We have collected 12 reviews of the Pentax K-01. Experts rate Pentax K-01 7/10. Reviewsor.com helps you find reviews, best prices, user reviews of the Pentax K-01 and Pentax Digital cameras.

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Pentax K-01 Reviews

Photography Blog

04/2013

7.0/10

Pentax K-01 Review

The Pentax K-01 is a new mirrorless compact system camera. Designed in collaboration with Marc Newson, the K-01 is based around a new 16.28-megapixel, APS-C sized CMOS image sensor and the Pentax K lens mount, as used in the company's long line of SLR cameras, making the K-01 compatible with no less than 214 lenses from launch. The striking Pentax K-01 also features an ISO range of 100-25600, 3 inch LCD with 921k dots, sensor-shift shake reduction, automatic dust removal, HDR mode, continuous shooting at 5fps, 19 digital filters, an external flash hotshoe and full 1080p HD video capture at either 24, 25 or 30 frames per second. The Pentax K-01 is available in three colour-ways, black with black grip, black with yellow grip and silver with black grip, for £629.99 / $749.95 body only or £679.99 / $899.95 with the new DA 40mm f/2.8 XS pancake lens, the world's thinnest interchangeable lens. Other configurations include a bundle with the DAL 18-55mm lens for £679.99 and a double-zoom kit with the 18-55mm and the 50-200mm DAL lenses for £799.99.

The Verge

07/2012

6.5/10

Pentax K-01 review

Pentax has a history of making cameras that are just a little bit offbeat. Just take a look at last year's Pentax Q: rather than making a more traditional mirrorless camera like many of its competitors, the company released the smallest interchangeable lens camera on the market — but one that had a smaller sensor and a custom lens mount. Now, the company's moving in the opposite direction with the K-01, which is one of the largest cameras of its type on the market today. There's a reason for this extra bulk: the large distance between the K-01's lens mount and the sensor allows it to use the full lineup of Pentax K-mount lenses, while mirrorless cameras from Sony, Nikon, Panasonic, and others use a much smaller set of lenses. However, Pentax's offering is at a distinct size disadvantage compared to the aforementioned cameras — and pretty much every single other mirrorless camera that's on the market. And Pentax's lens advantage will inevitably shrink as its competitors grow their lens ecosystems. The last component is pricing — at $749.95 for the body only, or $899.95 with a delightfully slim 40mm f/2.8 pancake lens (which I tested), the K-01 costs a good deal more than some comparable options.

Imaging Resource

07/2012

Pentax K-01

Pentax goes its own way with a mirrorless camera that accepts standard K-mount lenses. That means access to a huge back catalog of quality optics without an adapter. Unfortunately, it also necessitates a body that's barely any smaller than a standard SLR. Pros: Very good image quality and excellent high ISO performance. Premium build quality. In-body image stabilization. Lots of creative features. Full HD movie capture with manual exposure control. Cons: Barely any smaller than a standard SLR, but lacks viewfinder and phase-detect autofocus. Contrast-detect AF is slow and unreliable. Body design is clumsy and uncomfortable. Very slow raw burst shooting. Price and Availability: The Pentax K-01 shipped in the US market from March 2012. Pricing is set at around US$750 body-only, or US$900 in a kit with the new smc PENTAX-DA 40mm F2.8 XS lens. The latter bundle represents a US$100 discount over the cost of buying camera and lens separately, given that the lens alone has a list price of about US$250. The K-01 kits are offered in three versions: yellow with black and silver detailing, white with black detailing, or black with silver detailing.

DigitalTrends

07/2012

6.5/10

Pentax K-01 Review

Pentax defies convention – and common sense – with the trendy but poor-performing mirrorless K-01.Designed by Marc Newson, the new 16-megapixel mirrorless Pentax K-01 is one of most daringly-styled new cameras in years. Whether the “beauty” is only skin deep, we'll find out shortly.It's not every day a camera company asks a world-famed designer to create an important new model. Yet that's what Pentax did for its second mirrorless camera. Really it's the first, because the Q, Pentax's original mirrorless offering, was so handicapped by its tiny sensor and ridiculously high price hardly anyone heard about it — or bought one. The new K-01 is a much more mainstream Compact System Camera (CSC) featuring a 16-megapixel APS-C imaging device, just like many Sony and Samsung mirrorless models and DSLRs, but it is more expensive than the competition.Just as important, the new K-01 has a Pentax K mount, so a huge library of lenses can be used, similar to the arsenal for Canon and Nikon DSLRs. By comparison, the Pentax Q mount only had a few, just like Fujifilm's new X-Pro1.

