Pentax Life

Pentax Imaging has announced a major update to its popular waterproof digicam series - Pentax Optio W60. The most noticeable improvements in comparison with the previous models are:

• 5x zoom lens with the real 28mm wide angle (28-140mm). A Digital Wide function merges two shots into one image for ultra-wide-angle image capture (equivalent to a focal length of 21mm in 35mm format).
• New 10 Megapixel 1/2.3″ sensor. Sensitivity could be set up to ISO1600 in full resolution and up to ISO6400 in 5 Megapixel mode.

W60 allows to take pictures 30% deeper than the previous model - 4 meters. In addition to the JIS Class 8 waterproofing standard, the camera is JIS Class 5 dustproof against dirt, sand and dust and operates in extreme temperatures as cold as 14 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 10 degrees Celsius). Furthermore, you can make 720p HDTV (1280 x 720 pixels) movies in such harsh conditions.

This week Pentax has announced the other two (as usual) point and shoot cameras: A40 - the fourth generation of Pentax’s high-end compact digicam and V10 which is starting whole new series of ultra compact point and shoots.

Pentax Optio A40 got the new 12 megapixel 1/1.7″ sensor, probably the same as in Canon G9 and A650 digicams. The lens remains the same 7.9-23.7mm. Due to larger sensor (previous A series cameras have 1/1.8″ sensors) it became a little bit wider and shorter: 37-111mm against 38-114mm (in full-frame terms). Tests and reviews will tell us if the larger sensor with the same old lens will produce more vignetting and corner softness.

Pentax Optio V10 is a stylish ultra compact camera just 19mm in depth. Despite its credit card size V10 has a large and sharp 3″ LCD display on its back. Aluminum alloy body makes it a good competitor to Canon’s Digital Elf (IXUS) series. Full specifications could be found here.

Steve at Steve’s Digicams has reviewed Pentax K100D Super - latest update for Pentax entry level DSLR line-up. Unfortunately Steve hasn’t got the new DA* lenses (most of the sample photos are made with DA 12-24mm F4) so the most important new feature that differs K100D Super from its predecessor - Supersonic Drive Motor lenses support - haven’t been tested and even mentioned in his review.

Another Pentax K100D Super review is posted by JerryJ at DigitalCameraReview:

Since my day-to-day cameras are a Pentax K10D and Pentax *ist DL, I was curious how the K100D Super would compare. I expected the camera to perform better than the *ist DL but fall short of the K10D. What I discovered was that the K100D Super is much more like its big brother the K10D than I expected. In short, this is one amazing little camera… …the K100D Super is the best value on the market.

Japanese Impress Watch website have tested Pentax DA* 50-135mm F2.8 SDM lens. Automatic translation is close to unreadable but full resolution samples are talking by themselves. By the way, Amazon offers DA* 50-135mm F2.8 for $851.04.

DigitalCameraInfo have criticized Pentax A30 point&shoot digicam in the thorough review they have published recently: “With inaccurate colors, high noise levels, limited dynamic range, and terrible video quality, this camera isn’t worth the $350 price tag.“

Australian DPexpert has published a very short (no image quality tests or samples) review of Pentax K100D Super entry level DSLR. Overall verdict is “Highly recommended”. Their only dislikes are too loud mirror slaps and too high contrast and saturation level by default. Positive impressions: “The value-for-money of this camera makes the competition look either greedy or inefficient. There is nothing cut-down or under-done about the Pentax.“

Another one K100D Super review (and DA* 50-135mm F2.8 SDM on the same page) came from Japan. Here is automatic translation.

J. Keenan has reviewed fourth generation of Pentax Optio M series at DigitalCameraReview:

The Pentax Optio M40 is an entry-level compact digital P&S that provides a basic feature set, yet throws in some manual inputs not normally encountered in cameras of this class. The ability to set ISO and exposure compensation in most of the various shooting modes is a welcomed departure from the norm, although it seems somewhat incongruous in a camera that really is targeting users who wouldn’t ordinarily be expected to care about, let alone use such features. Performance in good lighting conditions is adequate, but the camera struggles to focus and shoot in dim light.

Pentax Imaging have announced two new Optio point and shoot cameras today. And one of them – Optio Z10 – starts completely new Z series that features non-protruding high zoom power lens in a stylish slim body.

