The Optio 230 from Pentax - The simple, stylish way to take pleasing pictures

September 23, 2002

The Asahi Optical Co., Ltd. is proud to present the Optio230 — a compact digital camera that delivers sharp, satisfying images with operational ease. It realizes the utmost in clarity with 2.0 effective megapixels and provides superb freedom of composition with its powerful 3X zoom lens. It also offers a wide range of handy shooting modes, including the innovative 3D image mode for stereoscopic shooting. For greater versatility, the Optio230 even has a handy swing-out screen, which folds out through 180°to assist in a variety of situations. And for convenient connectivity to PC, the Optio230 is USB compatible. With a plethora of capabilities such as this, you might expect the Optio230 to be something of a handful. Thanks to Pentax advanced technology and the newly designed lens, however, the Optio230 fits big photographic potential into remarkably compact dimensions and even has a sleek, stylish appearance.

Major Features

1. Sleek, stylish, and comfortable in the hand

Like other models in the Optio series, the Optio230 is amazingly compact and so easy to carry, with the following dimensions — 103.5mm (4.0") width, 63.5mm (2.5") height, and 42mm (1.5") depth. It also weighs only 180g (6.3oz). As for its appearance, it boasts a simple, yet stylish design, with a complementary color. The "Optio" logo is also embossed on the grip as an additional design feature.

2. A high performance 3X zoom lens

The newly designed 3X zoom lens of the Optio230 is equivalent to a 38-114mm lens in 35mm format and provides high-quality, high resolution images while achieving an impressively low level of image distortion for a camera of such small proportions. Framing different scales of subject is easy via simple lever operation and the Optio230 is also equipped with an efficient 2.11 total megapixel primary color filter CCD.

3. Smooth operation

The image processing circuit of the Optio230 allows simple, stress-free operation. With a simple turn of the well-proportioned dial, the user can easily choose from a range of shooting modes, such as Auto, Full selectable, Night Scene, and Movie, as well as playback modes. The Optio230 also offers the familiar Easy View function available on other models in the Optio range, which allows easy image deletion. The new, improved version of this handy function on the Optio230 also allows you to zoom in on recorded images. For added convenience, the Optio230 also sports individual buttons for frequently used functions for the composition and playback of images. There’s even a handy four-way controller and a central "OK" button for the ultimate in easy operation.

4. 180°swing-out screen for simpler self portraits

There are times when you also want to take pleasing shots of yourself. On such occasions, the Optio230 makes composition so much easier with a high-resolution, 1.6 inch LCD monitor that swings out through 180?, so that you can see exactly how you appear in the frame while still holding the camera. Self portraits can now be composed with the same ease as shots of other people, and you can easily join someone else in the same shot. The handy screen also allows you to check the image as soon as you have taken it.

5. Stereoscopic photography with 3D image mode

Enjoy a new perspective with stereoscopic shooting. The Optio230 makes it easy to take 3D shots that have real depth and perspective when seen through the special 3D viewer provided.

6. World time function

For convenience that extends beyond use in your own country, the Optio230 offers a world time function. Capable of displaying the time in 62 cities around the world, it can also record the time of each shot taken without the need for resetting. It is simply ideal for sorting out your travel shots on your return.

7. Simple connection to PC* with USB Mass Storage Class compatibility

The Optio230 is compatible with the USB Mass Storage Class. This makes it easy for you to transfer photographic data direct to PCs via the USB cable provided, allowing swift importing into a variety of common applications.

*System requirements: PC running Windows 98/98 SE, Windows 2000, Windows Me, Windows XP Home edition/Professional or Mac OS 8.6 or higher (installation of included driver software required).

8. Built-in auto flash

The Optio230 offers a wide selection of flash functions. Auto flash discharges flash when light is low or backlight conditions are excessive. Flash-on and flash-off modes give greater control. The Optio230 also offers a convenient red-eye reduction mode* and slow-shutter sync.

* This feature does not eliminate "red eyes" in all instances.

9. Optical viewfinder

The viewfinder of the Optio230 offers actual image zoom. This allows you to compose with accuracy and save power by switching off the LCD monitor.

