Pentax Optio X70 Digital Camera with 12.0 Megapixel, 24x Optical Zoom,and 2.7" LCD in Black

Description:

Features:

	24X wide-angle optical zoom: The 24X optical zoom is equivalent to 26-624mm, making it ideal for close-up as well as distant shots. Whatever your need - landscapes, group shots, wildlife, sports and more - this camera's got you covered
	12.0 megapixels: An impressive 12.0 megapixel CCD captures large, detailed images, which can be printed as 11x14 -inch enlargements (and larger) in clear resolution with impressive image quality
	High Resolution 2.7 inch LCD screen: The large, bright 2.7 inch LCD screen lets you easily compose, capture & review your images and video with great clarity. You can also use the built-in electronic viewfinder to frame and shoot, so you know you'll be able to get the shot in any lighting situation
	Triple Shake Reduction technology: The X70 boasts three Shake Reduction technologies to reduce camera shake and blurring of the subject: Mechanical Shake Reduction via a CCD shift mechanism, Digital Shake Reduction via high ISO and Movie Shake Reduction for blur-free video capture
	High-speed continuous shooting: With high-speed continuous shooting at 11 FPS, the X70 makes sure you get the winning shot, even in with the fastest action
	Fast Face Detection: With PENTAX's face detection technology, the camera quickly and automatically sees up to 32 faces in 0.03 seconds, so portraits and group shots are bright and focused, even in backlit situations
	Flexible movie capture: HD movie capture vividly captures moving memories in widescreen 720p (15 FPS) as well as full speed 848x480, VGA and QVGA resolutions
	Super Macro mode: Close focusing, Super Macro mode brings out the details in even the smallest subjects as close as 1 cm from the lens

Specifications:

