In pictures: Pentax Q10

The Pentax Q10, revealed shortly before the start of Photokina 2012, is the world's smallest, lightest compact system camera (CSC).

Following on from the Pentax Q, it has a new 1/2.3-inch back-illuminated sensor with 12.4 million pixels. This small sensor results in a 5.5x focal length magnification, so using the 8.5mm lens produces an image equivalent to a 47mm lens on a 35mm camera. When the Adapter Q is used to attach a K-mount, a modest telephoto lens becomes an extreme telephoto.

Pentax has upgraded the autofocus algorithm from the Pentax Q on the Pentax Q10, which is designed to improve its speed and accuracy. Plus, sensitivity can be set up to ISO 6400.

In addition to program, aperture priority, shutter priority and manual exposure modes, the Pentax Q10 has 21 scene modes and an Auto Picture mode that sets the scene mode automatically.

Four of your favourite Smart Effect modes, such as cross process and Brilliant Colour, can be assigned for quick access via the dial on the front of the camera.

The flash can be popped up to reduce the risk of red-eye, but if you forget it will still fire in its resting position.

Pressing the Pentax Q10's Info button brings up a quick control screen to enable all the key settings to be adjusted.

The BC option on the mode dial stands for Blur Control, and using it sets the camera to apply extra blur to out of focus areas to recreate the restricted depth of field effect that is associated with larger sensor cameras and wide apertures.