Pentax announced a brand new digital SLR, a new SLR lens and two new Optio compact cameras today. They’re all pretty interesting if you asked me – the Pentax K-r digital SLR has a feature set similar to mid-range class SLRs while sporting a more affordable ‘entry-level’ price. The Optio RZ10 is Pentax’s first attempt at the compact super-zoom camera market (As far as my memory can recall) while the entry-level Optio RS1000 introduces interchangeable faceplates (just like what you could do with some Nokia phones from ages ago).
Pentax K-r
(Entry-level digital SLR camera)
- 12.4 effective megapixels (APS-C CMOS sensor, 1.5X crop)
- Pentax lens mount (1.5X crop factor)
- Sensor-shift image stabilization
- 3 inch LCD (921,000 pixels)
- ISO speed range of 100 – 25600
- 0.85X optical viewfinder magnification with 96% frame coverage
- 6 FPS continuous shooting mode (12 RAW or 25 JPEG)
- Built-in wireless flash control
- Full manual controls with RAW mode and live view
- 720p HD (1280 x 720) movie mode with sound
- Supports IrSimple infrared transfer and has various image effects you can play around with
- SD/SDHC memory card slot
- Uses a lithium-ion battery; can take 4 AA batteries using optional adapter
- Available in October for $800 (body only), $850 (with 18-55 mm kit lens), $900 with (18-55 mm and 50-200 mm lenses) and $1000 (with 18-55 mm and 55-300 mm lenses)
- Comes in your choice of black, white or red
Pentax also introduced a new lens today, which is the 35 mm f2.4 AL prime lens. That’ll go for $220 once it becomes available next month.
Pentax Optio RZ10
(Compact super-zoom camera)
- 14 effective megapixels
- 28 – 280 mm (f3.2 – f5.9) 10X optical zoom lens
- Sensor-shift image stabilization
- 2.7 inch LCD (230,000 pixels)
- No manual controls (just point-and-shoot operation with scene modes)
- 720p HD (1280 x 720) 30 FPS movie mode with sound
- Takes SD/SDHC memory cards
- Uses a lithium-ion battery
- Available in October for $220
Pentax Optio RS1000
(Compact camera)
- 14 effective megapixels
- 28 – 110 mm (f3.2 – f5.9) 4X optical zoom lens
- Interchangeable faceplates/skins, camera is bundled with 11 of them, and you can custom-make your own
- 3.0 inch LCD (230,000 pixels)
- No manual controls (just point-and-shoot operation with scene modes)
- In-camera panorama mode
- 720p HD (1280 x 720) 30 FPS movie mode with sound
- Takes SD/SDHC memory cards
- Uses a lithium-ion battery
- Available in October for $150