Golden, Colo. –
unveiled Thursday two Optio compact cameras, an entry-level d-SLR, and a new 35mm
f/2.4 lens that can be used with it.
The Optio RS1000 ($150 suggested retail) and the RZ10 ($220) will
both ship in October and bring a range of automatic features to simplify the
picture taking process.
Meanwhile, the new model K-r ($800 body only) is Pentax’s new
answer to the midrange d-SLR segment, offering advanced processing and rapid
shutter speeds.
For the point-and-shoots, the Optio RS1000 is billed as an
easy-to-use camera that can be dressed to match the user’s personality and
style. The camera offers a range of customizable cosmetics using a removable
faceplate that holds interchangeable skins that users can design themselves.
Owners may skin this
newest RS1000 with a camera faced-sized swatch to match a wardrobe or to carry
a favorite logo or image.
Personalization options include dressing the camera in a choice
of 11 standard skins that ship with the product; use the included Skinit gift
card to design and order a free, high quality, pre-cut, 3M vinyl skins from
; or use an included stencil to
trace cutout lines onto printed photos, wrapping papers, drawings, etc.
Users can download the Pentax Personal Skin Designer Adobe
Air-based software from
(availability to coincide with
product shipping).
They can also use the digital designer to import a photo or
digital image, saving a skin as a PDF for printing on a color printer.
Features of the Optio RS1000 include 14-megapixel resolution, a 3-inch
LCD monitor, a 4x optical zoom lens (27.5mm wide) and a compact credit-card-sized
body.
Pentax’ Optio RZ10 is another compact point-and-shoot digicam
with a 10x optical zoom lens with macro focus settings, dual shake reduction (mechanical
sensor-shift and digital) for effective blur reduction. and an upgraded Auto
Picture mode for “hands-off” selection of appropriate settings.
The camera will be available in a choice of black, Pure White, lime
and violet.
Improving on its increasingly popular d-SLR line, Pentax also
unveiled a new midrange consumer d-SLR option in the K-r.
Features include a 12.4-megapixel low-noise CMOS sensor with a
host of processing modes — including Auto Picture, Scene, and Custom Image — and
manual and priority control.
Like the previous K-x, the K-r will be available in several color
choices: Traditional Black, Classic White and Pentax’s Flamboyant Red.
The camera displays images on a rear-mounted 3-inch 921,000-dot
LCD. For fast shooting, the camera has an improved high-speed 6 fps frame rate
that captures 25 images in a single sequence, and a maximum 1/6,000 second
shutter speed.
Other features include a viewfinder focus point indicator, improved
in-camera HDR image capture with Night Scene HDR mode, and a 100 to 25,600 ISO
range with improved noise performance.
A dual-power-source design supports a choice of using either a
rechargeable lithium-ion battery or four AA-size battery power (using optional
AA Battery Holder D-BH109).
The company’s IrSimple high-speed infrared data transmission
system allows transfer of wireless data to the web or other IrSimple-compatible
devices.
Video is captured in the 720p HD format at 25fps. The shake-reduction
mechanism helps avoid blurry handheld images, and a dust-removal mechanism
shakes dust off the CMOS image sensor to keep images clear.
The K-r features an 11-point SAFOX IX autofocus system with
dedicated AF assist lamp. Also included is a range of in-camera image
processing and special effects filters.
The K-r will ship in October in several kit options: the body
only ($800 suggested retail), body and 18-44mm lens ($850), the body and an
18-55mm and 50-200mm lens ($900), and the body and an 18-55mm and 55-300mm lens
($1,000).
Pentax also announced the SMC Pentax DA 35mm F2.4 AL (shipping in
October at $220) primary lens designed exclusively for use with Pentax d-SLRs.
The lens captures high-resolution images and can work with relatively low
levels of available lighting.
