Spring 2012 I bought a Pentax Q camera with the standard zoom on it. I liked the small size, the interchangable lenses and the fact that it shoots video as well. A nice addition the Rollei 6008 (my landscape camera), the Pentax K10D (my event camera), to use for family pics and for longer hikes, especially when backpacking.
Last Summer I used the camera on holidays to Scotland, for pictures during the day trips and around the tent. The Rollei is not really useful in situations of little time and with attention seeking members of the family around…
Now our youngest is aged seven, we make longer hikes and the urge for a smaller camera was even stronger. In the past I did use the K10D for it, but this year I have given the Q a go.
First resting point after Glasgow, at the banks of bonny Loch Lomond. The children need to unfold after a few hours in the car…
Glencoe Red Squirrel campsite – very nice!
For years we wanted to cross ‘the Saddle’ next to Buchaille Etive Mor. This year Teun was old enough for the walk. Nothing difficult, but a very nice walk through the glen and a superb view over Glen Etive.
From the Corran Ferry
A typical bad weather shot… We had a few days of rain.
Fidden Campsite
On the Iona Ferry
The Crofter’s Kitchen, local produce in lovely surroundings
The Isle of Mull has magnificent cliffs, with all kinds of geological treats. We walked along Carsaig cliffs for a few miles. On the way back we followed more or less the low tide line, looking for nice tidal pools and all kinds of creatures.
Dripping water in the Nuns’ Cave.
Dervaig church
On a splendid day we hiked a few miles at Treshnish Points, along a evicted village and over some raised beaches. Splendid views over the Treshnish isles and all the way to Staffa and Iona.
Near Sanna Bay
Alston campsite – for the Archeologist of the Industrial Age. The nice market town of Alston in the Pennines (North England) has a very special campsite, with the facilities in an old derelict factory and the main entrance can be reached by crossing a field of dumped cars. In a surreal way, it added to the slow-down, friendly manners of the site wardens.
An evening walk along the river
Back home, ready for unpacking
The Q offers very nice quality for prints up to 20x30cms / 8x12”, even larger when stitched. It certainly offers enough to tell photo stories of the holidays.
The handling is in my experiences good – certainly more photographer minded than most other small cameras. I am looking forward to add the telezoom. The tiny camera is certainly more than just cute!
Would I use the Q again for the Summer holidays next year? Probably yes, at least for the family pics. I recently bought a Pentax K5 and I am tempted to try this camera with a few primes for the longer hikes.
Backpacking with a tent, cooking gear etc would be different. A Q strapped to the rucksack really is small, lightweight and excellent quality for a video diary!
This article is written by Wim van Velzen, © 2012.
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