CNet UK

07/2012

8.0/10

Pentax K-01 review

To say the Pentax K-01 has unconventional looks would be an understatement. While most manufacturers are working hard to slim down their offerings, Pentax has gone in the opposite direction. The K-01 has all the curves of a slightly rounded brick. It's fat, a little heavy, and looks more like a stylish toy than a £500 semi-pro camera, with its chunky buttons and switches and ends encased in ribbed rubber. Pentax called on the services of designer Marc Newson to come up with the styling, which does exude a certain retro charm, but won't be to everyone's taste. There's a very good reason for its shape and size though, which I'll come to later.Expect the Pentax K-01 with an 18-55mm to set you back £600 although Amazon has it for £460, or as an 18-55mm and 50-200mm lens bundle for £700. Whatever you think of its outward appearance, you can't argue with the quality of its shots. I tested the K-01 using a 40mm prime lens with a maximum aperture size of f/2.8 and a minimum of f/22. I performed most of my tests with the camera set to aperture priority mode so I could control the depth of field, while allowing the camera to make all other decisions concerning exposure and sensitivity.

DigitalCameraInfo

06/2012

8.1/10

Pentax K-01

“Have you met with Pentax yet?” our friend and fellow tech journalist asked cheerily. We hadn't, but were en route at the time. “Whatever you do,” he said, “don't laugh.” We don't mean to insult anybody here, truthfully we weren't compelled to giggle when the Pentax representative later unveiled their new camera. We doubt our peer from across the web really was either, probably just some friendly photography banter between professionals. But this exchange should give you an idea of current prevailing thought regarding digital camera design. All models of a given type are expected to look and feel a certain way. It is in this climate Pentax decided to announce the totally unique K-01, the company's second mirrorless system camera, featuring a bold new design unlike any we've ever seen. That was six months ago, at CES 2012, and since then we've witnessed the public's initial reception, then heard rumors of an extremely capable image sensor, then saw some encouraging sample photos, and now here we are, ready for the full review which, as you'll soon read, will be rather favorable. Of course we have Marc Newson to thank for the K-01's look.

DPReview

06/2012

6.9/10

Pentax K-01 Review

The Pentax K-01 (from $749) is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera with a most unusual design. Created by Australian designer Marc Newson of (who, admittedly, I'd never heard of before the K-01), the modern look of the K-01 will certainly turn heads (especially if you get the yellow one). Aside from its unique looks, the K-01 is also a fully-featured camera. It has a 16 Megapixel CMOS sensor, K-mount lens support with built-in (sensor-based) image stabilization, lots of manual controls, a boatload of scene modes and special effects, an HDR function, and 1080p video recording. What's in the Box? The K-01 is available in three kits in three colors (black, white, yellow). You can go body only for $749, add a 40mm pancake lens (pictured in this review) for $899, or get a dual lens kit with more traditional-looking 18 - 55 and 50 - 200 mm zooms for $999. Here's what you'll find in the box for each of those: Returning to the review now, let's talk about memory cards. Interchangeable lens cameras like the K-01 never come with memory cards. So, if you don't have one already, you'll need to pick one up. The K-01 supports SD, SDHC, and SDXC media, and I'd recommend picking up a 4GB if you'll be taking mostly still photos, and 8 - 16 GB if you'll be recording a lot of Full HD videos.

