The Pentax Optio 750Z provides
a 1.18 inch CCD composed of 7.41 million pixels of which 7
million are effective to capture a maximum image size of 3056
x 2296 pixels. CCD sensitivity starts at 80 ISO, but can
also be set to 100, 200 or 400 ISO, or be set to Auto (between
80 and 200 ISO), allowing the camera to adjust it as dictated
by the ambient light.
The 5X SMC Pentax optical
zoom covers a focal length of 7.8 to 39mm, equivalent to
a zoom of 37.5 to 187.5 mm in the 35mm film format. The zoom
is composed of 9 elements in 7 groups and includes 2 aspherical
surfaces to minimize distortion. Apertures start at f2.8 when
the zoom is at the wide angle end and f4.6 at the telephoto
end, closing down to f7.8 for both.
A digital
zoom is also available, and can be set to either 2X or 8X, cropping
the central portion of the 7 megapixel image to produce a field of view
comparable to a longer lens, and then interpolating the
cropped image to the selected image size.
Shutter speeds for the Optio 750Z
range from 1/2000 second to 15 seconds, but with some limitations
according to the mode in use, and with exposures longer than
1 second noise reduction is automatically applied to the image.
The Optio 750Z offers a very broad selection of image sizes — no
less than 12 — as it is capable of recording images that have either
a 4:3 ratio, common to most digital cameras, or a 3:2 ratio,
similar to that of 35mm film, and which is commonly used for prints up
to 5 x 7:
4:3
3:2
3056×2296
pixels
3056×2040
pixels
2592×1944
pixels
2592×1728
pixels
2048×1536
pixels
2048×1368
pixels
1600×1200
pixels
1600×1064
pixels
1024×768
pixels
1024×680
pixels
640×48
pixels
640×424
pixels
The camera allows recording TIFF format
images, a format without compression but which is limited to 3056 × 2296
or 2592 × 1944 (both of which have a 4:3 ratio) and that require
approximately 15 seconds to save. The Optio 750's other image format, JPEG,
is available at all image sizes, and with both format ratios, 4:3 and 3:2,
and with any one of three compression levels:
Best: the least amount
of compression and the highest image quality in this format,
compressing images at an average of 6:1
Better: a middle
compression level that applies an average compression of
13:1
Good: the strongest
compression, using a ration that is around 23:1
Note: the precise compression
applied to an image is dependent on the complexity of the
subject.
The Optio 750Z is equipped with a number of external controls, some of
which access an additional setting when the Fn button is used. This
way, many parameters can be modified without having recourse to the menu
system.
The menus of the 750Z are identical, whatever the mode in use, and the
only difference between the capture mode and the playback mode is that
the camera will present the relevant section first depending on whether
it is currently set to capture images, or play them back. The entire menu
is composed of 3 sections, each identified by a tab at the top of the screen.
The first tab, on the left, relates to the capture modes:
Recorded Pixels: selects the image resolution (see above).
Quality Level: selects the image format TIFF or JPEG (see
above).
White Balance: Auto, Daylight, Shadow, Tungsten, Fluorescent
(warm white, daylight, or neutral), Manual (user set under the ambient
light).
AF Setting controls how the autofocus operates:
Focusing Area: Wide (default) or Spot.
Mode AF: Single, focuses only when the shutter
release is held halfway down; or Continuous, adjusts
the focus constantly as the content of the frame
changes.
Focus Limiter: when selected as active this
option speeds up focusing. At Normal focus distances
the autofocus ignores the macro range, and in macro
mode the autofocus ignores the normal range.
Auxiliary AF Light: controls whether or
not the AF assist light turns on automatically when
the ambient light is too low for the AF system to
work reliably.
Sensitivity: Auto (between 80 and 200 ISO), 80,
100, 200 or 400 ISO.
Flash Exposure Compensation: provides a flash
exposure compensation range of ± 2 EV in 0.3 EV
increments.
Auto Bracketing: sets the default setting for
the bracketing function, either Exposure, White Balance,
Saturation, Sharpness or Contrast.
