Large APS-C sized CMOS image sensor with new PRIME M imaging engine for supreme image quality
The K-01 incorporates a newly designed CMOS image sensor with a large imaging area (23.7mm x 15.7mm) and high-speed image data readout. With 16.28 effective megapixels, this image sensor delivers beautiful, high resolution images. Coupled with the state-of-the-art PENTAX PRIME M imaging engine, the K-01 assures outstanding video recording performance. The large, APS-C sized image sensor also enhances depth of field flexibility, allowing for gorgeous large aperture photography with sharp subjects against beautifully defocused backgrounds.
Large APS-C sized CMOS image sensor
Imaging engine
In-body SR (Shake Reduction) mechanism
Thanks to the built-in sensor-shift SR mechanism, the K-01 effectively minimizes annoying image blur due to camera shake, for sharp images regardless of the lens being used. For an interchangeable lens camera like the K-01, PENTAX SR image stabilization is extremely useful in low or existing light photography, long telephoto applications, and during video recording.
Without SR mechanism
With SR mechanism
High 25600 ISO Sensitivity
The new PENTAX PRIME M imaging engine keeps high ISO noise to a minimum, allowing the K-01 to handle high-sensitivity shooting. With a top sensitivity of ISO 12800 default (or ISO 25600 in expanded mode), it delivers beautiful, well-defined images under dim lighting conditions indoors or at night, even when shooting with existing light without a tripod or other support. The K-01’s high-sensitivity noise reduction function is also highly customizable, allowing for individual ISO noise reduction settings.
Photo taken at ISO 12800 in HDR mode
Dynamic Range settings for detailed shadows and highlights
The K-01’s dynamic range expansion function compensates for pitch black shadows in backlit situations, as well as blown out highlights in the brightest areas of an image. By expanding the dynamic range, high contrast scenes can produce detail in all areas of an image, from shadows to midtones to highlights.
Flexible WB (White Balance) options
In addition to Auto and Manual WB, the K-01 offers six other white balance presets: Daylight, Shade, Fluorescent light (four sub-preset options), Tungsten, Flash, and CTE. AWB (Auto White Balance) adjusts the white balance for all light sources to prevent color casting. In contrast, CTE (Color Temperature Enhancement) is a PENTAX-original mode designed to provide extra emphasis of the predominant color of a particular scene, such as greens in forests and reds in sunsets.
AWB
CTE
HDR (High Dynamic Range) shooting for high contrast subjects
The K-01’s in-camera HDR mode is designed to produce an extra wide gradation image, retaining details in the most extreme shadows and highlights. With the K-01, this user-friendly mode is available as an independent setting on the mode dial. The camera’s e-dial also simplifies the choice of exposure latitude (±1 EV, ±2 EV or ±3 EV), making it easy to obtain the desired visual effect, strong or subtle, without any computer post processing.
HDR mode: One extra-wide-gradation photo is composed from three images taken at different exposure levels (normal, under and over).
Custom Image modes with distinctive finishing touches, for added creativity
The K-01 offers 11 Custom Image modes for high quality finish processing for your images, including Pop Tune for a vibrant, high saturation finish and Bleach Bypass for a low saturation, high contrast movie-like finish. For each Custom Image mode, parameters such as saturation, hue, key, contrast and sharpness can be finely adjusted to further personalize your images. There is also a Fine Sharpness function for even more subtle image sharpness control.
Pop Tune: A vibrant finish with high saturation
Bleach Bypass: A dramatic movie-like finish with subdued saturation and enhanced contrast
Creative digital filters for artistic visual effects
The K-01 provides a choice of 19 digital filters, including Toy Camera, for a toy camera-like visual effect; High Contrast, for dramatic, high contrast images; Invert Color, for a negative/positive reversal effect; and Extract Color, for retaining one or two primary colors while converting the remaining areas to black & white. Within each digital filter, various parameters can be adjusted to fine-tune the finishing touch. Combining digital filters with Custom Image modes opens up even more creative possibilities for photographic artists.
Dramatic Art
Toy Camera
Highly flexible, full HD video recording
The K-01’s large APS-C image sensor combined with the PENTAX PRIME M image processing engine captures beautiful, full 1080p HD video clips at 30 frames per second in the MPEG-4 AVC/h.264 format. The K-01 offers an array of creative options during video capture, such as the use of any K-mount lens for focal length and depth of field manipulation, or the application of a Custom Image mode or digital filter for an artistic visual effect. Flexible video exposure modes include Program, Aperture Priority and Manual, while the aperture, shutter speed and ISO sensitivity can easily be adjusted at will. Enable video mode using the dedicated setting on the camera’s mode dial, or by enabling video mode via the Red multi-function button. The K-01 even has an autofocus function during active video recording by simply pressing the AF button on the back of the camera. In addition to audio recording using a built-in stereo mic, the K-01 also supports an external stereo mic (available separately) via the camera’s 3.5mm mic terminal.
Create unique visual effects with digital filters.
Vary perspective and bokeh with lens changes.
