Pentax K-01, Ugliest Camera Ever

[chris00nj]

I saw this camera, and just threw up in my mouth a little.

I think the problem is the mirrorless design along with keeping the SLR mount lens, so the backfocus distance has to be the same. As a result, the camera is just as big as an SLR, which erases the primary advantage of going mirror-less.

 

[btgc]

But then there's no blackout and noise, right?

 

[Disaster_Area]

looks like one of those all-plastic fake SLR's from the 80's... the ones that were fixed focus point and shoots disguised as an SLR, with names like Mikkon and Cannon

 

[gavinlg]

Yeah I saw it as well, and threw up in my mouth as well. What a hideous little blob.
Supposed to be designed by Marc Newson too... massive fail IMO!

 

[Archlich]

It looks OK to me. At least better than the previously leaked diagrams.

For me, there's hardly anything uglier than Leica Digilux 1.

 

[jsrockit]

Not really a good look... poor Pentax.

 

[hipsterdufus]

Is it bad that I kind of want one just because it's such an odd design?

 

[sevo]

But then there's no blackout and noise, right?

No blackout yes. As far as noise goes, YMMV. On the Sony Nex series, what is saved in noise by omitting the mirror is lost again by making the camera smaller so that the shutter (and tensioning motor) noise is less well shielded.

 

[btgc]

Nice or ugly, that's not that important. But 60mm eq. FOV - anyone?

 

[jsrockit]

As a result, the camera is just as big as an SLR, which erases the primary advantage of going mirror-less.

Are you sure it is just as big?

 

[driver]

Good thing cameras aren't fashion statements.

 

[timor]

Will it take any lens with K-mount ?

 

[Steve M.]

It looks as if it's suddenly been slammed into a wall. There's a dog name for it I think. Pug?

I'm also not crazy about that PENTAXPENTAX strap, but at least you can flip the signage over. There's not much that could help w/ this camera's odd styling and color scheme. Maybe buy the biggest lens hood you can find.

 

[dreilly]

It's cousin, Ricoh GXR, is now relieved that people will stop calling it ugly and direct their attention at the K-01. What's up with the two-toned thing? That really does it in for me.

BTW, the GXR is a great camera. Just a bit lumpy. They really went to town on this with the ugly stick.

 

[sevo]

Are you sure it is just as big?

It will not be much smaller, given that it has the same mount and mirror(less) box dímensions. The more so as Pentax' recent SLRs already were on the small side of things.

There is a image of that lens on a K-5 out on the net - and if that is no fake, the K-01 is barely smaller, except that it lost the prism hump and handgrip bulge.

 

[sepiareverb]

Is this a Petnax?

 

[Paddy C]

It is ugly and it's also a bad idea. What's strike three? Based on the Q it will be price and Pentax will be 2-for-2.

 

[rbelyell]

no vf=no buy

just my opinion, but at this stage of mirrorless cam development, lack of vf means manufacturer is just not 'serious'. ugly is ok, but impractical is not.

 

[f6andBthere]

I'd have hated to have been the kid living near you lot that looked a little bit different ... I'd just know that everytime I walked past I'd be hearing the chant "freak, freak" and dodging various missiles! 😛

 

[dnk512]

Nikon and Pentax have been major disappointments with their mirror-less multi-lens designs (speaking for my taste of course).

Frankly I no longer think that an optical viewfinder is a must. An articulating screen *is*. All other viewfinder options (optical range, optical TTL, or Electronic or any combination) are just that, options. Not having any such option is an issue, but no one offers all the above either.