P80 And E80 Compact Digital Cameras Announced

GOLDEN, CO. (August 5, 2009)…PENTAX Imaging Company has announced the latest models of two of its most popular, feature-rich, wallet-friendly compact digital cameras.  The ultra-slim and stylish PENTAX Optio P80 digital camera features a lightweight design in three fashionable colors including Black, Pearl, and Mint. The new entry-level PENTAX Optio E80 features a large, easy-to-view 2.7 inch LCD monitor, beginner-friendly controls and high resolution widescreen HD video capture.

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 E80
The PENTAX Optio E80 comes equipped with a host of user-friendly features and functions to make high-quality digital photography effortless even for first-time digital camera users. These include easy-to-press, large control buttons, the PENTAX original Auto Picture mode that automatically selects the most appropriate shooting mode for a given subject or scene and world-standard AA-size batteries as a power source. Optio E80 features include:

• 10 megapixel CCD for detailed images, large prints, and cropping flexibility.

• Large 2.7 inch, 230,000 dot LCD for accurate composition and review of still images and video.

• PENTAX 3X wide angle optical zoom lens is equivalent to 32-96mm focal length.

• High resolution, widescreen HD video capture at 720p at 15 frames per second with sound.

• ISO sensitivity up to 6400 speeds up shutter response to freeze subject movement, providing sharp images even in very dim lighting.

• Easy to read camera menus may be customized with many different language options.

• Face Detection for perfectly focused and exposed portraits.

Available in the Black, Pearl, and Mint, the Optio P80 will be available in September 2009 at $199.95 USD. Available in Silver or Black, the Optio E80 will be available in September 2009 at $129.95 USD.

More information is available at: www.pentaximaging.com.

PENTAX Imaging Company is an innovative leader in the production of a variety of digital cameras including weather resistant digital SLRs and compact, waterproof cameras, as well as lenses, flash units, binoculars, scopes, and eyepieces.  For 90 years, PENTAX has developed durable, reliable products that meet the needs of consumers and businesses.  With headquarters in Golden, Colorado, PENTAX Imaging Company is a division of PENTAX of America, Inc.

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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.

PENTAX OPTIO E80 Fact Sheet

Exceptional image quality with 10.0 effective megapixels
Combining approximately 10.0 effective megapixels with a high-performance PENTAX zoom lens, the Optio E80 delivers brilliant, high-quality images with well-defined details. Even when images are enlarged, the user is assured of detailed, high-resolution prints with edge-to-edge sharpness.

Optical 3X zoom lens covering angles as wide as 32mm
The Optio E80 features an optical 3X zoom lens covering focal lengths from approximately 31.5mm to 94.5mm (in the 35mm format). Its 31.5mm wide-angle coverage is particularly handy when photographing spectacular landscapes, magnificent architectures or group snapshots in a confined space. Coupled with the Intelligent Zoom function, which allows even tighter zooming in on the subject without compromising image quality, the user can extend the zoom range to approximately 17.1 times.

Large 2.7 inch LCD monitor for effortless image/menu viewing
The PENTAX Optio E80 features a large, bright 2.7 inch color LCD monitor with approximately 230,000 dots that allows photographers to clearly view images and menus on the screen.

Beginner-friendly operation with large buttons and large menu text
Every Optio E80 control button, including the shutter release on the top panel, is large and designed to be easy to press. Coupled with the large letters, numerals and icons used in the on-screen menus, this ergonomic design improves user operability.

High-quality HD movie recording with Movie Shake Reduction
The Optio E80 captures beautiful widescreen HD movie clips at 16:9 aspect ratio (1280 x 720 pixels at 15 fps).* The camera also features a sophisticated Movie SR (Shake Reduction) mode,** which automatically compensates for camera shake during movie shooting. As a result, the user can record high-quality, blur-free movie clips with minimal effort.
* When the Optio E80’s AV output terminal is used, movie clips are output at standard definition. If the user wishes to play back movie clips at high-definition-TV proportions (1280 x 720 pixels), the data must be transferred to a personal computer for playback.
** When the Movie SR mode is selected, the angle of view becomes narrower than normal shooting.

PENTAX Auto Picture mode for automatic selection of the ideal shooting settings
The Optio E80 features an upgraded version of PENTAX’s original Auto Picture mode, which automatically and instantly selects the most appropriate shooting mode for a given subject or scene simply by pointing the camera at the subject and pressing the shutter release button halfway down. In addition to conventional modes (Landscape, Portrait, Night Scene, Night Scene Portrait, Standard, Flower, Sport), the Optio E series now features Candlelight mode increasing the E series ability to make automatic, high-quality digital photography possible with a broader range of subjects and scenes.

Green mode assures easy shooting for beginners
With simple pushbutton operation, the Optio E80’s user-friendly Green mode automatically selects the optimum combination of exposure settings, ISO sensitivity and other factors for a given subject or scene. This mode not only makes high-quality digital photography simple and effortless, even for first-time digital photographers, but it also comes in handy when the photographer asks someone else to take his/her pictures or when the user has simply lost track of camera settings.

Powered by world-standard AA-size batteries
Powerd by two world-standard AA-size batteries available anywhere, the E80 eliminates concern about running out of power away from a recharge outlet. The highly energy-efficient design captures approximately 210 images* with a pair of fresh alkaline batteries. Newer lithium AA batteries are recommended for increased performance and power availability.
* Based on measurement conditions conforming to CIPA specifications.

Digital SR mode to minimize camera shake and subject movement in the dark
The Optio E80 features a dependable Digital SR (Shake Reduction) mode that is programmed to minimize camera shake and blur due to subject movement under low-lighting conditions in still-image shooting. When the Optio E80 detects these conditions, the camera automatically raises the sensitivity up to as high as ISO 6400 increasing the shutter speed for beautiful, blur-free still images even under unfavorable lighting conditions.

Automatic Face Detection for quick, effortless snapshots
The Optio E80 features advanced Face Detection AF & AE to automatically detect the subject’s face and optimize the focus and exposure settings. The Advanced Face Detection technology includes a Half Length Portrait mode that automatically creates a well-proportioned head-and-shoulders shot by centering the subject’s face and trimming peripheral areas.

Additional features

• Image recovery function to retrieve accidentally erased images

• Digital panorama mode to compose a single panoramic picture from as many as three images

• World-time function to keep track of local time at 75 cities in 28 time zones around the world

• Three-point AF system, with Auto-Tracking function, to maintain constant focus on a moving subject

• High-speed continuous shooting of up to 16 images in two seconds (with file size fixed at 640 x 480 pixels)

• Frame Composite mode (with 20 frames stored in the camera) to shoot or edit images using decorative photo frames

• ACDSee for PENTAX 3.0 image viewing, editing and management software included (compatible with Windows VistaTM)

• Compatibility with DPOF functions, Exif Print and PRINT Image Matching III

PENTAX and Optio 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.