PHOTOS: Pentax I-10 digital camera hands on

Photo gallery of the new retro looking compact

PHOTOS: Pentax i-10 digital camera hands on

27 January 2010 17:07 GMT / By Stuart Miles

Pentax's latest camera offering, the Pentax Optio I-10, is a rather retro-looking compact camera that pays homage to the classic DSLR shape, but without any DSLR features.

Just 2 days after its official announcement we've already got back in time to grab one so you can see what it's all about.

Looking cute and miniature, the styling really is DSLR all over without the camera actually offering any DSLR or hybrid like features.

Available in black or white, the camera will offer a 12-megapixel sensor and sport a 5x optical zoom (equivalent to a 28mm wide angle to 140mm telephoto lens).

Although the I-10 looks like a DSLR camera, it's far from it, nor will it attempt to take on the new range of "hybrid" models from Olympus, Panasonic or Samsung, instead promising a range of AF and AE features in the guise of face recognition to beat all face recognition systems.

The Pentax Optio I-10 is expected in February priced at £199.99.

In the hand it's very light with some we showed questioning whether it was even a real camera.

Other interesting bits to point out are that the image isn't displayed on the whole of the widescreen display at the back and that, strange as it might be, the zoom toggle faces you rather than being on the front of the camera.

We're going to be having a further play with the camera and grabbing some test shots over the next couple of days, hopefully when the weather gets better.

We will keep you posted.

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Full tags

Cameras, Compact cameras, Pentax, Pentax Optio I-10, Digital cameras, Photos, DSLR cameras

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Comments

For those of you too young to remember, this mimics the Pentax 110 SLR more than current DSLRs.
http://www.cameraquest.com/pentx110.htm Posted by foresmac, US
True! The first thing I thought when I saw this little thing was: "OMG, they built another Auto 110 !!" In fact, that was and still is, the smallest SLR ever. So: yes, it's built after an SLR, but not just any. It is a hommage to the Auto 110. Posted by Spironski, NL
Why not just make a camera with a sensor the same size as the 110? it was about the same was the Micro 4/3 we see now, so it's not impossible. Posted by Adam, Canada
Yes we get it. It looks like a DSLR but doesn't have any of its functionalities. Did you really have to mention that thrice? Posted by Nikhil S, India
I'd prefer few random test shots instead of dirty hands on tiny camera :P Posted by Shinigami, UA
So sad that you came so close to cluing in on the Auto 110 connection. A modicum of research would have kept you from looking like a dope in the eyes of the Pentax community. Perhaps if the Canon/Nikon-centric camera reviewers on the internet on the net would do something more than a throw-the-dog-a-bone treatment on what you so obviously consider an also-ran maker's products this sort of goof could be avoided Posted by Mike Cash, Japan