Pentax Optio P80

August 6, 2009 | Zoltan Arva-Toth | Digital Compact Cameras | Comment |

The twelve-megapixel Pentax Optio P80 is the latest model of the popular Optio P series of digital compact cameras, and features HD video capture in a slim, lightweight body with a 27.5-110mm equivalent 4x zoom lens. Other highlights include shake reduction (though not of the mechanical kind), extra-quick face detection, smile capture and an Auto Picture mode that automatically selects the scene mode it thinks is best for any given shot.Pentax have allegedly improved the Face Detection AF & AE function on the P80 to now capture subject faces from an angle; and a more responsive version of the Auto-Tracking AF function helps keep an active subject in constant focus. The Optio P80 will be available in Black, Pearl and Mint in September 2009 at $199.95 USD.

Pentax Press Release

PENTAX Optio P80

The new Optio P80 is the latest model of the popular Optio P series of digital compact cameras, and features a slim, lightweight body with advanced features including:

•  12.1 megapixel CCD for detailed images, large prints, and cropping flexibility.
•  PENTAX 4X wide angle optical zoom is equivalent to 27.5-110mm focal length.
•  Large 2.7 inch LCD with 230,000 dot resolution for accurate composition and playback of still images and video.
•  High resolution, widescreen, HD video capture up to 720p at a full-speed 30 frames per second.
•  PENTAX Shake Reduction (SR) technology features Pixel Track SR, Digital SR, and Movie SR to stabilize images and video for beautiful, blur-free results.
•  Fast Face Detection technology sees up to 32 faces in as little as 0.03 seconds for easy portrait photography. 
•  Smile Capture automatically captures pictures when your subject smiles, and Blink Detection alerts you if your subject’s eyes are closed during the exposure.
•  PENTAX Auto Picture mode automatically selects from eight shooting modes for beautiful images in any setting.
•  Sensitivity up to ISO 6400 boosts shutter speeds to freeze subject movement for blur-free images even in low lighting.

PENTAX improved the Face Detection AF & AE function on the P80 to now capture subject faces from an angle. And, a more responsive version of the Auto-Tracking AF function helps keep an active subject in constant focus. 


PENTAX Optio P80 FACT SHEET

Stylish, ultra-slim camera body
The Optio P80 sports a compact, ultra-slim body that is ideal for travel, events and day-to-day activities.  With a high-grade aluminum-alloy housing and delicately contoured chrome-plated design, the Optio P80 offers a stylish, elegant finish.  PENTAX’s innovative Sliding Lens System* and space-efficient high-density mounting technology contribute to the small, compact, lightweight body. Just over one-half inch at its slimmest point, the Optio P80 features an optical 4X zoom lens and a large 2.7 inch LCD monitor.

* PENTAX-original lens storage mechanism, in which the central lens groups are offset from the optical axis and the entire lens is stored in vertical steps into the lens cylinder. As a result, the overall lens length at the fully retracted position is greatly reduced, contributing to a reduction in body depth.

High image quality
Combining approximately 12.1 effective megapixels with the PENTAX-developed imaging engine and high-performance PENTAX zoom lens, the Optio P80 delivers brilliant, high-quality images with well-defined details. Even when images are enlarged, the photographer is assured of sharp, high-resolution prints with edge-to-edge sharpness.

Optical 4X zoom lens for excellent zoom coverage from wide angle to telephoto
The ultra-slim Optio P80 comes equipped with an optical 4X zoom lens covering focal lengths from 4.9mm to 19.6mm (equivalent in the 35mm format to approximately 27.5mm wide angle to 110mm telephoto). This wide zoom range is perfect for a wide variety of subjects and scenes from spectacular landscapes to group and indoor shots in a confined space.

Greatly improved Automatic Face Detection
The Optio P80’s Face Detection AF & AE function is greatly improved.  In addition to automatic detection of up to 32 faces in a mere 0.03 seconds, the function now detects a subject facing the camera from an angle or with a tilted head. Other features that help photographers produce better portraits with minimal effort include:
•  A Smile Capture mode, which automatically releases the shutter the moment the camera detects the subject’s smile;
•  A Blink Detection function, which warns the photographer when the subject’s eyes close at the time of shutter release;
•  A new Small Face filter, which makes the subject’s face appear smaller than reality in relation to the body, without compromising the overall balance of a portrait.

High-quality, widescreen HD movie recording
The Optio P80 captures beautiful widescreen HD movie clips at 16:9 aspect ratio (1280 x 720 pixels)* at a frame rate of 30 frames per second.
* When the Optio P80’s AV output terminal is used, movie clips are output at standard definition. If the user wishes to playback movie clips at high-definition proportions (1280 x 720 pixels), the data must be transferred to a personal computer for playback.

Triple anti-shake protection to prevent different types of camera shake
Pixel Track SR mode
  When recording still images, the Optio P80’s Pixel Track SR (Shake Reduction)
  mode effectively compensates for camera shake by processing affected images.
High-Sensitivity SR mode*
  When it detects low-lighting conditions in still-image shooting, the Optio P80
  automatically raises sensitivity to as high as ISO 6400, making it possible to
  use a higher shutter speed. This effectively minimizes the adverse effects of
  camera shake and subject motion blur under poor lighting conditions.
Movie SR mode**
  During movie recording, the Optio P80 prevents blurry video by effectively
  minimizing annoying camera shake through the use of exclusive software.

*When the High-Sensitivity SR mode is selected, the recorded size is fixed to 5M (2592 x 1944 pixels).
** When the Movie SR mode is selected, the angle of view becomes narrower than normal shooting.

Additional features
•  Vertical Snap mode to capture vertical-position images with the same ease
of operation as a mobile phone
•  Auto Picture mode to automatically select one of eight shooting modes
for the optimum result
•  A variety of digital filters, including the new retro Toy Camera filter,
to add distinctive visual effects to recorded images
•  Dynamic Range adjustment to prevent overexposed and underexposed areas in images
•  Favorites function to save reduced-size files of favorite images in the camera
and recall them at will
•  Digital Wide mode to create a panoramic, ultra-wide-angle picture
(equivalent to an image taken with an approx. 20mm lens in the 35mm format)
from two images
•  Frame composite function (with 90 frames stored in the camera) to shoot
or compose images with decorative photo frames
•  Image recovery function to recover accidentally erased images

PENTAX, Optio and smc PENTAX are trademarks of HOYA CORPORATION.
All other brands or product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.
This product supports PRINT Image Matching III. PRINT Image Matching enabled digital still cameras, printers and software help photographers to produce images more faithful to their intentions. Some functions are not available on printers that are not PRINT Image Matching III compliant.
Copyright 2001 Seiko Epson Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
Print Image Matching is a trademark of Seiko Epson Corporation.
The PRINT Image Matching logo is a trademark of Seiko Epson Corporation.
Design and Specifications are subject to change without notice.

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