Highly compact. Exceptionally capable. The new Pentax OptioS.
PENTAX is renowned for
producing cameras that exceed expectations. It is also well
known for producing some of the lightest, smallest cameras in the
world and for continually delivering exciting new technologies to the
market. The OptioS has been
developed by PENTAX as a digital camera that is ideal for both
personal and business use. It is convenient enough to be used by
virtually anyone, anywhere, at any time and can capture sound as well
as images, which can be useful for recording important information in
meetings. In order to ensure that the OptioS will remain
attractive as we move toward a future in which most cameras are
digital, PENTAX decided to create the OptioS as an advanced, powerful
camera — one that would combine compact dimensions, impressive
features and elegant design; that would offer the power of 3.2
effective megapixels and the versatility of a 3X optical zoom lens;
and that would have the power to remain attractive despite the passing
of fashions. 1.
An ultra-compact body with a stylish exterior PENTAX has achieved a
design success through sincere dedication. The OptioS feels
truly comfortable in the hand and can be stored virtually anywhere,
but most of all its design has been achieved without incurring any
sacrifice in performance or capability. It has a width of a mere
83mm, a height of just 52mm, and a depth of only 20mm (excluding
protruding parts), and is therefore smaller than a conventional pack
of cards. Additionally it weighs just 98g without batteries,
which means you can easily carry it in a shirt pocket without you even
noticing that it’s there. It also offers the utmost in user
friendliness — combining exceptional portability with extreme ease
of use. Conventionally, the
minimum dimensions of the lens barrel are limited by the retraction
mechanism as the lenses have to remain stored on an optical axis while
maintaining a minimal distance between each of the lenses. PENTAX,
however, saved vital space by approaching the design of the lens
barrel in an entirely new way — achieving the storage of the lenses
in two stages and allowing the central lens group to deviate from the
optical axis with the innovative “Sliding Lens” system. PENTAX also
incorporated a significantly revised optical design which, when
combined with the “Sliding Lens” system, achieves a reduction in camera
depth of 55%*.
A newly developed MCM
(Multi Chip Module) in the electrical circuit board brings about a
volume reduction of 57%*, and PENTAX has incorporated a number of
cutting-edge devices into areas such as the LCD monitor and batteries. In conventional camera
production, companies wishing to design more compact models begin by
pinpointing areas of space within the internal structure. They
then seek to eradicate or minimize them by locating the surrounding
components closer together. PENTAX, however, took a much more
painstaking approach to achieving minimum dimensions in the design of
the OptioS — reassessing the function and location of each component
within the camera, and repositioning them where necessary to achieve
more compact dimensions through a greater degree of tessellation.
As a result, the super compact OptioS has an innovative space-saving,
solid structure. PENTAX has selected an
aluminum alloy as the material for the main body. This lends the
camera an air of prestige, has a light weight, and is easily decorated
with the distinctive “spindle” pattern of the outer casing of the
OptioS. The exterior appearance also makes use of elegant lines,
a pleasing overall shape, and the addition of the PENTAX logo. In terms of
operability, PENTAX faced a particular challenge. Indeed with
such compact dimensions it can be difficult to offer high-level
functionality without some degree of operational awkwardness.
PENTAX, however, overcame this potential problem with the intelligent
placement of buttons and the design of a user-friendly operating
system. As a result, the OptioS offer simplistic operation with
speed. *Compared to the
PENTAX Optio330RS. 2.
An ultra-compact 3X optical zoom lens The
OptioS is the first ever digital camera to feature an smc PENTAX lens
— a lens widely recognized for its high-level image quality. Despite
its compact dimensions, the high-performance 3X optical zoom lens
(equivalent to a 35-105mm lens in 35mm format) is comprised of six
elements in five groups (including two dual-sided aspherical elements)
and is capable of producing images of a pleasingly high quality with
only low-level image distortion. The zooming capacity
of the lenses is augmented with 2X digital zooming, which offers
smooth operation and realizes a combined zooming power of 6X zoom.
Additionally, autofocus offers easy button operation and pleasing
performance, allowing you to fill the frame with the head of a flower,
or capture stunning shots of mountain ranges. 3.
The digital precision of 3.2 effective megapixels The OptioS offers
pleasing image quality with the power of 3.2 effective megapixels.
Faithfully reproducing the delicate hues of flowers and capturing fine
details within landscape shots, it also incorporates advanced image
processing technology and makes use of primary color filters for the
reproduction of more natural, vivid colors. 4.
