Pentax Optio RZ18 Compact with 18x Optical Zoom

While the standard point and shoots optical zoom will suffice in most scenarios, it can be a major crux when it comes to capturing shots of your favorite animal while on safari. To solve this problem Pentax is launching the Optio RZ18.

This point and shoot camera boasts a comparable footprint and form factor to that of cameras in the same class, but includes a massive 18x optical zoom. That’s the equivalent of a 25-450mm lens.

It also rocks a 16 megapixel sensor, but falls short in the video department, capping out at 720p at 30fps. After that it’s your usual garden variety camera, including a 9-point auto focus, optical image stabilization, face detection, automatic shooting modes such as Auto Picture and scene modes for taking the “guessing” out of “great photography.” A creative special effects filter rounds out the in camera modes, while a 4cm macro mode handles the closeups. And lastly, there is a 3-inch LCD with a 460k dot resolution.

Specifications Pentax Optio RZ18 :
• The image sensor: 1 / 2, 33-inch type CCD
• Effective pixels: 16 megapixels
• Lens: smc PENTAX zoom lens 4.5 mm - 81.0 mm (equivalent to 25mm lens - 450 mm on a 35mm format camera)
• Optical zoom: 18x
• Digital zoom: 7.2 x
• Optical Image Stabilizer: Multiple PENTAX Shake Reduction (SR)
• Monitor screen: LCD size 3-inch TFT 460,000 dots resolution
• Shutter speed: 1 / 2000 sec - 1 / 4 sec
• ISO Sensitivity: Auto: 80-1600, Digital SR (80-6400) (ISO 3200-6400 5M), Manual: 80-6400
• Ability to record video: HD 720p @ 30fps
• Interface: Ports USB 2.0 hi-speed, AV out Video out: NTSC, PAL
• Storage media: Internal memory (up to 96MB), external memory (SD / SDHC / SDXC)

The Optio RZ18 will be available in black, pearl white or metallic orange for $299.95 in October.