Pentax Europe announces new Optio cameras!
By
Mike Tomkins
(Monday, June 3, 2002 - 16:36 EDT)
LetsGoDigital.nl gets the scoop on the latest offerings from the Japanese manufacturer...
The folks over at LetsGoDigital.nl, the bilingual Dutch/English website, have today posted news of two upcoming cameras from Pentax which have been rumored around the 'net for a while now. The Pentax Optio 330 and 430 cameras are being replaced with slightly updated models, the Optio 330RS and 430RS. Camera size and weight are essentially identical to the previous models; 92 x 59 x 31mm, and 240 grams with battery. Changes include: - New acrylic ring extends halfway around the base of the lens, as a design detail to indicate the new models. (Color is blue for the 330RS, and orange for the 430RS).
- Improved LCD display; same size (1.6") as previous models, but higher resolution (80,000 pixels)
- Improved shot-to-shot speed
- 3D image mode, similar to the Optio 230 (camera assists with taking two images which are then printed side-by-side for parallel viewing with an included plastic viewer).
- 11MB internal memory added, on top of existing CompactFlash Type-I storage
- Multi-Chip Module (MCM) integrates CPU, ASIC and built-in memory to reduce camera size
- New "Easy View" function allows use of the central button on the four-way controller in playback mode (we're presuming they mean that you can scroll through thumbnails with the controller, then select which image to view in full-size)
- Pressing the shutter button returns the camera to record mode, regardless of whether you're in a menu or viewing images in playback mode
- "Digital Filter" mode applies tints to an image, similar to what can be achieved with filters on a film camera. Choices are monochrome, sepia, red, pink, yellow, green, light blue, blue and purple. There's also a "slimming" filter with varying strengths, which presumably stretches the image in one direction slightly.
The Pentax Optio 330RS will apparently sell in Europe for €649 (US$608, ignoring tax/duty/exchange rate fluctuations). Pricing for the Optio 430RS hasn't been disclosed, but both cameras will be available in Europe this month. For more including further photos of the cameras, visit the LetsGoDigital.nl news item. Thanks to LetsGoDigital for providing us with the images used in this news item...
 |  | Pentax's Optio 330RS (top) and 430RS (bottom) digital cameras.
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Source:
LetsGoDigital.nl
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