Major Features

1. Exceptional image quality

   Equipped with approximately 14 effective megapixels assuring exceptional image resolution, a state-of-the-art imaging engine with superior noise reduction and the high-performance smc PENTAX optical zoom lens, the Optio RS1500 delivers brilliant, high-quality images with well-defined details. Even when images are enlarged to poster sizes, it assures sharp, high-resolution prints with excellent edge-to-edge sharpness.

2. New-generation Face Change System for easier, swifter replacement of dress-up sheets

   The Optio RS1500 features an upgraded, simplified version of the Face Change system, which allows the user to add a variety of dress-up sheets to the camera’s front panel more easily than before. The transparent acrylic panel now can be mounted or removed without using a special tool, since it is fixed to the camera body using just the newly designed grip and a removable lens ring. The number of standard dress-up sheets included has also been increased to 10. Combined with the choice of two lens ring colors, the user has even more options for distinctive, eye-catching appearances for the camera. The user can even create original, more personalized dress-up sheets by downloading exclusive software from the PENTAX home page.

3. A selection of digital filters for creative expressions

   The Optio RS1500 comes with nine different digital filters, including Toy Camera, Retro and Sepia, to add a variety of visual effects to images without the need for a computer. Multiple filters can also be applied to a single image for even more unique, creative visual effects.

4. Automatic face detection with user-friendly features

   The Optio RS1500 features the advanced Face Detection AF&AE function, which instantly and accurately detects human faces within the image field, then optimizes focus and exposure settings - all automatically. The Optio RS1500 also offers other convenient features designed for the easy capture of beautiful, lively snapshots, including: the Smile Capture mode, which automatically releases the shutter the moment the camera detects the subject's smile; the Small Face filter, which makes the subject's face appear slightly smaller in the captured image than in reality; and Natural Skin mode, which gives the subject smooth, healthy skin tone.

5. Large, easy-to-view 3.0-inch LCD monitor

   Despite its compact dimensions, the Optio RS1500 comes equipped with a large 3.0-inch high-brightness color LCD monitor with approximately 230,000 dots. Since this monitor provides large, detailed images and menus, the user can check them with just a quick glance, and easily and instantly confirm the on-screen image or make the desired settings and adjustments.

6. Optical 4X zoom lens with wide-angle coverage

   The Optio RS1500 incorporates a high-performance 4X optical zoom lens covering focal lengths from 4.9mm to 19.6mm (equivalent in the 35mm format to approximately 27.5mm wide angle to 110mm telephoto). Thanks to this wide zoom range, the Optio RS1500 can be used for a wide variety of subjects and scenes — from wide-angle shots such as spectacular landscapes, majestic architectural images and group shots within confined spaces, to telephoto images such as tightly cropped snapshots taken from a distance. When coupled with the Intelligent Zoom function, which allows for even tighter zooming in on the subject, the zoom range can be extended to approximately 26.8 times without compromising image quality.

7. Auto Picture mode for hands-off selection of the most appropriate shooting mode

   The Optio RS1500 features the PENTAX-original Auto Picture mode, which automatically selects the most appropriate shooting mode for a given subject or scene by accurately assessing various photographic conditions affecting the subject. This user-friendly mode instantly and unfailingly selects one of the 15 shooting modes including Blue Sky and Sunset, and optimizes various camera settings such as sensitivity and shutter speed, to assure the best results, while minimizing the photographer’s effort.

8. High-quality HD-proportioned movie recording

   The Optio RS1500 captures beautiful, high-definition-TV-quality movie clips (1280 x 720 pixels).* It also comes equipped with the sophisticated Movie SR (Shake Reduction) mode, which automatically compensates camera shake during movie shooting with the help of exclusive software, making it possible for everyone to enjoy high-quality movie shooting with minimal effort.

   * When the Optio RS1500's AV output terminal is used, movie clips are output as normal-image-size data. If the user wishes to play back movie clips at high-definition-TV proportions (1280 x 720 pixels), the data must be transferred to a personal computer for playback. When movie shooting, the angle of view becomes narrower than normal shooting.

9. Other features

   1. Digital Blur Removal function to effectively compensate for camera shake during still-image shooting
   2. Burst shooting at a speed of 16 images (fixed at 640 x 480 pixels) in two seconds
   3. Auto-tracking AF mode to keep constant focus on a moving subject
   4. Digital Panorama mode to effortlessly create a single panoramic picture from as many as three images
   5. Green mode to automatically optimize exposure and sensitivity settings for a given subject or scene
   6. Frame Composite function (with three frames stored in the camera) to shoot or compose images with decorative photo frames
   7. Image viewing, editing and filing software package compatible with latest operating systems such as Windows 7 and Mac OS X10.6: MediaImpression 3.0 for PENTAX (Windows version) and MediaImpression 2.1 for PENTAX (Macintosh version)