Pentax K-01 announced (news, reviews and preorder roundup)


Important: I am continually updating this post with new links. Reload this page every couple of minutes….not every second please, it would crash my server :)

Preorders and price info:

Black K-01 body at Amazon (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here) and Adorama (Click here)
Silver K-01 body at Amazon (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here) and Adorama (Click here).
Yellow K-01 body at Amazon (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here) and Adorama (Click here).
K-01 with all different possible kit lenses at BHphoto (Click here).
K-01 body +40mm pancake preorder at Adorama (Click here)
K-01 body +18-55mm and 50-200mm preorder at Adorama (Click here)
40mm pancake at BHphoto (Click here)

 

Previews and image samples:

Hands-on preview at Imaging Resource
Hands-on preview at ePhotozine
Hands-on photos at Photographyblog

New lens roadmap:

Photographyblog saw the new K lens roadmap: “the roadmap predicts that 3 new lenses will be released in 2012 – a DA Standard lens, DA High Magnification Zoom lens, and a DA Telephoto lens. In 2013 4 new lenses will make an appearance – the DA Zoom Limited, DA Tele Zoom, DA Wide Zoom and DA Zoom, with a new DA AF RC 1.4x teleconvertor too.

Press release links:

ThePhoBlographer
Amateur Photographer
Dpreview
Techradar
Photoscala (german)
Focus Numerique (french)
Pentaxforums
Quesabesde (spanish)
Prweb
Nexthardware (italian)

Hands-on videos:

Interview with the K-01 stardesigner:

Poll:

Take your time to read all previews and specs carefully. Only after that answer:

Camera pictures (Click on it to enlarge):

 

K-01 announcement today. Price $749 for body.

That is damn thin pancake! the new 40mm f/2.8!

Today Pentax will announce the K-01. The price will be the following:

Body only: $749

Body+40mm kit: $899

Body+18-55mm +50-200mm: $999

As you already know it comes in black, white and yellow.

New K-01 40mm lens rumors (RiceHigh)

RiceHigh reader OGL (Click here) shared some more detail about the upcoming 40mm lens for the K-01 system:
smc PENTAX-DA 40mmF2.8 XS Specification:

Lens Mount: PENTAX KAF Mount
Focal Length: 40mm (Equivalent to 61mm in 35mm format) (My Note: That is, a K-mount mirrorless system with an APS-C sized sensor!)
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

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

It is further noted in another reply comment of his that the new K-01 will not have any viewfinder, no EVF nor OVF neither.

HOT: Preorder the Fuji X PRO 1 and lenses at Amazon USA and Adorama!!!

You really don’t have to miss that chance to get the X PRO 1 as soon as possible: Preorders at Amazon started right now (Click here!!!). As you see the price of the camera is $1699. UDPATE: Now at Adorama (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here) too. And you can preorder the lenses here:
18mm f/2.0 (Click here preorder on Amazon) UDPATE: Now also at Adorama (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).
35mm f/1.4 lens (Click here preorder on Amazon) UDPATE: Now also at Adorama too (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).
60mm f/2.4 macro (Click here preorder on Amazon) UDPATE: Now also at Adorama too (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).

Hurry!
P.S.: I bet most of you will preorder at both stores :)

Look at that Fuji X PRO 1 high ISO sample!

Fujifilm X-Pro 1 from Michael Fletcher on Vimeo.

Now click that magic link to open a full size ISO 6400 image sample taken with the Fuji X PRO 1:
http://www.christianfletcher.com.au/blog/wp-content/uploads/Shearing-sheep.jpg

And there are even more images posted on Christian Fletcher’s website (Click here). Now I am curious to hear all pixel peepers and noise experts :)  That looks damn impressive!

More X PRO 1 news:
The crazy Fujiguys posted a total of twenty four X PRO 1 related videos for you! Here is the full list: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3191D7A5ADF102B7. And if you like to see more pics of the camera watch the triple “Japanese” hands-on report at Mynavi (Click here), Itmedia (Click here) and DC.watch (Click here).

Fuji X PRO 1 pre-order links:
Amazon.co.jp (Click here), Expansys USA (Click here), Expansys Canada (Click here), Expansys UK (Click here) and Henrys Canada (Click here).