Press Release: Pentax Introduces an Affordable, Simple-to-Operate
Digital SLR as a Perfect Digital Photography Starter Camera
Pentax Corporation is pleased to announce the
marketing of the PENTAX *istDL digital SLR camera. With a compact, lightweight
body, simplified operations and outstanding cost performance, the *istDL is
designed to extend the advantages of high-quality digital SLR photography,
including lens interchangeability, to photographers of all levels, even those
who are unfamiliar with digital and SLR photography.
The new *istDL was designed as an affordable
starter camera by further advancing PENTAX’s digital camera development
concepts of “user-friendliness” and “a harmony between ease of
use and portability.”
Despite its
compact, lightweight design, the *istDL features 6.1 effective megapixels, an
extra-large 2.5-inch color LCD monitor, and compatibility with most
interchangeable PENTAX lenses. Combining high-quality image reproduction with
simple, user-friendly operations, the *istDL is the ideal digital SLR for a
variety of users, including digital photography beginners, families and those
who plan to step up from digital compact cameras to digital
SLRs.
Major
Features
1. User-friendly automatic
operations
The *istDL is equipped with the
innovative Auto Picture Mode, which automatically and instantly selects the most
appropriate Picture mode from Standard, Portrait, Landscape, Macro or Action for
a given subject or situation to assure the optimum combination of aperture,
shutter speed, white balance, saturation, contrast, and intensity of edges. In
addition, the built-in auto flash automatically pops up in dimly lit or backlit
situations. As a result, even first-time digital SLR users can immediately
produce high-quality digital images with minimal
effort.
2. Simple, accessible operation
system
From the multi-function four-way
controller to the responsive electronic Av/Tv dials and the large, easy-to-use
mode dial, all switches and dials are efficiently and functionally laid out on
the *istDL’s compact body for flawless fingertip control. The
ergonomically designed grip assures firm, comfortable hold of the
camera.
3. Extra-large 2.5-inch color LCD
monitor
The *istDL’s high-precision
2.5-inch color LCD monitor, with approximately 210,000 pixels, displays recorded
images clearly and beautifully, even when the original image is magnified by 12
times using the digital zoom capability. It also facilitates image confirmation
after shooting and menu selection during shooting and editing operations. The
menu screen also provides an optimum color scheme between menu descriptions and
background to assure easy reading under all types of lighting
conditions.
4. Compact, go-anywhere
design
The *istDL features a compact,
high-rigidity stainless-steel chassis and a compact, bright viewfinder combining
the PENTAX-original penta-mirror and a newly developed focusing screen.
Combining other advanced downsizing technologies, such as 10-layer electronic
circuit boards and high-density packaging technology, it offers the outstanding
portability — as one of the world’s smallest lens-interchangeable
digital SLR cameras — to accompany the user
anywhere.
5. High-definition,
maximum-gradation images with 6.1 effective
megapixels
Thanks to its large,
high-performance CCD image sensor (23.5mm by 15.7mm), the *istDL offers 6.1
effective megapixels. Coupled with PENTAX’s original image processing
technology using a high-performance engine, it produces high-definition images
rich in gradation and saturation. It also offers a choice of finishing touches
between “bright” and “natural” to satisfy user
preferences.
6. User-friendly guide
screen
The *istDL features a user-friendly,
multi-data guide screen, which offers detailed description of shooting modes,
displays drive, flash and white balance settings using text and sample photos,
and presents a comprehensive list of all camera settings on the large 2.5-inch
monitor.
7. High-precision 16-segment
multi-pattern metering
The *istDL incorporates
a sophisticated 16-segment metering system to assure high-precision light
measurement, even under complicated lighting conditions. It also offers
center-weighted metering and spot metering for specialized
applications.
8. High‐accuracy AF
sensors
Featuring the advanced SAFOX VIII AF
system incorporating three cross-type wide-area AF sensors, the *istDL
automatically selects the most appropriate sensor for a given subject. It also
lets the user fix the sensor point on the middle sensor for specific
applications. Using the menu screen, the user can select the preferred focus
mode between Single AF, which locks the focus when the shutter release button is
half-depressed, and Continuous AF,* which adjusts the focus to the
subject’s movement.
* This focus mode is
available in the Auto Picture and Picture modes, only when the Action mode is
selected.
9. 1/4000‐second
high-speed shutter
The *istDL incorporates a
high-speed shutter unit, with a top speed of 1/4000 second and a top
synchronization speed of 1/180 second, to assure greater visual creativity. The
bulb setting is also available to accommodate extended exposures at
night.
10. High-speed 2.8-frame
consecutive shooting
The *istDL records up to
five images (at “best” image quality in JPEG format) consecutively
at a speed of approximately 2.8 frames per second, allowing the user to capture
a series of photos of the subject’s
motion.
11. Compatibility with PENTAX
interchangeable lenses
The *istDL offers the
outstanding benefit of lens interchangeability, letting the user take advantage
of the wide selection of PENTAX interchangeable lenses for use with diversified
subjects and applications.**
** PENTAX
K-, KA-, KAF- and KAF2-mount 35mm-format lenses can be used without an adapter
or modification. PENTAX screw-mount 35mm-format lenses and PENTAX 645- and
67-system lenses can be used with an adapter. Some functions may not be
available with certain lenses.
12. SD
memory card compatibility
The *istDL uses the
widely available SD memory card as its storage media, not only assuring
high-speed recording and readout of image data, but also helping to reduce the
camera body size.
13. Others
▪ Eighteen user-programmable custom functions
to personalize camera operations to user preferences
▪ Noise-reduction system to minimize annoying
digital noise during extended exposures
▪ Dual power source, with a choice of two
CR-V3 lithium batteries or four AA-size batteries
▪ Effortless PC data upload via USB 2.0
(HIGH-SPEED) connection
▪ Functional playback functions, including 12X
zoom display and nine-image thumbnail display
▪ A choice of image format between JPEG (good,
better or best) or RAW
▪ Four digital filters (black-and-white,
sepia, slim, and soft-focus in three patterns) for easy post-shooting image
processing
▪ PENTAX PHOTO Laboratory 2.1 RAW-data
processing software and PENTAX
▪ PHOTO Browser 2.1 browser software
included
▪ PictBridge compatibility
Posted: Thu - June 2, 2005 at 11:11 PM