Pentax's upcoming entry-level DSLR, that we brought you news of on the weekend, is now official. It's actually named the K2000 inside the US and K-m outside. The sensor is indeed 10.2-megapixels and it does have a 2.7-inch LCD and lacks live-view, just as we'd heard. With an auto scene-detection mode, it's also aimed squarely at amateur DSLR users, though it has the "Shake Reduction" tech found on higher-end K-series. Press release below.

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There've been lots of rumours floating around about Pentax's Photokina lineup, and it looks like the German Pentax site leaked some images and details about the K-m, an entry-level DSLR. Specs are a little bit sketchy, but it's using the same 10.2MP Sony sensor as the K200D, and retains the 2.7-inch screen and the sad lack of Live View. But the iso gets a boost to 3200 and the fps to 3.5, and the pricing seems extremely competitive, at only 500 euro for the 1-lens kit and 600 for the 2-lens kit. The K line has been solid so far, so we'll be watching out for it at Photokina. [1001 via Crunchgear]

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I had the perfect backdrop to review this Pentax W60 waterproof camera while vacationing in Hawaii last week. It's 10mp, has a 5x zoom, and does HD level video, but the only reason to buy such a point and shoot is that it's rated to 4 metres of underwater depth for two hours, and is the smallest waterproof camera of its kind. It would prove to be a fortuitous addition to my travel gear, catching some great shots of some of my first surf lessons and some rare aquatic life while other tourists fumbled with crappy disposable film cams.

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The Optio W60 is the most waterproof Pentax cam yet. A step up from the W30, it's a 10MP point-and-shoot that will survive at depths up to 4 metres for two hours, good enough for the pool, beach and most non-competitive snorkeling. It also handles freezing temps (-10°C) and is certified dustproof against dirt, sand and dust. The Optio features 5x optical zoom, 28mm wide-angle shooting, and HD video recording. It comes in silver and blue and will be out in July for US$330. Maybe this summer I'll test it against the Olympus 1030SW and others in a Bathtub Battlemodo. Additional picture after the jump. [Pentax]

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Six months after Pentax released the Optio V10, the japanese company has upped the stakes with the V20. The slimline point-and-shoot has upped the zoom from 3x to 5x, as well as increasing Digital SR mode to ISO 3200 and ISO 6400. With a nice, big 3-inch LCD screen on the back, smile recognition and blink detection, (Earl Hickey, this one's for you) the V20 will be available in Japan next month for the equivalent of US$288 Bonus shot of the V20 after the jump.

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Rugged and waterproof cameras are great, but they've got a lot of improving to do in general design before they'll be good in the outdoor. I mean, someone just keep me from losing these things.

AU:Not sure what the problem is - I took three waterproof cameras with me to Fiji and never had any dramas. I found that I was more careful because of the fact that you use them in different situations, like swimming. Maybe it's a US thing...

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The new horserace for DSLR cameramakers is in full-frame (equivalent to 35mm) pro cameras, formerly a Canon-dominated market. Nikon's stunning D3 was its first full-frame DSLR (after years of saying it's unnecessary) and Sony unveiled its own 25MP whopper in January (they're trying to quickly build technical prestige). Now Samsung has let on it's cooking its own full-frame sensor for a pro camera. They're probably co-developing with Pentax (again) since the exec that slipped the plans re-emphasised their coziness, so we'll likely see the same sensor in cameras from both makers, with differentiation in the body and software. Digital Camera Review says that the Pentax K20D's "image quality is among the best I've seen in the sub $2,000 price range," and Pentax usually delivers a nice price-to-performance ratio, so this could make the full-frame DSLR market a lot more interesting. [Amateur Photographer via Electronista]

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Remember the Pentax K20D, with its Samsung co-developed CMOS image sensor? Well, Samsung has their own take on it—same imaging viscera, but with a different body and software. Oh, the JPEG processing is done in a slightly disparate way as well. Since the choice between the two largely comes down to looks, which one seems sexier to you? Spec sheet below.

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Pentax's long-rumoured US$1299 K20D is a shot square at Canon's 40D and the
Nikon D300. Besides price, it bests both in pure megapixel count—14.6 effective, with a new CMOS sensor developed with Samsung—and rocks the same top 3200 ISO (6400 expanded) as the D300. (Is it as impressively noiseless though?) Expanded Dynamic Range promises more contrast-y shots, plus image stabilisation is built into the camera's body. Like the 40D and D300 it adds a live viewfinder, but it's a bit tinier, 2.7 inches to their 3, with less than a third of the D300's resolution, so the screen won't be nearly as gorgeous. It comes up a little short against the competition in a couple of other ways, too.
Update: If you're really drooling over the K20D, have a look at the new Pentax-produced walkthrough video below.

AU: Just got back from the Australian Pentax launch... local pricing will be $1,999 for the body plus an 18-55mm lens. Should be available now / very soon...

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Pentax's previously peeked and rumoured K200D also officially exists today, bringing with it a 10.2MP hand-me-down sensor from the K10D, Pentax's now-outdated prosumer model. It's on the same strata as Nikon's D80, with same MP count (its sensor is a smidge smaller, 23.5 x 15.7mm to the D80's 23.6 x 15.8mm), 12 bits/channel RAW and 100-1600 ISO range, though the K200D is a bit cheaper ($US800 w/ lens), has a bigger screen (2.7 inches) and shoots a slightly slower continuously (2.8FPS to 3). Like the K20D, it has Expand Dynamic Range for poppier images, and image stabilisation ("shake reduction" in Pentax-speak) built into the camera's body.

Interestingly, they chose not to trickle down live view as a differentiator, which could hurt depending on whether or not Canon puts it in their rumoured EOS 400D successor. Of course, this could indicate makers writ large are leaning against doing so for now to keep some distance between entry-level and pricier models. And the specs are after the jump:

AU: For those keen on the knowledge, we're looking at a $1,199 RRP, which will include the Pentax 18-55mm lens

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