Digital Trends

Larger Image | More Images

All three cameras have similar bodies less than an inch thick and will cost under $300 when they debut this spring.

Among the many camera announcements made Thursday in advance of the Photo Marketing Association trade show that begins on Jan. 31, Pentax added three new consumer-level cameras to its line-up. The Optio S12, M50 and E50 all offer point-and-shoot operation in packages under $300.

The entry-level Optio E50 uses two AA batteries instead of the more traditional proprietary battery pack, and sports a thickness of 0.9 inches that carries across all three news cams. It gets an 8.1 MP CCD, 3x optical zoom and a 2.4-inch LCD. Extra options include digital shake reduction and face recognition.

The Optio M50 picks up a li-ion battery pack instead of AA batteries, and also a more refined CCD. While putting out a tame 8.0-megapixel image, the quicker sensor can shoot up to ISO 6400 for less blur in motion shots. The camera also gets a 2.5-inch LCD, 5x optical zoom, and the same digital shake reduction and face recognition offered on the lower model.

The Optio S12 trades speed for resolution, cutting ISO capability down to 3200 but boosting resolution to 12 megapixels. Unlike either of the other two modes, the S12 can also shoot MPEG-4 DivX-encoded video at full 640x480 resolution, and at 30 fps. Its 2.5-inch LCD also gains an antri-reflective coating and “bright mode.” Other features virtually mirror the other models.

The lower-end E50 and M50 are both slated for March debuts priced at $150 and $230, respectively, while the higher-end S12 will come out in April for $280.