Pentax QS-1 – A new dress but few innovations

Ricoh, the current owner of the Pentax brand, today announces the Pentax QS-1, a compact interchangeable lens successor to the Pentax Q7. As with the previous model, it is a very special camera, which makes the reduction of the dimensions its main attractiveness (105x58x34mm, 203g). The body of the machine, redesigned, it is clean and functional, more akin to the original Q that models the following, and is now customizable in 40 colors.

Inside the body of the machine little has changed compared to the previous Pentax Q7. The Pentax QS-1 uses the same 12 megapixel BSI CMOS sensor in actual size 1/ 1.7″, managed by the same image processor.

Consequently, ISO range (ISO 12800 maximum), shooting interval (5fps), and performance in general are the same. Even the rear display is unchanged compared to Pentax Q7: it is the same 3″ 460,000 points.

The news, if one can define, relate only some refinement’s software. According to the manufacturer, the AF system is now faster, especially for face detection and tracking focus functions. Have been changed a couple of creative filters, and while the video is now possible to focus on a continuous basis, but only if you use some lenses (mostly of the ” performance ” ).

Remained unchanged, of course, also the attack Q-Mount, which today offers 8 goals in all. Among them, a standard zoom, and a telephoto zoom that, on the Pentax Q7 and Pentax QS-1, respectively, equivalent to 23-69mm f / 2.8-4.5 and 69-207mm f2.8, wide-angle zoom, fisheye and a standard equivalent to 39mm f/1.9.

Sure it is a product that will be of interest to owners of the original Q (which used a sensor 1/2.3 ” ) and wish to update the body with a new model that marries perfectly the philosophy. From a new model was not expected some innovation in addition, to counter the Nikon 1 system whose models, equally compact (the J4 measure, for example, 99.5x60x28.5mm), using sensors 1 inch and can rely on a more complex optical system, which now has a dozen pieces.

Available from August, the Pentax QS-1 will cost just under $400 for the body only, or $500 less than the standard zoom kit. Ricoh On site you can download some sample image official.