Pentax Q Compact System Cameras
Pentax Q Compact System Cameras
USER REVIEWS
[Mar 23, 2013]
quantman
Expert
Strength:
-Good value now that the price dropped by 2/3.
Weakness:
-Bokeh. The sensor is so small that unless you are very close most of the photo will be sharp.
This camera is supposedly very popular in Japan but not so much here due to the cost, and reviews that compare the cost to the benefit. Those reviews are no longer valid now that the price of the camera has dropped by so much (below $250 with lens). This is not a DSLR and the smaller sensor won't provide the same quality shots. It is small--tiny actually--and will provide great screen shots and very good to excellent quality for anything smaller than an 8 x 10. The small sensor has a big disadvantage: Little bokeh (if you want it). The small sensor has a huge advantage: a 5.6 crop ratio. This means you can stick a 100mm portrait lens on it with an adapter and get an 35mm equivalent of a 560mm lens! A 300mm lens will give you an 1,680 35mm equivalent! You can actually get a better IQ with a long distance shot using the Q as opposed to using a DSLR, assuming you don't have access to quality super-telephoto lenses for a DSLR. Obviously, a tripod is mandatory when using a screen to focus manually at these crazy equivalents. All the other features makes the Q fun to use for a photographer that doesn't just want to shoot in the green mode.
Customer Service Never used for this camera. The typical Pentax service out of Arizona is very good. Similar Products Used: No similar products exist. |