Digital Camera Review

GOLDEN, CO. (October 1, 2007) — PENTAX Imaging Company has announced the PENTAX Optio A40, the latest model in the Optio A series of advanced compact digital cameras with superior image quality and performance. Featuring 12 megapixels, this latest Optio features three types of Shake Reduction including mechanical, digital and movie. Each version helps deliver sharp, blur-free shots where camera shake is an issue such as action photography or in low light conditions at dawn, dusk or at night. The Optio A model also features the newest Face Recognition technology including a Natural Skin Tone mode and a Half-length Portrait mode, which automatically takes a head and shoulder photograph of subjects.

Key Features Include:

• 12.0 megapixel CCD
• 3x optical zoom lens
• Triple Shake Reduction technology
  SR, Digital SR, and Movie SR
• Enhanced Face Recognition AF/AE
• Dynamic Range Adjustment
  Properly exposes highlights and shadow areas to show more detail
• 2.5″ Wide View LCD with Bright Mode
• High-quality DivX® Movies (640×480, 30fps)
• Auto and Manual exposure modes with shutter priority mode
• Intelligent zoom enhanced digital zoom
• Ultra compact and lightweight design

The Optio A40 will ship in October 2007 for US $299.95.

Features

12.0 megapixels for higher image quality and enhanced performance
The Optio A40 marks PENTAX’s first 12.0 megapixel digital camera for ultra high-definition images. Equipped with a high resolution 1/1.7 inch CCD for a wider light receiving area that is superior in tone reproduction and a new image engine that offer excellent color reproduction.

Three types of anti-shake functions to suit any photography situation

• Mechanical Shake Reduction
  The Shake Reduction (SR) mechanism is unique to PENTAX, and corrects camera shake when photographing still images by shifting the image sensor (CCD) horizontally and vertically in relation to the amount of shake that the high-accuracy gyro sensor detects. Shake Reduction technology used in PENTAX’s digital SLR cameras is applied to the Optio A40 for highly corrective effects that are equivalent to shutter speeds of approximately 2.5 to 3.5 stops.
• Digital Shake Reduction
  Digital SR (Shake Reduction) mode automatically adjusts sensitivity, to an ultra-high sensitivity of ISO 3200 according to the brightness of the subject, and effectively reduces camera shake and subject blurring when photographing still images. With fast shutter speeds, photography with reduced blurring is available.
  *Recording size is fixed at 5M (2592×1944 pixels) when “Digital SR” is selected.
• Movie Shake Reduction *
  The Movie SR function electronically reduces camera shake exclusively during the shooting of movies. This function uses software to effectively correct distortions in images caused by camera shake during the capturing of movies.
  *When using “Movie SR”, the field of view is narrower than during normal recording.

Face Recognition AF&AE function that improves portrait photography
The Optio A40 is equipped with a Face Recognition AF&AE function* that automatically detects and focuses on faces. In addition, the Optio A40 also comes with new functions that apply face recognition technology, such as “Natural Skin Tone” mode, which smoothly captures skin texture based on the detected information, and “Half-length Portrait” mode,** which automatically takes a head and shoulders photograph of people recognized in photo frame. *This camera’s “Face Recognition AF&AE” function uses the Face Tracker face recognition technology from FotoNation.
**Recording size is fixed at 3M (2048×1536 pixels) when “Half-length Portrait” is selected.

New Dynamic Range Adjustment function captures a wider exposure range
The Optio A40 is newly equipped with a Dynamic Range Adjustment by correct tones for highlight or shadowed areas of a subject with significant differences in contrast. Even when photographing people with sun in the background, the new function highlights subjects and maintains background tones.

Bright and easy-to view LCD monitor
This LCD monitor is a high intensity type equipped with an LCD booster that adjusts the brightness of the screen even when viewed outdoors. The 2.5 inch size and high resolution of approximately 232,000 pixels makes it easy to confirm picture composition and focus quality. With a wide viewing angle, the screen may be viewed easily since there is little change in brightness and colors even when looking at the monitor diagonally.

3X optical zoom and 6X digital zoom for a maximum of 17.9X magnification
The Optio A40 features a 3X optical zoom lens with a focal range covering angles of view equivalent to those of a 37-111mm lens in 35mm format, which is ideal for a broad spectrum of subjects from landscapes to portraits. The zooming power increases to 17.9X zoom capability when combined with 6X digital zoom.

Video recording function with high-quality recording for extended capture
The Optio A40 smoothly captures movies at 30fps (frames per second) at sizes up to 640×480 pixels with image quality rivaling camcorders. Equipped with DivX® (MPEG-4) movie format,* the Optio A40 records long, high-quality movies. *The Optio A40 is DivX® certified. Movie playback is not supported on Macintosh operating systems.