Easy operation With the incorporation
of a newly developed image processing circuit and revised algorithms
within the firmware, the OptioS offers quick and easy operation.
The playback of images can be done with a single push of a standalone
button and the OptioS is always ready to shoot regardless of the mode
you are in, so you never miss a photo opportunity. The selection
of one of a variety of shooting modes (Program, Picture, Night Scene,
Movie, Panorama Assist, 3D image, Digital Filter and User modes) is
also easy thanks to the Virtual Mode Dial, which is displayed on the
LCD monitor. For additional convenience, the OptioS also
features standalone buttons for frequently used shooting and playback
functions, while deletion and enlargement have been made faster with
simplified processes. Response time has also been accelerated,
with a release time lag of 0.01 seconds*. *Time taken from full
shutter button depression to the beginning of shooting, when the OptioS is in
Flash off mode with the focus lock and the shutter is depressed half
way. 5.
A variety of shooting modes The OptioS offers the
choice of eight shooting modes, consisting of Program, Picture, Night
Scene, Movie, Panorama Assist, 3D image, Digital Filter and User.
Selection of the desired mode is easily done through use of the
easy-to-understand graphic Virtual Mode Dial. 1) Program:
Allows you to take control of a combination of functions to
achieve the results you desire. 6.
An array of picture modes 7.
Voice recording mode For added convenience,
the OptioS has been specially designed with audio recording capability
rivaling the abilities of standalone audio recording devices. This can
be exceptionally handy for recording important information in meetings
and an index can be added during recording for easy playback. 8.
Voice memo function In order to bring even
more enjoyment to the viewing of recorded shots, up to 30 seconds of
sound recordings can be added to images. Other
features 1. Easy PC connection
and USB compatibility* Recorded shots can be
easily transferred to a PC through easy connection to a USB cable.
This allows shots to be swiftly imported into a range of common
applications, and even allows a number of images to be transferred
simultaneously. *System requirements:
PC running Windows 98/98SE, Windows 2000, Windows Me, Windows XP Home
Edition/Professional or Mac OS 8.6 or higher (installation of the
included driver software is required, except in the case of Mac 0S 9.0
or higher). Compliance with the aforementioned system requirements
does not guarantee USB compatibility. 2. Additional software
included The OptioS comes
complete with a CD-ROM that contains a USB driver and the popular
ACDSee™ application, which is compatible with both Windows and Mac
computers. 3. Built-in auto flash The flash of the
OptioS is capable of discharging automatically when shooting in
low-light conditions. For increased versatility, the camera also
features Flash-on, Flash-off, red-eye reduction*, and Night Scene
modes including slow shutter sync. *This feature does not
eliminate “red eyes” in all instances. 4. A precision LCD
monitor that is useful both during and after shooting The high-resolution,
1.6-inch LCD monitor assists composition with a 100% view of the
frame. The display is also incredibly handy for checking the
images you have just taken. 5. Optical Viewfinder The viewfinder of the
OptioS offers actual image zoom. This makes composition
significantly more easy and allows power to be conserved by switching
off the LCD monitor. 6. Digital zoom Not only is the OptioS
capable of optical 3X zoom, it also provides the additional power of
2X digital zoom for combined zooming power of 6X. 7. Nine-image display
and Zoom display Nine recorded images
can be simultaneously displayed on the screen to make the search for
recorded images so much faster. The screen is also capable of
displaying images with 4X magnification, which means that you can
check the focus and inspect small details on recorded shots. 8. Convenient
self-timer The OptioS has a handy
self-timer that allows you to take your own portrait or get in the
frame when taking group shots. 9. Optional remote
control Two optional remote
control units are available for the OptioS. Known as the remote
control E and the remote control F, they allow three-second shutter
release as well as immediate shutter release. 10. Continuous
shooting The OptioS has a
continuous shooting function that allows successive shots to be taken
while the shutter button is held down. 11. Time-lapse movie Time-lapse movie
allows you to run a set of sequential recorded frames in order as a
short film. It can be used to create scenes of clouds rushing
across the sky, for example, and there is a selection of X2, X5, X10,
X20, X50, or X100 recording speeds. 12. Macro shooting
modes and infinity-landscape mode Macro mode allows you
to compose shots from as close as 18cm, while selection of super macro
shooting mode allows shots to be taken from as close as just 6cm.
