Pentax Announces Optio T10, Optio W10, and Optio M10 Digital Cameras

Pentax is contributing to the pre-PMA new camera news with the announcment of three new models.  All three models will be available in March.  The Pentax Optio T10 features a 3 inch touchscreen LCD and is expected to retail at $349.  The Pentax Optio W10 is the next generaation of their waterproof model line and will retail for under $300.  Finally, the Pentax Option M10 features a 2.5 inch LCD and 6 megapixel sensor at an entry level price of $229.

These cameras, along with the two that were announced at CES earlier this year (the Option E10 and Optio A10) demonstrate Pentax' new naming scheme that attempts to make it easier for consumers.  I'd have to agree, here's how I remember the cameras:

• E10 - Entry
• M10 - Middle (this one is weak, but all I have for now
• W10 - Waterproof
• T10 - Touch screen
• A10 - Advanced

Pentax Optio T10

Featuring a 3 inch touchscreen LCD, the T10 also takes pictures at 6 megapixels with a 3x optical zoom lens.  The camera controls and functions can be controlled by the touchscreen and you can apply additional decorations to your images (like drawings, stamps and frames).  The Drawing feature allows you to use a stylus to free hand some drawings onto your images.

The camera is also very slim, at 19.5 mm thick.  The camera accepts SD format memory cards and has 12 shooting modes.

Pentax Optio T10 Specifications Sheet (MS Word)

Pentax Optio W10

The latest generation in their waterproof camera line, the Optio W10 sports a slightly updated look, anti-reflective coating for the LCD and some new features.  It still shoots at 6 megapixels with a 3x optical and is waterproof to 5 feet for 30 minutes.

The camera adds a face recognition auto focus that detects faces in the frame and adjusts the focus point and exposure to accurately capture the face in the image.  This prevents out of focus people when the camera focuses on an object in the background.

Pentax Optio W10 Specifications Sheet (MS Word)

Pentax Optio M10

The Optio M10 features a 6 megaxpixel sensor and 2.5 inch LCD at an affordable $229.  A slight step above the E10, the M10 is powered by 2 AA batteries and uses and SD card to store images (with a little bit of internal memory).  Pentax has also made an effort to make the camera easy to use and easy to select shooting modes.

Pentax Optio M10 Specifications Sheet (MS Word)