February 2, 2012
PENTAX RICOH IMAGING COMPANY, LTD. is pleased to announce the launch of the PENTAX K-01 lens-interchangeable digital camera. This new, stylish camera was designed in collaboration with one of the world’s most acclaimed designers, Mr. Marc Newson.
In response to the ever-growing digital camera market, PENTAX RICOH IMAGING COMPANY, LTD. has taken a number of major steps in the development of digital SLR cameras as attractive, user-friendly imaging tools. These include a camera offering a choice of 120 lens-and-body color combinations, and concept models designed in collaboration with various firms and artists. The new PENTAX K-01 is another bold effort in camera design, developed in line with Mr. Newson’s three design themes — a TIMELESS, TRUSTY and TOUCHABLE. At the same time, it provides the full array of advanced functions and user-friendly features expected from digital SLR cameras. The optical viewfinder and quick-return mirror were eliminated to allow more freedom in designing the camera body. The result is a camera that shows Mr. Newson’s originality in every detail, with meticulous attention paid to all body parts to faithfully reproduce his designs. His design scheme has also been applied to the new smc PENTAX-DA 40mm F2.8 XS unifocal interchangeable standard lens — the world’s thinnest interchangeable lens,* to be launched in the market simultaneously with the PENTAX K-01 camera body — to make the lens-mounted K-01 a complete design package.
The PENTAX K-01 comes with outstanding basic specifications, including sharp, high-resolution images captured by approximately 16.28 effective megapixels, high-speed burst shooting, an extra-wide sensitivity range with a top sensitivity of ISO 25600 (when expanded), and Full HD video recording. In addition, it features the reliable, ever-popular PENTAX K lens mount, so users can make effective use of their entire lens stock — even lenses produced for film-format SLR cameras. While the K-01 makes the perfect choice for start-up digital interchangeable lens camera photographers looking for an easy-to-operate camera, as well as those who demand originality and stylishness from their imaging tool, it also can be a wonderful second camera for current PENTAX digital SLR users who find pleasure in totally new photographic styles that only the K-01 can offer.
* The worldﾂ痴 thinnest interchangeable lens for lens-interchangeable digital cameras, as of February 1, 2012 (based on PENTAXﾂ痴 research).
Marc Newson is the most acclaimed and influential designer of his generation. He has worked across a wide range of disciplines, creating everything from furniture and household objects, to bicycles and cars, private and commercial aircraft, yachts, various architectural commissions, and signature sculptural pieces for clients across the globe.
Born in Sydney, Newson spent much of his childhood travelling in Europe and Asia. He started experimenting with furniture design as a student and, after graduation, was awarded a grant from the Australian Crafts Council with which he staged his first exhibition - featuring the Lockheed Lounge - a piece that has now, twenty years later, set three consecutive world records at auction.
Newson has lived and worked in Tokyo, Paris, and London where he is now based, and he continues to travel widely. His clients include a broad range of the best known and most prestigious brands in the world - from manufacturing and technology to transportation, fashion and the luxury goods sector. Many of his designs have been a runaway success for his clients and have achieved the status of modern design icons. In addition to his core business, he has also founded and run a number of successful companies, including a fine watch brand and an aerospace design consultancy, and has also held senior management positions at client companies; including currently being the Creative Director of Qantas Airways.
Marc Newson was included in Time magazineﾂ痴 100 Most Influential People in the World, has received numerous awards and distinctions; he was appointed The Royal Designer for Industry in the UK, awarded an honorary doctorate from Sydney University, and holds Adjunct Professorships at Sydney College of the Arts and Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
His work is present in many major museum collections, including the MoMA in New York, Londonﾂ痴 Design Museum and V&A, the Centre Georges Pompidou and the Vitra Design Museum. Having set numerous records at auction, Newsonﾂ痴 work now accounts for almost 25% of the total contemporary design market.
Newson has been the focus of on-going and intense interest in the media, generating significant editorial value for his clients, and has been the subject of a number of books and documentary films.
He is married with two children.