Auto Picture and Scene modes for effortless, snapshot photography
Concentrate on your subject with set-it-and-forget-it ease using the powerful PENTAX Auto Picture mode. Auto Picture automatically selects the most appropriate shooting mode for the subject or scene from nine different options including Night Scene Portrait, Action, Landscape, and more. For more situation-specific scenes, the K-01 provides 19 additional Scene modes such as Night Snap, Surf & Snow, Pet, Forest and Food, among others. The built-in flash automatically discharges as-needed for proper exposure every time.
Auto Picture (Portrait)
Scene mode (Food)
High precision AF (autofocus)
The K-01 offers a choice of four autofocus modes to best accommodate a particular subject or application: Face Detection, to specifically detect and track your subject’s face; Focus Tracking, to follow the movement of a subject; Select, to choose from one of 81 individual focus points positioned across the AF frame; and Spot, to pinpoint the focus on a small area at the center of the image field. With an upgraded AF programming algorithm, overall autofocus speed and accuracy has been greatly improved.
Effortless manual focusing
During manual focusing, the LCD image can be magnified by two, four or six times to facilitate focusing operation. A focus peaking function is also provided, placing a strong highlight around the image’s in-focus area for fast, dead-on accurate manual focus acquisition.
Interval shooting and interval video recording
The interval shooting mode automatically captures as many as 999 separate images at a user-specified interval of time, while the interval video recording mode creates a video file using a series of interval still images. These modes are useful for fixed-point time lapse applications, such as a flower blossoming over time or the rapid movement of people or traffic on a busy street. The HDR mode can be used with the interval functions.
Multi-exposure shooting for unique, eye-catching images
The multi-exposure mode captures two to nine images, compositing them into a single shot. After each shutter release, the camera’s quick view function displays a composite image on the monitor for review. The overall exposure level can be automatically optimized when the composite photo has been completed.
LCD monitor (3:2/VGA) with grid display
The K-01 is equipped with a 3.0 inch, wide view LCD monitor covering approximately a 100% field of view. Live View options include a grid display (including a Golden Section grid) to facilitate image composition, a histogram to show the brightness distribution over the image field, and a warning for overly bright or dark areas.
- Programmable Green/Red buttons I would say “Programmable Buttons” or “Programmable Red and Green Buttons” -cp
- The Green and Red buttons can be customized, allowing you to assign such functions as focus assist, one-touch RAW+, preview, and even video recording (Red button only). This means fast, one touch access to the functions you need the most.
- Choice of four aspect ratios
- In addition to a standard 3:2 ratio, the K-01 offers three other aspect ratio options including 16:9 common to HDTV application, 1:1 square for a balanced composition, and 4:3 which is identical to the 645-film format.
- High speed shutter with a top speed of 1/4000 second
- Whether a slow or fast shutter speed is called for, the K-01 supports flexible shutter speeds from 30 seconds through 1/4000 second, including a Bulb mode for extended exposures.
- High speed burst shooting at 6 images per second
- The K-01’s continuous shooting mode captures images at a maximum speed of six frames per second, while its mirrorless design assures smooth, quiet operation.
- Lens aberration compensation with PENTAX lenses
- When a compatible PENTAX DA, DA L, D FA, or FA Limited lens is mounted, the K-01 produces sharp, high quality, aberration-free images by compensating for barrel and pincushion distortion and by minimizing color fringing from chromatic aberration caused by magnification.
- DR (Dust Removal) mechanism to clean the image sensor
- In order to eliminate annoying dust spots on recorded images, the K-01’s DR mechanism shakes off dust particles clinging to the CMOS image sensor using a combination of sensor vibration and a SP (Special Protect) coating on the sensor’s low pass filter. This mechanism can be triggered manually at any time, or programmed to activate automatically when the camera’s power is turned on or off.
- High accuracy 1024 segment multi-pattern metering, with center-weighted and spot metering options
- Achieve accurate exposure in any lighting condition with the K-01’s multi-pattern metering system, or by enabling center-weighted or spot metering.
- In-body RAW data development, and Buffer RAW function for RAW format filing of JPG images
- RAW images are ideal for archiving your recorded images. However, they must be processed to be shared with and recognized by a wide variety of software. The K-01 can process RAW images in-camera, allowing for a high degree of processing parameters, for stunning JPG output. For images captured directly as JPGs, the K-01 can even preserve and save the RAW data, providing it still resides within buffer memory.
- Power efficient, high capacity battery
- With a fully charged rechargeable Lithium Ion battery, the K-01 can capture and record up to 500 images, even with a flash used for 50% of the images (tested in compliance with CIPA standards).
SILKYPIX Developer Studio 3.0 for PENTAX
Included with your K-01 purchase, this comprehensive software bundle handles the filing and viewing of recorded images, and features a variety of image editing tools. Developed from the popular SILKYPIX image development engine, this PENTAX-dedicated software assures reliable, high speed development of RAW images. It can be customized to the user’s preferences, including arranging the control panel for each tab page or displaying frequently used functions in the most convenient spot on the screen.
