Pentax has long been known to produce the best line of film cameras since the 1950s, but it’s evolution to digital SLRs will make consumers take a second look at the new Pentax K-7.

Pentax has incorporated the goodies in the oldie with both an optical and a 3.0-inch LCD display for users to view their subjects. It has even evolved to a “sexier” version of its bulkier forerunner K20D, with a more slender body weighing approximately 760 grams. And if sexier is not enough, the new K-7 is even more clever with a 77-segment metering system from the 16-segment metering of the older model. For continuous shots, it can take go up to 5.21 frames per second with its 1/8000 shutter speed. This baby won’t even die on you after over 700 shots cause of its custom Li-Ion battery.

K-7 has indeed proved that Pentax has taken its evolution to a double pace to the right direction. Release date has been said to be July 2009 at the best price being aroudn US$1300.

The PENTAX Optio W80’s waterproof design withstands depths of up to 16 feet (5 meters) to protect from rain and spills, as well as allowing full underwater photos and video for up to two hours. Its rugged, shockproof design protects it against drops of up to 3.3 feet to protect the camera from hard use and occasional spills. In addition, it allows the camera to be used in sub-freezing temperatures of 14 degrees Fahrenheit (-10 degrees Celsius), ideal for cold weather activities such as skiing and snowmobiling.

SPECIFICATIONS

Sensor:
1/2.3″ sensor
12.1 million effective pixels
12.39 million effective pixels

Image stabilization:
Pixel Track SR
Digital SR

Movie mode:
1280 x 720
640 x 480
320 x 240

Lens:
5x zoom
11 elements in 9 groups (5 aspherical elements)
5-25mm (approx. 28 – 140mm in 35mm format)

Digital zoom: approximately 6.25X

Focus modes:
Standard
Spot
Auto Tracking
Infinity Landscape
Super Macro
Macro
Manual
Pan-Focus

AF assist lamp: Yes
Scene modes:
Auto Picture
Program
Night Scene
Night Scene
Movie
Underwater
Underwater Movie
Landscape
Flower
Portrait
Digital Wide
Surf & Snow
Digital SR
Kids, Pet
Half Length Portrait
Sport
Fireworks
Candlelight
Night Scene Portrait
Text
Food
Digital Panorama
Frame Composite
Report
Green

Metering:
Multi-segment
Center-Weighted
Spot

Exposure compensation:
+/-2 EV
0.3 EV increments

Sensitivity:
Auto (64-1600)
64 – 6400

Shutter speed:
1/1000- 1/4 sec.
4 sec in night scene mode

Aperture values: F3.5 – F5.5
White balance:
Auto
Daylight
Shade
Tungsten light
Fluorescent light
Manual Setting

Drive modes:
One shot
Self-timer
Continuous Shooting
High-Speed Continuous Shooting

LCD monitor:
2.5″
approximately 230K dots

Flash:
Flash-on
Flash-off
Red-eye reduction
Soft-Flash

Flash range:
Wide: approx. 0.4 – 3.9m (ISO Auto)
Tele: approx. 0.6 – 2.4m (ISO Auto)

Connectivity:
DC Input
AV Output
USB 2.0 High speed

Storage:
Built-in Memory (approx. 33.7MB)
SD/SDHC Memory Card

Power: Rechargeable D-LI78 lithium-ion battery
Dimensions: 100 × 56 × 25 mm (3.9 x 2.2 x 1.0 inches)
Weight (with battery): Approximately 136g (4.8oz)