The mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera market is already packed with great models from almost every camera maker. Olympus has its PEN E-P2 model, Samsung has its NX10, and Sony has its NEX line. Any camera maker looking to enter the market will need to do something major to make its rig stand out. Pentax looks to do just that with the announcement of its new Q mirrorless camera, which it calls the world's smallest and lightest interchangeable-lens camera.
Is it really the world's smallest and lightest? We think so: the Q measures in at 1.2 x 2.3 x 3.9 inches and tips the scales at a scant 7.1 ounces with both the battery and memory card plugged in. Specs are as follows: 12.4 megapixel, 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor, in-camera HDR, 21 scene modes, RAW support, 1080p 30-fps video, shutter speeds from 1/2000 to 30, ISO from 200 to 6400, and a 3-inch LCD. It's pretty stacked.
The Pentax Q is currently only available in Japan, but will make it to U.S. shores this fall. Expect to drop $800 for the standard kit which will include a 47mm/F1.9 lens. Reports say Pentax is planning on releasing a series of lenses including a 27.5-83mm zoom lens and a 160-degree fish eye lens for $300 and $130, respectively.
[via This Is My Next]