Type	Megazoom Digital Camera
Sensor Type	1/2.33" interline transfer CCD w/ primary color filter
Effective pixels	12
Megapixels	12.7
Recorded resolutions	Still: 12M (4000 x 3000), 3:2 (4000 x 2672), 1:1 (2992 x 2992), 7M (3072 x 2304), 5M (2592 x 1944), 3M (2048 x 1536), 1024 (1024 x 768), VGA (640 x 480) Movie: HD 720p15 (1280 x 720), 848 (848 x 480), VGA (640 x 480), QVGA (320 x 240)
LCD Screen Size	2.7" TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating
LCD resolution	230,000 dots
Optical viewfinder	Yes, electronic, 200,000 dots
Flash Type	Retractable popup series-control auto flash
Flash modes	Auto, flash on, flash off, redeye, slow sync, slow sync w/ redeye
Flash Effective range	29.9' (wide, auto ISO), 16.7' (tele, auto ISO)
Ports	USB 2.0 hi-speed, AV out, DC in
Video out	NTSC, PAL
Language Support	English, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Dutch, Japanese, Danish, Swedish, Finnish, Polish, Czech, Hungarian, Turkish, Greek, Russian, Thai, Korean, Simplified/Traditional Chinese
Metering System Type	TTL, Multi-segment: Yes, Center weighted: Yes, Spot: Yes, Exposure compensation: +/- 2 EV (1/3 steps)
White Balance	Auto preset modes: Auto, Daylight, Shade, Tungsten, Fluorescent Manual mode(s): Yes
Capture Modes	Mode selection: Auto Picture (Standard, Landscape, Portrait, Night Scene Portrait, Night Scene, Sport, Flower), Sport, Digital SR (5M), Movie, User, Manual, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, Program, Scene (Landscape, Flower, Portrait, Backlight, Half Length Portrait (3M), Night Scene, Night Scene Portrait, Stage Lighting, Surf & Snow, Baby, Kids, Pet, Food, Fireworks, Frame Composite (3M), Party, Museum, Sunset, Digital Wide (5M), Digital Panorama (2M per frame)), Green
Green simplified mode available	Yes
Face recognition available	Yes, up to 32 faces in 0.03s, Smile Capture, Blink Detection
P/A/S/M/B	P, A, S, M
Date stamp	Yes, date, date-time, time (not available in Green mode)
Playback Mode selection	One Shot, Index (4 or 9 thumbnails), Magnification, Movie Playback, Sound Playback, Histogram, Folder, Select & Delete, Calendar
Mode pallet	Slideshow, Digital Filter, Frame Composite (3M), Resize, Cropping, Image & Sound Copy, Image Rotation, Movie Edit, Redeye Edit, Voice Memo, Protect, DPOF, Image Recovery, Startup Image, Face Zooming
Magnification	Yes, up to 10X, scrollable
Digital filters (playback)	B&W, Sepia, Color Filters (6), Color Extract (3), Soft, Fisheye (3 levels), Brightness
Movie edit	Save as Still Image, Movie Divide
Computer System Requirements	Windows: Windows 2000/XP/Vista, USB port Mac: MacOS-X 10.1.2-10.5, USB port
Lens Type/construction	PENTAX zoom lens, 14 elements, 11 groups (4 aspherical elements)
Optical Zoom	24x
Focal length (equiv.)	4.6-110.4mm (26-624mm)
Digital Zoom	6.25X
Combined zoom	150X
Intelligent zoom	Approx 31.3X at 7M to 150X at VGA
Aperture	F2.8-5.0
Focus System Type	TTL contrast detection autofocus
Focus modes	9 point AF, Spot AF, Auto Tracking AF, Macro, Super Macro, Infinity Landscape, AF Point Selection
Manual focus YES	Yes
Macro focus	Yes, Macro and Super Macro available
Focus lock	Yes, by pressing the shutter release button half way
Focus range	Normal: 1.21' to infinity (wide), 5.6' to infinity (tele) Macro: 0.33-1.64' (wide, mide zoom) Super Macro: 0.03-0.98' (mid zoom)
Memory Card Type	SD
Battery Type	D-LI92
Recordable images	Approx 170
Playback time	Approx 200 min
Movie recording time	Approx 70 min
AC adapter available	Yes (optional)
Startup Timing	1.6 sec
Release lag Timing	0.031 sec
Image Stabilization	Yes
ISO Sensitivity	Auto: TBD-800, Digital SR ISO TBD-6400 (ISO 3200-6400, 5M) Manual: TBD-6400 (ISO 3200-6400, 5M)
Shutter Type	Programmed AE electronic lens shutter with CCD electronic shutter
Shutter speed	1/4000 to 1/4 sec (up to 4 sec in TV, Av, M and Night Scene modes)
Drive Mode selection	One Shot, Continuous (L, M, H), Self Timer, Interval, Auto Bracket
Continuous FPS	11 FPS for 21 frames (H), 6.3 FPS for 7 frames (M), 4 FPS for 7 frames (L)
Self-timer	Yes (10s, 2s)
File Formats	Still: JPG (EXIF 2.2), DCF 2.0 (design rule for camera file system), DPOF, Print Image Matching III Movie: AVI (Motion JPG) with sound Sound: WAV (PCM), monaural
Construction material (s)	Polycarbonate
Operating temperature	32-104°F
Dimensions (W x H x D)	4.4" x 3.2" x 3.9"
Weight loaded and ready	14.5 oz
Warranty	Pentax warranty

Reviews & Ratings

Shipping Methods & Details

When purchasing a digital camera, you must decide on the type of camera that is suitable for how you are using it, the life of the battery, how much memory is required, which type of lenses are needed, and etc. This guide will assist you in buying a digital camera and the necessary accessories.

Types of Cameras:

There are many different types of cameras.  Depending on how often and for what purpose you are using the camera, there is a camera out there for all users.

Starter Cameras:
For users who are looking to start digital photography, but don’t want to spend a lot of money, this is the type of camera for you. A decent point-and-shoot camera should be suitable for 4”x6” photo prints.

Amateur Cameras:
For users that are knowledgeable about digital photography or want a high-quality camera to learn with, this category is best for you. These cameras offer ease of use with very high specification features, but not a large range of controls that you can get from professional cameras. Typically, you can make up to 11”x17” photo prints with these cameras.

