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PENTAX Optio S12 — A stylish compact digital camera
: January 24, 2008
January 24, 2008
: :
January 24, 2008January 24, 2008
that pursues higher image quality with an increased
approximately 12.0 effective megapixels
PENTAX Corporation is pleased to announce the release of the PENTAX
Optio S12, a stylish compact digital camera well-received for its ultra-compact
and lightweight body and featuring higher image quality with an increased
approximately 12.0 effective megapixels.Four colors—silver, black, pink, and
light blue—are available for the main body, allowing users to select a color of
their choice.
Main Features:
1. Ultra-compact body with a stylish design
The Optio S12 consists of a stylishly-designed compact body that allows the user
to carry around the camera every day like an accessory, on vacation and for
leisure, of course, and even for daily snapshots and business. While being
equipped with a 3X optical zoom lens and a 2.5-inch LCD monitor, this camera is
one of the smallest and lightest models with approximately 12.0 effective
megapixels, thanks to miniaturization of the circuit board and further high-density,
compact mounting technology.
2. Pursuit of higher image quality and higher performance with 12.0 effective
megapixels
With an increased approximately 12.0 effective megapixels, it is possible to obtain
images with ultra high definition. The Optio S12 pursues higher image quality and
higher performance through the new large 1/1.7-inch CCD with a wide light
receiving area and superior tone reproduction, a high-performance image engine
with excellent color reproducibility, and the incorporation of smc PENATX lens
that has noted for its high resolving power.
3. Face recognition function for easier photography of portraits
The Optio S12 is equipped with the “Face Recognition AF & AE” function that
automatically recognizes people’s faces and adjusts the focus, and set the
optimum settings. In addition to accelerating the detection time, the number of
people that can be recognized at once has been increased to 15 people. The new
“Face Selector” function enables the user to select one person’s face from among
multiple recognized faces.
The face recognition technology “Face Tracker” developed by FotoNation is used
for the Optio S12’s “Face Recognition AF & AE.”
4. New “Dynamic Range Adjustment” function that suppresses white outs
and black outs of images
The Optio S12 is newly equipped with the “Dynamic Range Adjustment” function
that suppresses the generation of white outs and black outs by correcting the tones
for the highlighted areas and shadowed areas of subjects with significant
differences in contrast. Through a linkage with the face recognition function,
subjects can be represented brightly even when they are photographed against the
backlight. The tones of the background, however, are automatically retained. In
addition, it is also possible to change settings in accordance with the photography
conditions.
5. Digital SR
Digital SR (shake reduction) mode reduces camera shakes and blurring of the
subject when photographing still images. The sensitivity is adjusted automatically,
to as high as the ultrahigh sensitivity of ISO 3200, to match the brightness of the
subjects. This enables for photography with fast shutter speeds, and images with
less blurs can be obtained.
6. Bright and easily viewable LCD monitor
The LCD monitor is of a high-intensity type with an LCD booster function where
it is possible to increase the brightness of the screen as necessary. The LCD cover
is coated with an AR (Anti-Reflection) coating that reduces reflections on the
screen by suppressing the reflection of outside light. With a screen size of 2.5
inches and a high resolution of 232,000 dots, it is also easy to confirm the picture
composition and the focus. Also, as the screen has a wide viewing angle of
approximately 170 degrees in the horizontal and vertical directions, images can be
viewed easily even from a diagonal angle, since there is little change in the
brightness and colors.
7. Movie recording function enabling high-quality recording for long period
of time
The Optio S12 smoothly captures movies at 30fps (frames per second) at sizes up
to 640x480 pixels with images quality rivaling camcorders. Since it employs the
DivX
®
(MPEG-4) movies format*1, the Optio S12 can record long, high-quality
movies
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8. Others
*
The Optio S12 is DivX® certified. Movie playback is not supported on Macintosh operating systems
1) “Auto picture mode” automatically determines the best setting for the
shooting conditions
2) Mode palette provide quick access to 18 shooting modes and 15 playback
modes
3) An “Intelligent zoom” function which enables images to be magnified even
larger and stored, while maintaining the image quality of optical zoom
4) A “Green button” that enables you to assign functions that are frequently
used, and recall then in just one touch
5) Date imprint function for easier image categorizing
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