science

Pentax Q series

Pentax Q series is a science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Pentax Q series rather than just read about it. In short: The Pentax Q series is a series of mirrorless interchangeable-lens cameras made by Pentax and introduced in 2011 with the initial model Pentax Q. As of September 2012, it was the world's smallest, lightest interchangeable lens digital camera.

Key takeaways

Pentax Q series belongs to science; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Pentax Q series to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Pentax Q series from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

The Pentax Q series is a series of mirrorless interchangeable-lens cameras made by Pentax and introduced in 2011 with the initial model Pentax Q. As of September 2012, it was the world's smallest, lightest interchangeable lens digital camera. The first models used a 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) back-illuminated sensor CMOS image sensor. The Q7, introduced in June 2013, uses a larger 1/1.7" type sensor (7.44 x 5.58 mm). The Q system is now discontinued.

Characteristics The Pentax Q and Q10 sensors have a crop factor of 5.53× while the Pentax Q7 and Q-s1 have a crop factor of 4.65×. The original Pentax Q sensor has a 12.4 megapixels with 1.52 μm pixel pitch. All Pentax Q system cameras have a short flange focal distance (FFD) of 9.2mm. With a 5.53× crop factor, an adapted 100mm lens has the equivalent field of view (FOV) of a 553mm telephoto in the 35mm full-frame format. An additional implication of these relatively large crop factors is that depth of field (DOF) is proportionally increased relative to full-frame systems at the same equivalent focal length and aperture; this puts the Pentax Q system cameras at a distinct advantage when capturing as much as possible with acceptable focus is important. Pentax Q system cameras do not have a mechanical shutter or neutral density filter in the camera body. Because of this, some lenses and adapters have a built-in mechanical leaf shutter and/or a built-in ND filter. The short flange focal distance of the Pentax Q series enables lenses from many manufacturers to be adapted to it, including Olympus OM, Canon FD, Minolta, M42 screw mount, M39 Leica, C-Mount, D-Mount, Pentax K, and Pentax 6×7. A Pentax adapter with a synchronized shutter for Pentax K-mount lenses was released in October 2012. The camera is equipped with "SR" sensor-shift image stabilization technology to improve image quality when using the camera without a tripod. It works with all native and adapted lenses. The Pentax Q also features a "blur control" mode to provide a pseudo shallow focus effect when desired.

Models

Pentax Q

The initial model was announced in June, 2011.

Pentax Q10

Announced in September, 2012, the Q10 has a slightly redesigned body and an improved sensor. Most features and specifications were unchanged.

Pentax Q7

The Q7 was announced in June 2013 and has a larger 1/1.7" sensor. It is available in a wide variety of colors.

Pentax Q-S1

The Q-S1 was announced August 4, 2014. It has a 1/1.7" sensor. In addition to the Q-7 features, it has auto focusing in the video mode (with the 01, 02 and 08 lenses.)

Lenses Eight lenses have been released in the Pentax Q system. (AF = Auto Focus, MF = Manual Focus):

Notes: *Any lenses adapted to the adapter will function in MF only. Whether it is single or varifocal depends on the optical characteristic of the lens. **Although the adapter itself cannot have a focal length or filter diameter, the focal length/filter diameter for adapter/lens combination will depend on the lens attached. ***The maximum aperture depends on the lens aperture for most lenses. However, for larger-aperture lenses, since the adapter controls the aperture, the effective f-stop may increase or falloff may become more apparent. ****The minimum aperture depends on the adapter.

See also Pentax Auto 110 List of Pentax products List of smallest mirrorless cameras

References

External links Official website Pentax Q review at Pentax Forums

Illustrations

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Pentax Q series

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Pentax Q series claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Pentax Q series before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Pentax Q series ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Pentax Q series

In research: Pentax Q series appears in science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Pentax Q series in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Pentax Q series is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Pentax Q-mount cameras, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Pentax Q series outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Pentax Q series in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Pentax Q series means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Pentax Q series out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Pentax Q series in simple terms?

Why does Pentax Q series matter?

Because it connects several science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Pentax Q series?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Pentax Q series.