14 DAY TRIAL // Pentax's X-5 digital camera may just be one of the best examples of how far image stabilization technologies have come and how much better cameras in general are compared to last century.
When portable cameras were made, and especially when digital models were created, blurry images were a problem.
It often forced people to place the device on a fixed surface in order to prevent even the smallest hand trembling from ruining a shot.
The problem was only compounded by the zoom function. The more one zooms in, the more pronounced distortions get.
That is why, today, the better the zoom function, the more precise the image stabilization has to be.
Pentax X-5 is, shall we say, one of the cameras that do this right. Featuring a 26x zoom, where even 10x is considered a more than decent, the camera also has two distinct shake reduction systems.
One of them is a mechanical sensor-shift shake reduction mechanism, while the other is a digital check reduction mode for still photos and movies.
“The new X-5 features classic PENTAX styling. It is the ideal compact travel companion for photo enthusiasts who want a digital camera with them wherever they go that’s capable of taking every type of image from gorgeous portraits, to scenic landscapes to extreme close-ups and more,” said John Carlson, sr. manager of Sales and Marketing, PENTAX.
Thanks to the 16-megapixel resolution (ISO 6400), Pentax X-5 can record full HD resolution video at 30 frames per second, using h.264 format. Burst shooting of 10 images per second is possible also.
Once a film is saved, it can be viewed on the small 3-inch integrated display (LCD), transferred to a PC via a data card or played straight to a TV or monitor via micro-HDMI.
Sales of Pentax X-5 will begin next month (September 2012), for $279.95 / 223 Euro. Standard AA batteries will be used to provide it with power.