Additional Features

• Users can freely choose Shutter-Priority AE mode and Manual Exposure mode, depending on the effect they are aiming to achieve
• An Intelligent Zoom function enables images to be magnified, while maintaining the image quality of optical zoom
• Auto Picture mode automatically determines the best settings for the shooting conditions
• Mode palette provides quick access of 18 shooting modes and 15 playback modes
• Approximately 21.0 MB of built-in-memory
• Compatible with SD memory cards and SDHC memory cards
• FotoNation’s red eye compensation function for flash shots
• Includes the ACDSee for PENTAX 3.0 image viewer/image management software that support Windows Vista™
• Supports PictBridge, DPOF functions, Exif Print, and PRINT Image Matching III

Sensor

• Type: 1/1.7″ Interline Transfer CCD w/ primary color filter
• Effective pixels: 12MP
• Total pixels: 12.4MP
• Recorded resolutions
  Still: 12M (4000×3000), 10M (3648×2736), 7M (3072×2304), 5M (2592×1944), 3M (2048×1536), 1024 (1024×768), VGA (640×480)
  Movie: VGA (640×480), QVGA (320×240)
• Quality Levels: *** (Best), ** (Better), * (Good)

Lens

• smc Pentax 3x Optical Zoom Lens
• Focal Length (equivalent): 37-111mm
• Aperture: f/2.8-5.4
• Intelligent zoom: 3.3x (10M), 3.9x (7M), 4.6x (5M), 5.7x (3M), 11.4x (1024), and 17.9x (VGA)
• Digital Zoom: Approx. 6x
• Combined Zoom: Approx. 17.9x

Image Stabilization

• Photos: Sensor Shift Shake Reduction, Digital SR Mode (ISO 3200 at 5MP)
• Movies: Movie SR

LCD / View Finder

• LCD screen: 2.5” TFT color LCD with LCD Bright Mode, 50 FPS refresh
• LCD resolution: 232,000 pixels
• Wide angle viewable: YES, 160° horizontal and vertical
• Optical viewfinder: None

Focus System

• 5-Point TTL contrast detection autofocus
• AF assist lamp
• Manual Focus: Yes
• Macro Focus: Yes (macro and super macro)
• Focus Lock: Yes (1/2 shutter press)
• Focus Range: 1.15′ to infinity (Macro: 0.39′ – 1.31′ | Super Macro: 0.20′ – 0.49′)

Metering System

• Type: TTL
• Multi-segment: YES
• Center weighted: YES
• Spot: YES
• Exposure compensation: +/- 2 EV in 1/3 steps

ISO Sensitivity

• Auto: 50-800 (3200 in Digital SR, 5MP), auto range selectable
• Manual: 50, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600 (3200 in Digital SR, 5MP)

White Balance

• Auto Preset Modes: Auto, Daylight, Shade, Tungsten,Flourescent
• Manual Modes: Yes

Shutter

• Type: Programmed AE Electronic lens shutter w/ CCD electronic shutter
• Shutter Speed: 1/2000 to 4 seconds

Capture Modes

• Mode selection: Auto Picture (Normal, Night Scene, Landscape, Portrait), Program, Shutter Priority, Manual, Natural Skin Tone, Half-length Portrait (3MP), Night Scene, Movie, Voice Recording, Landscape, Flower, Portrait, Kids, Digital SR (5MP), Surf & Snow, Sport, Pet, Text, Food, Frame Composite (3MP), Dynamic Range Adjustment
• Green simplified mode available: YES
• Face recognition available: YES, recognize up to 15 faces in all capture modes
• P/A/S/M/B: P, S, M
• Date stamp: YES (not available in Green Mode)
• Digital filters (capture): n/a

Drives Modes

• Mode selection: one shot, self timer (10s, 2s), continuous, remote control (3s, 0s), multi-exposure (5MP)
• Continuous shooting: approx 1.25 FPS
• Self-timer: YES, 10 sec, 2 sec
• Remote control: infrared, 3 sec, 0 sec (remote optional)

Playback Mode

• Mode Selection: one shot, index (9 thumbnails), magnification, movie playback, sound playback, histogram, select/delete, calendar
• Mode Palate: slideshow, resize, trimming, image/sound copy, image rotation, color filter, digital filter, brightness filter, movie edit, redeye edit, voice memo, protect, DPOF, startup screen, frame composite
• Magnification: up to 8x, scrollable
• Digital Filter Effects: color filters (13), digital filters (5), brightness filter
• Movie edit: save as still image, divide movies, extract movies

File Formats

• Still: JPG (EXIF 2.2), DCF, DPOF, Print Image Matching III
• Movie: AVI (DivX with MPG-4), 30 FPS w/ sound, movie anti-shake
• Sound: WAV (PCM), monaural

Flash

• 5 Flash Modes (On/Off/Auto/Redeye/Soft flash)
• Effective Range: 23′ (Wide) to 11′ (TELE) with auto ISO

Storage Media

• 21MB Internal Memory
• Removable Memory Support: SD, SDHC

Interfaces

• USB 2.0 High Speed
• Audio/Video Out
• Video Out Supports NTSC & PAL
• DC In
• Printer Interface: PictBridge Support

Computer System Requirements*

*For device connectivity. Bundled software requirements may vary.
• Windows: Windows 2000/XP/Vista, USB port
• Mac: MacOS 9.2, MacOS-X (10.1.2 or later), USB port

Inside the Box

Optio A40, USB Cable I-USB7, AV Cable I-AVC7(B), Rechargeable Li-Ion Battery D-LI68, Battery Charge Cradle D-BC68(C), AC Plug Cord, Strap O-ST20, Software CD-ROM S-SW68

Optional Accessories

AC Adapter Kit K-AC63U, Battery Charger Kit K-BC68(1), PTX-210-LHM Leather Case, PTC-L45 Small Nylon Case, Remote Control E (w/ zoom), Remote Control F, Optio Extended Warranty (2 year)

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