The Pentax K-x is a new 12.4 megapixel mid-range DSLR camera. Featuring a newly developed CMOS image sensor, the Pentax Kx offers a wide sensitivity range between ISO 200 and 6400 (expandable to 100-12800), 2.7 inch LCD screen, Live View with three different focusing modes, and in-built Shake Reduction. Based on the compact and lightweight design of the K-m camera, the Pentax Kx can shoot HD movies at 1280 x 720 pixels at 24 frames per second, 4.7 still frames per second in high-speed continuous shooting mode, and has a high-precision 11-point AF sensor. The K-x is being launched in conjunction with the new smc PENTAX-DA L 55-300mm F4-5.8 ED super-telephoto zoom lens, which comes as part of a K-x twin lens kit package. The Pentax K-x will be available in black, white, red and blue in October for £599.99 / $599.95 with the 18-55mm DAL kit lens (also available in all four colours), and £749.99 / $849.95 with the 8-55mm DAL and 55-300mm DAL double kit lens. An additional kit with the smc PENTAX DA L 18-55mm lens and smc PENTAX DA L 50-200mm zoom lenses is available in the US for $749.95.

Pentax UK Press Release

An Entry-Class Digital SLR Camera with Sophisticated Features

PENTAX UK is pleased to announce the launch of the PENTAX K-x lens interchangeable digital SLR camera. The K-x combines a variety of advanced features and user-friendly functions to ensure an outstanding level of photographic performance within a compact, lightweight body.

The K-x design is based on the award winning PENTAX K-m, an entry-class digital SLR camera launched in October 2008 that gained popularity for its compact, lightweight body and simple, user-friendly operation. The K-x features a newly designed high performance CMOS image sensor and an upgraded filter function. It also features a whole host of advanced features and such as live view shooting and movie recording, approximately 12.4 megapixels and high-speed continuous shooting. The K-x is the perfect camera for first-time digital SLR camera users, as well as an ideal backup camera for more experienced photographers.

The K-x is launched in conjunction with the smc PENTAX-DA L 55-300mm F4-5.8 ED super-telephoto zoom lens. This zoom lens is designed to be lightweight without compromising the exceptional optical performance common to all PENTAX lenses, making super-telephoto photography easier and smoother for K-x users. The smc PENTAX-DA L 55-300mm comes as part of a K-x twin lens Kit package.

Main Features of the PENTAX K-x
1. High-quality image reproduction
(1) Approximately 12.4 effective megapixels for true-to-life image reproduction
The K-x incorporates a newly developed CMOS image sensor to assure high-speed image data read-out at varying ISO sensitivity levels. With approximately 12.4 effective megapixels, this image sensor can reproduce true-to-life images with fine detail and rich depth of colours. The K-x also offers a wide sensitivity range between ISO 200 and ISO 6400 and allows the user to expand the sensitivity range
between ISO 100 and ISO 12800 via a custom function, giving greater creative freedom.

(2) High-performance, high-speed PRIME (PENTAX Real Image Engine) II imaging engine
Thanks to new technologies supplied by Fujitsu Microelectronics Limited, this new imaging engine offers greater data processing speed and enhanced capability to produce higher-quality images with richer, more accurate colour rendition, as well as faster transmission speed of movie data.

2. Compact, lightweight body
Despite the incorporation of the large 23.6mm x 15.8mm image sensor, the K-x is one of the most compact, lightweight digital SLR cameras in its class.

3. Live View function, with Face detection of up to 16 faces
The K-x features a live view function, which allows the user to view the image on its LCD monitor during shooting. The K-x also offers a choice of three different focusing modes during live view shooting: Contrast AF, which optimises the focus based on the subject’s contrast; Face Detection AF, which automatically detects up to 16 faces, selects the main subject’s face from multiple faces, then captures it in sharp focus; and Phase Difference AF, which uses the AF sensor positioned in the camera body to optimise focus on the subject.

