Released on = September 7, 2006, 9:01 am

Press Release Author = Karen Thomas/Thomas PR

Industry = Entertainment

Press Release Summary = Face Tracker Identifies and Locks on Faces for Optimal Focus
& Exposure in New PENTAX Optio S7 & Optio A20 Digital Cameras


Press Release Body =

Photo at: http://www.thomas-pr.com/136/photos/fotonationfacetrackerpentax.html
Release at:
http://www.thomas-pr.com/pressreleases/fotonationpentaxfacetrackerrelease.html

Contact:
Karen Thomas
Thomas PR
(631) 549-7575
kthomas@thomas-pr.com
http://www.thomas-pr.com

FOTONATION\'s \"FACE TRACKER\" NOW AVAILABLE IN LEADING DIGITAL CAMERAS

Face Tracker Identifies and Locks on Faces for Optimal Focus & Exposure in New
PENTAX Optio S7 & Optio A20 Digital Cameras

September 7, 2006, Galway, Ireland -- FotoNation, (www.fotonation.com), one of the
world's leading award-winning imaging and connectivity solutions companies for the
digital photography industry, announced today that its innovative "Face Tracker"T
technology is now available in PENTAX Corporation's latest addition to its Optio
line, the 7 Megapixels Optio S7 & the 10Megapixels Optio A20 digital camera.
FotoNation Face Tracker, available as the "Face Recognition AF & AE" function on the
PENTAX Optio S7 & Optio A20, automatically detects the position of a subject's face
and adjusts focus and exposure accordingly.
Especially important for shooting under poor lighting conditions and at night,
FotoNation Face Tracker uses a radically new approach to identify and lock onto
human faces in a camera's preview image. Face Tracker follows one or multiple faces
as they move around within the frame and automatically adjusts focus and exposure
before the image is captured, ensuring that faces are optimally taken and that skin
tones are reproduced with exceptional accuracy.

PENTAX Optio S7 & Optio A20 new technologies, including FotoNation's Face Tracker
technology, the high-quality smc PENTAX lens, high-performance ASIC (Application
Specific Integrated Circuit), and 7 and 10 Megapixels chip, produce prints with
crisp detail, even when the photo is greatly enlarged.

"FotoNation Face Tracker enables PENTAX to maintain its superior standard of image
quality by enabling even the novice photographer to take high quality portrait
pictures effortlessly, even in difficult lighting conditions. Until now, this has
been the specialist domain of professional photographers using expensive high-end
cameras," said Mr.Morisawa, General Manager, Imaging System Business Headquarters,
PENTAX Corporation.

Additionally, the PENTAX Optio S7 & Optio A20 also come with FotoNation's Red-Eye
Correction Function, which fixes red-eye problems (a side effect of flash
photography), in-camera so software retouching is not necessary. The Red-Eye
Function also lets you manually select the area to correct, to allow for more
precise red-eye correction.

"We are excited to increase our technology and IP licensing with PENTAX, offering
innovative FotoNation technology to PENTAX high-quality digital camera customers,"
said Sumat Mehra, VP, Business Development, FotoNation. "The collaboration between
FotoNation and PENTAX provides winning solutions for consumers worldwide."
The PENTAX Optio S7 with FotoNation Face Tracker and FotoNation Red-Eye technology
will be available in late August. The PENTAX Optio A20 will be available in late
September. For more information, see www.fotonation.com or
http://www.pentax.co.jp/english/
FotoNation Face Tracker Features:
. In-camera real-time face detection and tracking
. Support of multiple embedded environments, in particular those used for digital
camera and cellphone
. Efficient implementation based on multi resolution analysis
. Scene-dependent parameters are collected and used to improve accuracy
. Tracks faces in a wide range of facial poses
. The technology predicts and anticipates possible face movement
. Once face is "locked," temporary pose changes (even if extreme) do not effect
tracking.
. Carefully designed and optimized to co-exist with other simultaneous processing in
the camera.
. Automatic Image Orientation based on face detection
. Very simple API for easy integration into the camera.
. Numerous pending patents
About FotoNation
Innovative imaging is FotoNation's business.
FotoNation identifies current challenges and future opportunities in digital
photography and imaging. Using its extensive industry experience and in-depth
research capabilities, together with revolutionary approaches, FotoNation develops
innovative solutions, techniques and features to enhance, extend and simplify the
picture making and sharing experience for everyone. Clients include the world
leaders in photography, including AOL, Kodak, Nikon, PENTAX, Sanyo, Hewlett-Packard,
Sony, Samsung Techwin and Microsoft, among others.
FotoNation's extensive portfolio of patented innovations includes wireless
connectivity, embedded red-eye removal technology and face tracking & recognition
software. Its copyrighted PTP-IP Specification is the basis of the international
camera connectivity CIPA-005/2005 standard. For more information, see
http://www.fotonation.com.
About PENTAX Corporation

PENTAX Corporation is an innovative leader in the production of digital and film
cameras, lenses, scopes, eyepieces, binoculars, mobile and laser printers and
scanners. For more than 80 years, PENTAX technology has developed durable, reliable
products that meet the needs of consumers and businesses.
http://www.pentax.co.jp/english/


Web Site =
http://www.thomas-pr.com/pressreleases/fotonationpentaxfacetrackerrelease.html

Contact Details = Melville, NY