PENTAX Q10

Second generation micro mirrorless camera

A review and photo examples of the Pentax Q10 interchangeable lens mirrorless digital camera

Gallery
Review
Specification
Options
Reference links
Update history
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Gallery

The lens used in the photo examples is the Ms-optics SONNETAR 25mm F1.1.

Review

Features and differences from the successor camera Q7
Usage
Link to PENTAX Q7

1．Features and differences from the successor camera Q7

The Pentax Q7 is the second generation of the Pentax Q series of interchangeable lens mirrorless cameras.

The size of the image sensor, the heart of a digital camera, was 1/2.3 inches (6.2mm x 4.7mm = 29mm2) in the first Q and its predecessor, the Q10, but was changed to 1/1.7 inches (7.5mm x 5.6mm = 42mm2) in its successors, the Q7 and Q-S1.

The Q10 has a sensor area 0.7 times (0.690 times to be exact) smaller than the Q7, and the coefficient for converting the focal length to a 35mm format is about 5.5 times. Compared to the Q7 and Q-S1, the cropping effect is greater than in 35mm format images, resulting in a more enlarged image of the subject. This will be an advantage for macro photography of flowers, insects, animals, and other photography that emphasizes the telephoto side.

The only unique feature of the Q10 is that the body color is available in an Evangelion image color. It was sold in three colors: Shinji’s purple, Rei’s white, and Asuka’s red. The start-up screen was different from the original, and it seems that new ones remained on the market for quite some time after its release. In the end, even though they used the Leica-like method of making limited editions, this camera did not seem to be popular with the general public.

The specific focal lengths in 35mm format are listed in the dedicated lens at the link, but for example, in the case of the standard lens 01 Standard prime with a focal length of 8.5mm, the focal length in 35mm format is equivalent to 47mm for the Q and Q10, and 38.7mm for the Q7 and Q-S1.

The recording media is compatible with SDXC cards, which have the largest capacity of the SD cards, so another advantage of this camera is that there is no problem with the availability of recording media on the market.

The model number of the included battery is D-LI68 *1, and later, for unknown reasons, the model number was changed to D-LI122 *1. Fujifilm’s NP-50 and NP-50A *1 and Kodak’s KLIC-7004 *1 also have the same shape.

A common feature of the Pentax Q series is that the camera body does not have a mechanical shutter; the 01, 02, 06, and 08 are equipped with a leaf shutter. Other toy lenses use the camera’s sensor shutter for shooting. The “K Mount Lens Adapter Q *1”, which allows Pentax K mount lenses to be used with this camera, is equipped with a shutter mechanism in the mount adapter, making it a truly luxurious adapter.

2．Usage

The Q10 I own is a custom color *1 of mint + black, but I regret missing out on the mint color of the 01 STANDARD PRIME *1. I did get the sky color of the 01 STANDARD PRIME, although the color is slightly different.

When you buy a used Q series, you may be wondering how different the Q10 is from the Q7, but I don’t feel a clear difference between the Q10 and the Q7 in terms of operation or image quality.
As mentioned above, the Q10 has a 35mm equivalent magnification of about 5.5x, which is larger than the Q7’s 4.6x, so it is suitable for use where the telephoto side is important.
The only clear inconvenience of the Q and Q10 compared to their successors, the Q7 and Q-S1, is that they cannot display an electronic level. If you have the skill to display a grid on the LCD screen and shoot at the correct level or at any angle, the lack of an electronic level will not be that inconvenient.

For information other than the above, please refer to the details in the link below.

Q10 Order Color Tower (at the Japanese camera show CP+ 2013)

3．Link to PENTAX Q7

Specification and Competitor

Items	Q	Q10	Q7	Q-S1
Number of pixels	12.4 megapixels	←	←	←
Sensor type	CMOS	←	←	←
Sensor size	1/2.3	←	1/1.7	←
Image Stabilization	Image sensor shift method	←	←	←
Back LCD size	3	←	←	←
Back LCD	460,000 dots	←	←	←
Electronic Leveler	None	←	Exist	←
Battery	D-LI68	←	←	←
Record media	SD、SDHC、SDXC	←	←	←
Size(mm) W x H x D	98 × 57.5 × 31	102.0 × 58.0 × 33.5	←	105.0 × 58.0 × 34.0
Weight (g) 1: Main unit only 2: Battery + media	180 1 200 2	←	←	183 1 203 2
Release date	2011.8.31	2012.10.12	2013.7.5	2014.8.28
Body color	Black White Silver(limited)	Order Color Evangelion Color x3	120 Order Color	40 color variations

Options

Waterproof remote control O-RC1
Auto flash AF201FG
Auto flash AF200FG
Rechargeable lithium-ion battery D-LI68
Battery charger kit K-BC115J
Camera bag O-CB133
Camera case (with strap) O-CC131
Soft case O-CC1333
Camera case (with front) O-CC133
K-mount lens adapter Q

Pentax Q Lenes

Number	Lens name	Focal length	Q10	Q7	PPrice(Yen/No-tax)
01	STANDARD PRIME	8.5	47	39	17,000-
02	STANDARD ZOOM	5〜15	27.5〜82.5	23〜69	25,000-
03	FISH EYE	3.2	17.6	16.5	10,000-
04	TOY-WIDE ZOOM	6.3	35	33	6,000-
05	TOY-TELE PHOTO ZOOM	18	99	94	6,000-
06	TELE PHOTO ZOOM	15〜45	82.5〜247.5	69〜207	14,000-
07	SHEILD	11.5	63	53	3,000-
08	WIDE ZOOM	3.8〜5.9	21〜32	17.5〜27	40,000-
Ms-optics	Sonnetar 25mm F1.1	25	137.5	115	48,000-