Pentax EI-200 (c. 2000)

Name: Pentax EI-200
Brand: Pentax

The Pentax EI-200 is a 2-megapixel digital camera announced around PMA 2000, when Pentax showed it alongside the more capable EI-2000. Together, these two models were Pentax's first digital cameras. The EI-200 was also produced in parallel as the HP PhotoSmart C618, a rebadged twin.

Documentation on the EI-200 is thin and scattered. What is known: it uses a CompactFlash card for storage, takes 4 x AA batteries or an optional rechargeable Li-Ion pack, and captures sound clips of up to 45 seconds per frame. The sensor measures 5.33 x 4.00 mm, and the maximum resolution is 1600 x 1200 pixels. EXIF samples in the wild show the camera identifying itself as "PENTAX EI-200 (V1.10)" or "(V01.00)", depending on firmware. ZDNET measured the body at 127 x 72 x 57 mm and over 300g, and noted this wasn't a pocket camera the way the Canon Ixus or Agfa ePhoto CL20 were.

ZDNET called the EI-200 "a solid snapper" for first-time digital buyers. It also warned that the 1600 x 1200 ceiling would disappoint anyone after pro quality, and that the battery indicator was coarse, showing only "full," "half-full," "low," and "depleted." One Russian forum owner was more complimentary, praising the shutter/aperture priority modes and the comparatively low noise at shutter speeds over one second. A known quirk: the flash can fail to charge properly. The HP 618 manual documents this issue, but the Pentax one does not.

Surviving examples appear occasionally on resale sites, often with the original manual, USB cable, and strap. The included memory card was either 8 MB or 16 MB depending on the source, and the record is conflicting on that point. No original retail price or precise production run has been confirmed.