DigiCamReview: Pentax Optio S7 Announced

Pentax have announced the new Pentax Optio S7 - a 7 megapixel update to the ultra compact Pentax Optio S6 reviewed here. It features a 3x optical zoom lens, a high resolution 2.5" screen, MPEG4 video, face detection focus, and blur reduction thanks to a new high ISO mode using ISO upto 1600. The camera is due to be available in September for $300.

"PENTAX Imaging Company has announced the PENTAX Optio S7 compact digital camera. The Optio S7 is the latest model in the PENTAX Optio S series, which is known for slim, stylish, full-featured digital camera bodies.

In addition to an upgrade to 7.0 effective megapixels, this model features an easy-to-use Blur Reduction High ISO mode to help reduce the effects of camera shake and subject blurring for sharper images even in dim lighting conditions such as night scenes and indoor sporting events. In this mode, the camera adjusts shutter speeds automatically to an ISO as high as 1600 to match the brightness of the subject. The higher sensitivities permit faster shutter speeds."

Click to read the full press release.

"Also featured in this newest Optio digital is Face Recognition AF & AE, a function that simplifies portrait-taking by automatically detecting the position of the subject's face and adjusting the focus and exposure based on the detected position.

Other features of the PENTAX Optio S7 include a 3X optical zoom, a high resolution 2.5 inch LCD monitor, MPEG-4 DivX® Movie Mode, and 23MB internal memory. In addition, the Optio S7 is the first compact PENTAX digital camera to accept the new SDHC (Secure Digital High Capacity) memory cards in addition to SD memory cards. SDHC (also know as SD 2.0) is a FAT32-compliant format designed for capacities up to 4GB or more.

PENTAX will ship the Optio S7 in September 2006 on a limited basis for under $300.00 US.

Stylish and slim compact body
New Blur Reduction High ISO mode reduces camera shake and subject blurring
Face Recognition AF & AE for beautiful one-step portraits
Auto-tracking AF continuously focuses on a moving subject
High-quality movies with an anti-shake function
Auto Picture mode automatically determines the best settings for the shooting conditions
The image quality of 7.0 effective megapixels permits beautiful, crisp prints even at large-format sizes
Supports the SDHC memory card for greater storage of high-quality images and longer movies
Red-eye correction available after shooting
Approximately 232,000 pixels high-resolution, 2.5 inch non-glare LCD monitor with excellent outdoor visibility
Mode Palette provides quick access to 16 shooting modes and 15 playback modes
Frequently used functions can be assigned to the Green button
Digital zooming provides up to 4X magnification
Approximately 23 MB of built-in memory
Built-in AF spotbeam (on/off switching possible)
Includes the ACDSee for PENTAX image viewer/image management software
Supports PictBridge, DPOF functions, Exif Print, and PRINT Image Matching