Professional Cameras:
These cameras are intended for professionals to use. The lower-end professional cameras have a similar resolution to some high-end amateur cameras. The main difference is that, they have more elaborate setting control, better lenses, and better flash options. Most of the time, you can use lenses from your older SLR (Single Lens Reflex) film cameras. The resolution on these cameras could exceed 21 megapixels (21 million pixels). This type of camera is intended to produce very high quality prints for newspapers, magazines, and books, or for users who like to have control over how their pictures will look.

Power Conservation Tips:

Turn off the LCD:
When you are not using it, turn the LCD off. If you are low on power and want to make some more pictures, turn the LCD off and use the viewfinder instead. Doing so will increase the battery life of the camera, as LCD screens will eat up a lot of power.

Stop the Zoom:
Some cameras automatically release the lens when you turn the camera on. Unfortunately, it drains power significantly. To prevent this from happening you can change the settings to the sleep mode.

Turn off the Flash:
If you think the lighting is adequate for pictures, turn off the flash. Flashes will consume a large amount of energy, which is wasted if not in use.

Plug it in:
Some cameras have power adapter which allows you to plug in your camera to a wall socket.  This will allow you to save your battery power when you are using the camera near a power socket.

Accessories to boost your Digital Experience:

Batteries:
Batteries are an important resource to digital cameras because if there is no power left, you can miss a special moment. If your camera uses disposable alkaline batteries, you should get a set of rechargeable batteries, thus saving you a lot of money in the long run, compared to purchasing new disposable batteries each time. For cameras that use Lithium Ion, it is suggested to purchase a backup battery for instances when you will be away from home for a period longer than 2 hours.

Memory Cards:
Memory card are equivalent to film in digital cameras. Each type of camera will use a different type of card, so make sure to check which card is compatible with your camera. Secure Digital (SD) is currently the most popular because it has become relatively cheap. Capacities of up to 16GB are currently available. Remember, you can never have too much memory, so invest in a larger capacity memory card when you purchase your digital camera. Here is a chart to help you make a decision on the memory card size right for yourself.



Tripods/Monopods:
If you have problems taking sharp, clear images, it could be because your hands were shaking. In order to solve the problem, you can get a tripod or monopod. It is important to keep the cameras steady if you want perfect pictures. A tripod is also important when you want to tweak the settings and take long exposure shots.

Card Readers:
Card readers are essential for any serious digital photographer. Instead of transferring photos directly from the camera, you can use a card reader to transfer them from your memory card straight to your computer. Doing so will conserve the camera’s batteries when transferring pictures.

Cases and Bags:
While digital cameras may be pricey, they can still break if dropped, so be sure to you protect your investment with either a case or bag. Cases make it safer and easier to carry. Cases can also protect your camera from sand, dust, dirt, and water. They are available in all types of sizes and styles. You can even purchase an Underwater Housing Case, allowing you to use your digital camera in water. These cases are more expensive and are only designed for some models. The cases usually come with cameras straps to put the camera around your neck or wrist. This provides an extra layer of protection for your camera, by preventing it from falling to the ground.

Lenses and Flash:
The quality of your photos depends on the quality of your lens. Flashes can help improve the brightness of your pictures. On most cameras, the lenses are built onto the camera, so you don’t have any upgradeability of the lens. But, if you own an SLR camera, you can replace the lens with a higher quality one, with better zoom or a different focal length. Flashes assist you when you are taking photos in low light settings. Most digital cameras have an internal flash that works fine for normal use, but you might want more light for the best possible results.

Important Camera Features:

Resolution:
A photograph is measured in the number of pixels in the picture. A pixel is a tiny dot of color. In digital photography, quality of the photo is  megapixels. One-megapixel is the same as one million pixels. Nowadays, most cameras have more than 6 Megapixels, which is more than sufficient for a beginner’s camera.

Zoom:
Zoom is an important factor because it helps you get closer to the subject. There are two types of zoom available in digital cameras, digital and optical zoom. Digital zoom is a way of magnifying the picture by processing techniques. Unfortunately, digital zoom lowers the quality of the image a little. Optical zoom is where the magnification is done by using the camera’s lens. It would be ideal to use the Optical zoom over digital zoom because of the quality difference.