Pentax raises curtain on new cameras

By John Mello on January 24, 2008 10:56 AM

Two new digital SLRs and three new compact cameras were announced yesterday by the Pentax Imaging Company, of Golden, Colo. The new DSLRs are the 10.2 megapixel K200D ($799.95, with 18-55mm zoom) and the 14.6 megapixel K20D ($1299.95, body only). The K20D has a CMOS sensor that measures 23.4mm x 15.6mm, which compares favorably to the size--36mm by 24mm--of a frame for a 35mm film camera. Both cameras have large, high resolution displays--2.7 inches and 230,000 dots (about 690,000 pixels)--with good viewing angles of 160 degrees. What's more, both cameras have a "live view" feature that enables a photographer to review an image on the unit's LCD before snapping the shot. In addition, Pentax has incorporated new shake reduction technology into the bytesnappers that works with any of the 24 million lenses ever made for a Pentax camera. The K200D is expected to start shipping in March and the K20D in April.

Along with the new DSLRs, Pentax released three new additions to its Optio line of cameras, as well as a new release date for another DSC in that line announced last year.

The new Optio cameras are the

M50 ($229.95), an eight megapixel camera with 5x optical zoom (36-180mm equivalent) and 2.5-inch LCD with viewing angle of 170 degrees and resolution of 230,000 dots (about 690,000 pixels). The unit also has AF and AE face recognition technology, digital shake reduction with ISO support to 6400 and movie and panorama support. The M50 is expected to ship in March.

S12 ($279.95), a 12 megapixel digital shooter with 3x optical zoom (37.5-112.5mm equivalent). Like the M50, the S12 has a 2.5-inch LCD with a 170 degree viewing angle, but with slightly better resolution, 232,000 dots. It, too, has face recognition and digital shake reduction, but only to ISO 3200. It can also shoot 640 x 480 video in DivX MPEG-4 format at 30 fps. The S12 is expected to ship in April.

E50 ($149.95), a budget-oriented 8.1 megapixel bytecam with 3x optical zoom (37.5-112.5mm equivalent) and 2.4-inch LCD with a resolution of 110,000 dots. It supports AF and AE face recognition, digital shake reduction up to ISO 1600, panorama shooting and, according to the company, can take up to 250 pictures on a pair of alkaline batteries. The E50 is expected to ship in March.

In addition to the new Optio cameras, Pentax reported that the Optio A40 ($299.95), which was announced last year, would be shipping next month. The 12-megapixel camera has a 3x optical zoom and 2.5-inch display. It supports three kinds of shake reduction--mechanical, digital and movie. It also incorporates face recognition technology and Pentax's new Dynamic Range Adjustment for improving photos that include extreme contrasts in lighting.