The Pentax OptioS6 digitial camera is announced. The Pentax S6 has a 6 megpaixel sensor and 3x optical lens, housed in a slim 19mm body. Available from September 2005, the Pentax Optio S6 will retail for less than £300.

Pentax Press Release

An Iconic Design Boasting the Smallest and Lightest Dimension in its Class - Introducing the Optio S6
Incorporating a newly developed 3x optical zoom lens, the Pentax OptioS6 features 6.0 megapixels, a large 2.5 inch LCD and the most stylish body of any digital camera

Pentax proudly presents its newest model in the classic Optio range, the OptioS6. In adopting an entirely new approach to lens design, the OptioS6 boasts a 3x optical zoom, housed in a body with a depth of just 19mm. Yet despite being so exceptionally slim, the OptioS6 delivers the shooting performance of 6.0 effective megapixels. Targeted at photographers of all levels, the OptioS6 offers users all the benefits of cutting edge digital technology and world leading optics, all encased in a body that exudes style and engineering excellence.

Delivering outstanding performance, compact dimensions and understated style, the latest addition to the award winning Optio S family brings yet more functionality to a camera that has set the benchmark for compact zooms in terms of size, weight and ease of use. Available from September 2005, the Optio S6 will retail for less than £300.

Major features
1. A new design for new, slimmer dimensions
A fresh approach to the design of the lens unit including the Pentax Sliding Lens System* has enabled the OptioS6 to be created with exceptionally compact dimensions. In fact, through the use of glass-moulded aspherical lenses which are concave on both sides, a thinner CCD, a lens unit that is completely flat on the back and other advances means, it has a depth that is a full 2mm thinner than Pentax’s conventional unit. High-level engineering expertise has also influenced the dimensions of the body, with high-density mounting and the strategic use of internal space realising a body depth of only 19mm.
*Pentax’s proprietary lens system which offsets the central lens groups from the optical lens axis and houses the lens in two steps in the lens cylinder for minimized overall body depth.

2. Large, easy-to-view LCD monitor
Despite its new slim body design, the OptioS6 incorporates a large, 2.5-inch LCD monitor that offers the clarity of 232,000 total pixels. And because it is a Beau-Reflective monitor (low-reflection type) with a built-in backlighting mechanism, it can be viewed easily and clearly even outdoors in sunny weather. As a result, the OptioS6 makes it easy to compose shots, playback recorded images for confirmation and select functions through smooth menu navigation.

3. High image quality
Employing a 1/2.5 inch primary colour CCD, the OptioS6 delivers outstanding 6.0 effective megapixel performance. It also boasts an smc PENTAX lens that makes use of Pentax’s original coating to achieve minimised ghosting and flare, a high-performance ASIC* that delivers refined image processing, and new improved noise reduction with the power to deliver true-to-life colour gradation and rich texture, even at high densities.
*Application Specific Integrated Circuit.

4. Mode Palette displays all icons at once
The Mode palette enables the display of multiple mode icons for shooting and playback on the LCD monitor simultaneously - a factor that has earned it praise on other Optio models for the level of operational ease this entails.

On the OptioS6, it allows the user to select from the diverse range of 15 shooting mode icons and 14 playback icons in an instant. And because the Palette mode display is translucent, the user can make his or her selection while still being able to view the image on the screen.

5. Stylish design that exudes a sense of quality
Featuring a combination of fine spindle treatment, a unique blast process effect, and a metal band at its upper end, the aluminium alloy exterior of the OptioS6 exudes a sense of high quality while also feeling attractive to the touch. Plated parts have been added for the grip and the area surrounding the lens - adding an appealing luster which accentuates the camera’s overall elegance. And the connectors and battery compartment have all been grouped together on one side to minimise protrusions and maintain the clean, attractive lines. Stylish enough to be worn as an accessory, yet delivering the power to take impressive images, the OptioS6 is equally ideal for travel, leisure, snapshots and business use.

6. Movie anti-shake function for high-quality action
Offering movie shooting with 640x480 recording pixels at a swift rate of 30fps (frames per second), the OptioS6 delivers smooth movies with camcorder quality. The OptioS6 also offers the advantage of DivX MPEG-4* image compression that makes it possible to shoot movies of a longer duration, while a useful movie anti-shake** function makes results noticeably more stable.
* Movie playback is not supported by Macintosh.
** Selection of the movie anti-shake function results in an angle of view narrower than that experienced in normal shooting.

7. Tracking AF
Not all subjects are willing to stand still and say “Cheese!” Fortunately, the OptioS6 features tracking AF* which can track a moving subject around the frame, while maintaining precise focus for pin-sharp results. Adding further convenience, this mode is automatically activated upon selection of Sport and Pet modes.
* Tracking AF continually detects both horizontal and vertical movement of the main subject to ensure sharp focus at the desired moment. Confirmation of the focus area can be done on the focus frame on the LCD monitor.

8. Other features
1) High-speed continuous shooting at up to 1.6 frames per second
2) Approx. 23MB built-in memory; SD memory card compatible
3) Candlelight mode allows high-sensitivity shooting at a Standard
Output Sensitivity of 800.
4) Built-in AF spotbeam (on/off switching possible)
5) Frame composite function allows frames to be added at time of
shooting
6) Pan focus function for easy snapshots
7) Convenient image rotation function for easy confirmation of vertical
shots
8) Standard image viewer, ACDSee for PENTAX software
9) FotoNation’s red-eye compensation function for flash shots
10) UBS2.0 (HI-SPEED) compatible
11) DPOF function, Exif Print, and PRINT Image Matching III compatible
12) PictBridge compatible