Pentax finished Monday with a unique take on the rapidly growing compact ultrazoom camera field. Its Optio RZ18 fits an 18X zoom 25-450mm equivalent lens with an f3.5-4.9 aperture into a consciously minimal design that stays relatively thin. A 16-megapixel sensor puts it at the higher end of the range, and it has an unusually wide ISO 80 to 6,400 sensitivty range for the class.
The camera carries sensor shift-based image stabilization and has a macro mode that can focus as closely as 1.6 inches away. Pentax’s chief limitation is HD video, which tops out at 720p versus the 1080i or 1080p of some of its peers.
Black, orange, and white versions of the RZ18 are due to ship in October for $300.
