Optio 33WR compact digital camera introduced by Pentax

The Optio 33WR with its 3.2 megapixel and versatile 2.8X optical zoom allows you to capture stunning shots that close in on the subject or fit expansive areas in a single frame. It’s also designed to be robust enough to take virtually anywhere. Indeed its specially designed lens operates through the entire zooming range without protruding from the body, and with waterproof (should not be operated underwater) certification equivalent to JIS Class 7 it allows you to shoot in the rain, snow, and other circumstances that were previously off limits.

 

 

 

Major features

 

Exterior style
With JIS class-7 waterproof equivalence, you might expect the Optio 33WR to be purely a camera of function, and not one of style. You would, however, be wrong. Its exterior exudes a sense of toughness without appearing unwieldy, and its approximate square shape allows a comfortable grip while conveying a sense of understatement. Its reinforcements at each corner allow it to withstand minor knocks and act add character to the overall appearance, and all buttons have been thoughtfully located for easy access and a sense of space. All in all, it’s a camera design that hints at high-level capability, yet still retains a welcome sense of user-friendly simplicity.

Optical zoom lens
With a 2.8X zoom lens equivalent to a 37-104mm lens in 35mm format, the Optio 33WR gives you a great deal of compositional freedom. The lens has also been specially designed for maximum protection against water, operating throughout its full range without protruding from the body of the camera, and allowing combination with 4X digital zoom for a total zooming capacity of an impressive 11.2X.

 

 

3.2 effective megapixels
Not only is the Optio 33WR robust and versatile, it also offers the imaging power of 3.2 effective megapixels. Such resolution allows a truly satisfying level of clarity and detail to be attained whatever the type of shot, for images that maintain pleasing quality even when enlarged.

 

Easy operation
As the Optio 33WR was designed for enjoyable use, it has been created to offer extremely easy operation. Just a single touch of a standalone button is all it takes to move out of shooting mode and display a shot. Conversely, just a press of the shutter button is all that’s required to start shooting again.

 

A diverse range of shooting modes
With a pleasing range of shooting modes, the Optio 33WR lets you handle a plethora of situations. Simply select the most appropriate, compose your shot, then release the shutter — it really is that simple.

• Program mode
  Program mode automatically selects the most appropriate shutter speed and aperture when there’s simply no time to prepare for the shot.
• Landscape mode
  A mode specifically designed to emphasize the different shades of land and sky, while capturing expansive scenes with clarity.
  Night scene mode
  A mode specially designed to produce dramatic results when taking shots of night time illumination.
• Night scene portrait mode
  Night scene portrait mode lets you capture detail in low light without ruining the mood of the shot by adding a small burst of flash to achieve greater detail in the foreground.
• Surf & snow mode
  It used to be difficult to obtain accurate exposure when shooting scenes with snow or bodies of water. Surf & Snow mode, however, overcomes high-level reflection problems to achieve shots with pleasing exposure throughout.
• Portrait mode
  Portrait mode captures natural looking skin tones for more flattering results when shooting people.
• Sunset mode
  Sunset mode faithfully captures the range of tones at the very beginning or end of the day.
• Flower mode
  Flower mode switches the lens to a macro setting automatically and is ideal for capturing the bright colours and intimate details of flowers.
• Fireworks mode
  A mode that allows shots of fireworks to be taken with ease for exceptional results.
• Snap mode
  With the Optio 33WR, there’s absolutely no need to miss a photo opportunity. Simply select Snap mode and capture your subject in an instant with the assurance of automatic pan focusing.
• Macro mode
  Macro mode allows shots to be composed from as close as 1cm (0.03ft) from the subject at a wide-angle setting, while zoom capability of up to 4X magnification means even the smallest of objects can fill an entire frame.
• Movie*
  Record movie clips to the full capacity of your chosen memory media, with a choice of full colour, sepia, and black and white shooting. Movie mode also allows the user to choose resolution (320 x 240 or 160 x 120 recording pixels) and all files are stored in MOV format for easy playback on PC.

*System requirements: PCs running Windows 98/98SE, Me, 2000, or XP Home Edition/Professional with QuickTime TM 6.0 installed (included on the accompanying CD-ROM). Macintosh machines running OS9.0 or later with QuickTime 6.0 or higher installed.

 

 

Panorama assist mode
When scenes are so expansive they simply cannot be captured in a single shot, Panorama assist provides the answer. It allows multiple pictures to be taken horizontally or vertically following the camera’s guidance, which can then be aligned and combined on a PC using the simple-to-use software* provided.
* ACD photostitcher is compatible with Windows systems only.

 

Digital filter effect
The digital filters of the Optio 33WR offer an advantage over conventional ones in that they can be applied after the shot has been recorded. There’s also 10 different types to choose from — B&W, sepia, red, pink, purple, blue, green, yellow, soft, and brightness.

 

Built-in flash
Firing automatically in low-light and backlit conditions, the built-in flash of the Optio 33WR lets you shoot in confidence even after the sun’s gone down. And for greater control, it also features Flash-on and Flash-off modes, as well as a red eye reduction function* that heightens the quality of portraits taken at night.