The OptioS also features infinity-landscape mode, which is ideal for
shooting expansive outdoor scenes and even achieves pleasing focus
when shooting through windows. 13. Manual focus Manual focus allows
you to check for precise focus on the LCD monitor prior to pressing
the shutter, and the central part of the frame also offers enlargement
for greater detail. 14. Convenient
autofocus The OptioS offers a
choice of autofocus settings. 7-point autofocus allows you to
place greater focal emphasis on the subject by making a subtle
reduction in the sharpness of the background. There’s also
spot AF, which provides you with greater compositional freedom by
letting you place the center of focus anywhere in the frame. 15. White balance mode Through use of its
White balance mode, the OptioS achieves a pleasing balance of colors
when shooting in different kinds of light. It features settings
for Auto, Daylight, Shade, Tungsten, and Fluorescent light, and there
is also a manual setting that gives you the freedom to experiment. 16. Histogram display Exposure levels can be
shown in graph form on the LCD monitor during both shooting and
playback, allowing you to check the images with greater accuracy. 17. Metering options Different
circumstances can require different kinds of metering. With a
choice of multi-segment metering, center-weighted metering, and spot
metering, however, the OptioS allows you to shoot pleasing pictures in
virtually any situation. 18. Light sensitivity Light sensitivity can
also be adjusted with ease — simply select from ISO50, ISO100,
ISO200, and auto. 19. Exposure
compensation The OptioS is capable
of exposure compensation across a range of +2EV in steps of 1/3EV. 20. Settings for
sharpness, saturation, and contrast The OptioS allows
sharpness, saturation, and contrast to be set as you like with five
grades for each. This gives greater control over the shot for
more satisfying results. 21. Image protection With some digital
cameras, it can be all too easy to delete shots you wanted to keep.
Fortunately, the OptioS gets around this problem with a special
function that guards against the accidental deletion of your favorite
shots. 22. Mode memory
function The useful mode memory
function lets you save a combination of settings at once. Just choose
the settings that give results you like and return to them
automatically the next time the power is switched on. 23. World time
function The world time
function makes the OptioS the ideal travel companion. It can
display the correct time in 62 cities around the world and also
records the time each shot was taken for simpler sorting upon your
return. 24. Alarm clock The OptioS even
features its own alarm clock, and it can also be set to display
something related to your schedule at a relevant time, or a friendly
face when you wake up! 25. DPOF function When used in
combination with DPOF-compatible printers, the OptioS lets you take
control over the number of printouts, and the date function*. *Some printers may not
support the above function. Please consult the supplier of your
printer for more information. 26. Exif Print (Exif
2.2) and PRINT Image Matching II* compatibility When used with Exif
Print (Exif 2.2) and PRINT Image Matching II compatible printers, the
OptioS has the power to produce an even higher quality of printout. *This product supports
PRINT Image Matching II. When used in combination, PRINT Image
Matching II enabled digital still cameras, printers and software help
photographers to produce images more faithful to their intentions. Copyright 2001 Seiko
Epson Corporation. All Rights Reserved. 27. 11MB built-in
memory The OptioS features
approximately 11MB of built-in memory. This brings you the
convenience of being able to record images without the need for
additional media. 28. SD memory card /
MultiMediaCard The
OptioS is compatible with the SD memory card and the MultiMediaCard.
These are widely available, and data transfer both to and from the
built-in memory is also possible. 29.
Resize Recorded
images can be adjusted at a later time in order to become less data
heavy. This allows a greater amount of shots to be stored in
total through a reduction in the number of pixels or quality of
existing stored shots. 30.
Trimming With
the trimming function, images can be cropped and parts can be selected
on their own for storage as completely new files. This allows
unwanted elements to be removed from recorded shots. 31.
Function customization A
frequently used function can be selected from a choice of nine.
This can then be allotted to the right and left keys of the four-way
controller for easy access. The default setting for these two
buttons is exposure compensation, 32.
Camera customization The
OptioS can be made more personal with a degree of customization.
Favorite shots can be chosen for the start-up screen, and specific
sounds can be chosen to accompany the action of the shutter, start-up,
and various other operations. 33.
AV output terminal included Recorded
shots and sounds can be easily enjoyed on your TV! Simply
connect the OptioS to a television using the AV cable provided. 34.
Power sources Options
even exist for the power source of the OptioS. It can be powered
using an exclusive rechargeable lithium-ion battery or by use of an
optional AC adapter. 35.
Multilingual operation Convenient multilingual operation allows all menus and messages to be displayed in English, French, German, Spanish, Italian or Japan.
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Page updated 8th January 2003