Pentax Introduces V10 and A40
Pentax today launched two point-and-shoot models, the 12-megapixel Optio A40 and the 8-megapixel Option 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. Th
Recommendations are independently chosen by Reviewed's editors. Purchases made through the links below may earn us and our publishing partners a commission.
***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.