The Pentax Optio S7 camera is the newest addition to Pentax's line of slim and stylish digital cameras called the Pentax Optio S series.

This baby boasts of 7.0 megapixels plus a feature known as the Blur Reduction High ISO mode that reduces camera shake and subject blur due to poor or minimal lighting. Another neat feature is the Face Recognition AF & AE, which guarantees perfectly focused faces devoid of shadows by automatically detecting the position of the subject's face and adjusting the focus and exposure based on the detected position. Also, the camera adjusts shutter speeds automatically to an ISO as high as 1600 to match the brightness of the subject.

Sources add that the Optio S7 captures movies at 30 fps (frames per second) at sizes up to 640 x 480 pixels with image quality rivaling camcorders. Since it employs the DivX® (MPEG-4 compliant) movie format, the Optio S7 can record longer, high-quality movies. Camera shake while filming can also be corrected automatically by switching on the movie anti-shake feature. Smart, eh?

That's not all. The Optio S7 also features 3X optical zoom, a 2.5-inch LCD monitor,an Auto Picture Mode for a plethora of settings (Landscape, Portrait, Night Scene and Program Modes), 23MB internal memory, and MPEG-4 DivX Movie Mode. It is also the first digital camera by Pentax to accept the new SDHC (Secure Digital High Capacity) memory cards that have capacities up to 4GB.

The Pentax Optio S7 goes for $300.00 and will be available in the US beginning September 2006 - limited stocks only, though.

If you've been on the lookout for a digital camera to match your active lifestyle, then you might want to check out Pentax's Optio W10 Waterproof camera. Though it's not much of a looker, it boasts a six-megapixel resolution, shake-reduction technology and a hat full of scene modes.

Despite its bland styling, the camera is remarkably compact even with a 3x optical zoom lens (and 4x digital zoom). Its predominantly plastic build allows it to be airtight at a depth of up to 1.5m. If you worry about dust as much as water, you'd be happy to know that the camera is safe from dirt particles as fine as talcum powder. Ideal for almost any outdoor activity.

The optic lens, which provides a 38-114mm focal range, is safely housed within the camera body behind a protective screen. In addition, you get a 2.5-inch color screen which gives an impressive view underwater. The W10 is loaded with features but they just might be easily overlooked with the simplicity of the camera design. With just an on/off switch and shutter button on the top plate, and 4-way controller, menu, playback and zoom controls gracing the back plate, the W10 just doesn't look like it's feature-loaded.

Find out what the W10 can do underwater by reading the rest of Doug Harman's full review.