Pentax Launches New X-5 Super Zoom Digital Camera

Pentax has announced the launch of a new camera with seriously high levels of zoom. The new digital camera is called the X-5, and the camera has enough zoom to get users up close to whatever their subject is. The camera offers a whopping 26x optical zoom covering a focal length of 22.3 mm to 580 mm in 35mm equivalent.

The camera has 16-megapixel resolution and supports ISO 6400. With 26x optical zoom, keeping blur out of your photos when using full zoom would be impossible without some sort of shake reduction technology. Pentax equipped the camera with a mechanical sensor-shift shake reduction mechanism and digital check reduction modes for still photos and movies.

When combined, the digital and mechanical hybrid shake reduction system promises clear photos at any zoom level. The camera can record full resolution HD video at 30 frames per second using h.264 format and has an integrated micro-HDMI output for sending recorded movies to a big-screen. The camera has an electronic viewfinder with diopter adjustment.

The camera has a number of automatic modes with 16 shooting options and an auto macro function for shooting very close to the subject. The camera is powered by standard AA batteries that can be found just about anywhere. The camera is also capable of shooting bursts at up to 10 shots per second for a maximum of 30 images in a sequence. A number of creative image processing tools and 12 digital filters are integrated. The camera will be available starting in September at an MSRP of $279.95.