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The show on Sept 3 was cancelled, but the Sunday show was resumed. So, here is the latest hot live show report, at the DC Watch, which has just been posted for less than an hour ago!
Viewing those posted photos, click to enlarge, then you will know what the show is about! Below are some of the selected thumbnails. Do go read the full report to learn more and to view photos in large size.
Full image crops from ISO 100 to 6400 is compared. ISO 12800 and 16000 crops of the A65 images are also posted. Do note that to view the large test crops in 1920 pixels in width, you have to drag the small/thumbnail image to a new Tab and the large image will be downloaded and displayed, that's where you can (start to) measurbate! ;-)
It can be further noted that the DT11-18/4.5-5.6 lens was used on the A65 for the test, whilst the ZA24-70/2.8 was used on the FF A900. So, I believe the advantage was given to the A900 as long as the optics used are concerned.
I am really surprised that how much advancement is made for a 3 years' time. Honestly speaking, the A65 wins in colour reproduction (which is more solid and saturated), contrast level, noise control and image details. The FF A900 has just been beaten down in every aspect for the IQ! At the end of the day, if the NEX-7 is compared, I think the difference in IQ should be even larger as there is just no translucent mirror there in the image formation path!
But however, the big question is: If the same new and latest technologies are used on Full Frame and someone is to make a new camera using all these, what will happen and what are the new results? :-o :-D (But WHO will do it NEXT?!)
Despite the above final photo was converted using the Aperture from RAW file, it looks somehow soft at pixel level when it is viewed at 100%. Nonetheless, it is not as "toy(ish)" as one would have thought.
I expect more Q end-users' samples will be uploaded over there in the next week. So, just keep a close eye on it if you're really interested. Furthermore, the 02 standard zoom lens has not yet been there yet, as it was said to be on sales only by Sept 15.
There is where endless measurbation begins, despite that the samples are real-world pictures! Anyway, if you really like, just do it at your own cost and risk! ;-D
Do note that the downsized thumbnails may have been compressed too much such that the DR could be even worse than the originals, which should still contain more highlight and shadow details.
My quick observations: The low ISO pictures are not too bad in IQ but RAW ones could be better, particularly for more vivid colours and being more contrasty as seen from the thumbnails (only). The DR could still be somehow limited, though. But for a DC with a sensor in/of that size, it should be considered that things have been managed very well indeed.
N.B. The DNG files of the Q are not open-able by the Pentax Digital Camera Utility version 4.1 as installed at one of my PCs. So, there exists some kind of incompatibility problem even the RAW file format is in DNG. I am sure the bundled new DCU software with the Q can open it but this incompatible issue is there, and may cause problems with other 3rd party software! :-(
I think for similar scenes and shooting topics, my last year sample gallery of my 550D full review can be compared to:-
Look particularly about the DR, colours, noise and details retained. Of course, the 550D is usually better.
In addition, the exposure accuracy seems to be not good enough and some of the pictures are overexposed with part of the images washed out seriously. This might be related to the limited DR of the pictures nevertheless as the "correct" exposure can never be decided by the exposure system with such low DR of the sensor itself.
Besides, a sample video clip (H.264 in MOV Container) is posted. Judge by yourself about the video quality, e.g., resolution, motion smoothness, sound quality, colour rendition, DR (in particular) and etc. As a friendly reminder, if you're to download the clip, do save it down first as not every media player can decode this new movie codec of the Q. So, it is always safer to save it first and then re-open to play.
N.B. I have successfully played back the clip with the Media Player Classic Home Cinema Edition (aka MPC-HC) but not so with the GOM Player. The CPU consumption of this clip is really high (far more than the "same" 720p MP4 clips that made by my NEX-3, e.g.) and so please be prepared to use more updated and powerful machines for the playback. Otherwise, smooth playback is just impossible!
