Pentax Optio A40 and V10 Digital Cameras Announced

Pentax Introduces Optio A40 With 12-megapixels and Super-Slim Option V10 with 3-inch Monitor

PENTAX Imaging Company has announced the PENTAX Optio A40, the latest model in the Optio A series of advanced compact digital cameras with superior image quality and performance. Featuring 12 megapixels, this latest Optio features three types of Shake Reduction including mechanical, digital and movie. Each version helps deliver sharp, blur-free shots where camera shake is an issue such as action photography or in low light conditions at dawn, dusk or at night. The Optio A model also features the newest Face Recognition technology including a Natural Skin Tone mode and a Half-length Portrait mode, which automatically takes a head and shoulder photograph of subjects.

PENTAX also announced the Optio V10, an ultra-slim compact digital camera equipped with a large 3.0 inch LCD monitor for enhanced usability and easy viewing. The Optio V10 features 8 megapixels, a 3X optical zoom and easy operations in a slim, stylish, affordable body.

The Optio A40 will ship in October 2007 for US $299.95 and the Optio V10 will ship in November for $249.95.

PENTAX OPTIO A40 FACT SHEET

12.0 megapixels for higher image quality and enhanced performance
The Optio A40 marks PENTAX’s first 12.0 megapixel digital camera for ultra high-definition images. Equipped with a high resolution 1/1.7 inch CCD for a wider light receiving area that is superior in tone reproduction and a new image engine that offer excellent color reproduction.

Three types of anti-shake functions to suit any photography situation

Mechanical Shake Reduction
The Shake Reduction (SR) mechanism is unique to PENTAX, and corrects camera shake when photographing still images by shifting the image sensor (CCD) horizontally and vertically in relation to the amount of shake that the high-accuracy gyro sensor detects. Shake Reduction technology used in PENTAX’s digital SLR cameras is applied to the Optio A40 for highly corrective effects that are equivalent to shutter speeds of approximately 2.5 to 3.5 stops.

Digital Shake Reduction
Digital SR (Shake Reduction) mode automatically adjusts sensitivity, to an ultra-high sensitivity of ISO 3200 according to the brightness of the subject, and effectively reduces camera shake and subject blurring when photographing still images. With fast shutter speeds, photography with reduced blurring is available.

*Recording size is fixed at 5M (2592×1944 pixels) when “Digital SR” is selected.

Movie Shake Reduction *
The Movie SR function electronically reduces camera shake exclusively during the shooting of movies. This function uses software to effectively correct distortions in images caused by camera shake during the capturing of movies.

*When using “Movie SR”, the field of view is narrower than during normal recording.

Face Recognition AF&AE function that improves portrait photography
The Optio A40 is equipped with a Face Recognition AF&AE function* that automatically detects and focuses on faces. In addition, the Optio A40 also comes with new functions that apply face recognition technology, such as “Natural Skin Tone” mode, which smoothly captures skin texture based on the detected information, and “Half-length Portrait” mode,** which automatically takes a head and shoulders photograph of people recognized in photo frame.

*This camera’s “Face Recognition AF&AE” function uses the Face Tracker face recognition technology from FotoNation.

**Recording size is fixed at 3M (2048×1536 pixels) when “Half-length Portrait” is selected.

New Dynamic Range Adjustment function captures a wider exposure range
The Optio A40 is newly equipped with a Dynamic Range Adjustment by correct tones for highlight or shadowed areas of a subject with significant differences in contrast. Even when photographing people with sun in the background, the new function highlights subjects and maintains background tones.

Bright and easy-to view LCD monitor
This LCD monitor is a high intensity type equipped with an LCD booster that adjusts the brightness of the screen even when viewed outdoors. The 2.5 inch size and high resolution of approximately 232,000 pixels makes it easy to confirm picture composition and focus quality. With a wide viewing angle, the screen may be viewed easily since there is little change in brightness and colors even when looking at the monitor diagonally.

3X optical zoom and 6X digital zoom for a maximum of 17.9X magnification
The Optio A40 features a 3X optical zoom lens with a focal range covering angles of view equivalent to those of a 37-111mm lens in 35mm format, which is ideal for a broad spectrum of subjects from landscapes to portraits. The zooming power increases to 17.9X zoom capability when combined with 6X digital zoom.

