1. 5 MP CCD captures enough detail for photo-quality 13 x 17-inch prints
2. 1.8-inch LCD display
3. Features manual exposure settings plus aperture and shutter priority modes
4. Powered by one Lithium battery or two AA-size batteries
5. Stores images on SD memory cards; includes 12MB of internal memory

Editorial Review :

The PENTAX Optio50 is a compact, lightweight digital camera that makes digital photography easy for virtually anyone. Incorporating a handy "Simple" mode, it allows the user to quickly choose an icon that matches the subject at hand and have the camera select all the optimal settings automatically for the best possible results. And to ensure easy use continues no matter where you go, the Optio50 has also been designed to be powered by AA batteries, which are widely available internationally. But to be worthy of the PENTAX name, of course, ease of use is simply not enough. Indeed, the Optio50 offers the power and clarity of a 3X optical zoom lens and the sheer detail and high-level resolution of 5.0 effective megapixels, making it as sharp at shooting as it is easy to use.

Customer Review :

Small, simple, cheap, and AA batteries

I have owned this camera for about 6 months now, and purchased for a vacation to Europe.

My criteria were the following (in order of importance)

1. Use regular (non rechargeable) batteries
2. Small size
3. Low price
4. 3x optical zoom (or better)
5. Maximum pixels (although this is getting to be silly measurement for these point-and-shoot cameras)


The battery requirement was very important to me. Always hated the lack of flexibilty with rechargeables. You can find slightly smaller / sexier cameras (like Casio and Minolta), but they all had proprietary rechargeable batteries.

All of my expectations have been met, and the quality of the photos are very good. Operation is simple; really I could not expect any more from a $200 camera.


Minor nits:

- No positive user feedback when picture is actually taken (like a click sound)

- To view prior shots, camera must be turned ON, which also requires the lens to be extended

- Case is plastic (not metal), although quality is fine and has proven to be robust

- Yes, these things do eat batteries (just like any other), so keep some AA's handy

Note:

I had read that this camera is not really made by Pentex; instead it is simply a "badge engineered" generic model from a no-name manufacturer. Could be true, and not sure it matters.

Rating :

Not too good

I am quite disappointed with this camera. The image quality is only fair, and there are many frustrating aspects to it.

The functions are not very intuitive, compared to other cameras, so I find myself needing to consult the manual frequently. Unfortunately, the printed manual only has setup and basic instructions (in ten languages) and the rest of the information is on disc. So, if you're not completely familiar with the use of this camera and you're taking it someplace--say to a party, a sporting event, or a park--MAKE SURE YOU TAKE YOUR LAPTOP SO YOU KNOW HOW TO OPERATE IT.

Another thing I find frustrating is that the display can not be turned off permanently--it has to be turned off every time you turn the camera on. Also, when it is turned off, there is no shutter sound at all, so you frequently can't tell whether it has taken the picture (a difficult to use shutter button makes this important). The end result is that there's a strong incentive to leave the display on all the time, which eats power ravenously. So be sure to pack plenty of spare batteries along with your laptop.

Bottom line: this camera is just OK. With as many great choices as there are available on the market now, there is no reason to settle for a camera that is this hard to use.

Rating :

great camera!

I got this camera as a gift and I never had a digital camera before. I thought the instruction booklet the camera came with was extremely helpful and I had no problem using it. I even can make movies with it. I feel like a pro!
I love this camera and recommend it to those who think they can't operate a digital camera.


Rating :

Excellent Camera, Good Features, Bad Battery Life

Overall, this camera is excellent for the price. Picture quality is there for a 5 Megapixel Camera. Landscapes and Portraits work great. This camera is lightweight and will fit in your pocket for ultra portability. Cons: Battery Life. Usigin 2 AA batteries will last about 30 or 40 pictures. I have tried rechargeable batteries but have found that only about 15 pictures can be taken before the camera turns off and battery dies. Overall, this camera is great for the price!



Rating :

OPTIO 50

Excellent camera for the beginner. Good size and capability for a low price.

Rating :

1. 4.0 MegaPixel CCD
2. Ultra lightweight aluminum alloy body weighs only 3.5 oz
3. Movie mode records 60 seconds of footage as an AVI file with sound
4. LCD monitor bright enough for use in direct sunlight
5. 11MB internal memory

Customer Review :

2 years experience now

So I figure I might as well give my thoughts on it. I don't have much to compare it too, but I really appreciate this camera, and I continue to feel, looking back, that this was a great buy.

