Digital Home Thoughts: Pentax Announces K-01 Mirrorless Camera and Confirms They Cannot Do Mirrorless Right

Continuing with this weeks camera announcements is Pentax with their second attempt at a mirrorless camera. I am not sure if Pentax really knows what it is doing here. After the too-small-in-everything Pentax Q, Pentax has revealed the K-01. The specifications read pretty much like a Pentax DSLR, with a 16 megapixel APS-sized sensor, sensor-shift stabilisation, a 6 FPS continuous shooting mode, a 3" VGA LCD display, top ISO of 12,800, 1080p video mode at 24, 25 or 30 FPS with manual controls, even more manual controls for still photography, and being Pentax, also includes native Adobe DNG support for its RAW files. The problem with this camera is that is basically uses the venerable K-mount, which is a SLR lens mount. This means that there is a large gaping space between the sensor and the lens meant for the non-existent mirror, and just makes the camera big, which DPReview kindly shows at the read link below. Maybe that is why Pentax debuted a 40mm f/2.8 lens that is really thin. Mount a standard 50mm f/1.4 lens and this is just about as big as any modern SLR. There is also the issue that contrast-detection autofocus is just not good with lenses originally designed for phase-detection autofocus systems. Oh, and did I mention the camera this big is missing a viewfinder of any kind? The Pentax K-01 ships in March for US$750 for the body alone and US$900 with the 40mm f/2.8. The lens itself will cost US$250. More details and photos (including a comparison in size with Pentax's flagship DSLR, the K-5) at the read link.