Pentax K-01 Digital Camera Review

Speed and Timing

Pressing right on the rear directional pad opens up the drive mode menu. Here you'll find options for continuous shooting, self-timer, remote controls, and exposure bracketing. Pentax lists continuous shooting performance at a maximum of 6 frames per second (3 fps for the "Lo" setting).

In reality, we clocked continuous shooting at just over 5.2 frames per second, and this rate slows considerably when the buffer fills up after 7 shots or so. This speed is also limited by a few menu settings. Activating extras like digital filters or chromatic aberration correction cause shooting speed to plummet. RAW shooting is limited to 1 frame per second.

Self-timer options are quite basic, only ten-second and two-second countdowns are available. Interval shooting for time-lapse photography is possible, however this functionality is buried in the video tab of the main menu, and is only accessible while using the video shooting mode. Intervals cannot be customized precisely but you're given the option to select between one, five, ten, or thirty seconds; one, five, ten, or thirty minutes, or one hour.

Focus Speed

We haven't yet implemented our focus speed test, but, on an observational level, the K-01 has few problems locking focus on subjects within its listed focus distance. The same goes for low light in most cases.

Plenty of autofocus methods are available, like face detection, tracking, custom zone, and center; but the real fun is manual focus. The 40mm kit lens features an all-mechanical focus ring. This isn't electronic focus by wire, the glass is instantly responsive and very fun to use. Swapping between manual and automatic focus is simply a matter of toggling a small switch with the left hand.