Interval Shooting: presets the interval between
shots (10 second to 99 minutes), the number of shots to
be captured (2 to 99) and the time at which interval shooting
will begin.
Movie sets the recording parameters for the Movie
mode:
Recorded Pixels (frame size): 640 x 480
or 320 x 240 pixels.
Colour Mode: Colour, Black and White, or
Sepia.
Frame Rate: 30 frames per second, or 15
frames per second.
Time-Lapse Movie: this option allows selecting
a lower frame rate so that upon playback the movie
appears accelerated (X2, X5, X10, X20, X50 or X100).
3D Mode selects one of two methods to produce
3D images: Parallel, where the left and right lines of
vision are virtually parallel, as when looking at a distant
scene; or Cross, where the left and right lines of vision
are crossed.
Digital Zoom: to turn On or Off the digital zoom
and select whether it is limited to 2X or 8X.
Instant Review: decides if an image is displayed
on the monitor immediately post-capture (0.5, 1, 2, 3,
4 or 5 seconds.
Memory: serves to select the settings the camera
will recall after being turned off (flash mode, flash exposure
compensation, white balance, exposure compensation, digital
zoom, metering pattern, sensitivity, focus mode, zoom position,
manual focus setting, display mode, file numbering, drive
mode.
Image Tone: provides two settings, Standard or
Vivid, which accentuates colours.
Sharpness has three settings: Standard (default),
Hard (+), or Soft (-).
Saturation has three settings: Standard (default),
High (+), or Low (-).
Contrast has three settings: Standard (default),
High (+), or Low (-).
The second tab at the top of the menu identifies the Playback menu.
This section appears first when the menu is called while the
camera is in Playback:
Slide show: starts a slide show of the images on
the camera with a selectable on-screen time (3, 5, 10, 15,
20 or 30 seconds).
Resize: allows changing the size of a photo downwards
to minimize the space it takes on the memory card by overwriting
the original file, or simply makes a smaller size copy of
an image. (JPEG images only).
Trimming (JPEG images only): allows cropping a
part of an image and re-saving it as a new image at a selectable
quality level.
Digital Filter: is to apply a filter to an image
(B&W, Sepia, Red, Pink, Purple, Blue, Green, Yellow,
Soft or Brightness) and re-save it as a new image.
Quick Zoom: to change the zooming steps in Playback
so that an image can be magnified faster (2X, 4X or 10X).
Quick Delete: changes the default for the delete
confirmation screen from having Cancel pre-selected
to Delete.
Alarm (1, 2, 3): to set any of 3 alarms so that
the camera will ring at the selected time and display a
pre-selected image.
The last part of the menu, Setup, is covered in the Interface
and Software section of the review.
In North America, the Pentax Optio 750Z is retailed with a 32MB SD (Secure
Digital) memory card. The card is housed in a slot located beneath the
camera, next to the battery, and the compartment is sealed behind a solid,
latching plastic door.
Equipped with a 32MB card, the camera can capture:
TIFF
Best
Better
Good
4:3 Format
3056 × 2296
1
7
15
23
2592 × 1944
2
11
22
33
2048 × 1536
—
17
33
50
1600 × 1200
—
28
55
79
1024 × 768
—
60
107
149
640 × 480
—
139
171
242
3:2 Format
3056×2040
—
8
17
28
2592×1728
—
12
23
37
2048×1368
—
19
37
60
1600×1064
—
30
60
92
1024×680
—
75
121
161
640×424
—
189
193
242
The Optio 750Z is powered by a
rechargeable Lithium ion battery (model D-LI7). The
battery is maintained in place in its slot by a spring-loaded
clip, preventing it from falling out when the memory card is
removed. The battery and a charger (D-BC7) which takes
approximately 3 hours to fully charge the battery are normally
included with the camera.
The upper connection has a dual function, USB (compatible USB 2.0)
and A/V Out, depending on which cable is plugged in. Both cables are included
and the A/V Out signal, NTSC or PAL, is selected in the Setup menu.
The second jack is for an AC-DC adapter (D-AC7),
which can be used to power the camera for an extended period — such
as during a slide show. The adapter, just like the Remote control
for the 750Z, is available as an option.
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