Pentax makes 24x zoom X70 official
updated 12:40 pm EST, Tue March 3, 2009
Pentax X70 Official
Pentax today followed up on late leaks with the formal debut of the X70. Considered a "bridge" camera, the 12-megapixel camera is one of the longest-ranged ultrazooms with a 24x, 26-624mm equivalent lens and with image stabilization built into the sensor. It also provides full manual control and settings often reserved for SLRs, with aperture and shutter priority providing photographers an in-between option for photography.
The camera is as fast as previously claimed and tops 11 frames per second by reducing the image depth to 5 megapixels. Light sensitivity isn't quite as broad as claimed in leaks, however, as automatic sensitivity only ranges between ISO 50 and 800 while ISO 1,600 and above requires invoking a shake reduction mode. Reaching ISO 3,200 and 6,400 requires lowering the resolution to 5 megapixels. Video capture is also somewhat limited and is capped at 15 frames per second in 720p.
Now official, the X70 should be on store shelves by April at the previously hinted $400 price.
