Pentax Innovates with Interchangeable Lens Compact Camera

Pentax is reportedly poised to launch an interchangeable lens camera with a sensor size that is typical of low end compact cameras.

The Pentax system, called Pentax NC-1, will feature a 14 MP, 1/2.33" (6.13 x 4.60 mm) sensor with a 5.6x crop, according to Mirrorlessrumors.com.

High end compact cameras typically feature 1/1.7" (7.6 x 5.7 mm) sensor, while Interchangeable Lens Cameras come with a APS-C (23.4 x 15.6 mm) sized sensor.

The NC-1 will debut in May or June with two lenses: 8.5mm f/1.9 (Equivalent to a 47 mm on a 35mm lens) and 5-15mm f/2.8-4.5 (Equivalent to a 28-80mm on a 35mm lens) zoom.

It will be capable of capturing HD h.264 video.

Later in summer, Pentax will launch another mirrorless interchangeable lens camera with a APS-C sized sensor typical of entry level DSLRs.

It maybe recalled that in September 2010, Fujifilm announced its FinePix X100 compact, a fixed lens camera with a APS-C (23.4 x 15.6 mm) sized sensor.

The introduction of FinePix X100 and now the Pentax NC-1 is making it increasingly difficult to differentiate between compact and entry level interchaneable lens professional cameras.

Pentax has not officially commented on the NC-1 reports, but in the past Pentax officials have said that its mirrorless offering will be distinct from those from Olympus, Panasonic, Samsung and Sony.