Pentax Optio V20

With a 5X zoom lens, 8.0 megapixels, and a generous 3.0 inch LCD monitor, the ultra-slim and stylish PENTAX Optio V20 makes it easy to capture and to view images. Three innovative features on the Optio V20 help users optimize portrait photographs. Face Recognition automatically detects and focuses on faces, then sets the optimum exposure. Smile Capture detects smiles and releases the shutter automatically, while Blink Detection reports whether any subjects closed their eyes in an image, so that the shot may be recaptured if necessary. Additional features include Auto-tracking AF, 52MB of built-in memory, and an Auto-Macro mode that allows close-up photography.

Optical 5X zoom lens that easily allows for high-magnification photography

Inside a compact body, the Optio V20 is newly equipped with a 5X optical zoom lens. With this lens, an angle of view equivalent to those of an approximately 36mm to 180mm lens in 35 mm format can be obtained. This allows the user to take pictures by zooming in further on landscapes, people, etc. In addition, using this lens together with the digital zoom function (approx. 1X to 5.1X) makes photography with a maximum zoom equivalent to approximately 25.5X possible.

Large 3.0-inch LCD monitor that is easy to see

The Optio V20 comes with a high resolution, a 3.0-inch LCD monitor with approximately 230,000 dots that enables images and the text to be displayed largely and clearly. The LCD monitor has a wide viewing angle of 170 degrees from all directions, making it easy to confirm images, even when looking at the screen diagonally. The LCD also comes newly coated with an AR (Anti-Reflection) coat that suppresses outside light and reduces reflections. Through this coating, the monitor is even more easily viewable outdoors.

Addition of new “Face Recognition AF&AE” that is convenient for photographing people

The Optio V20 is equipped with the “Face Recognition AF&AE” function that automatically detects and focuses on faces, and sets the optimum exposure. In addition, the Optio V20 is also newly equipped with application functions such as the “Smile Capture” function that determines smiles and photographs them automatically and the “Blinking Detection” function where the camera tells the user whether the people blinked when the photo was taken.

Evolved Auto Picture mode automatically determines the best settings for the shooting conditions

The Auto Picture mode, which is unique to PENTAX, lets the camera automatically determines the shooting conditions and chooses condition for Landscape, Portrait, Night Scene, Normal, and newly adopted Flower and Sports mode.

Digital SR (Shake Reduction)

Digital SR (Shake Reduction) mode reduces camera shakes and blurring of the subjects when photographing still images. The sensitivity is adjusted automatically, to as high as the ultrahigh sensitivity of ISO 6400, to match the brightness of the subjects. This enables for photography with fast shutter speeds, and images with less blurs can be obtained.

High-quality images

Thanks to a high definition of approximately 8.0 effective megapixels and high-performance PENTAX lens, the Optio V20 realizes clear images with high quality. Even when images are enlarged, it is possible to print detailed areas clearly.

Others

Movie recording function with shake reduction enabling high image quality rivaling camcorders
Mode palette provides quick access to 16 shooting conditions and 15 playback mode
Panorama mode for composing photographs into 1 panoramic picture
Auto-Macro allows for close-up photography as near as 10cm without changing the normal focusing mode
Auto-tracking AF continuously focusing on a moving subject
Date imprint function for easy image categorizing
Approximately 51.1MB of built-in memory
FotoNation's red-eye compensation function for flash shots
Includes the ACDSee for PENTAX 3.0 image viewer/image management software that supports Windows Vista™
Support PictBridge, DPOF functions, Exif Print, and PRINT Image Matching III

More external Pentax Optio V20 reviews!

Number of Effective pixels approx. 8.0 megapixels

Image Sensor 1/2.35" CCD

Number of Recorded pixels Still 8M, 5M, 4M, 3M, 2M, 1024, 640

Movie 640, 320

Sensitivity (Standard Output Sensitivity) Auto,Fixed (ISO 80 - 6400)

Motion Blur Reduction Still High sensitivity shake reduction mode (Digital SR)

Movie Movie shake reduction mode (Movie SR)

Face recognition Face recognition AF&AE is available at all mode. 15 people at most. Smile Capture. Blinking Detection.

Storage Media Built-in Memory (approx. 51.1MB), SD/SDHC Memory Card

White Balance Auto, Daylight, Shade, Tungsten light, Fluorescent light, Manual setting

Lens PENTAX zoom lens, 8 elements in 6 groups (4 aspherical elements)

Focal Length 6.3mm-31.5mm (35mm equivalent focal length approx. 36 - 180mm)

Aperture F3.5(W) - F5.6(T)

Zoom Optiocal Zoom 5X

Digital Zoom approx. 5.1X

Intelligent Zoom approx. 6.3X at 5M, approx. 25.5X at 640 (including optical zoom)

Display 3.0"LCD, approx.230K dots , Wide viewing angle , AR coating

Focus Type 9 point multi AF/spot AF/ Auto tracking AF

Focus Range
(From lense face) Normal:0.4m (1.31ft) - infinity(at wide setting), 0.9m (2.95ft) - infinity(at tele setting)
Macro: 0.1m (0.33ft) - 0.5m (1.64ft) (at wide setting), 0.6m (1.97ft)- 1.0m (3.3ft) (at tele setting)
Infinity-landscape, Manual Focus, Pan Focus available

Exposure Control Metering System Multi-segment metering, Center-weighted metering, Spot metering

Exposure Compensation ±2EV(1/3EV steps)

Scene modes AUTO Picture, Program, Night Scene, Movie, Voice Recording, Landscape, Flower, Natural Skin Tone, Portrait, Surf&Snow, Sport, Digital SR, Kids, Pet, Food, Panorama, Digital Wide, Green

Playback modes Digital SR, Slideshow, Resize, Trimming, Image&Sound Copy, Image Rotation, Digital Filter(Color Filter(11 kinds), Digital Filter, Brightness Filter), Movie Edit, Frame Composite, Red-eye Compensation, Voice Memo, Protect, DPOF, Image Recovery, Start-up Image Setting, Face zooming

Shutter Speed 1/2000 sec.- 1/4 sec. 4 sec. at most (Night scene mode setting)

Built-in flash Modes Flash-on and Flash-off modes. "Red-eye" compensation function employs a pre-discharge

Flash Range Wide: approx. 0.2m (0.66 ft) - approx. 4.4m (14 ft) (ISO Auto)
Tele: approx. 0.6m(1.97 ft) - approx. 2.8m(9.2 ft) (ISO Auto)

Drive Modes One shot, Self-timer , Continuous, Frame Composite

Power Source Rechargeable D-LI78 lithium-ion battery, Optional AC adapter kit is also available

Battery life Still: Approx. 200 shots (Rechargeable Lithium-ion battery)^*1
Playback: Approx. 210 mins (Rechargeable Lithium-ion battery)^*2

Interfaces USB 2.0(Hi-Speed)/AV terminal

PictBridge Supported

Dimensions approx. 97.5(W)× 56.5(H)× 23.5(D)mm (including lens depth)

Weight Body approx. 130 g (without battery and SD memory card)

With battery & SD card approx. 145 g (loaded and ready)