Pocket Cameras Home > News, Guides, Tips > pocket-cameras Pentax Introduces V10 and A40 By Karen M. Cheung

Oct. 2, 2007 – Pentax today announced two point-and-shoot models, the 12-megapixel Optio A40 and the 8-megapixel Optio V10 with 3-inch LCD. The Optio A40 comes with a Dynamic Range Adjustment feature, has a suggested retail price of $299.95, and will ship this month. The Optio V10 will retail for $249.95 when released in November. The Optio A40 sits at the top of the Pentax Optio point-and-shoot line. It has a 12-megapixel count versus the 10-megapixel count on the earlier A30. The A40, like the A30, is fitted with a 3x optical zoom lens and 2.5-inch, 232,000-pixel resolution LCD. The A40 has an expanded sensitivity range. The A30 had a 64 to 1600 ISO (in manual ISO) range, while the A40 has a wider 50 to 1600 ISO. A high sensitivity option allows up to 3200 ISO in Digital Shake Reduction mode. The A40 includes a Dynamic Range Adjustment function that promises to correct highlights and tones, according to a company press release today. The Optio A40 also includes Half-length Portrait, a recent addition to Pentax cameras. Introduced last month on the Optio S10, the Half-length Portrait function automatically frames subjects' heads and shoulders. The Optio V10 was also announced today. It features a lower 8-megapixel count but touts a bigger 3-inch LCD screen. The monitor resolution is 230,000 pixels. The V10 also has an expanded sensitivity range of 50 to 3200 ISO. The two new Optio cameras both include image stabilization. The V10 includes Digital Shake Reduction and electronic Movie Shake Reduction, whereas the A40 has mechanical CCD-shift Shake Reduction to reduce blur caused by camera shake. Both cameras feature Face Recognition AF&AE technology that focuses on and properly exposes faces for portrait photography. Spec Sheet - Pentax Optio V10 - Pentax Optio A40 Camera Model Optio V10 Optio A30 Optio A40 Announcement Date Oct. 2007 Feb. 2007 Oct. 2007 Introductory Price $249.95 $349.95 $299.95 Sensor 8 MP CCD 10 MP CCD 12 MP CCD Lens 3x optical zoom 3x optical zoom 3x optical zoom Monitor 3-inch 230,000 pixel 2.5-inch 232,000 pixel 2.5-inch 232,000 pixel Sensitivity 50-3200 ISO (3200 Digital SR) 64-1600 (3200 Digital SR) 50-1600 ISO (3200 Digital SR) Key Features -Digital Shake Reduction -Movie Shake Reduction -Face Recognition -Shake Reduction -Movie Shake Reduction -Digital Shake Reduction -Face Recognition -Intelligent Zoom -Shake Reduction -Movie Shake Reduction -Digital Shake Reduction -Face Recognition -Intelligent Zoom -Half Portrait Mode -New Dynamic Range Adjustment News Link   Pentax Adds A30   Review Link - - Pentax Optio A30 Digital Camera Review - -