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Pentax has announced a white version of its WG-3 rugged waterproof camera and an entry-level point-and-shoot compact. The white version of the WG-3 shares all the features with the existing model but comes in a different color scheme (we'll let you guess what that is). We'll be testing the GPS version of the WG-3 as one of our forthcoming waterproof camera tests. Meanwhile, the 'Efina' is an inexpensive 14MP CCD-based camera that's exactly the sort we thought Pentax had stopped making. Still, it comes with decorative patterns on it, which seems to be this season's thing - so that's something. The Efina, announced in Japan in January, will cost around £80, while the white WG-3 will retail for $299/£289.
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Performance meets photographic demands with fast F2.0 lens, in-camera shake reduction, and increased waterproof, crush-proof and shockproof ratings.
Denver, CO (June 3, 2013) — PENTAX RICOH IMAGING AMERICAS CORPORATION today announced the addition of a white WG-3 to its ruggedized lineup of compact cameras which launched in March 2013. The WG-3 line of cameras is now available in five colors including the new white, black and orange or in green or purple in the GPS version. The WG-3 and WG-3 GPS line of cameras offer worry-free shooting for active families and adventurous individuals. Pulling from long standing expertise in the rugged camera category, PENTAX upgraded the features on this new and improved line of waterproof cameras, now in its 15th generation.
Included in these upgrades are a feature-set that has been optimized to meet the rigorous and demanding needs of the adventurous photo enthusiast, whose travels and exploits can take them into a variety of scenarios too challenging for the traditional point-and-shoot.
For the unplanned adventure, the WG-3 offers a worry-free shooting experience with an increasingly ruggedized body that is shockproof from drops of up to 6.6 feet, coldproof to 14 degrees Fahrenheit and crush-proof, waterproof to 45 feet, and can withstand up to 220 foot pounds of force. The WG-3’s rugged design is enhanced by its folded optical zoom lens that reduces its vulnerability to moisture and dust while ensuring a compact and pocketable size without the protrusion of a lens barrel. Finally, the sturdy construction and sharp design, unique to the WG-3, features a textured grip for a controlled ergonomic grasp and colorful grip accents to further enrich its rugged styling.
“The addition of white to the existing line of WG-3 cameras is a timely inclusion for upcoming summer activities,” said John Carlson, Sr. Marketing Manager, PENTAX. “The WG-3 is a great, worry-free camera to keep with you for a day at the beach, a long hike or even on the slopes in the winter. Regardless of season, climate or weather the WG-3 was built to withstand the elements and capture great images.”
Pricing and Availability
The white WG-3 rugged compact camera will be available online and with limited distribution to retail outlets in July 2013 for a suggested retail price of $299.95.
To learn more about the WG-3 and WG-3 GPS line of rugged cameras visit: http://www.pentaximaging.com/digital-camera.
| Price | |
|---|---|
| MSRP | $299 |
| Body type | |
| Body type | Compact |
| Sensor | |
| Max resolution | 4608 x 3456 |
| Other resolutions | 4288 x 3216, 4224 x 2376, 3216 x 3216, 3072 x 2304, 3072 x 1728, 2592 x 1944, 2592 x 1464, 2048 x 1536, 1920 x 1080, 1024 x 768, 640 x 480 |
| Image ratio w:h | 1:1, 4:3, 16:9 |
| Effective pixels | 16 megapixels |
| Sensor photo detectors | 17 megapixels |
| Sensor size | 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) |
| Sensor type | BSI-CMOS |
| Image | |
| ISO | Auto 125-6400, 125, 200, 400,800, 1600, 3200, 6400 |
| White balance presets | 4 |
| Custom white balance | Yes |
| Image stabilization | Sensor-shift |
| Uncompressed format | No |
| JPEG quality levels | Best, Better, Good |
| File format |
|
| Optics & Focus | |
| Focal length (equiv.) | 25–100 mm |
| Optical zoom | 4× |
| Autofocus |
|
| Autofocus assist lamp | Yes |
| Digital zoom | Yes (6.7x) |
| Manual focus | Yes |
| Normal focus range | 50 cm (19.69″) |
| Macro focus range | 1 cm (0.39″) |
| Number of focus points | 9 |