TechRadar

05/2012

6.0/10

Pentax K-01 review

Pentax isn't a company to rest on its laurels. As we saw with the the Pentax Qcompact system camera, it's willing to push camera design in often exciting and unconventional directions. With the K-01, Pentax has created a mirrorless system camera that can use any existing K-mount lens, without the need for adaptors, which should surely appeal to existing Pentax SLR owners. The Pentax K-01 differs from other mirrorless systems because it uses the same mirror box unit and lens mount found on Pentax DSLRs, but without the reflex mirror. Besides allowing existing lenses to fit, it means the lens is no closer to the sensor than it would be on a DSLR, so the camera isn't all that much smaller than the most compact DSLR bodies Pentax produces. The APS-C CMOS sensor found in the Pentax K-5 camera body, which was very well received, has been transplanted into the Pentax K-01, along with the Pentax SR system, which moves the sensor to compensate for camera shake. Buying GuideBest compact system camera 2012The design of the Pentax K-01 is quite striking too. Renowned designer Marc Newson has been drafted in to make the camera as unique in appearance as it is technically.

CNet

04/2012

7.0/10

Pentax K-01

The Pentax K-01 mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera (ILC) certainly makes an impression. While it definitely looks like a camera -- unlike, say, the Lytro -- it has a distinctive aesthetic that I think most people will either love or hate. And as a camera it inspires some ambivalence as well. It's capable of delivering outstanding photo quality for its price class, and the ability to use K-mount lenses without an adapter is more than worth the tradeoff of the huge body. But the autofocus and image processing is sluggish, and a camera this large really should have at least the option of an add-on EVF and/or an articulated display. Plus, there are some aspects of the design that simply annoy. The K-01 has possibly the best midrange noise profile I've seen in a camera under $1,000. The Sony sensor produces extremely fine-grained noise and Pentax's uncommonly intelligent JPEG processing results in generally clean images as high as ISO 800, and extremely usable ones through ISO 3200. I couldn't get better results processing the raw files (it uses DNG as its raw format) at any sensitivity. It doesn't even seem to exhibit any of the normal issues at high ISO sensitivities, such as hot pixels on dark backgrounds (like night skies).

PCMAG

03/2012

8.0/10

Pentax K-01

The Pentax K-01 ($899.95 direct with 40mm lens) is a bit of a departure in concept when compared with other compact interchangeable lens cameras. Rather than design a new lens mount, Pentax opted to use the same bayonet K mount that it has used since 1975. Because of this, the K-01 is closer in size to a D-SLR than other mirrorless compacts. In terms of size, it's the complete opposite of Pentax's first foray into the category, the very small Pentax Q ($799.95, 3 stars), a cute camera that packed a sensor identical in size to those found in most point-and-shoots. The K-01 uses a 16-megapixel APS-C sensor, the same size as the one found in the company's D-SLRs and our Editors' Choice for this category, the Sony Alpha NEX-C3 ($649.99, 4.5 stars). Design and Features Pentax enlisted renowned designer Mark Newson to sketch out the K-01 and the results are interesting. The body is constructed of metal, but features a rubberized grip, which is available in Newson's signature bright yellow. The camera has a very boxy feel, but the buttons and dials are all in the right places. The camera measures 3.1 by 4.8 by 2.3 inches (HWD) and weighs 19.8 ounces, not that much smaller than the entry-level Pentax K-r ($699.95, 3 stars) D-SLR, which is 3.8 by 4.9 by 2.7 inches in size and just 21 ounces.

DigitalVersus

03/2012

6.0/10

Digital Cameras: SLR, Micro 4/3 and Interchangeable Lens Reviews

With the exception of Olympus, traditional camera brands have been late to arrive in the interchangeable lens compact sector. As a result, they have to work harder to make their models stand out from the crowd and find their place in the market. After the tiny Q with its unusually small sensor, Pentax is back with a second 'hybrid' compact, the K-01, which boasts a bold design and native compatibility with K-mount SLR lenses. Pentax is keen to highlight the unusual design of the K-01, and there's no doubt that it's the first thing you notice when you lay eyes on this camera. The K-01 has a two-tone finish (our test model was black with a silver-effect back, but there's also a white model with a black handle and a black model with a yellow handle), a flat prism-like bulge above the lens mount, a chunky mode-selection dial mounted on top of a chimney-style cylinder, a tear-drop-shaped shutter-release and a ridged finished on the front that looks a bit like corrugated iron. While some people fall head over heels for its post-industrial design, some more cynical critics have been left perplexed by the K-01. But no matter what you make of it, there's no doubt that the K-01 doesn't look anything like the classic mirrorless lens-switchers on the market right now (Sony, Panasonic, Samsung, Nikon etc.).