Firstly, I used to play with the white balance, and could never get it right, but my wife discovered the easy mode on the camera, and ever since, I've had only great color. I have no complaints at all about color, resolution, etc. I find the quality much better than film cameras, and that's all I needed.

At first, the battery life was great, but after about a year and a half, it started to go. By now, I get like 60 pictures on a battery.

The one thing that annoys me is the occasional lag between when I press the button and when the camera snaps the picture. I think this is normal of digital cameras, but I can't help being annoyed by it. Fortunately, it's not too bad, and doesn't happen all the time.

Of course, size is great. I got a leather case for it, and stick it in my pocket.

The camera seems to work like new. I had no problems with it at all, which is of course nice.

All in all, very happy with it.

Bruce

Rating :

The Smallest Line of Real Digital Cameras

I had the very first Optio S, and I could not find many things about it to improve upon, except for the battery door hinge, less barrel distortion, and more megapixels. Well, the next generation Optio's have 4, 5, and 6 megapixels, so take your pick. The biggest selling point for me has always been the size. These cameras fill niches that a bigger camera frequently cannot. It is ideally suited for street photography, travel, candids, and snapshots.

The Optio S line is tiny and inconspicuous. Your subjects won't often realize that you have a camera in hand. The Optio S4 fits inside an Altoids tin just like the first model, and it should always be that way. I would like for them to make an even smaller camera. An average-sized hand can conceal it quite nicely. I love the picture quality, even though there is barrel distortion and vignetting, but the kind of photography that I pursue often benefits from it. If I want to do architecturals and mural-sized landscapes, my medium-format camera or 4x5 view camera is what I use. Like I said, the Optio S fills a certain photographic niche, just as a large-format technical camera would for architectural photography. And like all cameras, this one won't make you a better photographer; that takes STUDY and PRACTICE.

If there was any other camera that came before the Optio S; that comes closest to it in terms of character, rendering style and other intangibles, I would say it was the Pentax K-1000. If you know anything about the K-1000's cult-like following, you would know what I mean. It's like the K-1000 was reborn as the Optio S. The Optio S is the digital K-1000.


Rating :

Small form factor, decent pictures

I bought this camera because I was looking to replace my small, point-and-shoot film camera.

The Optio has been a great replacement, giving decent image quality in a very small form factor.

The interface is solid and relatively easy to use. My only complaint is that the power button and the shutter release seem to be switched around -- the power button is often pressed by people that have never used the camera when they mean to take a picture.

Overall, I am very happy with this camera.

Rating :

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this camera

I've had this little gem for a year now and use it daily. The size of the camera and the quality of the pictures makes it the best investment I've ever made in a camera. I have tried other larger, more technical digitals in the past few months, thinking I would like to upgrade my little Optio, but always come back to my faithful little friend. It goes everywhere I go, weddings, outdoor shots, even my son's rollerblade competitions and I've never been disappointed. It's so easy to use, I've had no problem with the battery life as long as I keep my eye on the LCD and it shows me when it's getting low on energy. It doesn't take that long to recharge...just a matter of my knowing when.
The only thing I wish it had was more optical zoom.


Rating :

Great camera - but serious picture delays

As an owner of an older model, I had been very pleased with the camera, particularly its small size (and perfect fit in a mint tin). However, with the S4 I was very disappointed with the shot to shot time. Especially for flash pictures, the picture button must be held down for a full 4 to 5 seconds to take a picture. Reviewing pictures is also slow - there is a 3 to 4 second pause between each picture when reviewing them on the camera. After using it for a year and being very pleased with all other features of the camera, this drawback alone has gotten annoying enough to want to get a different brand. According to the Optio, the delay is a result of slower processing speed within the camera. So if I was buying again, I would go with a different model of Optio with a better processing time, or check out a different brand.

Rating :

More reviews...

