Pentax Imaging Company has released details of two new 6.1-megapixel DSLR cameras with a new naming system that harks back to its traditional cameras plus a new wide-angle lens.

 

May 22, 2006: Pentax Imaging Company has released details of two new 6.1-megapixel DSLR cameras with a new naming system that harks back to its traditional cameras plus a new wide-angle lens.

The new K100D model features a proprietary Shake Reduction (SR) system that minimises camera shake by oscillating the CCD image sensor vertically and horizontally at high speed using magnetic force, while adjusting the speed of oscillation in proportion to the amount of camera shake detected by a built-in sensor. This eliminates the need for image stabilised optics and allows the camera to be used with existing Pentax K-, KA-, KAF- and KAF2-mount lenses.

Released concurrently with the K100D is the K110D, an entry-level digital SLR camera, which has all of the features of the K100D except for Shake Reduction. Both models are designed to photographers moving up from a point-and-shoot camera and feature a super-compact, ultra-lightweight body and penta-mirror viewfinder. They also include Pentax’s SAFOX VIII autofocus system, which uses 11 sensor points (with nine cross-type sensors) to achieve sharp focus, even with off-centre subjects. The in-focus sensor point is automatically superimposed in red in the viewfinder. Other noteworthy features include support for P, Tv, Av, M and B shooting modes, ISO settings to 3200 and a new Auto Picture Mode, which automatically and instantly selects one of the four Picture modes – including Portrait, Landscape and Macro.

Both cameras have the same 23.5mm x 15.7mm CCD and large, 2.5-inch colour LCD monitor on the rear panel, which allows viewing from over 140 degrees. The colour scheme between the menu listings and the background is optimised for each menu screen to assure at-a-glance confirmation, even under varying shooting conditions. Top shutter speed is 1/4000 second and the burst mode can record five shots at approximately 2.8 frames per second. Image files are stored on an SD card and both cameras are powered by AA batteries.

Both models will ship with the Pentax smc 18-55mm lens and a software package consisting of Pentax Photo Laboratory 3 (with the Silkypix image-processing engine for RAW data processing) and the Pentax Photo Browser 3 which can convert RAW images to the DNG format.

Pentax will also release the smc Pentax DA 21mm F3.2 AL Limited interchangeable wide-angle lens, which was previewed at PMA in February. Featuring an ultra-thin ‘pancake’ design, this new lens is ideal for casual, day-to-day snapshot photography. For more information, visit www.pentaxslr.com. Pentax cameras are distributed in Australia by C.R. Kennedy & company (www.crkennedy.com.au).