A modern digital camera with a contemporary yet timeless design.
The camera body is compact and trim whilst preserving all the functions of a professional camera.
The lines are clean and simple creating an elegant graphical composition.
The materials convey quality and honesty.
Machined aluminium and natural rubber provide the user with a tactile and durable piece of technology.
TIMELESS, TRUSTY, TOUCHABLE
Immaculate, tasteful design by Marc Newson
The PENTAX K-01’s body consists of neat, straight lines to optimize both functionality and visual attractiveness. Original-design push buttons and control levers are efficiently laid out across the body, while brilliant colors are used on two key buttons for instant recognition: red for the video recording button, and green for the functional green button. The mode dial and the power switch are made of high-quality aluminum alloy, while the memory card slot and connectors on the comfortable, easy-to-hold grip are covered with protective rubber. What’s more, Mr. Newson’s original design scheme is evident in all elements of the K-01, including the product logo, the camera strap (included) and even the start-up screen that comes on when the K-01’s power is turned on.Exceptional image quality assured by digital SLR camera system
The PENTAX K-01 comes equipped with a newly developed CMOS image sensor measuring 23.7 millimeters by 15.7 millimeters. With approximately 16.28 effective megapixels, this extra-large sensor assures high-speed readout of image data signals. The K-01 also features the new “PRIME M” imaging engine to assure first-rate movie recording performance in a digital interchangeable lens camera. It also offers an extra-wide sensitivity range — from ISO 100 to ISO 12800, or to ISO 25600 when expanded using a custom function — while minimizing annoying digital noise at all sensitivity levels.Compatibility with all PENTAX lenses
The ability to change lenses is a great benefit of the digital interchangeable lens camera system. That’s why the PENTAX K-01 is designed to accept a wide array of PENTAX interchangeable lenses,** including those produced for film-format SLR cameras. Thanks to this lens compatibility, the user can choose a most suitable lens for a particular subject or scene and create the desired visual effect and perspective with great ease.** K-, KA- KAF, KAF2, and KAF3- mount lenses can be used with the PENTAX K-01, while screw-mount lenses, 645-system lenses and 67-system lenses can be used with an adapter. Some functions may not be available on certain lenses.
High-quality video recording
The PENTAX K-01 comes equipped with a Full HD video-recording function to capture high-quality movie clips (1920 x 1080 pixels). With the H.264 recording format, it offers a choice of frame rate (30, 25 or 24 frames per second) to accommodate user-specific applications. It also comes with two new features to facilitate video recording: Red button for instant pushbutton start, and a stereo microphone for more realistic sound. While adding personal touches to recorded clips using various Custom Images, or recording the subject in a series of video clips using the interval movie shooting mode. The PENTAX K-01 also comes with an HDMI type C terminal, which allows the user to simultaneously output both Full HD movie clips and stereo sound, as well as an external microphone input terminal.New-generation HDR mode
The HDR (High Dynamic Range) mode, which produces one extra-wide-gradation composite photo from three images taken at different exposure levels, has been upgraded to create a greater range of visual expressions. This upgraded HDR mode can be instantly selected with a turn of the mode dial. The user can take advantage of newly added features to select one of three exposure increments as well as the level of effects, while an automatic position adjustment function assures precise alignment of three images even when they are taken with a handheld K-01.A selection of image processing tools for personalized expressions
