Optio

When you position your camera vertically, getting the perfect shot can mean a stretch of the fingers to the shutter button when not holding the camera horizontally. PENTAX has the solution with its new Optio VS20 digital compact camera. The 16-megapixel camera packs an accelerometer, which will flip your image to the correct orientation and a second shutter release and zoom lever on the topmost side of the body for easier snapping. The company also thoughtfully included a second tripod mount, so there's no fussing with your stand required.

Other features include a 3-inch LCD, automatic picture modes including fish-eye. It'll capture 1280 x 720 movies with its independent video button (also recording in fish-eye) and variable aspect ratio.

Unlike most point and shoot, the two shutter release buttons - one on the top for landscape shots and one on the side for those portrait snaps - is a pretty useful invention. That said, don't mistake the VS20 as a one trick pony. It boasts a massive 20x optical zoom, which is very unorthodox for a camera of this size.Read more

PENTAX added a new compact superzoom digital camera to its arsenal this week – the Optio VS20 featuring a 20X optical zoom lens (28-560mm equivalent). This camera also has a unique design – it features a shutter release button on both the top and side of the camera which gives it added stability at long optical zooms, as well as a more comfortable grip when shooting portraits, high-rise buildings, sports action, and panorama frames. There's even a vertical tripod socket for stabilized vertical support.

Additional features:

• A 16.0 megapixel CCD sensor with mechanical sensor shift Shake Reduction for stabilized, blur-free images even in low lighting
• A large 3.0 inch, wide view (approx. 170 degrees) LCD for easy image capture and review
• Auto Picture mode that automatically chooses the best camera settings
• Triple Shake Reduction (SR) for sharp, blur-free images and video
• A new Handheld Night Snap mode captures images with minimal blur and noise in low light settings
• Other new scene modes including Fish-eye, Sketch modes and a Stretch filter for more creative options

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PENTAX unveiled a striking new Optio digital camera late Monday. Available next month, the compact Optio RZ18 features a powerful 18X optical zoom lens (25mm-450mm equivalent), 16 megapixel sensor, 3-inch HVGA LCD display, and several Shake Reduction image stabilization options, including sensor-shift SR. In addition to taking gorgeous still shots, it records widescreen HD video in 720p at 30 frames per second and offers a Movie Shake Reduction (SR) mode, which automatically compensates camera shake when shooting movies.

You'll also find automatic shooting modes such as Auto Picture and scene modes, creative special effects filters, 9-point autofocus with a 4cm super macro mode, Face detection, and even a pet recognition feature that not only detects the faces of dogs and cats, it also gives priority to three pre-registered pet faces, so your pets can be focused on when there's a group of pets in the picture. Read more

Make your digital camera your own with the new PENTAX Optio RS1500. This customizable digital camera features a new removable (and screwless) faceplate system with an interchangable lens ring snap which holds the custom skins, allowing you to easily change the camera's appearance without any tools.

You can personalize your Optio RS1500 with one of the 10 skins that ship with the camera, or, you can download the PENTAX PERSONAL SKIN DESIGNER software from www.pentaximaging.com, import your own photo and design a cover which you can then save as a PDF for printing. A PENTAX SKINS Gallery can also be viewed at http://rs.pentaximaging.com.

The Optio RS1500 features 14 megapixels, a three-inch LCD monitor, 4X optical zoom lens covering 27.5mm wide angle to 110mm telephoto, and 720p HD movie recording.

About the size of a credit-card, the Optio RS1500 will be available in April 2011 for $149.95.

Amid all the iPad 2 craziness this week, PENTAX added a new point and shoot digital camera to its Optio line, the S1. Great for photographers who want an easy-to-use camera without tons of bells and whistles, the S1 has 14 megapixels, a 2.7-inch LCD display, 5X wide-angle zoom (28-140mm) and records 720p HD video.

The Optio S1 also has PENTAX's Shake Reduction (SR) system, Auto Picture mode, Face Detection, Smile Capture and Blink Detection, and a High Dynamic Range (HDR) mode.

