PENTAX INTRODUCES SECOND GENERATION DUNKABLE DIGICAM

OPTIO43WR FEATURES 4 MEGAPIXELS, ZOOM LENS, FASTER MOVIE AND A QUICK START MODE FOR ACTION SHOTS

GOLDEN, Colorado (March 8, 2004)  PENTAX U.S.A., Inc. has announced a second generation fully-immersable* digital camera—the new Optio43WR.  Featuring 4.0 effective megapixels, a powerful 2.8X zoom lens, and a JIS Class 7 waterproof rating that keeps the Optio43WR watertight even when the camera is rinsed, splashed or submersed in water.*  So, go ahead and dunk the Optio43WR!  The latest PENTAX Optio digital camera is the perfect companion for outdoor photography in rain, snow or a day at the beach. 

*The Optio43WR may be immersed up to three feet for less than 30 minutes but should not be operated underwater.

The Optio43WR is compact and fast.  Measuring 3.2 x 3.0 x 1.2 inches, it weighs 7.3 ounces.  A new quick start setting allows users to switch on the power in less than a second prior to shooting, and a new snap shooting mode ensures sharper results from consecutive action shots.  The Optio43WR features a new high-speed CCD and innovative image processing circuitry to record movies at the high resolution of 640 x 480 pixels, and the movie quality has been enhanced with 30fps (frames per second) performance*.  Movies now may be recorded to the full capacity of your chosen memory media.

*A high transfer speed SD card is required.

The camera hosts a variety of impressive features also found on other PENTAX Optio digital products including:  movie mode with sound and voice memo, built-in flash, a high-precision 1.6 inch LCD monitor, an optical viewfinder, and a diverse range of shooting modes including program, landscape, night scene, night scene portrait, surf and snow, portrait, sunset, flower, fireworks, snap (automatic pan) and macro modes.

The Optio43WR power sources include two AA alkaline batteries or optional CR-V3 lithium batteries and AC adapter.  As with all newer PENTAX Optio digital cameras, the Optio43WR includes the latest version of ACDSee? 5.1 software.  With a $150 value, ACDSee? digital camera software makes it easy to retrieve, view, manage,  print, enhance and share your digital photos.  The Optio43WR will ship along with the software to major camera retailers in June 2004. 

PENTAX U.S.A., Inc. is an innovative leader in the production of digital and film cameras, binoculars, lenses, mobile printers, scanners and internet cameras.  For more than 80 years, PENTAX technology has developed durable, reliable products that meet the needs of consumers and businesses.  PENTAX U.S.A., INC. is a wholly owned subsidiary of PENTAX CORPORATION.

PENTAX OPTIO43WR Facts
The power of 4.0 effective megapixels and a 2.8 optical zoom lens

Despite the rugged design, the Optio43WR captures delicate detail with 4.0 effective megapixels, while the 2.8X zoom lens (equivalent to a 37-104mm lens in 35mm format) captures both expansive scenery shots and tightly composed portraits without protruding from camera body.  When combined with the 4X digital zoom, the optical zoom offers a total 11.2X zoom power with smooth lever operation.

Waterproof Design
Go ahead and dunk the Optio43WR!  The camera features a rust-resistant metal interior, rubber sealants, and lens protection that opens up a new world of photographic potential.  Users may shoot in rain, in snow, by the pool, or on the beach to capture outdoor scenes and adventure.  The JIS Class 7 waterproof rating confirms the Optio43WR will remains watertight even when the camera is rinsed, splashed and immersed in water.* 

*The Optio43WR may be immersed up to three feet for less than 30 minutes but should not be operated underwater.

Quick Response  
The Optio43WR features two new functions to ensure faster response especially for action shots.  A Quick Start setting allows users to switch on the power within 0.9 seconds prior to shooting with the press of the shutter release button.  In addition, a special Snap mode ensures sharp results from action shots with a release lag of just 0.05 seconds* from one shot to the next.  Additionally, the Optio43WR makes it easy to change modes by requiring only a single touch to switch from shooting to playback or back to shooting mode. 

*Time taken from the moment when the shutter release is fully depressed following focus lock to the moment the shutter opens, when the flash is switched off.

Powerful movies* mode offering 640 x 480 recording pixels at 30 fps with audio
A new high-speed CCD and innovative image processing circuitry in the Optio43WR records movies at the high resolution of 640 x 480 pixels that is higher than most digital cameras in a similar class.  Movie quality has been enhanced with 30fps performance (double the conventional rate)*.  Movies may be recorded to the full capacity of your chosen memory media.

*To record movies at 30fps, an SD card with a high transfer speed is required. Recorded movies can be viewed using ACDSee for PENTAX (on systems with QuickTimeTM installed).

