Pentax Q series interchangeable lens camera

[Hamish Gill]

Pentax Q series interchangeable lens camera

looks interesting ... not sure about the little sensor ... but the little size is quite nice

http://www.pentax.co.uk/en/digital-mirrorless/PENTAX-

dp review have done a preview
http://www.dpreview.com/news/1106/11062311pentaxqpreview.asp

 

[Larry Bolch]

A most curious beast. It appears to be aimed at the P&S crowd looking to move up a step, but it is about double the price of a top P&S. Way back when, Pentax and Kodak came up with 110 film and Pentax built an exquisite little reflex to shoot it. This seems the digital version of it—with a very large helping of whimsy thrown in.

For the price of the Q and lens, one can buy at least a M4/3 camera and lens and come off with a sensor nearly ten times the area. With sensors, size definitely does count. The size and weight of the D700 and lenses discourage casual carrying, and I looked at the M4/3 camera as a possible high-quality carry everywhere camera. However, I was put off by the small sensor. My Fujifilm X100 is the perfect compromise in every way. APS-C sensor that produces outstanding quality in a relatively compact and mobile camera.

By the way, there is a very useful comparison of sensor sizes at
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image_sensor_format#Table_of_sensor_sizes

 

[Pete Askew]

That was exactly the comparison I was thinking of. A friend of mine bought (and still has) one of those 110 reflex cameras. He bought it in an end of line sale in a high street pharmacy that his brothoer was working for at the time (Boots, using the staff discount) and has all the lenses etc. It is probably quite collectable now but it wasn't much good as a camera.

In terms of pocketable cameras, I'm still looking. This system ticks none of the boxes. Similarly the Fuji is a bit too big and gives me nothing over the M9. So I will stick with my Ricoh GR Digital III and keep waiting for something else for now.

 

[Hamish Gill]

Leica m9p Pete? I'm sure you need a sapphire crystal display and a missing red dot for an extra grand over the standard one just like the rest of us...?

 

[Pete Askew]

Oooh, now where's my cheque book!!

 

[Chris Dodkin]

So what's the story with the M9P and no Leica red dot - hasn't that dot been on every model up to this point?

Larry - has anyone done a RAW converter for the Fuji yet?

 

[Pete Askew]

There were a couple of non-red dot models (eg MP). Most people just stick some black tape over it if they want to be more discrete although to be honest it is not especially conspicuous. Not sure about the saphire glass but the improved ant-reflective coatings would be welcome.

LR 3.4 has a raw converter for the X100 and I guess that means ACR as well.

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Mmmm, I wonder if PS has the X100 RAW piece covered...

Apple updated their RAW conversion so that it's now included in native Apple apps such as Aperture and iPhoto

 

[Pete Askew]

ACR 6.4.1 does indeed.

http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/14170/adobe-camera-raw/

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Mmmm so on top of the $1200 for the camera and $200 for the lens hood, I'd need to buy PS5 upgrade for $200...

I'd love to own one, but I'm not $pla$ing the ca$h.

 

[Pete Askew]

The M9 produces DNG files! So you wouldn't need to upgrade!! Mmmm, sapphire glass - you can hear it calling!!

 

[Chris Dodkin]

There's the little matter of seven grand!

 

[Pete Askew]

You could always sell your antique cine camera collection!

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Leaving me just $6,950 short

 

[Pete Askew]

Car, kids, house?

 

[Hamish Gill]

soul?

 

[Pete Askew]

Ten a penny these day. What about a kidney?!!

 

[Larry Bolch]

Larry - has anyone done a RAW converter for the Fuji yet?

Yes, Adobe Camera RAW 6.4 was released just a couple of weeks after I got the camera. It ships with a converter from SilkyPix which I found as underwhelming as most software included with cameras. There is also an interesting converter built into the camera's review menu. All the camera settings can be applied after the shot and in the camera. Thus if one wants to see the effect of different levels of a setting, this can be done without altering the original exposure. The camera will save as many versions as you want. Out of the camera JPEG quality is quite impressive.

 

[Hamish Gill]

Did anyone notice that they are making a couple of "toy lenses" for this camera? sub$100 apparently ... ... not sure what to make of that really ... interesting idea though!

 

[Larry Bolch]

Did anyone notice that they are making a couple of "toy lenses" for this camera? sub$100 apparently ... ... not sure what to make of that really ... interesting idea though!

Lomo/Holga emulation perhaps? I have an f/4.0 100mm single element lens from the old Spiratone store—decades old—that does a similar job. Works just fine on the D700.