Z10 offers 8 Megapixels 1/2.5″ sensor, 7x optical zoom (38-266mm in terms of 35mm film) hidden beneath the sturdy sliding cover that acts like power on/off switch, easily viewable 2.5″ LCD monitor and sensitivity up to ISO3200.

Ultracompact 10 Megapixels 1/1.8″ 3x optical zoom Optio S10 digicam will be available exclusively at Wal-Mart Stores in the United States.

Both cameras will hit the shelves in September for around $250 each.

According to Impress Watch, recently announced 8 megapixels Pentax Optio M40 point and shoot digital camera will be available in Japan on August 9, 2007. Japanese customers will have a choice of three colors: silver, pink and brown.

In the United States ultraslim 18mm depth (it’s slimmer than my mobile phone!) M40 digicam is ready for preorder (sliver color only) for $199.95 and will be shipped on September 15, 2007.

Klaus Schroiff at PhotoZone has reviewed Pentax SMC-DA 50-200mm f/4-5.6 ED entry level telephoto zoom and has got surprisingly bad results:

The resolution characteristic of the lens is rather mediocre - specifically the image borders are often soft at large aperture settings.

Must be because he has take faulty (and than repaired) copy of 50-200mm, as he noted in his review.

ePhotoZine have tested Samsung GX10 DSLR. Nothing really new, just some rumblings about how Samsung manual worse indexed than Pentax one.

IT Reviews have finally put their hands on Pentax K100D:

An affordable, solidly built and versatile digital SLR with a host of improved features over the previous ‘*ist’ series, resulting in outstanding picture quality and shake reduction.

DigitalCameraInfo have named Pentax Optio W30 “the best value in the waterproof digital camera category“:

With waterproof, dustproof (and kid-proof) abilities, the Optio W30 functions as an all-around camera that can be transported on land or water. It also includes basic PDA functions such as alarm and calendar.

Pentax Imaging announced two new Optio point and shoot cameras today: Optio E30 and Optio M40. Both cameras get the new 8 Megapixels sensor and a load of new features.

Pentax Optio E40 entry level digicam priced under $150 is now capable of taking pictures at ISO up to 1000 and can take a series of 16 downsized (640*480) images in just two seconds.

Pentax Optio M40 get the FotoNation’s red-eye compensation function for flash shots and the World time function for 75 cities (28 times zones) worldwide. Another new function for both cameras is the Calendar Display for easier image retrieval based on the capture date.

American Photo (PopPhoto) magazine has named K10D the camera of the year in the Advanced DSLRs section:

Pentax’s top D-SLR delivers pro-grade weatherproofing for hundreds, even thousands, of dollars less than other models with similar cladding. And none of those D-SLRs offers the K10D’s combination of image stabilization, automatic dust removal, and in-camera RAW “developing” made possible by a powerful new imaging engine.

The New York Times has reviewed $700 to $800 digital SLRs “that let you shoot like a pro”. David Pogue was very impressed by K10D’s capabilities, but noted that

…the photos are soft and slightly washed-out — at least at first. You can extract the brilliant shots the Pentax really takes by shooting in RAW mode, an unprocessed format, and then tweaking the results in a program like Photoshop. In other words, the fault lies in the Pentax’s post-shot processing circuitry, not the lens or the shooter’s ability.

Cliff Smith at TrustedReviews has put his hands on Pentax Optio A30 digicam:

The Optio A30 is Pentax’s best ultra-compact camera to date, combining stylish design, excellent build quality, easy handling and much improved performance, with outstanding picture quality and a comprehensive set of features including many unusual and useful options.

The Pentax’s most summer camera - underwater and dustproofed US$265 Optio W30 got a lot of attention as the holiday season began. TigerTV rolled out a short video mm… I’d rather say “commercial” than “review”… but it’s still pretty interesting:

If you prefer more thorough test, Megapixel.net has one: eight pages with a lot of samples and every feature described. Pentax W30 marked 8.6 (out of 10) for functionality and 8.4 for image quality. The negatives are “a bit too strong JPEG compression at the highest image quality” (a weak side of entire W series), stiff controls and underpowered flash. And the positives are 3 meters waterproof, “good to very good image quality“, “not too much noise up to 400 ISO“.

Update: Two new Pentax W30 reviews:

• Field Test: Jump Right In with the Pentax Optio W30! at PopPhoto
• Pentax Optio W30 Review at Photographyblog

Update #2: Pentax Optio W30 Review - Ready to get wet? by Doug Harman at Photographypress.co.uk