Sporting a highly compact design with gunmetal-colored aluminum alloy accents and a textured red leatherette wrap, the Pentax Q-S1 Mirrorless Digital Camera straddles both form and function with its versatile imaging capabilities and sleek appearance. Featuring a 12.4MP 1/1.7" backlit CMOS sensor and Q Engine image processor, the Q-S1 realizes up to 5 fps continuous RAW shooting as well as full HD 1080p video recording. The sensor and processor also combine to provide notable low-light sensitivity to ISO 12800 with markedly low noise levels at all sensitivity values. Also benefitting working in difficult lighting conditions, in-body sensor-shift Shake Reduction works to minimize the appearance of camera shake with any mounted lens.

Helping to further extend the functionality of the camera, a refined body design also sees the inclusion of a programmable Quick Dial, as well as dedicated mode dials for quickly accessing a variety of camera settings. For image monitoring and playback, a large 3.0" 460k-dot LCD monitor is available and features both a 170� viewing angle and an anti-reflection coating to support its use in a wide variety of lighting conditions. A broad array of in-camera imaging effects, including Smart Effects and Bokeh Control, are available to creatively enhance the look and feel of photos and videos, and can be viewed in real time on the LCD.

Included with the camera body are two versatile zoom lenses covering a range of perspectives from wide-angle to telephoto. The Pentax 02 Standard Zoom 5-15mm f/2.8-4.5 lens provides a 35mm-equivalent focal length range of 27.5-83mm and incorporates four extra-low dispersion elements within its design, as well as a Pentax SP lens coating, for maintained sharpness and clarity. Its five-blade diaphragm coincides with a leaf shutter design, which permits high-speed flash sync with shutter speeds up to 1/2000 sec. Also included is the Pentax 06 Telephoto Zoom 15-45mm f/2.8 lens, which offers a 35mm-equivalent focal length range of 83-249mm. This long-reaching lens is characterized by a constant f/2.8 maximum aperture, as well as two extra-low dispersion elements and one super-low dispersion element within its construction. A Quick-Shift focus system permits instant switching from auto to manual focusing and a retractable lens design helps to maintain the overall compact form factor of the Q system.

12.4MP Backlit CMOS Sensor and Q Engine Processor

The combination of a 12.4MP 1/1.7" backlit CMOS sensor and Q Engine processor enable high-resolution shooting up to 5 fps in full resolution as well as full HD 1080p video recording. These two technologies also help to realize a notable sensitivity range from ISO 100-12800 with enhanced noise reduction capabilities at all ISO values. The low-light capabilities of the sensor and processor also contribute to refined autofocus accuracy in conditions as low as EV 0.

In-Camera Shake Reduction

A sensor-shift type Shake Reduction image stabilization system, coupled with an efficient gyro sensor, helps to minimize the appearance of camera shake, regardless of the lens in use.

Body Design and Operability

Characterized by a compact form factor and retro-inspired body design, the Q-S1 is accented by an aluminum alloy Quick Dial and grip as well as a textured synthetic leather wrapped front panel. The Quick Dial can be used for efficient control and access to a variety of shooting modes, with the ability to assign four favorite functions, including Smart Effects, aspect ratio, AF/MF switching, focus assist on/off, and ND filter on/off.

The body design also incorporates a 3.0" 460k-dot LCD monitor, with a 3:2 aspect ratio and 170� viewing angle, which is fitted with an anti-reflection coating for greater visibility in a range of lighting conditions.

Full HD Movie Recording

The Q-S1 is capable of recording full HD 1080p video, up to 30 fps, in the MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 format. Full-time Continuous AF (AF-C) is available when shooting to maintain sharp focus on moving subjects. During recording, sound is captured by a built-in monaural microphone. Additionally, HD 720p and SD 480p formats are also supported.

Interval recording is also supported, with the ability to automatically output series of images as an HD movie. In-camera image adjustments, such as Smart Effects, can be applied as well as movie editing capabilities.

Pentax Q-Mount Lenses

Rounding out the versatility of the Q-S1 are two included zoom lenses: the Pentax 02 Standard Zoom 5-15mm f/2.8-4.5 lens and the Pentax 06 Telephoto Zoom 15-45mm f/2.8 lens. The 5-15mm lens provides an equivalent focal length range of 27.5-83mm, covering wide-angle to telephoto perspectives, and incorporates four extra-low dispersion elements into its design to minimize chromatic aberrations throughout the zoom range. The Pentax SP lens coating also helps to maintain consistent image quality and a five-blade leaf shutter enables high-speed flash sync up to 1/2000 sec. Additionally, a built-in 2-stop neutral density filter helps when working in bright conditions and for greater control over exposure settings.

The 15-45mm f/2.8 lens covers a range of telephoto perspectives, equivalent to 83-249mm in the 35mm format. This lens has a constant f/2.8 maximum aperture for consistent performance throughout the zoom range and a Quick-Shift focus system permits instant switching between focus modes. Two extra-low dispersion elements and one super-low dispersion element help to reduce chromatic aberrations and distortions and contribute to refined image clarity and sharpness. Additionally, an SP coating has been applied to the front lens element to protect it from dust, dirt, and debris.