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PENTAX K-500
An easy-to-shoot digital SLR camera, offering high-quality images, advanced features and outstanding value
Mississauga, ON – June 12, 2013
PENTAX RICOH IMAGING CANADA INC. is pleased to announce the introduction of the PENTAX K-500 digital SLR camera.
The PENTAX K-500 includes advanced features uncommon to the entry-level class. Ideal for families and casual photographers with rigorous demands, the K-500 features a 16.28 megapixel APS-C CMOS image sensor, fast continuous shooting, high sensitivity shooting up to ISO 51200, 100% field of view, in-body shake reduction, and an advanced auto focus module. The K-500 is compatible with both rechargeable Li-Ion and AA batteries (via optional AA battery holder)* for the ultimate flexibility and accessibility to a power source when travelling or in remote locations. In addition, the K-500’s wide selection of simple user-modes and creative tools enable limitless personalized expressions while its intuitive ergonomics and menu layout make the K-500 approachable and comfortable to use.
The K-500 will be available in Canada September 2013 at a suggested retail price of $629.99 for the K-500 Kit, including the smc PENTAX-DA L 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 AL Lens, D-LI109 lithium battery & charger.
* The optional D-BH109 AA Battery Holder is required for AA-battery operation.
Major Features
High-resolution, super-high-sensitivity shooting at ISO 51200
The K-500 features the state-of-the-art CMOS image sensor with a large image-capturing area measuring 23.7mm by 15.7mm, to assure high-speed image data readout. This image sensor, coupled with PRIME M imaging engine, delivers super-high-resolution, rich-gradation digital images with approximately 16.28 effective megapixels. The K-500 also offers super-highsensitivity shooting at a top sensitivity of ISO 51200, allowing the photographer to handhold the camera for beautiful nighttime snapshots.
Innovative SR mechanism
The PENTAX-developed SR (Shake Reduction) mechanism effectively compensates the adverse effect of camera shake to deliver sharp, blur-free images, even under shake-prone conditions such as when using a telephoto lens, shooting in the dark without flash illumination, or taking landscapes in twilight. This innovative mechanism works with almost all PENTAX interchangeable lenses — even those developed for film-format cameras.** It is also the key to some special functions, including the ASTRO TRACER mode that simplifies astronomical photography in combination with the optional O-GPS1 GPS Unit.
** Lenses compatible with this mechanism: PENTAX K, KA, KAF, KAF2 and KAF3mount lenses; screw-mount lenses (with an adapter); and 645 and 67system lenses (with an adapter). Some functions may not be available with certain lenses.
High-speed continuous shooting
The K-500’s high-speed continuous shooting function captures active, fast-moving subjects — such as athletes, stage performers and wildlife — in a series of images, at a maximum speed of approximately six images per second*** (in the JPEG recording format).
***using the D-LI109 Rechargeable Lithium-ion Battery. When using with AA batteries, the camera can capture approximately five images per second.
High-precision autofocus
The K-500 features the state-of-the-art SAFOX IXi+ AF sensor module, which assures responsive, high-precision autofocus operation with 11 sensors (including nine cross-type sensors in the middle). It also features a spotbeam projector to assist AF operation in poorly lit locations. Its select-area expansion function keeps the sensor module tracking a moving subject, even when it moves out of a pre-assigned auto-tracking area, by assessing distance data collected by neighboring focus sensors. This means not only greatly improved accuracy and speed of detecting moving subjects during autofocus operation, but also the enhanced autotracking performance of moving subjects when using a telephoto lens.
Optical finder with approximately 100% field of view
Despite its compact size, the K-500 features a glass prism finder with nearly 100% field of view and approximately 0.92-times magnification (with a 50mm F1.4 lens at infinity) to cover the entire field of view for easy focusing and framing. It delivers a clear view of the subject even in bright sunshine and eliminates parallax and time lag in the viewfinder image.
High-quality movie recording
The K-500 records high-resolution, full HD movie clips (1920 x 1080 pixels) in the H.264 recording format, with a choice of frame rate (30, 25 or 24 frames per second). It offers creative image-processing tools**** like Custom Images, and useful movie-recording features such as an interval movie recording function, for the production of more personalized movies.
**** The frame rate may vary when nonstandard image processing is required.
User-friendly Auto Picture and Scene modes
The PENTAX-original Auto Picture mode automatically selects the most appropriate shooting mode for a given subject or scene from Portrait, Landscape, Macro and other distinctive shooting modes. Since the K-500 sets all vital camera settings — such as shutter speed, aperture, white balance, saturation, contrast and sharpness — the photographer can concentrate on image composition and the shutter chance. The K-500 also offers 19 Scene modes, including Night Scene Portrait, Pet and Backlight Silhouette, to simplify photographing complicated or demanding subjects and scenes by optimizing all camera settings with a simple choice of the corresponding icon on the camera’s LCD monitor.
A selection of image-processing tools for creative, personalized expression
The K-500’s custom image function allows the user to easily and quickly select the desired finishing touch for a particular image, with a choice of 11 custom images. The K-500 also provides 19 distinctive digital filters to add distinctive visual effects to captured images and produce creative, artistic images without the need for a computer.
Choice of two power sources
In addition to the standard rechargeable lithium-ion battery capable of capturing approximately 480 images with a single recharge,***** the K-500 can also be powered by four AA-size batteries with the use of the optional D-BH109 AA Battery Holder. Since AA-size batteries can be easily obtained almost anywhere around the world, there’s no need to worry about battery shortages, even when on the road.
***** Under testing conditions prescribed by PENTAX, using the D-LI109 Rechargeable Lithium-ion Battery with no flash discharges.
Other features
I. Large, wide-view 3.0-inch LCD monitor with approximately 921,000 dots
II. 77-segment multi-pattern metering system for extra-accurate light measurement
III. DR (Dust Removal) mechanism to shake dust from the surface of the CMOS image sensor
IV. PENTAX-designed Hyper control system to assure flexible, unfailing response to the photographer’s creative intentions
V. RAW data retrieve function to save an original raw data of a just-recorded JPEG-format image
VI. Compatibility with Eye-Fi wireless LAN SD memory cards
VII. SILKYPIX Developer Studio 3.0 LE for PENTAX RICOH IMAGING(RAW-data processing engine developed by Ichikawa Soft Laboratory) included, together with the K-500’s in-body RAW data processing capability
PENTAX RICOH IMAGING is a leader in the production of a variety of adventure ready digital cameras including weather-resistant digital SLRs and stylish, compact, waterproof cameras, as well as lenses, flash units, binoculars, scopes, and eyepieces. With headquarters in Mississauga, Ontario, PENTAX RICOH IMAGING CANADA INC. is a subsidiary of PENTAX RICOH IMAGING COMPANY, LTD. Visit us on the web at www.pentax.ca
- All other brands or product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.
- Design and Specifications are subject to change without notice.
