14 DAY TRIAL // The consumer electronics market might not get visibly larger now that a new Pentax camera appeared, but users will no doubt give it a close look at least once, considering what parts it is made of.
Like all other areas of the IT industry, the consumer electronics market is getting bigger and better every day.
The segment of cameras, photos and projectors definitely isn't bound to keel over and die any time soon, for instance, not with new items showing up so often.
As it happens, in this case it is Pentax that is making the news, having invented and formally detailed the Optio RZ18 digital camera.
Of the compact variety, this point-and-shoot camera does not really take special pains to be affordable, focusing, instead, on high performance and image quality.
The 16-megapixel sensor is no doubt the main element behind its prowess, although the advanced zooming capability is nothing to skip over either.
Indeed, the newcomer boasts 18x optical zoom which, coupled with the multiple Shake Reduction (SR) image stabilization options (sensor-shift SR), ensures image sharpness under almost any lighting conditions.
Among the assets of the camera is a fairly large LCD (liquid crystal display), of 3 inches in diagonal, whose resolution is of 480 x 320 pixels.
Pentax also threw in automatic shooting modes (Auto Pictures, scene), as well as special effects and the ability to record widescreen HD video in 720p at 30 frames per second.
Furthermore, buyers will find advanced 9-point autofocus with a 4cm super macro mode, as well as face detection, for focused and exposed portraits (even includes a pet recognition feature).
All the elements described above are packed inside a fairly compact frame, for “outstanding portability and inconspicuous use.”
Prospective buyers will be able to select between black, pearl white and metallic orange color options once sales start next month (October, 2011), for $299.95.