4. High-quality recording at 1280 x 720 pixels, with HDTV-proportion movie recording at 24 frames per second
The K-x provides a movie recording function* which captures beautiful, true-to-life movie clips in 16:9 high-definition TV proportions (1280 x 720 pixels) at a frame rate of 24 frames per second. This extends the benefits of high-quality SLR photography to the world of movie shooting.

5. PENTAX-original SR mechanism for sharp, blur-free images
The K-x features the PENTAX-developed SR (Shake Reduction) mechanism. This innovative mechanism extends its benefits to almost all PENTAX interchangeable lenses - even those designed for film-format cameras.** Thanks to this mechanism, the K-x produces sharp, blur-free images even under demanding conditions prone to camera shake, such as when using a telephoto lens, shooting in the dark without a flash illumination, and taking pictures of sunset scenes.

** Lenses compatible with this mechanism: PENTAX K-, KA-, KAF-, KAF2- and KAF3- mount lenses; screw-mounted lenses (with an adapter); and 645- and 67-system lenses (with an adapter). Some functions may not be available with certain lenses.

6. High-speed continuous shooting at approximately 4.7 images per second
The K-x’s high-speed continuous shooting mode records as many as 17 images (in JPEG recording format) at a maximum speed of approximately 4.7 images per second - the fastest of all entry-class models. The K-x also features a new, reliable shutter unit, which proved its dependability and ruggedness through a demanding action test of more than 100,000 shutter releases. Its top shutter speed of 1/6000 second allows the photographer to preserve sharp, crisp images of fast-moving subjects.

7. Innovative image processing functions to produce distinctive photographic expressions
(1) Digital filter function
The K-x’s digital filter function allows the user to process recorded images in a variety of creative ways within the camera and produce highly creative visual expressions. With a choice of 16 different filters, the user can even apply different filters one after another to a single image to create more personalised visual effects.

(2) Cross process mode
The K-x features the new cross process mode, in which the camera automatically and randomly shifts photographic parameters for each exposure to create eyecatching images with unique, fanciful colours — just like pictures treated with the cross process*** in film photography.

*** A film development technique that takes advantage of unconventional film developers to create a distinctive finishing touch with intriguing colours.

8. High-precision 11-point AF sensor
The K-x’s high-precision, wide-frame SAFOX VIII autofocus system features 11 sensor points (with nine cross-type sensors positioned in the middle) to automatically capture even off-centered subjects in sharp, crisp focus. The photographer can also select one of the sensors as a focusing point to accommodate specialised applications.

9. Other features
(1) Energy efficient circuit design for longer battery life, capable of capturing approximately 1,900 images with four AA-size lithium batteries
(2) Custom Image function to create unique finishing touches
(3) DR (Dust Removal) mechanism to eliminate annoying dust spots on recorded images and visually check for the adhesion of dust to the image sensor
(4) 2.7-inch, high-resolution colour LCD monitor with approximately 230,000 dots
(5) Auto Picture mode for effortless, automatic selection of the most appropriate shooting mode, even during Live View shooting
(6) HDR (high dynamic range) function to create one composite image with an extra-wide dynamic range from three images with different exposures
(7) White balance control, featuring a new CTE mode to emphasise the colour components of sunset scenes
(8) Status screen for easy, at-a-glance confirmation of various settings on the LCD monitor
(9) Ten scene modes, with selection via simple icons
(10) Automatic compensation of distortion and lateral chromatic aberration (available only with DA and D FA series lenses)
(11) PENTAX Digital Camera Utility 4 software package, with RAW-data processing and browser applications

Major Features of the smc PENTAX-DA L 55-300mmF4-5.8ED lens
1. A lightweight super-telephoto zoom lens for focal lengths between 84.5mm and 460mm (in the 35mm format)
2. ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass optical elements to assure true-to-life image descriptions and faithful colour renditions through effective compensation of chromatic aberrations over the entire zoom range.