DigitalCameraInfo

02/2012

Pentax K-01 (Preview)

The Pentax K-01 is a bit of an odd duck. When you consider that all the variations on a “mirrorless” camera have been uncomfortably stuffed under the heading of “compact system cameras,” the K-01 stands apart. Indeed, the K-01 has no mirror inside, but it's hardly compact, designed by renowned industrial designer Marc Newson to be something different entirely: a work of art. Whether or not you feel the camera is successful at that goal is subjective (isn't art always?), but at the end of the day it's still a camera, and its potential performance shouldn't be ignored because of its unique design. The camera is only slightly smaller than Pentax's K-5, houses a full APS-C image sensor, can use almost any K-mount lens, and comes with a 40mm f/2.8 prime kit lens that is razor thin. The camera will be available starting in March in white, black, and yellow, for a body-only price of $749 ($899 with 40mm kit lens). The validity of the modernist design of the Pentax K-01 is something that is sure to be discussed in photography forums and blogs for much of this year. It’s body is designed by industrial designer Marc Newson, and it certainly stands out from a crowd of compact mirrorless cameras. The camera has a rather basic geometric shape with clean lines and well-spaced controls.

Prices

Information	Prices
Pentax Mirrorless Body Design Compatible with Pentax K Mount Lenses K-01 Body Kit (White)	$283.69	See it
Pentax Mirrorless Body Design Compatible with Pentax K Mount Lenses K-01 Body Kit (White)	$284.06	See it
Pentax K-01 16MP APS-C CMOS Compact System Camera [Body] (Black)	$289	See it
Pentax K-01 16MP APS-C CMOS Compact System Camera [Body] (Black)	$292.95	See it
Pentax k-01 16.3 Megapixel Mirrorless Camera (Body Only) - Black - 3 LCD - Optical (IS) - 4928 x 3264 Image - 1280 x 720 Video - HDMI - HD Movie Mode	$313.99	See it
Pentax K-01 Mirrorless Camera, Yellow (Body only)	$319	See it
Pentax K-01 Mirrorless Camera, Yellow (Body only)	$328.4	See it
Pentax Imaging 15222 K01 Dig Cam 16MP Body Black	$345.51	See it
Pentax K-01 16.3 Megapixel Mirrorless Camera (Body Only) - Yellow - 3 LCD - Optical (IS) - 4928 x 3264 Image - 1920 x 1080 Video - HDMI - HD Movie Mode	$349.89	See it
Pentax k-01 16.3 Megapixel Mirrorless Camera (Body Only) - Black - 3 LCD - Optical (IS) - 4928 x 3264 Image - 1280 x 720 Video - HDMI - HD Movie Mode	$349.95	See it
Pentax K-01 16.3 Megapixel Mirrorless Camera (Body Only) - White - 3 LCD - Optical (IS) - 4928 x 3264 Image - 1920 x 1080 Video - HDMI - HD Movie Mode	$349.95	See it
Pentax K-01 16.3 Megapixel Mirrorless Camera (Body Only) - Yellow - 3 LCD - Optical (IS) - 4928 x 3264 Image - 1920 x 1080 Video - HDMI - HD Movie Mode	$349.95	See it
Pentax K-01 16MP APS-C CMOS Compact System Camera [Body] (Black) + Extended Life Battery + 16GB SDHC Class 10 Memory Card + USB Card Reader + Memory Card Wallet + Deluxe Case w/Strap + Shock Proof Deluxe Case + Mini HDMI to HDMI Cable + Professional Full Size Tripod + Accessory Saver Bundle!	$379.09	See it
Pentax K-01 16MP APS-C CMOS Compact System Camera Kit with DA 40mm Lens (White)	$409.99	See it