Wide-ranging shooting modes
An array of 12 shooting modes are available on the virtual mode dial on the LCD display for easy access:

?      Program mode allows you to take control over a combination of functions at once.
?      Landscape mode captures the grandeur of spacious settings and emphasizes the shades of land and sky.
?      Night scene mode enhances scenes with nighttime illumination.
?      Night scene portrait mode captures detail in low natural light, with a flash that highlights the foreground.
?      Portrait mode captures natural looking skin tones for more flattering results when shooting people.
?      Surf mode counteracts the negative effects of water reflection on images and provide appropriate exposure throughout the frame.
?      Snow mode presents metering challenges and this mode helps avoid the effects of excess reflection.
?      Flower mode captures the natural detail, color, and beauty of flowers.
?      Fireworks mode helps capture the vivid color and excitement of fireworks.
?      Snap mode allows you to capture your subject in an instant with the assurance of automatic pan focusing.

Movie mode allows users to select recording pixels from a choice of 640 x 480, 320 x 240, or 160 x 120 and control the frame rate between 30fps and 15fps.  The color selection offers full color, B&W, and Sepia shooting, and all files are stored in MOV format for easy playback on PC. 

Panorama Assist mode captures expansive scenes and allows horizontal or vertical images to be combined, these can then be aligned and combined on a PC using the simple-to-use software provided.

Digital filters Add a creative flair to existing images with a choice of ten options including black and white, sepia, red, pink, purple, blue, green, yellow, soft and brightness. Such capability allows the user to emphasize the mood of different scenes. Select purple to add impact to sunset shades, add brightness to darker shots, or experiment with different filters for a wide range of imaginative results.

Playback message
Record voice or other sounds to a still image or movie and provide a playback message for others.  A special red light signal notifies others of the image.

Built-in flash
In addition to automatic flash in low-light conditions, the built-in flash of the Optio43WR features Flash-on, Flash-off modes, slow shutter sync and a red-eye reduction function* that improves the quality of portraits taken at night.

*This feature does not eliminate ?red eyes? in all instances.

Handy LCD monitor
The 1.6-inch monitor simplifies composition, and the Optio43WR boasts accelerated image processing to allow   a refresh rate of 1/60th of a second.

Optical viewfinder
A viewfinder offering actual image zoom allows you to conserve power by switching off the LCD monitor.

Nine image/zoom display
Speed the search for recorded shots as the Optio43WR displays nine recorded images at once.  Each image may also be magnified 8X to check for focus and detail.

White balance modes
To ensure appropriate white balance in varying situations, the Optio43WR offers auto, daylight, shade, tungsten, and fluorescent light settings, or it offers a manual setting so you may experiment with settings for different results.

Metering options
Just as there are many different kinds of lighting situations, the Optio43WR offers a range of metering options. Simply select from Spot metering, Multi-segment metering, and Center-weighted metering to achieve the optimal results for the subject at hand.

Sensitivity settings
Light sensitivity can be adjusted to suit your aims or circumstances, with a choice ranging from equivalent to ISO50 for minimized noise, to ISO100, 200, and 400 equivalence.

Exposure compensation
Exposure compensation across a range of ?2EV in steps of 1/3EV makes it easy for the user to take a series of shots of a subject, select the one that best suits their tastes, then delete the rest.

Settings for sharpness, saturation, and contrast
With three grades of settings for sharpness, saturation, and contrast, the Optio43WR offers an exceptional amount of control over each and every shot.

Macro mode
Macro mode allows the user to shoot from as close as 1cm from the subject, filling the frame with small objects such as stamps, for example, when the zoom is at the wide-angle setting.

Interval shooting
Just select the start time, the duration of the interval between shots, and the number of frames?and the Optio43WR will operate to achieve a set of images to portray the slow-moving processes.

Multiple continuous shooting
With a press of the shutter release, capture four consecutive shots of your subject and view them on one frame to capture all the action in one image.

Convenient self-timer
A handy self-timer allows users to join group shots and minimize camera shake in low light settings.

More convenient features
Customization function
Not only can a recorded image be used as the start-up screen or as the screen that accompanies the alarm function, but background images for the menu screen may be selected from six preset images. Select from three sounds to accompany start-up, shutter release, and button operation and record your own favorite sounds for use with the self-timer and alarm functions.

Resize function
Resizing reduces image data size and saves recorded shots to free up space for more shots.  The smaller files may overwrite larger versions or be saved as separate files, and the resized images make ideal e-mail attachments.

Trimming
The Trimming function crops unwanted elements from recorded images, overwrites the new image on the old, and retains and stores any important sections as individual files.

Voice memo function
Attach recorded sound to your favorite images. 

Histogram display
The histogram display helps users evaluate each scene by displaying light levels during shooting and playback.

Alarm with snooze function
A handy alarm can be set to sound with the display of a select image to wake you with a friendly face or an important schedule reminder.