onds. The camera is the latest in the company’s M (midrange) series of enthusiast cameras, and is designed for snapshooters who shoot in a variety of situations and demand top quality, but are not familiar with traditional exposure controls. Clad in a textured aluminum alloy shell, the camera is said to have an advanced auto picture mode that lets the camera automatically analize the scene before it and choose the appropriate scene mode–Landscape, Portrait, Night Scene, Night Scene Portrait, Standard, Flower, or Sport. U.S. pricing and availability have not yet been announced.
For details, read the Pentax Japan press release:
PENTAX Optio M60 — A standard-class digital compact camera
that supports diverse photography, with further enhanced and convenient functions
to leave photography up to the camera, such as scene mode recognition
from among 8 shooting scenes, the most in this series
HOYA CORPORATION PENTAX Imaging Systems Division is pleased to announce the launch of the new PENTAX Optio M60, a standard-class compact digital camera that is also lightweight and equipped with advanced basic functions. The Optio M60 can be used widely by many different kinds of people in a variety of scenes, and is equipped with the latest scene mode recognition function that allows for even more easy and convenient photography of high-quality images.
This product is the latest model in the PENTAX Optio M series of compact digital cameras highly acclaimed for their small, lightweight bodies and enhanced basic functions. In addition to a metal exterior that gives off a sense of sophistication, an optical 5X zoom, a large and easily-viewable LCD monitor, and easy-to-understand operability, the effective pixel count has been increased to approximately 10.0 megapixels. Furthermore, the Optio M60 has been finished as a model that enables for easier and more beautiful photography by leaving it up to the camera to take photos, such as through a strengthening of the face recognition function and further advancement of the convenient “Auto Picture” function unique to PENTAX, where the camera automatically detects the conditions of the subject and selects the optimal scene mode. The camera also comes in 3 different colors, allowing users to select their favorite color.
Major Features
Advanced Auto Picture mode that lets the camera automatically select the scene mode
Further improvements have been made in the recognition performance of the Auto Picture mode, which is a convenient function unique to PENTAX where the camera automatically selects the optimal scene mode simply when the camera is pointed at the subject. Through the addition of Candlelight to the conventional scene modes of Landscape, Portrait, Night Scene, Night Scene Portrait, Standard, Flower, and Sport, a total of 8 scenes can be recognized with the Optio M60, which is the most in this series. It is now possible to leave everything up to the camera and take photos of a wider variety of scenes easily and beautifully.
High-speed Face Recognition function of approximately 0.03 seconds
The Optio M60 is equipped with the Face Recognition AF & AE function, which is useful when taking photos of people, as it automatically sets the focus and exposure. In addition to an increase in the number of faces that can be detected at once to 32 people, the detection time has also been made faster, to approximately 0.03 seconds at the fastest. The Optio M60 also comes with application functions such as Smile Capture, which automatically distinguishes smiles and takes photos, and Blinking Detection, which is a function where the camera warns the photographer if the subject blinked at the moment the shot was taken.
New design that pursues a sophisticated texture
The Optio M60 comes in a new design that is particular down to the texture of the detailed parts. Aluminum alloy, which has a sophisticated texture, is used for the body’s exterior. Different colors are used for the decorative ring around the lens to match the body color. By using shiny, plated parts with luster for the grip and the upper surface of the body, the Optio M60 resembles a piece of accessory through its beautiful brilliance as well as its elegant design.
Optical 5X zoom lens
Inside a compact body that fits into the palm of a hand, the Optio M60 is equipped with an optical 5X zoom lens where an angle of view equivalent to approximately 36mm to 180mm in 35mm format can be obtained. It is now possible to zoom in further when taking photos of landscapes, commemorative photos, and portraits. The Optio M60 also comes with an Intelligent Zoom function that extends the zoom range without compromising the optical zoom’s image quality, enabling for high-magnification zoom photography equivalent to a maximum of approximately 28.5X.
High sensitivity Digital SR mode that reduces camera shakes and subject blurring
The Optio M60 features the Digital SR (shake reduction) mode, which can reduce camera shakes and subject blurring during still-image photography. This mode automatically adjusts the sensitivity up to a maximum of ISO 6400 in accordance with the subject’s brightness to permit a fast enough shutter speed to capture a sharp, clear image with little blurring.
Approximately 10.0 effective megapixels for high-definition images
For the Optio M60, the effective pixel count was increased to a higher definition of approximately 10.0 megapixels. In addition, clear and high-quality images are realized through a high-performance PENTAX lens. Clear prints, even of detailed areas, are possible even when photos are stretched out to large sizes.
Other features
• Large, 2.5-inch LCD monitor of approximately 230,000 dots, with a wide viewing angle for easy viewing even from diagonal directions
• Digital Wide mode merges two shots into one image in the camera for ultra-wide-angle expressions equivalent to a focal length of approximately 28mm in 35mm format
• Panorama mode for composing photographs into one panoramic picture
• Movie recording function with shake reduction enabling high image quality rivaling camcorders
• Mode palette provides quick access to 24 shooting conditions and 15 playback mode
Frame composite function allows photographers to shoot and create images with decorative frames%3B 80 built-in styles to choose from
• Auto-Macro allows for close-up photography as near as 10cm without changing the normal focusing mode
• Date and Time imprint function for easy image categorizing
• Approximately 36.5MB of built-in memory
• FotoNation’s red-eye compensation function for flash shots
• Includes the ACDSee for PENTAX 3.0 image viewer/image management software that supports Windows Vista™
• Support PictBridge, DPOF functions, Eixf Print, and PRINT Image Matching III
