Pentax Optio S6 Compact Digital Camera - Press Release

[Photo-John]

PENTAX ANNOUNCES SLIMMEST DIGITAL CAMERA IN OPTIO LINE

GOLDEN, Co. (August 31, 2005)…PENTAX Imaging Company has announced the slimmest member of the Optio S series of stylish digital cameras. The PENTAX Optio S6 digital camera features 6.0 megapixels, an innovative powerful 3X zoom Sliding Lens system, and the slim dimension of just 7/10 of an inch thick.

“Slim is still in, and the Optio S6 offers the slimmest PENTAX digital body available,” Ned Bunnell, director of marketing, PENTAX Imaging Company. “PENTAX continues to pack features into the stylish Optio S series and preserve the slim, tiny design that makes these cameras small enough to fit into a breath mint tin,” added Bunnell.

An innovative design approach in the Optio S6 contributes to the camera’s compact dimensions. Glass-molded aspherical lenses that are concave on both sides, a thinner CCD and other advances help reduce the depth of this model by a fifth on an inch. The camera also incorporates engineering expertise with high-density mounting and the strategic use of internal space so that substance and style blend perfectly in the PENTAX Optio S6. These factors combine to reduce the thickness of the Optio S6 by 1/5 inch of the previous Optio S models.

While the PENTAX Optio S6 dimensions have slimmed down, the camera’s generous 2.5 inch LCD monitor offers low reflection with a built-in backlighting mechanism so images may be viewed clearly even outdoors in sunny weather. As a result, the Optio S6 makes it easy to compose shots, playback recorded images for confirmation and select functions with smooth menu navigation.

PENTAX will ship the Optio S6 in October 2005 for under $350 US.

PENTAX Imaging Company is an innovative leader in the production of digital and film cameras, scopes, eyepieces, 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. With headquarters in Golden, Colorado, PENTAX Imaging Company is a division of PENTAX of America, Inc.

[Photo-John]

Slimmest PENTAX Dimensions
A fresh approach to the design of the lens unit including the PENTAX Sliding Lens system* helps slenderize the Optio S. Glass-molded aspherical leanses that are concave on both sides, a thinner CCD, a fully flat backside of the lens unit and other advances help decrease the entire lens unit from .9 inch to .7 inch (2mm). High-level engineering expertise has been applied to influence the dimensions of the body including high-density mounting and the strategic use of internal space
*The Sliding Lens system is a proprietary PENTAX lens system that offsets the central lens groups from the optical lens axis and retracts the lens in two steps in the cylinder for minimized overall body depth.

Large, Easy-To-View LCD Monitor
The Optio S6 incorporates a large, 2.5 inch LCD monitor with the clarity of 232,000 total pixels. A Beau-Reflective® monitor (low-reflection type) with a built-in backlighting mechanism offers clear viewing even outdoors in sunny weather making it easy to compose shots, playback recorded images for confirmation and select functions with smooth menu navigation.

High Image Quality
Featuring a 1/2.5 inch primary color CCD, the Optio S6 delivers outstanding 6.0 effective megapixel performance. It also boasts an smc PENTAX lens that makes use of PENTAX original coating to achieve minimized ghosting and flare, a high-performance ASIC* that delivers refined image processing, and new improved noise reduction with the power to deliver true-to-life color gradation and rich texture, even at high sensitivities.
*Application Specific Integrated Circuit.

Mode Palette Displays Icons Simultaneously
An innovative, translucent Mode palette displays multiple mode icons for shooting and playback on the LCD monitor to allow users to select from the diverse range of 15 shooting mode icons and 14 playback icons while viewing the image on the screen.

Stylish, Quality Design
Featuring the fine, subtle spindle treatment of the Optio S series camera, the aluminum alloy exterior of the Optio S6 features a plated grip and lustrous accents around the lens area for overall elegance. For convenience, all connectors and battery compartment are grouped on one side to minimize protrusions and maintain the clean, attractive lines. Stylish and slim, the Optio S6 is equally ideal for travel, leisure, snapshots and business use.

Movie Anti-Shake Function For High-Quality Action
Offering movie shooting with 640x480 recording pixels at a swift rate of 30fps (frames per second), the Optio S6 delivers smooth movies with camcorder quality. The Optio S6 also offers the advantage of DivX MPEG-4* image compression that makes it possible to shoot movies of a longer duration, while a useful movie Anti-shake** function makes results noticeably more stable.
* Movie playback is not supported by Macintosh.
** Selection of the movie anti-shake function results in an angle of view narrower than that experienced in normal shooting.

Tracking AF
For subjects on the go, the Optio S6 features Tracking AF* to follow subjects that move around the frame and still maintain precise focusing for pin-sharp results. This mode is automatically activated upon selection of Sport and Pet modes.
* Tracking AF continually detects both horizontal and vertical movement of the main subject to ensure sharp focus at the desired moment. Confirmation of the focus area can be done on the focus frame on the LCD monitor.

Other Features

• High-speed continuous shooting at up to 1.6 frames per second
  
• Approx. 23MB built-in memory; SD memory card compatible
  
• Candlelight mode allows high-sensitivity shooting at Standard Output Sensitivity of 800
  
• Built-in AF spotbeam (on/off switching possible)
  
• Frame composite function allows frames to be added at time of shooting
  
• Pan focus function for easy snapshots
  
• Convenient image rotation function for easy confirmation of vertical shots
  
• Standard image viewer, ACDSee for PENTAX software
  
• FotoNation’s red-eye compensation function for flash shots
  
• UBS2.0 (HI-SPEED) compatible
  
• DPOF function, Exif Print, and PRINT Image Matching III compatible
  
• PictBridge compatible