| Lens mount | None |
| Screen / viewfinder | |
| Articulated LCD | Fixed |
| Screen size | 3.00″ |
| Screen dots | 460,000 |
| Touch screen | No |
| Screen type | Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating |
| Live view | Yes |
| Viewfinder type | None |
| Photography features | |
| Maximum aperture | F2.0 - F4.9 |
| Minimum shutter speed | 4 sec |
| Maximum shutter speed | 1/4000 sec |
| Exposure modes |
|
| Built-in flash | Yes |
| Flash range | 3.40 m |
| External flash | No |
| Flash modes | Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft |
| Drive modes |
|
| Continuous drive | Yes |
| Self-timer | Yes (2 or 10 sec) |
| Metering modes |
|
| Exposure compensation | ±2 (at 1/3 EV steps) |
| Videography features | |
| Format |
|
| Microphone | Mono |
| Speaker | Stereo |
| Resolutions | 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps) |
| Storage | |
| Storage types | SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal |
| Storage included | 70 MB Internal |
| Connectivity | |
| USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
| HDMI | Yes (Micro, Type-D) |
| Wireless | Eye-Fi Connected |
| Remote control | Yes (Optional) |
| Physical | |
| Environmentally sealed | Yes (Crushproof, Waterproof, Shockproof, Dustproof, Freezeproof) |
| Battery | Battery Pack |
| Battery description | Lithium-Ion D-LI92 rechargeable battery & charger |
| Battery Life (CIPA) | 240 |
| Weight (inc. batteries) | 230 g (0.51 lb / 8.11 oz) |
| Dimensions | 124 x 64 x 33 mm (4.90 x 2.50 x 1.30″) |
| Other features | |
| Orientation sensor | Yes |
| Timelapse recording | Yes (Interval shot mode for stills and movie) |
| GPS | None |
 |
A stylish, entry-level digital compact camera
PENTAX RICOH IMAGING UK LTD is pleased to announce the launch of the PENTAX Efina digital compact camera. The high-quality aluminium body is available in a range of four sleek and stylish colours (pink, red, silver and green), all offering outstanding specifications to ensure effortless photography every time.
The Efina incorporates an optical five-times zoom lens, approximately 14.0 effective megapixels, HD movie recording and a 2.5 inch LCD monitor in its slim, card-sized body. Its compact dimensions mean it can fit into a pocket or handbag with ease, making it the ultimate take anywhere camera.
The camera is also fitted with a self-portrait mirror on the front panel, helping you capture the perfect profile shot, wherever you are.
Major Features
1. Optical 5X zoom lens with 26mm wide-angle coverage
The Efina comes equipped with an optical five-times zoom lens with a focal-length coverage from approximately 26mm wide angle to 130mm telephoto (in the 35mm format). Since its 26mm wide-angle setting offers a wider angle-of-view than ordinary zoom lenses, this zoom lens is useful in a greater variety of applications — especially with such subjects as breathtaking scenery, magnificent architecture and family or group shots in confined spaces. The Efina also provides a five-times Intelligent Zoom function to extend the zoom coverage up to approximately 25 times, without compromising image quality.
2. High-sensitivity shake-reduction mode to guarantee sharp, blur-free images
The Efina’s high-sensitivity SR (Shake Reduction) mode automatically adjusts sensitivity up to ISO 1600 in relation to the subject’s illumination level. This mode comes in especially handy in dimly lit locations as it allows the user to record images with a faster shutter speed to minimise the adverse effect of camera or subject shake.
3. 16 Scene modes for easy capture of particular subjects
The Efina offers 16 different scene modes to automatically optimise shooting settings for a particular scene or subject. With a simple selection of the pictograph corresponding to the desired scene mode, this convenient feature allows the user to take beautiful images with minimal effort.
4. Automatic face detection for beautiful portraits
No matter where the photographer places the subject’s face in the image field, the Efina’s Face Detection AF & AE function instantly and accurately detects the face and optimises focus and exposure settings. Because of this, the subject’s face is always captured in sharp focus and perfect exposure, even when the subject stands in the backlight.