The PENTAX K-01’s Custom Image function allows the user to select the most appropriate finishing touch for a particular subject or scene to express the photographer’s creative intention or taste. Included in 11 Custom Images are: Bleach Bypass to create a dramatic visual effect used in motion pictures, and Cross Process to produce a fanciful image with unusual colors. The K-01 also features 19 distinctive digital filters — including Miniature, which turns an actual scene into an image full of miniature models — to easily apply different visual effects to recorded images. The user can be even more creative and imaginative by applying multiple digital filters to a single image.Smooth, quiet, high-speed burst shooting
The PENTAX K-01’s high-speed burst shooting mode comes in handy when preserving the action of fast-moving subjects in a series of images, since it captures up to six images per second. With its mirrorless construction, K-01 also offers exceptionally silent mechanical operation incomparable to existing PENTAX digital SLRs that allows user to concentrate on to photography even when shooting such subjects as stage performances.Large, wide-angle 3.0-inch LCD monitor with approx. 921,000 dots
The PENTAX K-01 features a large, easy-to-view, high-resolution 3.0-inch color LCD monitor with approximately 921,000 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.PENTAX-original SR mechanism for sharp, blur-free images
The PENTAX K-01 incorporates the PENTAX-developed SR (Shake Reduction) mechanism. Usable with all compatible lenses, including those produced for film-format SLR cameras, this mechanism 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.Effortless, user-friendly Auto Picture and Scene modes
The PENTAX K-01 features the PENTAX-original, user-friendly Auto Picture mode, which selects the most appropriate shooting mode for a given subject or scene from Portrait, Landscape, Macro and other distinctive shooting modes, while optimizing all camera settings, such as aperture, shutter speed, white balance, saturation, contrast and sharpness. As the result, the photographer can concentrate on image composition and shutter opportunity. The K-01 also offers 19 different Scene modes, which simplifies the photographing of difficult subjects or demanding scenes — such as Night Scene Portrait mode, Pet mode, and Backlight Silhouette mode — simply by choosing the corresponding icon on the camera’s LCD monitor.Other features
Exterior design by Marc Newson
Together with the PENTAX K-01 camera body, the exterior of this lens has been designed by Marc Newson. Mounting this lens on the K-01 results in a highly stylish imaging tool.Easy-to-use, super-thin lens for everyday use
This unifocal standard lens offers a focal length equivalent to 61mm in the 35mm format, and measures a mere 9.2 millimeters in length, making it the world’s thinnest interchangeable lens. Thanks to its super-thin design, it is highly portable and easy to store and carry. Its optics were designed based on those of the acclaimed smc PENTAX-DA 40mm F2.8 Limited lens. Its maximum aperture of F2.8 produces sharp, bright images in a wide range of applications, including snapshots, scenic photos, portraits, and even incident-light indoor shooting.Exceptional image-description
In addition to numerical evaluations made by various testing machines, PENTAX has also conducted an image-quality evaluation of hundreds of images actually taken with this lens. As a result, it not only offers outstanding specifications, but also demonstrates exceptional image descriptive power and an image rendition unique to this lens. It features a round-shaped diaphragm, which produces a smooth, natural bokeh (out-of-focus) effect in the background.SP coating to block dirt and dust
The front surface of this lens is treated with SP (Super Protect) coating, which applies an exclusive fluorine compound to the lens surface through a vapor deposition process. This SP coating not only repels dust, water and grease, but also makes it easy to wipe off oily stains such as fingerprints and cosmetics.| Model Description | Type | Lens-interchangeable SL digital-still camera |