*This feature does not eliminate “red eyes” in all instances.

 

High-precision LCD monitor
The 1.6-inch TFT LCD monitor delivers high-quality, clear images of potential subjects, and is also ideal for inspecting shots already recorded.

 

Optical viewfinder
A viewfinder offering actual image zoom allows you to conserve power by switching off the LCD monitor.

 

 

Nine image/zoom display
To speed the search for recorded shots, the LCD monitor of the Optio 33WR has the ability to show nine recorded images all at once. What’s more, each image can also be magnified by 8X to allow closer checking for focus and detail.

 

White balance modes
To ensure the appropriate white balance in different situations, the Optio 33WR offers auto, daylight, shade, tungsten, and fluorescent light settings. It also has a manual setting that allows you to make the decision yourself or experiment to achieve different results.

 

Metering options
Three different choices for metering assist accurate exposure in an array of different circumstances. Simply select from Multi-segment metering, Centre-weighted metering, and Spot metering.

 

Sensitivity settings
Light sensitivity is easy to adjust, with a selection equivalent to ISO50, 100, 200, and 400, as well as an auto setting. ISO50 ensures images with minimized noise.

 

Exposure compensation
Exposure compensation across a range of ±2EV in steps of 1/3EV allows users to exercise their creativity — underexposing to add a sense of mood, or overexposing for special effect.

 

Settings for sharpness, saturation, and contrast
With three grades of settings for sharpness, saturation, and contrast, the Optio 33WR gives you an exceptional amount of control over each and every shot.

 

Interval shooting
Just select the time to start shooting, the duration of the interval between shots, and the number of frames — then leave the Optio 33WR to operate by itself.

 

4-in-1 consecutive shooting
With just a single press of the shutter release, this mode takes four consecutive shots of your subject, yet records them as one frame — capturing all the action in just one image.

 

Convenient self-timer
A handy self-timer allows the user to enter into group shots or minimize camera shake when taking pictures in low light.

 

Continuous shooting
Continuous shots can be taken with an extended press of the shutter. This allows fast-occurring processes to be captured in a much more expressive manner.

 

 

Other features

Manual focus
Though the Optio 33WR features options for autofocus, it also allows manual focusing. This allows users to deal with more tricky situations and empowers them to attempt shots that are a little more creative.

 

Convenient autofocus
A choice of two kinds of autofocus provides the user with even greater control over the impact of the shot. 5-point autofocus allows the user to achieve a shot with clarity that extends throughout the frame, while Spot AF allows a single part of a subject to be given prime emphasis.

 

Resize function
When the selected memory media becomes full, more space can be freed up without the need to delete a single shot. Selection of the resize function allows the data size of recorded shots to be reduced, and is also handy when you need to make an image lighter for sending as an e-mail attachment.

 

Trimming
The useful Trimming function allows images to be cropped and parts to be selected for storage on their own as individual files.

 

Voice recording mode
Audio can be recorded to the full capacity of the external memory, allowing the Optio 33WR to be used as a regular voice recording device. With a 64MB memory card allowing the recording of up to 2 hours and 12 minutes of audio, this mode makes the Optio 33WR even more useful in so many more situations.

Voice memo mode
Sound can be attached to recorded images allowing situations to be captured in a much more memorable manner.

 

Voice message mode
It’s easy to attach a short sound message to an image or movie. Such recordings are then indicated by a flashing speaker button, which can be pressed to play them back with in synch.

 

Histogram display
Histogram display allows light levels to be checked during both shooting and playback, giving the user a better way to evaluate each scene.

 

Alarm with snooze function
A handy alarm can be set to sound while a selected image is displayed. This can be used to wake you up with the sight of a friendly face, or to remind you of something important related to your schedule.

 

Noise reduction function
For longer exposures, the Optio 33WR automatically activates a function for reduced interference.

 

World time function
The Optio 33WR has the ability to tell the time in 62 different cities around the world. It can also record the time and date for each image, making the sorting of shots simpler later on.

 

 

DPOF function
DPOF compatibility* gives you the power to control the number of printouts and make use of the date function in exactly the manner you desire.
*Some printers may not support the above functions. Please consult the supplier of your printer for more information.

 

Exif Print and PRINT Image Matching II* compatibility
Exif Print (Exif 2.2) and PRINT Image Matching II compatibility allows the creation of a stronger link between the camera and printer for greater control.
*This product supports PRINT Image Matching II. When used in combination, PRINT Image Matching II enabled digital still cameras, printers, and software help photographers to produce images more faithful to their intentions.

 

 

Operation is 6 languages
All menus and messages of the Optio 33WR can be set for display in the user’s choice of English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, or Japanese.

 

USB* and ACDSee for PENTAX**

USB compatibility makes it fast and easy to import multiple recorded images into common PC applications via simple cable connection. The camera also comes complete with a CD-ROM containing the ACDSee for PENTAX application, which can be easily installed and used on both Windows and Mac systems.

