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Press Release - 25 January 2010
A retro designed, SLR-shaped digital compact camera
with a host of advanced features in a compact, lightweight body
PENTAX U.K. is pleased to announce the launch of the
PENTAX Optio I-10 digital compact camera. In addition to a compact body and
with the look of a traditional film SLR camera, it offers a wide range of
advanced functions — including an upgraded Face Detection AF & AE function
and Sensor-shift Shake Reduction.
Main Features
1. Unique design inspired by an SLR camera
The Optio I-10’s unique, eye-catching design is reminiscent of the beloved
SLR cameras of yesteryear and will surely create a sense of nostalgia for
many users. By positioning components such as a flash unit and a speaker to
the upper middle section of the camera body, and by reducing the height of
both sides, PENTAX was able to create this original SLR-shaped body with an
elevated mid section. The centre section of the camera’s front panel is
elegantly textured to give a high-quality appearance and texture, while all
other elements, including the near-centred lens and the PENTAX logo just
above it, have been carefully designed to enhance the SLR camera image.
2. Upgraded face detection
The Optio I-10 features a new-generation Face
Detection AF & AE function, which instantly and accurately detects up to 32
faces in the image field, then catches them in sharp focus and in optimum
exposure in just 0.03 seconds. In addition to popular features such as the
innovative Small Face Filter, this upgraded version is programmed to detect
not only human faces, but also the faces of dogs and cats. When the user
selects pre-registered dog or cat faces (up to three choices), the camera
automatically recognises them and optimises focus and exposure. The user can
even program the camera to automatically release the shutter the moment the
subject’s face turns straight toward the camera. These features make it
simple and effortless to capture delightful faces of active pets.
3. Optical 5X zoom lens for broad coverage, from wide
angle to telephoto
Despite its compact dimensions, the Optio I-10 features an optical 5X zoom
lens covering focal lengths from 5.1mm to 25.5mm (equivalent in the 35mm
format to approximately 28mm wide angle to 140mm telephoto). This wide zoom
range means the Optio I-10 easily handles a wide variety of subjects and
scenes — from breathtaking landscapes, majestic architecture and group shots
in a confined space, to tightly cropped photos shot from a distance. When
coupled with the Intelligent Zoom function, which allows even tighter
zooming in on the subject, the zoom range can be extended to approximately
31.3 times.
4. Exceptional image quality
Combining the exceptional image resolution provided by approximately 12.1
effective megapixels, the faithful colour reproduction of the
PENTAX-developed high-performance imaging engine, and the camera’s
high-performance PENTAX zoom lens, the Optio I-10 delivers brilliant,
high-quality images with well-defined details. Even when enlarged to larger
sizes, the images ensure sharp, high-resolution prints with edge-to-edge
sharpness.
5. Triple anti-shake protection to prevent different
types of camera shake
1) CCD-shift-type SR mechanism
The Optio I-10 incorporates an advanced CCD-shift-type SR (Shake Reduction)
mechanism, which effectively compensates for camera shake by shifting the
camera’s image sensor (CCD) horizontally and vertically in relation to the
amount of shake detected by the high-accuracy gyro sensor. This
sophisticated mechanism offers an outstanding camera-shake compensation
effect equivalent to approximately up to 2.5 shutter steps, even under
shake-prone shooting conditions — such as when using a telephoto lens, or
when shooting a sunset or indoor scene with the incident light only.
2) High-Sensitivity anti-shake mode*
When it detects low-lighting conditions in still-image shooting, the Optio
I-10 automatically raises the sensitivity to as high as ISO 6400, making it
possible to use a higher shutter speed. This effectively minimises the
adverse effects of camera shake and subject shake under poor lighting
conditions.
3) Movie SR mode**
During movie recording, the Optio I-10 prevents blurry images by digitally
minimising annoying camera shake through the use of exclusive software.
* When the High-Sensitivity anti-shake mode is
selected, the recorded size is fixed to 5M (2592 x 1944 pixels).
** When the Movie SR mode is selected, the angle of view becomes narrower
than normal shooting.
6. High-quality, HD-proportioned movie recording
The Optio I-10 captures beautiful, flawless movie clips at 16:9
high-definition TV proportions (1280 x 720 pixels)*** at a frame rate of 30
frames per second. This mode also offers a variety of editing functions:
still images can be extracted from movie clips, and title images can be
added to the beginning and/or end of a movie clip, and more.
*** When the Optio I-10’s AV output terminal is used,
movie clips are output as normal image-size data. If the user wishes to play
back movie clips at high-definition-TV proportions (1280 x 720 pixels), the
data must be transferred to a personal computer for playback.
7. Subscreen Input function for constant display of a
favorite image on the screen
The Optio I-10 offers the new and innovative Subscreen Input function, which
allows the user to display a thumbnail of a recorded image in the upper left
corner of the LCD panel. This function comes in handy when the photographer
wants to use a recorded image as a reference to shoot subjects from the same
angle and at the same image size every time (such as photographing prepared
food in the same way to compile a recipe file), or when the user wants to
constantly keep a favourite image on the screen.
8. Creative digital filters to process recorded images
The Optio I-10 comes equipped with 11 digital filters to add various visual
effects to recorded images without the need for a computer. In addition to
the conventional Monochrome and Sepia filters and the creative Toy Camera
and Soft Filters, the Optio I-10 now offers the new Starburst filter, which
creates cross-, heart- or star-shaped highlights from nighttime
illuminations or reflections on the water. The user can even apply multiple
filters to a single image.
9. Other features
1) Wireless remote shooting using an optional PENTAX remote controller
2) Auto Picture mode to automatically select one of the eight shooting modes
for the optimum result
3) D-Range setting to prevent whitewashed (overexposed) and
blacked-out (underexposed) areas in an image
4) Original Frame function to add a decorative frame and/or
letters/characters
to a recorded image
5) Digital Panorama mode to create a single panoramic picture from
as many as three images
6) Digital Wide function to compose an ultra-wide-angle picture
(roughly equivalent to an image taken with approximately 21mm lens
in the 35mm format) from two images
7) Menu Magnification function to enlarge menu items
for easier viewing
8) Eye-Fi connected: optimised for use with Eye-Fi wireless memory cards
9) MediaImpression 2.0 for PENTAX image viewing, editing and filing
software included (compatible with latest operation systems, such as
Windows 7 and Mac OS X 10.6)
Price: RRP £199.99
Availability: February
PENTAX, and smc PENTAX are trademarks of HOYA
CORPORATION.
PENTAX PHOTO Browser, PENTAX Laboratory, and SDM are trademarks of HOYA
CORPORATION.
All other brands or product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of
their respective companies
Designs and specifications are subjects to change without notice
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