Go to:
Previous Item
Current News
Next Item

Pentax's Optio 330 digital camera. Courtesy of Pentax. Pentax announces tiny new 3mpix digicam!
By
(Tuesday, May 29, 2001 - 18:32 EDT)

Pentax Optio 330 is the smallest three megapixel, 3x optical zoom digicam...

As promised earlier, we have now added Pentax' newly announced Optio 330 digital camera to our database. The camera is incredibly small, for a 3 megapixel unit with 3x optical zoom - in fact a quick check in our database suggests that it is more than 1/3 smaller than its nearest competitor, Fuji's FinePix 6800 Zoom - which is 61% larger by volume. In fact, the camera even beats Canon's PowerShot S300 for size by some 7% despite having a 3 megapixel CCD instead of the Canon's 2 megapixel unit!

Other impressive features of the Optio 330 include a stainless steel chassis, some manual functionality (ISO, white balance, focus, and possibly exposure although we're not sure on this last), a choice of metering options (multi, center-weighted, spot), movie capability, histogram for checking exposure, infra-red remote control, and more. One particularly interesting point is that the camera has the ability to set 'alarm' times on the built-in clock, and take a picture at that time - something we can't remember seeing on a digital camera before.

Specifications highlights for the Pentax Optio 330 follow:

Specification Highlights - full specifications here
Pentax Optio 330
Pentax's Optio 330  digital camera, front view. Courtesy of Pentax.
General
Model Number: Optio 330
Camera Format: Ultra-compact
Price: Street ¥95,000 (US$791)
Date Available: Mid-July 2001
Image Capture
Image Sensor: 0.55" 3.34 megapixel RGBG CCD
Image Resolution: 2048x1536, 1024x768, 640x480
Lens
Focal Length (effective): 37-111 mm (3x optical zoom)
Digital Zoom: 2x
Auto Focus: Yes (TTL Contrast Detect type)
Manual Focus: Yes
Normal Focus Range: 40 cm to Infinity; 16.3 in to Infinity
Macro Focus Range: 14 - 50 cm; 5.7 - 20.4 in
Aperture Range: f/2.6 (wide) / f/4.8 (tele) - ???
Display
Optical Viewfinder: Yes (Real image opt. zoom w/diopter)
LCD Viewfinder: Yes (1.6 inch)
Exposure
ISO Settings: Auto, 100, 200,
White Balance Settings: Auto, Sun, Shade, Incandescent, Fluorescent, Manual
Manual White Balance: Yes
Shutter Speeds: 15 - 1/2000 second
Exp Adj Range: +/- 2.0EV in 1/3EV steps
Metering Modes: Multi, Center-weighted, Spot
Exposure Modes: Auto, 'manual'
Self Timer (seconds): 10
Flash
Internal Flash: Yes
Flash Modes: Auto, Fill, Off, Slow-Sync (all with/without red-eye reduction)
Flash Range Description: Unknown
Ext Flash: No
Image Storage
Flash Memory: CompactFlash Type-I
Memory Included (MB): 8
File Formats: JPEG (EXIF v2.1), AVI (OpenDML MotionJPEG)
More Information
Weight: 205 g; 7.2 oz
Weight With Batteries? No
Size: 92 x 59 x 31mm; 3.6 x 2.3 x 1.2in
Notes & Features: Lens has 7 elements in 6 groups, 2 with double aspheric surfaces. Stainless steel chassis. Automatic lens cover incorporated into camera body. As well as the self-timer and remote control, shutter can be triggered by one of three 'alarm' times set off the camera clock. Internal clock can be set to one of 62 preprogrammed cities worldwide. Remote control works from up to 5 meters in front of the camera, and triggers shutter after 3 seconds. Histogram feature allows user to check for accurate exposure on LCD screen. Bundled with strap, battery, charger, AC cord, video cable, USB cable, software CD-ROM. Optional accessories include camera case O-CC2 and AC adapter kit K-AC2J. Price estimate based on Japanese price of ¥95,000.
 

Source: Pentax website

Go to:
Previous Item
Current News
Next Item

Powered by Coranto