card |
Storage Folder | Date (100_1018, 100_1019...)/PENTX (100PENTX, 101PENTX...) |
LCD Monitor
Type | TFT color LCD monitor, wide angle viewing |
---|---|
Size | 3.0 inches |
Dots | Approx. 460,000 dots |
Adjustment | Brightness and colors adjustable |
Display | Field of View: approx. 100%, Grid display (4x4 Grid, Golden Section, Scale display), Bright/dark area warning, Histogram |
White Balance
Auto | TTL by CMOS image sensor |
---|---|
Preset | Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Fluorescent Light (D:Daylight Color, N:Daylight White, W:Cool White, L:Warm White), Tungsten, Flash, CTE, Manual |
Manual | Configuration on monitor |
Fine Adjustment | Adjustable ±7 steps on A-B axis or G-M axis |
Autofocus System
Type | Contrast detection AF |
---|---|
Brightness Range | EV1 to 18(ISO125) |
Focus Method | AF/MF switching |
Autofocus Method | Face Detection, Tracking, AF Select (25 Points), Select, Spot |
AF Assist Light | Dedicated LED AF assist light |
MF Assist | OFF/×2/×4 |
Metering
Type | TTL image sensor metering, segment metering, centerweighted metering, and spot metering |
---|---|
Exposure Compensation |
EV1.3 - 17 (ISO 125, F1.9 lens), +2EV using the Electronic Shutter setting or using the ND filter |
Exposure Modes |
|
EV Compensation | ± 3EV (1/3EV step) |
AE Lock | Can be assigned to the green/delete button from the menu. Continuous as long as the shutter release button is pressed halfway. |
Shutter | Lens shutter: 1/2000 - 30 seconds (1/3EV step, 1/8000 - 30 seconds when Electronic Shutter setting is enabled), Bulb *Shooting at 1/8000 - 2 seconds with Electronic Shutter and Bulb shooting are not available when using a lens that has no lens shutter. |
Aperture | From wide open to F8 *Not available when using a lens that has no lens shutter. |
ND Filter | Off/On *Not available when using a lens that has no lens shutter. |
Drive Modes
Mode Selection | Single frame, Continuous (Hi, Lo), Self-timer (12s, 2s), Remote Control (0 sec., 3 sec., continuous), Auto Bracketing (3 frames, remote control) |
---|---|
Continuous Shooting | Approx. 5 fps, JPEG (12M / Continuous Hi): up to 5 frames, Approx. 1.5 fps, JPEG (12M / Continuous Lo): up to 100 frames |
Built-in Flash
Built-in Flash | Built-in retractable P-TTL flash Guide number: approx. 5.6 (ISO125/m) / approx. 7 (ISO200/m) Angle of view: coverage: wide angle-lens, equivalent to 28mm in 35mm format |
---|---|
Flash Modes | P-TTL, Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Trailing Curtain Sync |
Sync Speed | Lens shutter: 1/2000 seconds, Electronic shutter: 1/13 seconds |
Flash Exposure Compensation |
–2.0 to +1.0 EV |
Capture Functions
Custom Image | Bright, Natural, Portrait, Landscape, Vibrant, Radiant, Muted, Bleach Bypass, Reversal Film, Monochrome, Cross Processing |
---|---|
Noise Reduction | High-ISO NR |
Dynamic Range Setting | Highlight Correction, Shadow Correction |
Lens Correction | Distortion Correction |
Digital Filter | Toy Camera, High Contrast, Shading, Slim, HDR, Invert Color, Extract Color, Color, Water Color, Posterization, Fish-eye |
HDR Capture | Auto, HDR 1, HDR 2 |
Multi-exposure | Number of shots: 2-9, Exposure adjusted automatically. |
Interval Shooting | Shooting interval: 1 sec. to 24 hr., Start Interval setting: immediately from the set time, Number of shots: up to 999 images |
Smart Effect | Brilliant Color, Unicolor Bold, Vintage Color, Cross Processing, Warm Fade, Tone Expansion, Bold Monochrome, Water Color, Vibrant Color Enhance, USER 1 to 3 |
Movie
File Format | MPEG–4 AVC/H.264 |
---|---|