Pricing
K-x with kit lens 18-55mm DAL: £599.99.
K-x with double kit lens 18-55mm DAL + 55-300mm DAL: £749.99

Availability
September 2009

PENTAX K-x Specifications
Type TTL autofocus, auto-exposure digital SLR digital-still camera with built-in retractable P-TTL auto pop-up flash
Effective Pixels approx. 12.4 megapixels
Image Sensor Total pixels approx. 12.9 megapixels
Type CMOS with a primary colour filter
Size 23.6mm x 15.8mm
Recorded Pixels Still Picture JPEG: [12M] 4288x2428 pixels, [10M] 3936x2624 pixels, [6M] 3072x2048 pixels, [2M] 1728x1152 pixels
RAW: [12M] 4288x2428 pixels
Movie [0.9M] 1280x720, 16:9, [0.3M] 640x416, 3:2
Sensitivity (Standard output sensitivity ) Auto, Manual: 200-6400 (1EV steps or 1/2EV steps or 1/3EV steps)
Bulb mode: up to ISO1600, Could be expanded to ISO 100-12800
Recording
Format Still Picture RAW ?Original/DNG), JPEG (Conforms to Exif 2.21), Conforms to DCF (Design rule of Camera File system) 2.0
Movie Motion JPEG (AVI) 24FPS
Image Formats JPEG - Baseline (Three star: Best, Two star: Better, One star: Good)
RAW (12bit) (PEF, DNG )
RAW+JPEG: available
Storage Media SD memory card , SDHC memory card
White Balance Auto, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Tungsten Light, Fluorescent Light (W, D, N, L (Light Bulb) ), Flash, CTE, Manual setting, with WB fine adjustment
Viewfinder Type Fixed moulded penta-mirror type
Focusing screen Natural-Bright-Matte II focusing screen
Field of view approx. 96%
Magnification approx. 0.85X (with 50mm F1.4 lens, infinity, -1m-1)
Diopter adjustment approx. -2.5 - +1.5m-1
Live View Type TTL by Image sensor
Display Enlargement (2X, 4X, 6X in case of AF mode, 2X, 4X, 6X, 8X, 10X in case of MF mode), Grid pattern, white/black out warning display, Histogram display
Autofocus Mode Contrast detection + Face detection / Contrast detection / Phase difference detection
Monitor Type TFT colour LCD monitor, Brightness adjustable, Wide angle view
Size 2.7 inch
Dots approx. 230,000 dots
Preview
Method Optical/Digital preview *This function can be allocated to green button through Menu.
Playback Single frame, 4-image display, 9-image display, 16-image display, 36-image display, Zoom display (up to 16 times, scrolling possible), Image comparison, Rotating, Folder, Calendar, Slideshow, Histogram, Bright/Dark area, Resize, Trimming, Index
Digital Filter Rec. mode: Toy camera, High contrast, Soft, Star burst, Retro, Extract colour, Fish eye, Custom
Playback: Toy camera, High contrast, Soft, Star burst, Retro, Extract colour, Illustration(Pastel, Water colour), Fish Eye, HDR, B&W, Sepia, Colour, Slim, Miniature, Brightness, Base Tweaking, Custom
Focusing
System Type TTL phase difference detection, 11-point wide autofocus system (SAFOX VIII)
Focus Mode AF.A(auto), AF.S(single, with focus lock), AFC(continuous)*, Manual focus* Auto Picture and Picture mode: only when the Action mode is selected.
* Scene mode: only when the Kids, Pet, Stage lighting and Night snap mode are selected.
* P/Sv/Tv/Av/M/B: AF.A, AF.S or AF.C selectable
Focus Point 5-point auto, 11-point auto, AF point select, Centre AF assist lamp available (by Built-in Flash)
Exposure
Control Metering System TTL open-aperture 16-segment metering (coupled with lens and AF information)
Metering Mode (1) Multi-segment metering (2) Centre-weighted metering (3) Spot metering
Exposure Range EV1-21.5?Standard Output Sensitivity 200 50mmF1.4?
