PENTAX Press Release 12/05/04

OptioMX Delivers Digital Still Images And High Resolution Movies At An Affordable Price

GOLDEN, Colorado (May 12, 2004) - PENTAX Imaging Company announced it will ship the first PENTAX combined high resolution digital camera and video movie camera, the OptioMX, in June 2004.  The innovative, palm-sized OptioMX features 3.2 effective megapixels and 10X optical zoom to capture still images and high resolution (VGA) full-motion movies on MPEG-4 format with zoom capability. The camera will be available for $399.95.

The PENTAX OptioMX offers a new concept in digital imaging by delivering high-quality digital still images and movies. With advanced design and compact dimensions, the OptioMX features a large 1.8 inch LCD monitor that swivels 180 degrees horizontally and 210 degrees vertically to capture images and movies from new and exciting angles. The versatile and ergonomic handle grip of the OptioMX rotates 180 degrees to accommodate a broad range of shooting positions.  The OptioMX is compatible with an SD memory card.

With 3.2 effective megapixels and 10X optical zoom, the OptioMX will capture high quality still images, while the MPEG-4 compatibility will capture as much as 120 minutes of high resolution movies.  Despite a dual role as both a still and movie camera, the OptioMX features the compact dimensions of all PENTAX Optio digital cameras.  The compact size allows this versatile camera to travel everywhere and capture scenes and action whenever opportunities arise. 

The OptioMX power source is one CR-V3 lithium or an optional rechargeable lithium-ion battery.  As with all PENTAX Optio digital cameras, the OptioMX includes the latest version of both ACDSee? 5.1 as well as ACD ShowTime!, the newest software for PENTAX that allows users to edit video files.  At a combined value of more than $150, the ACDSee makes it easy to edit, retrieve, view, manage, print, enhance and share your digital photos and video. 

PENTAX Imaging Company 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 Imaging Company is a division of PENTAX of America, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of PENTAX Corporation of Japan.

Main Features
- 3.2 effective megapixels, a primary color filter and advanced imaging technologies help achieve images with high clarity and brighter, more natural tones.
- A powerful 10X optical zoom incorporates an smc PENTAX 5.8mm ? 58mm lens. Comprised of 8 groups of 12 elements, the lens offers a focal range covering angles of view equivalent to those of a 38mm ? 380mm lens in 35mm format so users create a variety of shots ranging from wide-angle to telephoto. Combined with a 10X digital zoom, the camera features a combined zoom capacity of 100X.
- The easy-to-use OptioMX requires just a touch of a button for shutter release to capture still images, to capture movie, or playback recorded still and movie images. 
- The compact, streamlined style offers a comfortable, rotating grip that offers accurate control of the two way zoom speed control to make it easier to use the expansive 10X optical zooming.
- Enhanced movie functions offer MPEG-4 recording so the OptioMX can record extended movies with the quality of 30fps in VGA (640 x 480 pixels) in a choice of 640 x 480, 320 x 240, and 160 x 120 recording pixels.
- Imaging quality and frame rate can also be selected from a choice of Best, Better, and Good, and 30fps and 15fps.

Easy selection of shooting modes
The OptioMX offers an array of shooting modes accessible through selections on a mode dial.

Users may choose from a variety of modes including PICT (picture mode), P (program mode), Tv (Shutter-priority AE), Av (Aperture-priority AE), M (Metered Manual) and voice recording mode.

Picture mode includes 10 choices ? landscape, flower, portrait, self-portrait, surf & snow, sunset, night scene, soft, Illustration and Panorama Assist.

- Landscape mode captures a genuine sense of space in scenic shots and is designed to enhance the different shades of land and sky.
- Flower is designed to bring out the vivid colors and intricate details of flowers.
- Portrait carefully controls exposure in order to emphasize natural and healthy skin tone.
- Self-portrait allows self-portraits or you to join a shot with friends. The mode ensures sharp results and pleasing skin tone despite shooting at an arm?s length.
- Surf & snow counteracts strong reflections of light off water or snow.
- Sunset captures the warmth and romantic beauty of sunrise and sunset scenes.
- Night scene captures the mood of nighttime illumination with a slow shutter speed of up to 4 sec.

Noise reduction is activated automatically to maintain a higher quality of image, as is Slow shutter sync when exposing a foreground subject against nighttime illumination.

- Soft mode softens the subject edges to achieve a pleasing, warm effect.
- Illustration modifies images to resemble hand drawn.
- Panorama Assist allows consecutive of an expansive scene to be taken horizontally or vertically following the camera?s instructions and then aligned and combined on a PC using the simple-to-use software provided.

Program mode allows users to control a combination of functions.

TV mode allows users to manually select the desired shutter speed while the camera automatically sets the appropriate shutter speed.

AV mode allows users to manually select the desired aperture while the camera automatically sets the appropriate shutter speed.

M mode allows users to manually select both shutter speed and aperture as desired.

Voice recording mode records audio sound in combination with the still images or movies

Additional features
Eight digital filters including B&W, sepia, red, pink, purple, blue, green and yellow digital filters can add a different mood to recorded images.  The digital filter function can also be easily accessed via the menu, or even assigned to the OK button for easy activation anytime.

Auto bracketing enables users to automatically alter exposure, white balance, sharpness, color saturation and contrast in three different steps to create customized images.

PictBridge compatibility on the OptioMX offers a new direct-print standard released by the CIPA (Camera and Imaging Products Association).  With PictBridge, the OptioMX can be connected directly to a printer via USB cable to offer control over printing, resizing, trimming, digital filters, and other functions without a PC.

More OptioMX convenient features
- USB mass storage class compatibility (The OptioMX is equipped with USB2.0 port)
- Built-in retractable auto flash
- High-clarity, low-reflection LCD monitor with new glare control
- 10X digital zoom (can be combined with 10X optical zoom for an amazing 100X capacity)
- Nine-image and Zoom display
- Convenient self-timer (10 or 2 seconds delayed release)
- Continuous shooting
- Time-lapse movie (X2, X5, X10 recording speeds for 30fps display rate, and X2, X5 for 15fps display rate)
- Macro mode and Infinity-landscape mode (10 to 50cm (wide-angle setting) and 60 to 150cm (telephoto setting) from the subject for macro, 0 to 15cm (wide-end setting) for super macro)
- Manual focus
- Options for autofocus (spot & 5-point AF)
- White balance settings (Auto, Daylight, Shade, Tungsten, Fluorescent light, manual)
- Histogram display
- 3 choices for metering (multi-segment, center-weighted, spot)
- Sensitivity settings (value equivalent to ISO 100, 200, 400)
- Exposure compensation (?2EV in steps of 1/4)
- Settings for sharpness, saturation, and contrast
- Image protection
- Mode memory function
- World time function
- DPOF compatibility
- ExifPrint and PRINT Image Matching II* compatibility

*This product supports PRINT Image Matching II. When used in combination, PRINT Image Matching II enabled digital still cameras, printers, and software help photographers to produce images more faithful to their intentions.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.

- SD memory card compatibility
- Resize function
- Trimming
- Voice memo function (up to 30 seconds)
- AV (video/audio) output terminal
- Power sources (CR-V3, optional rechargeable lithium ion battery, optional AC adapter)
- Operation in 9 languages
- High-level customization
- Screen effects

Optional accessories
- Wide conversion lens (a focal range covering angles of view equivalent to those of a 28.5mm lens in 35mm format)
- Carrying case
- AC adapter kit
- Rechargeable lithium ion battery
- Power source kit