*System requirements: PCs running Windows 98/98SE, Me, 2000, or XP Home Edition/Professional (installation of the included driver software is required for Windows 98/98SE). Macintosh machines running OS9.0 or later. Compliance with the aforementioned system requirements does not guarantee USB compatibility

 

**System requirements: PCs with a Pentium CPU or higher, over 64MB of memory capacity, over 40MB of hard disk capacity, and a standard USB port. Macintosh machines with a 266MHz PowerPC or higher, CarbonLib 1.3 or later, over 8MB of memory capacity, over 6MB of hard disk capacity, and a standard USB port.

 

AV (video/audio) output terminal
An AV output terminal makes it easy to connect the Optio 33WR to a TV, allowing the display of images on a much grander scale.

 

Power sources
The Optio 33WR can function with common AA alkaline batteries. It’s also compatible with optional CR-V3 lithium batteries, which offer a longer life, and battery power can be conserved through use of an optional AC adapter whenever you like.

 

Optio 33WR Specifications
Type Compact-type digital still camera with built-in zoom lens, autofocus, auto exposure, auto flash and water resistant design (JIS class 7)
Effective Pixels 3.2 megapixels
Sensor 3.34 megapixels (total pixels) 1/2.7 inch interline transfer CCD with a primary colour filter
Colour Depth 10-bit
Recorded Pixels Still 2048 x 1536 pixels, 1600 x 1200 pixels, 1024 x 768 pixels, 640 x 480 pixels
Movie 320 x 240 pixels, 160 x 120 pixels
Sensitivity Auto, fixed (equivalent to ISO 50, 100, 200, 400)
File Formats Still JPEG (Exif 2.2), DCF, DPOF
Movie MOV (Quick Time Motion JPEG Format) approx. 15 fps, with sound
Quality Levels ??? (Best), ?? (Better), ? (Good)
Storage Media SD memory card, MultiMediaCard(MMC)
Lens PENTAX power zoom 5.7mm-16mm (equivalent to 37mm-104mm in 35mm format) f/2.8-f/3.9, 10 elements in 7 groups (3 aspherical element)
Digital Zoom 1X - 4X

 

 

Focusing System
Type TTL contrast detection autofocus system
Manual focus/Infinity-landscape mode available
Focusing Areas 5-point autofocus, spot autofocus
Focusing Range Autofocus Normal: 0.3m (0.98ft) to infinity Macro: 0.01m (0.033ft) to 0.5m (1.64ft) at 5.7mm (equivalent to 37mm in 35mm format), 0.2m (0.66ft) to 0.5m (1.64ft) at 16mm (equivalent to 104mm in 35mm format)
Manual focus 0.01m (0.033ft) to infinity

Exposure Control
Metering System TTL metering: Choice of Multi-segment metering, Centre-weighted metering, Spot metering
Exposure Modes Program, Landscape, Night Scene, Portrait (Night), Portrait, Surf & Snow, Flower, Sunset, Firework, Snap, Movie, Panorama assist Digital Filter Black & White, Sepia, Red, Pink, Purple, Blue, Green, Yellow, Soft, Brightness
Exposure Compensation ±2 EV (1/3 steps)
Movie Shooting time: from approx. 1 sec. to memory card capacity.
Colour mode: full colour, sepia, or black and white
Shutter Programmed AE electronic lens shutter with CCD electronic shutter.
Shutter speed Approx. 1/2000 sec. to 4 sec.
Drive Modes One shot, Continuous, Multiple Continuous, Self-timer, Interval Shooting

Flash
Built-in series-control auto flash Automatic discharge under low lighting and backlight condition in auto modes. Flash-on and Flash-off modes. "Red-eye" reduction function employs a pre-discharge.
Effective Range Approx. 0.1m - 2.9m (0.33ft - 9.5ft) (5.7mm at sensitivity Auto) Approx. 0.5m - 2.1m (1.64ft - 6.9ft) (16mm at sensitivity Auto)

White Balance Auto, Daylight, Shade, Tungsten light, Fluorescent light, Manual setting
Optical Viewfinder Actual-image zoom viewfinder
LCD Monitor 1.6 inch, TFT colour LCD (Approx. 85,000 pixels)
LCD Function Nine-image and 1X-8X magnification, and voice memo available in playback mode. Resize, or trimming function is also available.
Time World Time Displays the time in 62 cities (28 time zones)
Alarm Clock Displays an image with alarm (max. three memory settings). Snooze function available.
Interfaces AV output terminal, USB terminal, DC input terminal
Video Output Compatible with NTSC and PAL formats
Power Sources One Lithium battery CR-V3 (allows approximately 540 shots to be taken*), two AA batteries (lithium, alkaline, nickel and rechargeable Ni-MH) Optional AC adapter also available.
Dimensions 81.5(W) x 76(H) x 30.5(D)mm (3.2 x 3.0 x 1.2 inches) (Excluding protrusions)
Weight 208g ( 7.3 oz.) loaded and ready
160g (5.6 oz.) without battery and SD memory card

*According to the result of in-house testing (with the LCD monitor on and flash used for 50% of the shot)