Due out in September, the Q-S1 has a 12.4-million-pixel, 1/1.7in, imaging sensor and a top ISO sensitivity of 12,800.
Other features include a 3in (460,000-dot) LCD screen and 21 scene modes, such as pet and backlight silhouette.
The Q-S1 is due to cost £299.99, body only; £379.99 with a 5-15mm lens; and £549.99 with a 5-15mm and 15-45mm zoom.
Pentax claims that the 183g camera can shoot at up to five frames per second.
The Q-S1 measures 105x58x34mm and will be available in 40 colour combinations of body and grip.
Also on the horizon is the HD Pentax-DA645 28-45mm f/4.5ED AW SR ‘ultra-wideangle’ lens.
The 17-elements-in-12-groups lens is expected to cost £3,399.99.
It is also due out in early September.