Pentax Q first impressions
OK it’s small every one understands that, but it is really really small, smaller than I can easily convey. Despite the diminutive size it is easy to use and has direct access to all the necessary controls and quickly becomes just a really tiny image making machine. Walking around with it I could quickly compose shots on the rear LCD and it was quick to lock focus in all but the most challenging conditions, ones where I think any focus system of this type struggles and even phase detect systems of DSLR’s slow down.
I shot mostly in Program mode and used the rear dial to change the aperture while letting the camera choose the shutter speed, effectively using it as aperture priority/program hybrid. The ISO has a direct button and once selected can be changed with the rear dial without the need to hold down any other buttons. This menu selection stickiness is a welcome change from having to press the ISO button of my DSLR while changing with the dial. It’s necessary because there really isn’t enough room on the camera to have more than one finger poking something at any one time. That said all the variables that you would want to change are easily done with one hand. As for the ergonomics of holding the camera, it is quite good, the front grip area has space for a finger which really gives a solid hold with your thumb on the back. The buttons have a very nice high quality feel as does the entire camera.
I didn’t really have a good opportunity to shoot any moving subjects so I can’t really say how it performs under those conditions. My impressions of the JPEGS out of the camera are that they are free of objectionable noise bellow 1600 ISO but above that you begin to see smearing of detail. Leaving the technical aside it performs well and is unobtrusive, freeing you to make pictures. I suppose the question you are left with is whether the trade off of size and fun is worth what is in my opinion a slightly lower image quality than what can be gotten with larger interchangeable lens cameras. I find myself to be between the two camps. I absolutely love the build and size of the Q but I find I’m, possibly unfairly, comparing it to what I can do with my DSLR. I certainly wouldn’t have felt comfortable moving around in the places I did today with a large camera and lens.
I have to admit not reading the manual because of the limited time I had and therefore I didn’t make as many changes as I might have otherwise. One thing I find unfortunate is that it can not be used to wirelessly control external flashes, perhaps this is as much for the fact that the curent flashes dwarf the camera, although they can be mounted and used on the hot shoe. In my next post I will have some sample images after I sort through what I took today.
