PENTAX Unveils the Optio Z10

PENTAX Corporation is pleased to announce the PENTAX Optio Z10, a compact digital camera equipped with a high-magnification 7X optical zoom lens that is convenient for various photography scenes.

The Optio Z10 is equipped with 7X optical zoom lens, the highest magnification among current PENTAX compact digital camera models, built in a small and lightweight body of easy mobility. In addition, the Optio Z10 has a high resolution of 8.0 effective megapixels, and features shake reduction that allows stress-free telephoto photography, and face recognition with high-speed detection time. In all, the Optio Z10 is a model that everyone can easily enjoy photography with high magnification and high image quality.

Main Features:

1. High magnification 7X optical zoom

The Optio Z10 includes a 7X optical zoom lens that covers focal lengths from 6.3 to 44.1mm (equivalent to 38-266mm for 35mm format) and features a refraction lens system so the lens never protrudes from the camera while zooming. This optical zoom covers a broad range, from wide-angle to telephoto zoom, and when used together with digital zoom, ultra high-magnification photography of up to approximately 35.7X is available.

2. High-speed "Face Recognition AF&AE" function of approximately 0.03 seconds

The Optio Z10 is equipped with the "Face Recognition AF&AE" function that automatically adjusts the focuses and sets the exposure, so users can take the photos of people easily and beautifully, by letting the camera do the work. In addition, this function can detect the faces of up to 15 peoples at once, and the detection time has been reduced to approximately 0.03 seconds at minimum.

3. Digital SR

Digital SR (Shake Reduction) mode reduces camera shakes and blurring of the subject when photographing still images. The sensitivity is adjusted automatically, to as high as the ultrahigh sensitivity of ISO 3200, to match the brightness of the subjects. This enables photography with fast shutter speeds, and images with less blurs can be obtained. In addition, an electronic shake reduction function corrects blurring in images during image playback.

4. Auto Picture mode automatically determines the best setting for the shooting conditions

The Auto Picture mode lets the camera automatically determine the shooting conditions for Landscape, Portrait, Night Scene, and Normal mode and choose the optimum settings for each subject. This function makes photography a lot easier for users since it eliminates the necessity of making a number of individual settings.

5. Easily viewable LCD monitor with a wide viewing angle

The Optio Z10 comes with a high resolution, a 2.5-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.

6. 8.0 effective megapixels produces exceptionally fine-detailed photos

Optio Z10 delivers high resolution photos that look sharp even at large magnifications, thanks to its 8.0 effective megapixels and high performance PENTAX lens, which precisely captures images down to the finest details.

7. High quality recording with shake reduction function

The Optio Z10 smoothly captures movies at 30fps (frames per second) at sizes up to 640 x 480 pixels with image quality rivaling camcorders. In addition, Movie SR (Shake Reduction) function that effectively corrects in images due to camera shakes through software, allowing for movies to be taken more easily and without hassles.

8. Other features

(1) Digital wide function converts two images into approximately 28mm wide angle expression (equivalent to 35mm format)
(2) Mode palette provide quick access to 15 shooting modes and 15 playback modes
(3) Data imprint function for easier image categorizing
(4) Approximately 52.1 MB of built-in-memory
(5) Compatible with SD memory cards and SDHC memory cards
(6) FotoNation’s red-eye compensation function for flash shots
(7) Includes the ACDsee for PENTAX 3.0 image viewer/image management software that supports Windows Vista
(8) Support PictBridge, DPOF functions, Eixf Print, and PRINT Image Matching III

Fujifilm Finepix S9600 (spec, pro and con)

Features at a glance

• 9Mp super CCD sensor HR
• 28~300mm (10.7X) zoom lens with manual control
• ISO 1600 at full resolution
• Low sensitivity of ISO 80
• 2.0", (235k pixel) tilting LCD screen
• 0.01s shutter lag and 0.8s start-up time
• Real-time histogram
  
• Highlight warning feature
• VGA movie at 30fps with zoom capability and sound
• Hot shoe and PC sync terminal
• xD-Picture card and CF/microdrive compatibility

Pro

• All-in-one solution with 10.7X zoom lens
• usage of AA batteries - convenient for travelers
• good color and image quality
• lost of manual controls
  
• comfortable feel to grip
• buttons are well laid out
• records good quality video

Con

• image noise noticeable at mid to high ISO
• weak sound on video
• no true image stabilization

Minox DCC Leica M3

Komamura, makers of the popular RolleiFlex mini digital camera, had introduced the new replica - the Minox DCC (Digital Classic Camera) Leica M3. The camera uses the familiar body of the Leica M3 in a miniature form factor. It can take pictures in a range of resolutions up to 4Mp. Despite the small form factor, then wind lever and shutter are fully functional.

The camera can also function as a web-cam and comes with 32mb of built-in memory. It can connect to a PC or Mac via USB. Although unusual, the Minox DCC Leica M3 is both easy to use and ideal for those getting started in the field of digital photography and want a classic convention rather than high tech. The size of the camera is 65 X48X44mm, weight about 95g.