Pre-PMA 2008: The M50 slots into the middle of the Optio range with 8.0 megapixels and a 36-180mm equivalent lens, 'Shake Reduction' bumping up the ISO to 6400 (!) if light gets low. The monitor is a 2.5" LCD and as per usual with Pentax there are plenty of helpful scene modes to ensure the camera is set up correctly for every situation. Pop down £149.99 on the counter from March 2008 and it's yours.

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• Press Release
• Specifications

Press Release (UK):

PENTAX LAUNCHES THE OPTIO M50

Slim and easy all-round camera with extended zoom range

Despite its 5x zoom range, the diminutive dimensions and scant weight of the PENTAX Optio M50 is due to a flat Lithium-Ion battery and further miniaturisation of the circuit board. The result is an eye-catching 23.5mm deep aluminium body that will be available in classic silver or a selection of other attractive colours.

Technically the Optio M50 also has much to offer and will spoil the photographer with its numerous functions, not least of which is the extended – now five times - zoom range that assures successful telephoto shots. The digital "Shake Reduction" automatically increases the sensitivity to ISO 6400. This means much faster shutter speeds that effectively reduce the chance of camera shake, particularly in unfavourable lighting conditions.

For perfect “people pictures” the camera automatically selects the appropriate exposure and the correct focusing as soon as a person is recognized within the autofocus frame. Thanks to the new "Face Recognition” function skin tones can be perfectly reproduced under difficult backlighting situations.

8.0 Megapixels resolution, optical 5x zoom lens equal to 36 - 180mm in 35mm film format and a large 2.5’’ TFT Monitor complete the full concept of the Optio M50.

Positioning:

• Very compact all-round camera in entry to mid-level segment
• Thanks to the extended zoom range and compact dimensions the Optio M50 is the ideal travelling companion

Data at a glance:

• Compact camera with 2.5’’ TFT Monitor in an attractive aluminium body
• 8.0 Megapixel CCD
• 5x optical zoom: f3.5-5.6 / 6.3-31.5mm (36 – 180mm in 35mm film format)
• Digital “Shake Reduction“ for still shots and videos with sensitivity automatic set to ISO 6400
• Full automatic mode and 16 Picture Modes
• Available in six attractive colours (Black, Silver, Light Blue, Dark Blue, Rose and Pink)
• Dimensions: 95 (W) x 55 (H) x 23.5 (D) mm
• Recommended Retail Price: £149.99
• Available: March 2008

Modifications from the previous model (Optio M40):

• Resolution 8.0 Megapixels
• Optical 5x zoom range
• Sensitivity: ISO 64 to ISO 6400
• New Picture Modes including Panorama-Function, Movie Edit and Image Recovery
• New design

Pentax Optio M50 specification

Sensor	• 1/2.35" Type CCD • 8.0 million effective pixels
Image sizes	• 3264 x 2448 • 2592 x 1944 • 2304 x 1728 • 2048 x 1536 • 2038 x 1536 • 1600 X 1200 • 640 x 480
Movie clips	• 640 x 480 • 320 x 240
File formats	• JPEG (EXIF 2.2) • AVI (Motion JPEG Format) • WAV (mono)
Lens	• PENTAX smc zoom lens • 6.3 mm – 31.5 mm • Approx. 36 mm – 180mm (35mm equiv.) • F3.5 -5.6
Image stabilization	No
Conversion lenses	No
Digital zoom	Up to 5.1x
Focus	TTL Contrast Detection AF
AF area modes	• 9 Point AF • Spot AF • Manual focus
Focus distance	• Normal: 0.4m to infinity (entire zoom range) • Tele: 0.9 to infinity • Macro: 10 to 50cm (wide-angle), 60cm to 1.0m (tele) • Landscape: Infinity • Pan focus (hyperfocal) • Manual focus
Metering	TTL multi-field metering
Metering areas	• Multi-field • Center weighted • Spot
ISO sensitivity	• Auto ISO • ISO 64 • ISO 100 • ISO 200 • ISO 400 • ISO 800 • ISO 1600 • ISO 3200 • ISO 6400
Exposure compensation	± 2EV in 1/3 EV steps
Exposure bracketing	No
Shutter speed	Approx. 1/2000s to 4s
Aperture	n/a
Modes	• Green mode • Full automatic • Programmed automatic • Video • Sound • Digital Shake Reduction (SR) • Frame
Scene modes	• Nightscene • Landscape • Flowers • Portrait • Sand + Snow • Sport • Kids • Pets • Food • Speech recording • Panorama Function • Natural skin tones rendition • On-image Date recording
White balance	• Automatic • Daylight • Cloudy • Tungsten • Neon • Manual selectable
White balance fine tune	n/a
Self timer	2 or 10 sec
Continuous shooting	Yes
Image parameters	• Black & White • Sepia • Red • Pink • Purple • Blue • Green • Yellow • Soft
Flash	• Auto • Forced on • Forced off • Red Eye Reduction
Viewfinder	No
LCD monitor	• 2.5“ TFT LCD colour monitor • Approx.232,000 pixels • Approx. 100% coverage
Connectivity	• USB 2.0 High Speed • AV out (PAL/NTSC) • DC input
Print compliance	• Pictbridge • DPOF • Print Image Matching III
Storage	SD/SDHC cards
Power	• D-LI78 Lithium Ion battery • AC adaptor (optional)
Weight (no batt)	TBC
Dimensions	95 x 55 x 23.5 mm (3.7 x 2.2 x 0.9 in)