Pentax MX-1

The Pentax MX-1 ($499.95 direct) is the company's first attempt at a compact digital camera with a larger-than-average image sensor. The 12-megapixel shooter packs a 1/1.7-inch BSI-CMOS sensor, but its exterior is what turned heads when it was announced at CES. Available in silver or black, it simply exudes style. The top and bottom plates are painted brass, and the paint will wear over time to develop a patina that classic camera lovers will appreciate. When it comes to performance, The MX-1 doesn't come close to ousting our current high-end compact Editors' Choice, the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 from its perch, but its rating would likely improve if a firmware update is able to alleviate some of its quirks.

Design and Features
The MX-1's design is reminiscent of its namesake, the Pentax MX, a 35mm SLR that was the company's flagship camera in the late 1970s. The MX-1 is much smaller than an SLR, it measures about 2.4 by 4.8 by 2 inches and weighs 13.8 ounces. It's not too far off in size from the 12.2-ounce Olympus XZ-2, which measures 2.6 by 4.4 by 1.9 inches. Both cameras feature a 4x (28-112mm f/1.8-2.5 equivalent) lens, but the Olympus features a hot shoe that can accommodate an external flash or electronic viewfinder.

Control layout is one of the MX-1's strong points. You'll find a Mode Dial, EV Compensation Dial, and Movie Record button on the brass top plate, along with the shutter release, zoom control, and Power button. The rear of the camera features a control dial so you can quickly adjust aperture, shutter speed, or other settings. Rear buttons include Exposure Lock, Drive Mode, Focus Mode, Flash control, and ISO control. There's also the Pentax Green Button, which can be used to undo any changes you've made when shooting in Program mode. The Green shooting mode is equivalent to the "smart automatic" modes found on competing cameras.

The sharp, 921k-dot, 3-inch rear display boasts a 3:2 aspect ratio, slightly wider than the 4:3 ratio of the MX-1's image sensor. And the display is hinged so that it can tilt up or down. Nikon's take on this type of camera, the Coolpix P7700 also sports a 921k-dot display, but one with a vari-angle design that lets you swing it out to the side of the camera. One feature that works in the MX-1's favor is the digital level that appears along the top and right side of the display, which checks both horizontal orientation and the camera's yaw forward and back. This makes it possible to get shots where you are plumb with your subject, which be difficult when using an LCD for composition. The level can be turned on or off via the camera's menu system. If it's on, it's always on?even when you minimize the information displayed on the LCD by hitting the rear OK button. There's no optical viewfinder?the only cameras in this class that offer them are the Canon PowerShot G15 and the Fujifilm X20.

While neither is common enough to be an expected feature in this level of camera, Pentax chose not to include GPS or Wi-Fi in the MX-1. If you're looking for a Wi-Fi-enabled camera with a bigger sensor and a fast lens, take a look at the Samsung EX2F, it has one of the better wireless implementations we've tested. The Canon PowerShot S110 also has Wi-Fi, and can add GPS information to your photos when paired with a smartphone. ?The previous-generation PowerShot S100, which can still be found at retail, has a dedicated GPS module, but no Wi-Fi support.

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