Pentax Espio 24EW 35mm Compact announced

Pentax have announced the addition of the Pentax Espio 24EW Date 35mm-format zoom compact camera to its popular Espio lineup. Encased in a fashionable silver-colored aluminum body, this new Espio incorporates a 24mm~105mm 4.4-times zoom lens providing a 24mm ultra-wide-angle perspective. Currently, it is the only model on the market that offers both a 4.4-times zoom ratio and a 24mm focal length. Thanks to this extra-wide perspective, the photographer can capture distinctive images and maximize creativity, imagination and framing versatility. In addition, the Espio 24EW Date offers a host of user-friendly features to facilitate camera operations while enhancing image quality and versatility in many different applications.

Major Features of the Pentax Espio 24EW Date

1. Versatile 24mm~105mm 4.4-times zoom lens with zoom macro capability
This high-performance 4.4-times SMC Pentax zoom lens offers an outstanding wide-to-telephoto coverage to capture a wide range of subjects with great clarity and sharpness. In particular, its 24mm ultra-wide-angle setting allows for the creation of dramatic wide-perspective images that the user can seldom capture with a zoom compact - ranging from family and group snapshots to panoramic landscape images and uniquely distorted architectural photos. It also offers a zoom macro capability to capture eye-catching close-up images from a distance of just 30 centimeters (0.98 feet) at the 24mm wide-angle setting or 50 centimeters (1.64 feet) at the 105mm telephoto setting for a maximum magnification of 0.27 times at the telephoto end. Its acclaimed Super-Multi-Coating effectively reduces flare and ghost images to a minimum, while a pair of aspherical elements contributes to improved image quality and reduced body size.

2. Unique portrait mode for easy portrait shooting
The Espio 24EW Date offers an innovative portrait mode that automatically moves the zoom lens to fix a standard subject size at all times. It allows the photographer to capture ideally proportioned portraits with very little effort, as long as the subject stands in the preprogrammed distance range.

3. Super-compact body with fashionable and functional design
Even though it incorporates a 4.4-times zoom lens and a host of features, the Espio 24EW Date comes in a super-compact, lightweight body that easily fits into a shirt pocket or small purse. The body is made of high-quality aluminum for visual appeal, reduced weight and holding comfort. In addition, all control devices, including the multi-function power dial and zoom lever, are functionally designed and carefully laid out to ensure easy, quick access.

4. High-precision passive seven-point autofocus with spot AF mode
The Espio 24EW Date's passive seven-point autofocus system assures accurate focus on the subject from a minimum focusing distance of just 30 centimeters (0.98 feet) to infinity. Its passive feature and wide focus frame combine to effectively solve complicated or deceptive focusing situations. The spot AF mode enables pinpointing of the focus on a single, small element of the image.

5. Reliable AE control with advanced multi-pattern metering
Assisted by the sophisticated multi-pattern metering system, the Espio 24EW Date's auto-exposure produces beautifully exposed images frame after frame - even when the subject stands against backlight or in the shade.

6. Multi-function auto zoom flash with "soft flash" function and red-eye reduction
When the camera's auto-exposure system detects a low-light or strongly backlit condition, the built-in auto zoom flash is automatically activated to discharge fill-in illumination so that the subject is properly and beautifully exposed. Thanks to a new "soft flash" function, it automatically adjusts the amount of discharge to avoide overexposure when the subject stands at a close distance.

When taking portraits or snapshots at night or indoors, the user can select the "red-eye" reduction function* to minimize the annoying red-eye effect. The Espio 24EW Date is also designed to simplify advanced and complicated flash applications, including daylight sync, slow-shutter-speed sync and bulb sync, so that dramatic flash images can be captured with minimal effort. A flash-off mode is also provided for situations where the use of a flash is prohibited or when the user wants to create a dramatic visual effect by using ambient light only.

* This function does not eliminate red eyes in all instances.

7. Functional zoom viewfinder with distance indicator and diopter adjuster
The actual-image zoom viewfinder automatically zooms back and forth in proportion to the selected focal length of the zoom lens to indicate the exact image area for easy framing. With a light push on the shutter release button, its distance indicator is activated to inform the photographer of the subject's approximate distance using four simple symbols - macro, portrait, snapshot and landscape - at the bottom of the viewfinder. Its built-in diopter adjustment device allows the viewfinder image to be matched to the individual's eyesight within the range of -3m-1 to +1m-1, for the clearest possible view of the subject. When the user selects the panorama mode, it even switches the picture frame from standard to horizontally extended panorama automatically.

8. Large LCD panel with in-the-dark illumination
The large LCD panel on the camera's top panel displays a full range of vital operational information using easy-to-identify symbols, letters and digits, allowing the user to confirm the camera's operational status at a quick glance. When shooting at night or in the dark, the panel is automatically illuminated when the user takes pictures, makes adjustments or changes film rolls.

9. Versatile exposure compensation
The Espio 24EW Date offers a versatile exposure compensation function that allows the user to shift exposure in 1/2EV increments within a wide compensation range of ±3EV with simple pushbutton control. It enables the user to intentionally under- or overexpose the image - either subtly or dramatically - to create the intended visual effect.

10. Creative bulb and bulb-timer modes
The bulb mode is used to extend exposure time from 1/2 seconds to one minute. The shutter stays open as long as the shutter release button is depressed. The bulb-timer mode allows for the preset of one of 10 exposure durations - from one second to five minutes - and single-press shutter release to avoid camera shake. Both modes can be used to emphasize nighttime illumination, such as city skylines and fireworks.

11. Panorama mode with mid-roll switching
The panorama mode is ideal for capturing breathtaking landscapes or eye-catching group shots, especially when combined with the zoom lens' 24mm ultra-wide-angle setting. This mode can be selected at any frame with a single slide of the panorama switch.

12. Quick-set infinity-landscape mode
The infinity-landscape mode allows the user to instantly fix the focus at infinity at any focal length, enabling the photographer to consistently capture distant landscapes in sharp focus.

13. Auto lens retraction and auto power off
When the camera is left unused for three minutes with the power on, the zoom lens is automatically retracted to the fixed position to protect it from damage. In the remote control mode, the power is turned off simultaneously.

14. Handy remote control (optional)
Using an optional remote control, the Espio 24EW Date's shutter can be released from a distance, with a three-second delay.

15. Date imprinting and "final date" indication
The Espio 24EW Date automatically imprints the date or day and time of shooting on the photograph. It even adjusts the position of data imprinting when the panorama mode is selected. When the power is turned on, its "final date" function displays the exact date when the camera was last used, so that the user need not worry about the deterioration of the film, even when the camera has been left unused for a long period of time.