|---|---|---|
| Lens Mount | PENTAX KAF2 bayonet mount (AF coupler, lens information contacts, K-mount with power contacts) | |
| Compatible Lens | KAF3, KAF2 (power zoom not compatible), KAF, KA mount lenses | |
| Image Capture Unit | Image Sensor | Primary color filter, CMOS. Size: 23.7 x 15.7 (mm) |
| Effective Pixels | Approx. 16.28 megapixels | |
| Total Pixels | Approx. 16.49 megapixels | |
| Dust Removal | SP coating and CMOS sensor operations | |
| Sensitivity (Standard output) |
AUTO/100 to 12800 (EV steps can be set to 1EV, 1/2EV, or 1/3EV), expandable from ISO 100 to ISO 25600. | |
| Image Stabilizer | Sensor shift Shake Reduction | |
| File Formats | File Format | RAW (DNG), JPEG (Exif 2.3), DCF2.0 compliant |
| Recorded Pixels | JPEG [3:2]16M(4928x3264),12M(4224x2816),8M(3456x2304),5M(2688x1792) [4:3]14M(4352x3264),11M(3840x2880),7M(3072x2304),4M(2304x1728) [16:9]13M(4928x2776),10M(4224x2376),6M(3456x1944),4M(2688x1512) [1:1]10M(3264x3264),8M(2880x2880),5M(2304x2304),3M(1728x1728) RAW [3:2]16M(4928x3264) |
|
| 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. 921,000 dots | |
| Adjustment | Brightness and colors adjustable | |
| Display | Field of View: approx. 100%, Grid display (4 x 4 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 | EV 1 to 18(ISO100, F1.4 lens) | |
| Focus Method | AF/MF switching | |
| Autofocus Method | Face Detection, Tracking, Select, Spot | |
| AF Assist Light | Dedicated LED AF assist light | |
| Focus Assist | AF Autozoom(OFF/x2/x4/x6), Focus Peaking When set to MF, an image can be magnified by pressing the OK button. | |
| Metering | Type | "TTL image sensor metering, multi-segment metering, centerweighted metering, and spot metering" |
| Exposure Compensation | EV -1 to 21 (ISO 100, F1.4 lens) | |
| Exposure Modes | Auto Picture mode: automatically selects from Standard, Portrait,
Landscape, Macro, Moving Object, Night Scene Portrait, Night Scene,
Blue Sky, Forest Scene Mode: Portrait, Landscape, Macro, Moving Object,
Night Scene Portrait, Sunset, Blue Sky, Forest, Night Scene, Night Scene
HDR*, Night Snap, Food, Pet, Kids, Surf & Snow, Backlight Silhouette,
Candlelight, Stage Lighting, Museum Program, Shutter Priority, Aperture
Priority, Manual, Bulb, HDR* *JPEG only |
|
| EV Compensation | ± 3EV (1/2EV step or 1/3EV can be selected) | |
| AE Lock | Can be assigned to the AF/AE-L button from the menu. | |
| Shutter | Auto: 1/4000 to 30 sec., Manual: 1/4000 to 30 sec. (1/3EV step or 1/2EV step), Bulb | |
| Drive Modes | Mode Selection | Single frame, Continuous (Hi, Lo), Self-timer (12sec., 2ssec.), Remote Control (0 sec., 3 sec.), Auto Bracketing (3 frames) |
| Continuous Shooting | Approx. 6 fps (JPEG, Continuous Hi) Approx. 3 fps (JPEG, Continuous Lo) |
|
| Built-in Flash | Built-in Flash | Built-in retractable P-TTL auto pop-up flash Guide number: approx. 12 (ISO100/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
High-Speed Sync is also available with PENTAX dedicated external flash. |
|
| Sync Speed | 1/180 sec. | |
| 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 | Slow Shutter Speed NR, High-ISO NR | |
| Dynamic Range Setting |
Highlight Correction, Shadow Correction | |
| Lens Correction | Distortion Correction, Lateral Chromatic Aberration Correction | |
| Digital Filter | Extract Color, Toy Camera, Retro, High Contrast, Shading, Invert Color, Color | |
| HDR Capture | Auto, HDR 1, HDR 2, HDR 3, Automatic composition correction function | |
| Multi-exposure | Number of shots: 2-9, Exposure adjusted automatically. | |
| Interval Shooting | Shooting interval: 1 sec. to 24 hr., Number of shots: up to 999 images, Start Interval setting: immediately, from the set time | |
| Movie | File Format | MPEG–4 AVC/H.264 |