The ultra-compact Optio S1 will be available later this month for $199.95. It has a gem-like finish and comes in Chrome or a glossy Black or Green. You can preorder it now at www.pentaxwebstore.com.

PENTAX just unveiled a new pair of rugged digital cameras – the Optio WG-1 and Optio WG-1 GPS. Waterproof, dustproof, shockproof, coldproof, and crushproof, these extra-rugged models are perfect for the adventurous outdoor photographer.

The new 14-megapixel PENTAX Optio WG-1 is waterproof to 33 feet, coldproof to sub-freezing temps of minus 10 degrees C (14 degrees F) and can withstand falls up to five feet, thanks to its shockproof design. In addition, its new crushproof construction can withstand up to 220 pounds of force!

Additional features include:

• Wide angle 5X optical zoom lens (28-140mm equivalent).
• Video capture in widescreen 720p HD at 30 frames per second.
• Enhanced Digital Microscope mode offers five macro LEDs for excellent macro lighting plus a detachable macro stand for steadier capture.
• Face Detection technology including a new Self-Portrait Assist mode.
• Eye-Fi wireless SD memory card connectivity.

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PENTAX just announced two new compact cameras that, as the company says, "allow owners to be themselves" – the Optio RS1000 and Optio RZ10.

The new Optio RS1000 is a 14 megapixel camera that you can personalize with interchangeable skins. Skins are changed via a removable faceplate. There are four ways personalize it:

1. Dress the camera in a choice of 11 (three plus eight) standard skins that ship with the product.
2. Use the included SKINIT gift card to design and order a free, high quality, pre-cut, 3M vinyl skin from www.skinit.com.
3. Use an included stencil to trace cutout lines onto printed photos, wrapping papers, drawings, and more to use as a skin.
4. Download the PENTAX PERSONAL SKIN DESIGNER Adobe Air-based software from www.pentaximaging.com (availability to coincide with product shipping). Use the digital designer to import a photo or digital image, saving a skin as a PDF for printing on a color printer.

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PENTAX is adding another color option to the popular Optio W90. In addition to green and black, beginning next month the Optio W90 will be available in orange.

The Optio W90 was designed for using outdoors. It is waterproof to 20 feet, shockproof to 4 feet, dustproof, and coldproof to sub-freezing temperatures. It features 12.1 megapixels, a wide angle 5X optical zoom, 2.7 inch LCD, Eye-Fi connectivity and captures widescreen 720p HD video at 30 frames per second. The Optio W90 also has a Digital Microscope mode with LED lighting for shooting macro subjects.

The orange PENTAX Optio W90 includes a carabiner strap to attach to gear. It will ship by July 2010 for $329.95. The orange color will be available exclusively on www.tigerdirect.com.

Mother's Day is coming up on May 9th. Do you have a gift for your mom yet? PENTAX has an assortment of digital cameras to choose from, and they're even throwing in free shipping on select cameras.

The PENTAX Optio I-10 sports the classic look of a film SLR and features a leatherette textured body and the traditional PENTAX logo placed front and center. With a variety of advanced features moms will love, the I-10 offers a wide angle 5X optical zoom, 12.1 megapixels, and a pearl white (or classic black) body. The Optio I-10 is available for $299.95.Read more

This week PENTAX announced the eleventh generation Optio waterproof digital camera. Not just waterproof to 20 feet, the new Optio W90 is also shockproof to 4 feet, dustproof and coldproof to sub-freezing temperatures.

The rugged Optio W90 features 12.1 megapixels, a 5X optical zoom (28-140mm equivalent), 2.7 inch LCD with 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio, records 720p HD video at 30 frames per second, and has a Digital Microscope mode with LED lens lighting for photographing small subjects as near as 1cm from the camera. Eye-Fi wireless SD memory card connectivity and an HDMI port are also included.

The PENTAX Optio W90 will be available in black and pistachio green this April for $329.95. A waterproof infared remote control (sold separately) will also be available at the same time for $29.95.