10. Digital zoom

Not only is the Optio230 capable of 3X optical zooming, it also provides 2.5X digital zoom for a combined capacity of 7.5X zoom.

11. Nine-image display / zoom display

The LCD screen is capable of displaying nine recorded images simultaneously in playback mode. This makes the search for images faster and simpler. The screen can also play back images with 4X magnification, allowing you to check more closely for focus and subtle details.

12. A variety of shooting modes

The Optio230 offers a selection of shooting modes, consisting of Auto, Full Selectable, Night Scene, Movie, 3D image, and Auto bracketing.

1) Auto
Provides excellent results with minimal effort. Simply compose the shot as you like and let the Optio230 take care of exposure and focusing.

2) Full selectable
Combine the desired functions of the Optio230 to achieve exactly the kind of shots you desire.

3) Night Scene
This convenient mode allows you to capture evening or night scenes and add detail to the foreground wherever necessary. The Optio230 also has a noise reduction function, which is activated during long exposures.

4) Movie
The Optio230 can also record movies up to 30 seconds in length at 15 frames per second, with a resolution of 320 X 240 pixels. As an additional benefit, clips are recorded in AVI format for easy playback on PCs.

5) 3D image
By simply taking a shot, adjusting the position of the camera, and shooting again, the innovative 3D image mode creates images that have a true sense of perspective when viewed through the special 3D viewer provided.

6) Auto bracketing
Auto bracketing is available in three steps for exposure, white balance, sharpness, saturation, and contrast.

13. Self-timer

The Optio230 has a convenient self-timer function, just like a regular film camera.

14. Macro shooting mode and infinity-landscape mode

Macro shooting mode allows you to compose shots at a distance of just 0.1m (0.33ft) from your subject and zoom in or out as you please. What’s more, the Optio230 also features Infinity-landscape mode, which is ideal for capturing landscapes and scenery, even when you are shooting through a window.

15. Manual focus

The handy manual focus function gives you the freedom to achieve exactly the kind of focus you want, while viewing the subject on the LCD monitor. The Optio230 can even zoom in on one part of the shot for more accurate focusing.

16. Autofocus areas

The Optio230 offers Spot AF. It also has 5-point autofocus, which lets you place greater focal emphasis on your subject and make a subtle reduction in the sharpness of the background.

17. White Balance Mode

The Optio230 offers White Balance Mode selection for Auto, Daylight, Shade, Tungsten Light, and Fluorescent Light. It also offers Manual selection, which allows you to maintain the appropriate balance of color when working with different kinds of light.

18. Metering options

Metering can be selected according to your subject. Choose from multi-segment metering, center-weighted metering, and spot metering.

19. Light sensitivity

Sensitivity to light can be set to auto, or manually set to ISO100 or ISO200.

20. Exposure control

Exposure compensation has a range of +2EV in 1/3EV steps.

21. Three color modes

A choice of color, black & white, and sepia modes allow further creative freedom.

22. Settings for sharpness, saturation and contrast

Sharpness, saturation and contrast can be set in 3 different grades to produce the desired results.

23. DPOF function

When used in combination with DPOF-compatible printers, this handy function lets you take control over the number of printouts and the date function.

*Some printers may not support the above functions. Please consult the supplier of your printer for more information.

24. Image protection setting

Image protection prevents the accidental deletion of your favorite images.

25. Mode memory function

A combination of settings can be saved with the useful mode memory function. Simply select a group of settings that produces a pleasing effect and return to them automatically when the power is next switched on.

26. Video output terminal

The Optio230 can be easily connected to a TV via video cable for even easier viewing of recorded images. It is also compatible with both NTSC and PAL systems.

27. Power sources

The Optio230 can be powered by two AA (lithium, Ni-MH, or alkaline) batteries. It is also compatible with lithium CR-V3 batteries and an optional AC adapter is available.

28. Multilingual operation

The Optio230 offers convenient multilingual operation, which allows all menus and messages to be displayed in English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, or Japanese. This convenient function is also very easy to operate.