Video recording function with high-quality recording for extended capture
The Optio A40 smoothly captures movies at 30fps (frames per second) at sizes up to 640×480 pixels with image quality rivaling camcorders. Equipped with DivX (MPEG-4) movie format,* the Optio A40 records long, high-quality movies.

*The Optio A40 is DivX certified. Movie playback is not supported on Macintosh operating systems.

Additional Features

• Users can freely choose Shutter-Priority AE mode and Manual Exposure mode, depending on the effect they are aiming to achieve
• An Intelligent Zoom function enables images to be magnified, while maintaining the image quality of optical zoom
• Auto Picture mode automatically determines the best settings for the shooting conditions
• Mode palette provides quick access of 18 shooting modes and 15 playback modes
• Approximately 21.0 MB of built-in-memory
• Compatible with SD memory cards and SDHC memory cards
• FotoNation’s red eye compensation function for flash shots
• Includes the ACDSee for PENTAX 3.0 image viewer/image management software that support Windows Vista™
• Supports PictBridge, DPOF functions, Exif Print, and PRINT Image Matching III

PENTAX OPTIO V10 FACT SHEET

An ultra-slim body with a sophisticated texture
An exclusive slim battery and a smaller circuit board allow an ultra-slim, high quality aluminum alloy body of just ¾ of an inch (19mm) thick.

Large, 3.0 inch easy viewable LCD monitor
The Optio V10 comes with a high resolution 3.0 inch LCD monitor with approximately 230,000 pixels that enables images and the text to be displayed largely and clearly. The LCD monitor has a wide viewing angle of 170 degrees from all directions, making it easy to confirm images, even when looking at the screen diagonally.

3X optical zoom and 4X digital zoom for a maximum of 12X magnification
The Optio V10 features a 3X optical zoom lens equivalent to 36-108mm in the 35mm format, which is ideal for a broad spectrum of subjects from landscapes to portraits. Combined with 4X digital zoom, the zoom equals 12X zoom capability.

High resolution images
The Optio V10’s 8.0 effective megapixels and high performance PENTAX lens precisely captures images down to the finest details to deliver high resolution photos that look sharp even at large magnifications.

Digital SR (Shake Reduction)
Digital SR (Shake Reduction) mode automatically adjusts sensitivity as high as the ultra-high sensitivity of ISO 3200 according to the brightness of the subjects, and effectively reduces camera shake and subject blurring when photographing still images.

Face Recognition AF&AE function for portrait photography
The Face Recognition AF&AE* function automatically detects and focuses on faces, regardless of where the people appear in the photo frame.

*Available when the photography mode is “Portrait” and “Natural Skin Tone” and the camera is directed at people from the front.

Auto Picture mode automatically determines the best mode for shooting conditions
The Auto Picture mode lets the camera automatically determine the shooting conditions for Landscape, Portrait, Night Scene, and Normal modes and choose the optimum settings for each subject. This function eliminates the necessity of making a number of individual settings.

Additional Features

• Mode palette provides quick access to 16 shooting modes and 13 playback modes
• Recording movies with Movie SR (Shake Reduction) function can deliver high quality images rivaling camcorders
• Auto-Macro mode allows close-up photography as near as 3.9 inches (10cm) while in the normal focusing mode
• Auto-tracking AF continuously focusing on a moving subject
• Date imprint function for easy image categorizing
• Calendar Display function allows image retrieval based on the capture date
• Approximately 52.1MB of built in memory
• FotoNation’s red-eye correction function for flash shots
• Includes the ACDSee for PENTAX 3.0 image viewer/image management software that support Windows Vista™
• Supports PictBridge, DPOF functions, Exif Print, and PRINT Image Matching III

PENTAX Imaging Company is an innovative leader in the production of digital SLR and compact cameras, lenses, flash units, binoculars, scopes, eyepieces and mobile printers and scanners. For more than 80 years, PENTAX technology has developed durable, reliable products that meet the needs of consumers and businesses. With headquarters in Golden, Colorado, PENTAX Imaging Company is a division of PENTAX of America, Inc.

PENTAX and Optio and smc PENTAX are trademarks of PENTAX Corporation

This product supports PRINT Image Matching III. PRINT Image Matching enabled digital still cameras, printers and software help photographers to produce images more faithful to their intentions. Some functions are not available on printers that are not PRINT Image Matching III compliant

Design and specifications are subject to change without notice