Pentax K-01 16.3 Megapixel Mirrorless Camera (Body with Lens Kit) - 40 mm - Black - 3 LCD - Optical (IS) - 4928 x 3264 Image - 1920 x 1080 Video - HDMI - HD Movie Mode	$418.99	See it
Pentax K-01 16MP APS-C CMOS Compact System Camera Kit with DA 40mm Lens (Black)	$418.99	See it
Pentax K-01 16MP APS-C CMOS Compact System Camera Kit with DA 40mm Lens (White)	$419	See it
Pentax K-01 16MP APS-C CMOS Compact System Camera Kit with DA 40mm Lens (Black)	$419.95	See it
Pentax K-01 16MP APS-C CMOS Compact System Camera with Dual Lens Kit 18-55mm, 50-200mm (Yellow)	$439.8	See it
Pentax 15274 16 MP Mirrorless Body Design Camera with DA L 18-55mm and 50-200mm Lenses - Black	$448	See it
Pentax 15274 16 MP Mirrorless Body Design Camera with DA L 18-55mm and 50-200mm Lenses - Black	$449.17	See it
Pentax K-01 16MP APS-C CMOS Compact System Camera with Dual Lens Kit 18-55mm, 50-200mm (White)	$449.17	See it
Pentax K-01 16.3 Megapixel Mirrorless Camera (Body with Lens Kit) - 40 mm - Yellow - 3 LCD - Optical (IS) - 4928 x 3264 Image - 1920 x 1080 Video - HDMI - HD Movie Mode	$467.46	See it
Pentax K-01 16.3 Megapixel Mirrorless Camera (Body with Lens Kit) - 18 mm - 55 mm (Lens 1), 50 mm - 200 mm (Lens 2) - Black - 3 LCD - 3.1x/4x Optical Zoom - Optical (IS) - 4928 x 3264 Image - 1920 x 1080 Video - HDMI - HD Movie Mode	$468.89	See it
Pentax K-01 16 Megapixel Hybrid Digital Camera with Dual Lens Kit - White	$468.89	See it
Pentax K-01 16MP APS-C CMOS Compact System Camera Kit with DA 40mm Lens (Yellow)	$474.39	See it
Pentax K-01 Digital Camera (Black) with 18-55mm AL Lens Kit and 50-200mm AL Lens 16GB Package	$499.58	See it
Pentax K-01 Digital Camera (Yellow) with 18-55mm AL Lens Kit and 50-200mm AL Lens 16GB Package	$499.58	See it
Pentax K-01 16MP APS-C CMOS Compact System Camera with Dual Lens Kit 18-55mm, 50-200mm (White)	$499.99	See it
Pentax K-01 Digital Camera (Yellow) with 18-55mm AL Lens Kit and 50-200mm AL Lens 32GB Package	$508.6	See it
Pentax K-01 16MP APS-C CMOS Compact System Camera with Dual Lens Kit 18-55mm, 50-200mm (Yellow)	$554.52	See it
Pentax K-01 16MP APS-C CMOS Compact System Camera With 40mm Lens (White) + Extended Life Battery + 8GB SDHC Class 10 Memory Card + USB Card Reader + Memory Card Wallet + Deluxe Case w/Strap + Shock Proof Deluxe Case + Mini HDMI to HDMI Cable + 3 Piece Professional Filter Kit + Professional Full Size Tripod + Accessory Saver Bundle!	$560.19	See it
Pentax K-01 16 Megapixel Hybrid Digital Camera with Dual Lens Kit - Yellow	$610.58	See it
Pentax K-01 16.3 Megapixel Mirrorless Camera (Body with Lens Kit) - 18 mm - 55 mm - Black - 3 LCD - 3.1x Optical Zoom - Optical (IS) - 4928 x 3264 Image - 1920 x 1080 Video - HDMI - HD Movie Mode	$696.58	See it
Pentax Imaging 15274 K01 Dig Cam 16MP 2 Lens-Blk	$714.15	See it
K01 DIG CAM BODY W 21717 LENS	$714.99	See it
Pentax K-01 Digital SLR Yellow 16MP Camera 40mm Lens Bundle, 3 inch LCD, 1080p HD Video	$846.95	See it
Pentax Imaging K011855 K01 Dig Cam Body w 21717 lens	$893.63	See it
Pentax K-01 16MP APS-C CMOS Compact System Camera Kit with DA 40mm Lens (Yellow)	$967.59	See it