5. Other features
I. Large, easy-to-view 2.5-inch LCD monitor with approximately 230,000 dots
II. In body recharge system for simple, cellphone-like battery
III. Approximately 32MB built-in memory
IV. Exclusive camera pouch included
V. Compatibility with Eye-Fi wireless LAN SD memory cards
VI. Image viewing, editing and filing software included
RRP £79.99. Availability and distribution of the Efina to be confirmed.
| Price | |
|---|---|
| MSRP | £79.99 |
| Body type | |
| Body type | Ultracompact |
| Body material | Aluminum and Composite |
| Sensor | |
| Max resolution | 4288 x 3216 |
| Image ratio w:h | 4:3, 3:2, 16:9 |
| Effective pixels | 14 megapixels |
| Sensor size | 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) |
| Sensor type | CCD |
| Color space | sRGB |
| Color filter array | Primary color filter |
| Image | |
| ISO | 80, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600 |
| White balance presets | 5 |
| Custom white balance | No |
| Image stabilization | Digital only |
| Uncompressed format | Unknown |
| Optics & Focus | |
| Focal length (equiv.) | 26–130 mm |
| Optical zoom | 5× |
| Autofocus |
|
| Digital zoom | Yes (5X) |
| Manual focus | No |
| Normal focus range | 50 cm (19.69″) |
| Macro focus range | 20 cm (7.87″) |
| Lens mount | None |
| Screen / viewfinder | |
| Articulated LCD | Fixed |
| Screen size | 2.50″ |
| Screen dots | 230,000 |
| Touch screen | No |
| Screen type | QVGA TFT LCD |
| Live view | Yes |
| Viewfinder type | None |
| Photography features | |
| Maximum aperture | F3.5 - F6.3 |
| Minimum shutter speed | 1/8 sec |
| Maximum shutter speed | 1/1400 sec |
| Exposure modes |
|
| Scene modes |
|
| Built-in flash | Yes |
| Flash range | 4.10 m |
| External flash | No |
| Flash modes | Auto, Auto Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced Off |
| Drive modes |
|
| Self-timer | Yes |
| Metering modes |
|
| Exposure compensation | ±2 (at 1/3 EV steps) |
| WB Bracketing | No |
| Videography features | |
| Microphone | Mono |
| Speaker | Mono |
| Resolutions | 1280 x 720, 640 x 480 |
| Storage | |
| Storage types | SC/SDHC, Internal |
| Storage included | 32MB |
| Connectivity | |
| USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
| HDMI | No |
| Physical | |
| Environmentally sealed | No |
| Battery | Battery Pack |
| Battery description | Lithium-Ion D-LI109 rechargeable battery |
| Battery Life (CIPA) | 200 |
| Weight (inc. batteries) | 91 g (0.20 lb / 3.21 oz) |
| Dimensions | 87 x 54 x 21 mm (3.43 x 2.13 x 0.83″) |
| Other features | |
| Timelapse recording | No |
| GPS | None |
 | Pentax Efina
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 | Pentax WG-3
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Pentax Optio WG-3 black 16MP Waterproof Digital Camera with 3-Inch LCD Screen (Black) | $221.79 |
Pentax Optio WG-3 orange 16 MP Waterproof Digital Camera with 4-Inch LCD Screen (Orange) | $224.79 |
Pentax Optio WG-3 orange 16 MP Waterproof Digital Camera with 4-Inch LCD Screen (Orange) | $224.79 |
Pentax Optio WG-3 black 16MP Waterproof Digital Camera with 3-Inch LCD Screen (Black) | $221.79 |
Pentax Optio WG-3 GPS green 16MP Waterproof Digital Camera with 3-Inch LCD Screen (Green) | $269.99 |
Pentax Optio WG-3 GPS purple 16 MP Waterproof Digital Camera with 3-Inch LCD Screen (Purple) | $266.99 |
Pentax Optio WG-3 White 16 MP Digital Camera (White) Premiere Bundle Includes... | $236.95 |
Pentax Optio WG-3 16 MP Digital Camera (Black)Premiere Bundle Includes 8GB... | $246.95 |
Pentax WG-3 Shock & Waterproof Digital Camera (Orange) with 16GB Card + Battery + Case + Flex Tripod + Float Strap + Accessory Kit | $259.95 |
Pentax Optio WG-2 Digital Camera, Black | $198.00 |
Pentax Optio WG-3 16MP Waterproof Digital Camera with 3-Inch LCD Screen (Black) | $218.59 |
Pentax WG-3 Shock & Waterproof Digital Camera (Orange) with 32GB Card + Battery + Case + Flex Tripod + Float Strap + HDMI Cable + Accessory Kit | $269.95 |
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