Pentax has launched the new Optio M60 compact camera, the latest model in its Optio M series of lightweight digital cameras.

Boasting 10 megapixels, a 5x optical zoom and a large LCD monitor, the M60 has built on the features of its predecessor, the M50, and also improved a number of others.

This includes the strengthening of the face recognition function to recognise 32 faces at once, and further advancement of the convenient “Auto Picture” function unique to Pentax, where the camera automatically detects the conditions of the subject and selects the optimal scene mode.

A total of eight scenes can be recognised with this function on the Optio M60, which is the most in this series. Modes include Landscape, Portrait, Night Scene, Night Scene Portrait, Standard, Flower, Sport and the new Candlelight.

The Optio M60 also comes with application functions such as Smile Capture, which automatically distinguishes smiles and takes photos, and Blinking Detection, which is a function where the camera warns the photographer if the subject blinked at the moment the shot was taken.

The Optio M60 will be available in three colors - silver, pink, and blue, and has been given a release date of August 22nd, at a price of around £90.