ISO resolution tests, Dynamic Range (DR) tests, for both JPEG and RAW, with results against the G12, GF3 and NEX-C3, colour responses with different image modes, and with a lot of full test images and a few samples.. Go explore and check for the results yourself, you will be surprised!
They did not test the video part, though. Otherwise, I think the test could be more complete and should be better.
It was planned the Pentax Q show would be held on 3rd to 4th of September with the first-time demonstration of the new K->Q lens adaptor. But owing to the approaching typhoon near Osaka, the show has to be cancelled, at least for the first day, see what DC Watch reports:-
Those samples indeed look quite nice! I meant for the IQ.
Btw, the price of the NEX-5N is comparable to the Pentax Q's, right? But is the IQ comparable? I'm afraid not! And then how much the Q is smaller? Not by that much! :-o >:-(
N.B. and Update (9-5): Some people have pointed out that the price reduction and rebate is tricky. Whilst Pentax Imaging wants to clear their K-5 stock with this marketing campaign, the consumers actually do not benefit as much as it is claimed. See the following posts in thread:-
"Of course, we have other new products to introduce to you, but we can't tell you more for the moment."
Nonetheless, my own best understanding to the statement is that "new innovations" and "new camera features" will be presented, but these are not necessary to be "new products" anyway.
Finally, as seen from the teaser image of the new camera, it looks like the K-5, and at the right shoulder of the body there is a longer flat area for a top LCD status panel. But, the problem is just that if the dark shadow is the new camera, or just an image of the K-5? Who knows?
Update (9-3): Pentax France has modified the e-invitation pdf file and now the black shadow of the "new camera" has been deleted. So, it seems that this thing is somehow real then! Btw, if you still want to download the original copy of the pdf file, download it here. (My special thanks to my Blog readers "bandymelis" and "eighter" for providing this alert and the pdf file, respectively! :-))
Although the total time length of the Pentax video is very close to that of the Fuji's (both in 3 minutes something, the difference is only in 2 seconds), the Pentax video is rather boring along and indeed very unattractive from the beginning. In fact, the background music plus the narration or simply the presentation as a whole all make it looks like the descriptive audio-visual exhibits inside a museum, rather than an *Ad*! :-o With such weak "promotion", I just wonder how many people will be attracted to buy the product after watching?
So, after all, this shows the weak and low marketing ability of Pentax, in addition to the various weaknesses of their products, already. In marketing sense, they should think to do more, and more importantly, they should think about HOW to do it better and what should be done!
Some people would say that Ricoh will soon take over Pentax and things would change. But what I want to tell is that last time I watched a Ricoh Ad on the TV, it was NOT better than those of the Pentax', or even worse! >:-[
Besides, it can be seen that Fuji has been very proactive this year in promoting their new products via different Internet channels. For example, they have their Fujiguys to do this dedicated job, say, to upload exclusive new camera hands-on and official promotional videos, etc. to the YouTube. In contrast, who are doing this job for Pentax in the Pentaxland? Who? Me?! ;-p
At the end of the day, the poor publicity and works (if any) done by Pentax is one of the main reasons why their sales and results have been so poor. A very recent example is that their that recent five-year Pentax Q development speech is just plain stupid and rather silly afterall and will certainly help them nothing for their sales! All in all, I think the decision makers of Pentax really need to sit down and think more, for what they should and could do in order to improve and then get better results!
The toy lenses are put side-by-side to a DA18-55WR lens:-
In addition, the new Q owner has posted five full size original samples. I am not convinced much with the colour rendition anyway, which looks somehow odd and unnatural. Three of which anyway:-
(ABOVE: First Picture: 8.5mm, f/4.5, ISO 125; Second Picture: 8.5mm, f/2.8, ISO 1600; Last: 8.5mm, f/3.2, ISO 125 - Click to Download/Enlarge)
Btw and after all, the prices of the Pentax Q and ktis/lenses are more expensive than all the other entry level ILDCs on the market. So, does it mean that the Q is not entry level and could provide more superior image quality and results? :-o ;-)