Modes (1) Auto Picture mode (2) Picture mode (3) Scene mode (4) Program AE (5) Sensitivity-Priority AE (6) Shutter-Priority AE (7) Aperture-Priority AE (8) Metered Manual (9) Bulb
Picture mode Portrait, Landscape, Macro, Action, Night scene portrait, Standard Flash-Off
Scene mode Night Scene, Surf & Snow, Food, Sunset, Kids, Pet, Candlelight, Museum, Stage lighting*, Night snap* *The image is fixed to only JPEG.
Exposure
Compensation ±3EV (0.5EV steps or 0.3EV steps)
Auto-bracketing 3 frames within range of ±0.5EV, ±1.0EV, ±1.5EV (0.5EV steps) or ±0.3EV, ±0.7EV, ±1.0EV (0.3EV steps)
AE Lock This function can be allocated to AF button in Menu.
Shutter Shutter Type Electronically controlled vertical-run focal plane shutter
Shutter Speed Auto: 1/6000 - 30 sec. and bulb, Manual: 1/6000 - 30 sec., and bulb
Drive Modes Continuous shooting
Single-frame , Continuous (Hi, Lo), Self-timer (12s, 2s), Remote control (0s, 3s), Auto bracket
approx. 4.7 fps, sequence: 17 frame (JPEG and Continuous (Hi)) 5 frame (RAW)
approx. 2 fps , sequence: until the memory card becomes full (JPEG and Continuous (Lo)) 11 frame (RAW)
Built-in Flash Type Built-in retractable P-TTL pop-up flash
Guide number approx. 16 (Standard Output Sensitivity 200/m) 12 (Standard Output Sensitivity 100/m)
Angle of view
coverage 28mm wide-angle (equivalent to 35mm)
Flash Exposure Compensation -2 EV - +1EV (1/2EV steps)
Flash Synchronisation
Hot shoe, sync-speed: 1/180 sec., P-TTL, high-speed-sync, wireless-sync with PENTAX dedicated flash
Image
Stabiliser Type Image sensor shift mechanism, Max 4 steps
Dust Removal Type Image sensor moving mechanism and SP Coating
Time World Time 75 cities (28 time zones)
Data Folder Folder Name Date (100_MMDD???), PENTX (100PENTX, 101PENTX???)
Power
Sources Four AA (lithium, alkaline, and rechargeable Ni-MH) batteries
Optional AC adapter also available.
Battery Life
Number of recordable images
(Lithium)
approx. 1900 (Normal Recording)*2 , 1100 (50% use Flash)*1
Playback time approx. 680 minutes*2
Number of recordable images
(Ni-MH 1900mAh)
approx. 640 (Normal Recording)*2 , 420 (50% use Flash)*1
Playback time approx. 390 minutes*2
Number of recordable images
(Alkaline)
approx. 210 (Normal Recording)*2 , 130 (50% use Flash)*1
Playback time approx. 350 minutes*2
Interfaces USB/Video
USB 2.0 (HI-SPEED)
Video Output Compatible with NTSC and PAL formats
Lens Mount PENTAX KAF2 bayonet mount
Usable Lens PENTAX KAF3-, KAF2-, KAF-, and KA-mount lenses
* Power zoom function is not available. K-mount lenses usable with restrictions.
S-mount lenses, 67/645 lenses usable with adapter and with restrictions.
Dimensions approx. 122.5(W) x 91.5(H) x 67.5(D)mm (4.8 x 3.6 x 2.7 inches)
Weight approx. 515g (18.2 oz.) without battery and SD memory card
approx. 580g (20.5 oz.) loaded and ready with lithium battery and SD memory card
approx. 615g (21.7 oz.) loaded and ready with alkaline battery and SD memory card
Included
accessories USB cable I-USB7, Strap O-ST53, AA lithium battery 4pcs. , CD-ROM S-SW99
Eyecup FQ , Hot shoe cover FK, Body mount cover
Bundle
software PENTAX Digital Camera Utility 4.0

*1 Recording capacity shows approximate number of shots recorded during CIPA-compliant testing.
Actual performance may vary depending on operating conditions.
*2 According to the result of PENTAX in-house testing.

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