Recorded Pixels | Full HD (1920x1080, 16:9, 30fps), HD (1280x720, 16:9, 30fps), VGA (640x480, 4:3, 30fps) |
Sound | Built-in monaural microphone |
Recording Time | Up to 25 minutes; automatically stops recording if the internal temperature of the camera becomes high. |
Custom Image | Bright, Natural, Portrait, Landscape, Vibrant, Radiant, Muted, Bleach Bypass, Reversal Film, Monochrome, Cross Processing |
Digital Filter | Toy Camera, High Contrast, Shading, Slim, HDR, Invert Color, Extract Color, Color, Water Color, Posterization, Fish-eye |
Interval Movie | Recording interval: 1 sec., 5 sec., 10 sec., 30 sec., 1 min., 5 min., 10 min., 30 min., 1 hr., Recording time: 5 sec. to 99 hr. Start Interval setting: immediately, from the set time |
Playback Functions
Playback View | Single frame, image comparison, multi-image display (4, 9, 20, 42, 90 segmentation), display magnification (up to 16x, scrolling and quick magnification available), rotating, histogram (Y histogram, RGB histogram), bright/dark area warning, detailed information display, folder display, calendar display, slideshow |
---|---|
Delete | Delete single image, delete all images, select & delete, delete folder, delete instant review image |
Digital Filter | Monochrome, Toy Camera, High Contrast, Shading, Slim, HDR, Invert Color, Extract Color, Color, Water Color, Posterization, Fish-eye, Retro, Soft, Sketch Filter, Miniature, Frame Composite, Starburst, Base Parameter Adjustment |
RAW Development | File Format (JPEG), Aspect Ratio, Color Space, Custom Image, White Balance, Sensitivity, High-ISO NR, Shadow Correction, Distortion Correction |
Edit | Resize, Cropping (aspect ratio adjustment available), Index, Movie Editing (divide or delete selected frames), Capturing a JPEG still picture from a movie, Red-eye Edit, Saving buffer as a RAW file |
Customization
Custom Functions | 13 items |
---|---|
Mode Memory | 12 items |
Button/ Dial Customization |
Green/Delete button: Green Button, Preview, One Push File Format, AE Lock, Enable AF Quick Dial: Smart Effect, Custom Image, Digital Filter, Aspect Ratio |
World Time | World Time settings for 75 cities (28 time zones) |
Language | English, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Dutch, Danish, Swedish, Finnish, Polish, Czech, Hungarian, Turkish, Greek, Russian, Korean, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, and Japanese |
Power Supply
Battery Type | Rechargeable Lithium-ion Battery D-LI68 |
---|---|
AC Adapter | AC Adapter Kit K-AC115 (optional) |
Battery Life |
Number of recordable images: approx. 230 images (with 50% flash usage), approx. 250 images (without flash usage) Playback time: approx. 160 minutes * Using a new lithium-ion battery under the temperature at 23 ºC, Tested in compliance with CIPA standard. Actual results may vary depending on the shooting conditions/circumstances. |
Interfaces
Connection Port | USB 2.0 (high-speed compatible) / AV output terminal, HDMI output terminal (Type D) |
---|---|
USB Connection | MSC/PTP |
Video Output Format | NTSC/PAL |
Dimensions and Weight
Dimensions | Approx. 98.0mm (W) x 57.5mm (H) x 31.0mm (D) (excluding the operation parts and protrusion) |
---|---|
Weight |
Approx. 200g (loaded and ready with the dedicated battery and SD Memory Card), Approx. 180 g (body only) |
Accessories
Package Contents |
USB Cable I-USB7, Strap O-ST115, Rechargeable Lithium-ion Battery D-LI68, Battery Charger D-BC68P, Software (CDROM) S-SW115 <Mounted on the camera> Hot shoe cover FK, Body mount cover |
---|---|
Software | SILKYPIX Developer Studio 3.0 for PENTAX |