Pentax UK Press Release

PENTAX K100D - A Lens-Interchangeable Digital SLR Camera Featuring Innovative Shake Reduction System and a Host of Advanced Technologies for High-Quality, User-Friendly Digital SLR Photography

PENTAX Corporation is pleased to introduce the PENTAX K100D lens-interchangeable digital SLR camera. This new digital SLR camera combines 6.1 effective megapixels with a host of advanced technologies - including a PENTAX developed-Shake Reduction (SR) system - to deliver high-quality, user friendly digital SLR photography to all abilities. The Pentax K100D packs an array of advanced, user-friendly features - including a PENTAX-developed Shake Reduction (SR) system, high-precision auto focus and auto sensitivity control - all in a compact, well-balanced body to accommodate a wide range of shooting and playback requirements. Its outstanding overall performance makes high-quality digital SLR photography effortless, fun and exciting for all users in any situation- from casual travel snapshots and memorable family pictures to highly specialised photography. All together, the Pentax K100D is a versatile all-around digital SLR for all levels of photographers.

Major Features

1. PENTAX-original Shake Reduction mechanism for sharp, blur-free images
The K100D is equipped with the PENTAX-developed Shake Reduction (SR) system, which effectively reduces camera shake for sharp, blur-free images even under difficult shooting conditions, such as using a telephoto lens, at night without a supplementary flash illumination, or using extended exposures for sunset scenes. The SR mechanism incorporated in the K100D is designed to minimise camera shake by oscillating the CCD image sensor vertically and horizontally at high speed using magnetic force, while adjusting the speed of oscillation in proportion to the amount of camera movement detected by a built-in sensor. As a result, it does not require special anti-shake lenses, and can be used with almost all existing PENTAX interchangeable lenses.*

* Lenses compatible with this mechanism are: PENTAX K-, KA-, KAF- and KAF2-mount lenses; screw-mount lenses (with an adapter); and 645- are 67-system lenses (with an adapter). Certain lenses may lose part of their functions.

2. 11-point wide-frame AF to capture off-center subjects in crisp focus
The K100D’s sophisticated SAFOX VIII auto focus system features 11 sensor points (with nine cross-type sensors in the middle) to automatically focus on the subject with utmost precision, even when it is positioned off center. The in-focus sensor point is automatically superimposed in red in the viewfinder for at-a-glance confirmation. This high-precision AF system offers a choice of two AF modes: the conventional single AF, and the continuous AF,** which maintains focus on the moving subject as long as the shutter release button is pressed halfway down.

** The continuous AF mode is selectable by the user only when P, Tv, Av, M or B is selected as a shooting mode on the mode dial. This mode is automatically activated by the camera when the Auto Picture Program, or one of the Picture or Scene modes, is selected.

3. Auto sensitivity control up to 3200 standard output sensitivity
The K100D features an auto sensitivity control function, which automatically sets the optimum standard output sensitivity - up to 3200, which is the highest automatic setting in its class - based on such data as the subject’s brightness level and the lens’ focal length. Since this function allows the use of higher shutter speeds in poor lighting situations (such as indoor sports events and night scenes), it helps the photographer to effectively reduce camera shake and prevent blurred images.

4. Auto Picture Mode for effortless point-and-shoot SLR photography
The K100D offers the PENTAX-developed Auto Picture Mode, which automatically and instantly selects one of the five Picture modes - including Portrait, Landscape and Macro - by calculating various photographic factors to assure optimum results. Since this advanced shooting mode takes away all the concerns about aperture, shutter-speed, white-balance, saturation, contrast and sharpness settings, the photographer can concentrate on image composition and timing.

5. Large LCD monitor to facilitate image viewing and menu setting
The K100D incorporates a large 2.5-inch color LCD monitor on its back panel. Its wide-view design allows the photographer to check the monitor image over 140 degrees vertically and horizontally, ensuring effortless image viewing even from a diagonal position. With a total of approximately 210,000 pixels, it also offers digital zooming of playback images up to 12 times for easy confirmation of the image’s focusing status and details. The large monitor size allows for large letters, digits and icons on the menu screens to facilitate menu confirmation and camera operations. In addition, the color scheme between the menu listings and the background is optimized for each menu screen to assure at-a-glance confirmation, even under varying shooting conditions.

6. True-to-life, rich-gradation images assured by 6.1 effective megapixels
The K100D features a large, high-performance 23.5mm x 15.7mm CCD as its image sensor, insuring an accurate reproduction of the scenes- from images with beautiful out-of-focus backgrounds to those with edge-to-edge sharpness. By combining 6.1 effective megapixels with a high-performance imaging engine and advanced image-processing technologies, the K100D is designed to produce beautiful, true-to-life images that are rich in gradation. What’s more, it offers a choice of two finishing touches of “Natural” or “Bright” to create a distinctive atmosphere.

7. Super-compact, ultra-lightweight body, with outstanding rigidity
While the K100D is designed to be compact and lightweight to enhance operability and portability, it also incorporates a newly developed stainless-steel chassis and a fiber-reinforced engineering plastic housing to reinforce its overall rigidity and durability.

8. Bright, clear viewfinder
The K100D features a lightweight penta-mirror viewfinder, which combines a PENTAX-original finder optics with a Natural-Bright-Matte II focusing screen to deliver a bright, clear subject image with a 0.85-times magnification and a 96-percent field of view.

9. Top shutter speed of 1/4000 second
The K100D offers a top shutter speed of 1/4000 second to freeze fast-moving subjects and capture decisive moments. It also features a flash synchronization speed of 1/180 second and a bulb setting (B) for extended exposures.

10. Continuous shooting at approximately 2.8 images per second
To trace the movement of an active subject or capture a sequence of the subject’s expressions, the K100D offers a continuous shooting mode that allows the photographer to capture multiple images (up to five images at “Best” image quality in JPEG format) at a maximum speed of approximately 2.8 images per second.

11. Upgraded standard software package
The K100D’s standard software package consists of the PENTAX PHOTO Laboratory 3 that features the reliable SILKYPIX image-processing engine (developed by ICHIKAWA SOFT LABORATORY) for RAW data processing, and the PENTAX PHOTO Browser 3 that offers faster data processing speed and better operability than the previous version.

12. Other features
19 custom functions to personalize camera operations
SD memory card compatibility
Eight distinctive Scene modes to accommodate specific subjects/applications
Choice of two preview functions (digital/optical)
Storage of recorded images in day-by-day files on an SD memory card
Choice of 16-segment multi-pattern metering, center-weighted metering and spot metering to accommodate various photographic applications
Noise reduction mechanism to reduce digital noise during extended exposures
Dual power source (two CR-V3 lithium batteries, or four AA-size batteries)
USB 2.0 (HI-SPEED) compatibility for speedy data transfer to PC
Choice of image format between JPEG (Best, Better or Good) and RAW
Five digital filters (Black-and-white, Sepia, Slim, Soft and Brightness) for easy editing of recorded images
PictBridge compatibility

About Pentax
Pentax U.K. Limited was formed in 1979 and is a subsidiary of the PENTAX Corporation of Japan. The Imaging Systems Division successfully distributes its products through a number of channels, including independent camera shops and national retailers. The product range is extensive and includes state of the art digital SLR and zoom compact cameras, through to highly sophisticated professional medium format equipment. There is also a superb range of binoculars, suitable for a variety of leisure activities. Today, Pentax is a leading supplier of professional and recreational cameras and photographic equipment worldwide.

Pentax U.K. Limited, Imaging Systems Division, offers an online press lounge, designed to provide the UK media with access to an extensive library of information relating to Pentax’s range of cameras and binoculars.