| Recorded Pixels | "FullHD(1920x1080,16:9,30fps/25fps/24fps), HD(1280x720,16:9,60fps/50fps/30fps/25fps/24fps), VGA(640x480,4:3,30fps/25fps/24fps)" | |
| Quality Level | (Best), (Better), (Good) |
|
| Sound | Built-in stereo microphone, External stereo microphone terminal, Recording Sound Level | |
| 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 | Extract Color, Toy Camera, Retro, High Contrast, Invert Color, Color | |
| Interval Movie | Recording interval: 1 sec., 5 sec., 10 sec., 30 sec., 1 min., 5
min., 10 min., 30 min., 1 hr., Recording time: 4 sec. to 99 hr.,
Start Interval setting: immediately, from the set time *The File format is Motion JPEG(AVI). |
|
| Playback Functions | Playback View | Single frame, Multi-image display (4, 9, 16, 36, 81 segmentation), Display magnification (up to 16x, scrolling and quick magnification available), rotating, histogram, bright/dark area warning, copyright display, calendar filmstrip, display, folder display, slideshow |
| Delete | Delete single image, delete all images, select & delete, delete folder, delete instant review image | |
| Digital Filter | Monochrome, Extract Color, Toy Camera, Retro, High Contrast, Shading, Invert Color, Color, Tone Expansion, Sketch Filter, Water Color, Pastel, Posterization, Miniature, Soft, Starburst, Fish-eye, Slim, Base Parameter Adjustment | |
| RAW Development | File Format (JPEG), Image Capture Settings(Aspect Ratio, Recorded Pixels, Quality Level, Color Space), Lens Correction(Distortion Correction, Lateral Chromatic Aberration Correction), Custom Image, White Balance, Sensitivity, High-ISO NR, Shadow Correction | |
| Edit | Resize, Cropping (Aspect ratio and Slant adjustment available), Index, Movie Editing (Divide or delete selected frames), Capturing a JPEG still picture from a movie, Saving the RAW file data in the buffer memory | |
| Customization | Custom Functions | 16 items |
| Mode Memory | 11 items | |
| Button/ Dial Customization |
Green Button (Green Button, One Push File Format, Preview, Focus
Peaking, Custom Image, Digital Filter) Red Button (Movie Recording, One Push File Format, Preview, Focus Peaking, Custom Image, Digital Filter) AF/AE-L Button (Enable AF1, Enable AF2, Cancel AF, AE Lock) |
|
| 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 | |
| Copyright Information | Names of "Photographer" and "Copyright Holder" are embedded to the image file. | |
| Power Supply | Battery Type | Rechargeable Lithium-ion Battery D-LI90 |
| AC Adapter | AC Adapter Kit K-AC1202 (optional) | |
| Battery Life | Number of recordable images (with 50% flash usage): approx. 500
images, (without flash usage): approx. 540 images Playback time: approx. 320 minutes * Using a new lithium-ion battery under the temperature at 23 °C, Tested in compliance with CIPA standard. Actual results may vary depending on the shooting conditions/circumstances. |
|
| Interfaces | Connection Port | USB2.0 (high-speed compatible) / AV output terminal, HDMI output terminal, Stereo miscrophone input terminal |
| USB Connection | MSC/PTP | |
| Video Output Format | NTSC/PAL | |
| Dimensions and Weight |
Dimensions | Approx. 121 mm (W) × 79 mm (H) × 59 mm (D) (excluding the operation parts and protrusion) |
| Weight | Approx. 560 g (loaded and ready with the dedicated battery and SD Memory Card), Approx. 480 g (body only) | |
| Accessories | Package Contents | USB Cable I-USB7, Strap O-ST120, Rechargeable Lithium-ion Battery
D-LI90, Battery Charger D-BC90, Software (CDROM) S-SW120 <Mounted on the camera> Hot shoe cover FK, Body Mount Cover |
| Software | SILKYPIX Developer Studio 3.0 for PENTAX |
| Lens Mount | PENTAX KAF Mount |
|---|---|
| Focal Length | 40mm (Equivalent to 61mm in 35mm format) |
| Aperture | F2.8 |
| Minimum Aperture | F22 |
| Lens Construction | 5 elements in 4 groups |
| Angle of View | 39° (with PENTAX D-SLR camera body) |
| Minimum Focusing Distance | 0.4m |
| Maximum Magnification | 0.13x |
| Number of Diaphragm Blades | 9 |
| Filter Diameter | 27mm |
| Maximum Diameter & Minimum Length | 62.9mm x 9.2mm |
| Weight | 52g |