1. 5.0 MegaPixel CCD
2. Ultra lightweight aluminum alloy body - Weighs only 7.2 oz
3. Voice recording mode - audio capability that rivals stand alone audio recording devices
4. Unlimited recording in Movie mode with sound
5. LCD monitor bright enough for use in direct sunlight

Customer Review :

Incredible camera, 1 minor issue

I love this camera's optical zoom. 5x, in a travel camera! They should all be like this. The digital zoom is also impressive. In a kayak, at 50 feet being rocked by waves, I could still capture and center a bald eagle staring at me (albeit it took a couple tries, but who cares with digital)! What's the minor issue? The optical zoom is a little too quick so that framing a shot with small changes is very difficult and there is a very significant delay between shutter click and image capture with the digital zoom (however the image stabilization works tres bien).
Would I buy another? In a heartbeat. Would I ask Pentax to fix the little bugs? Of course.
If I had free will with the rating it would habe been 4 3/4 stars. Enjoy.

Rating :

Amazing Camera!

This is the best camera I have own so far. Lots of cool stuffs. You don't have to be a professional to operate this camera. It's design for beginners as well as camera buffs. Excellent battery life! And most of all, considering all the features built into this camera, the price is very reasonable.

Rating :

Exceptional picture quality, fast, small problems

This is my fourth digital camera in as many years. Overall, this is far better than the Olympus Camedia line and the Sony DSC-W1. I haven't had the opportunity to work with Cannon's, and I think that would be the closest contender for wht you can get in this camera.

The pluses of this Pentax are the crisp, extremely accurate colors, which are, if anything, on the bright side. But mostly they are spot on. Secondly, the flash is fast and powerful and most importantly, the focus is extremely fast and accurate even in the flash mode. By contrast, the Sony DSC-W1 is much slower in terms of 'locking-in' the focus in low light settings, as is the Olympus Camedia C-50. As a result, you have to be much, and i mean much steadier to get a good flash shot with the other cameras in low light settings (less so with the Olympus). I am not - i like to whip out the camera when my kids are doing fun things and shoot three or four quick shots indoors, and my Optio shots are consistently great, while the Sony's are such a blur that many get
deleted.

Another plus is the battery. While I had selected the Sony b/c i thought i would prefer the simplicity of being able to recharge AA's anytime, or buy replacements, i found the Pentax battery extremely long lasting - something like their promo literature says, along the lines of 500-600 shots. since it is lighter than 2 AA's, the camera overall is lighter than most running on 2-AA's.

I will say, however, that it is a bit of a hassle having to carry to Pentax battery charger, when if you use the Cannon or Sony you just need to take the standard AA Ni-Mh charger, which i take along anyway for flashlights etc. So now i often have 2 chargers, and thats a pain.

Another big plus is the very quick record time for the typical full 5 mp high resolution photo. My very unscientific method of using my watch stopwatch indicates its about .3 seconds, which was definitely faster than the Olympus or Sony. However it compares to other cameras, its the fastest I've ever experienced, and i've never felt slowed down even in some river rafting action moments.

The next thing I really like is purely subjective - the size of the lens is at least double the diameter of any compact 5 mp camera.
Now that is completely subjective, but my engineering background tells me that if you double the amount of glass that light passes through, you have reason to believe you will be improving the optical clarity of your images. somehow, for all the pictures i've blown up to 5 x 7, it seems like the Pentax photos are crisper with better color - could this be why?

Another plus - excellent closeup features. With 2 macro settings, I have always been very pleased with every kind of closeup.

The drawbacks are all important to me - but when it comes time to pack a camera, unless i need the wide angle lens of the Sony DSC-W1, this Optio is hands dwon my favorite.
Drawbacks:
- Movie mode is an embarassment to digital photography! try playing 320x240 on your computer and you will get eye strain! The movie looks like a moving short-cut! Check out the Sony or Kodak (and possibly some Cannon's) - they offer a resolution of 640x480 which is essential if you want to enjoy any movie clips on your computer.

- the proprietary download cable is another insult designed simply to make you buy another Pentax product. Again, take a lesson from Sony, which uses the standard mini-USB to USB cable for downloads rather than the Pentax-proprietary to USB cable. If you lose that cable on the road, you have no way of downloading your photos and you are jammed until you can mail order another from Pentax. If they would only have the courtesy to let you use the standard cable as Sony does, you could go to any electronics store, or use a friends. Plus, if you carry a portable hard drive or some such thing that uses the mini-USB to USB, you will already have the download cable, while with Pentax you must carry 2 cables.

-limited wide angle viweing. the Sony has noticably better wide angle viweing, something like 28 mm, vs something like 35-50 mm in this camera, Sony also has a screw on wide angle adapter which this camera does not.

- its time for Pentax to update the viewfinder. I'm sure they are working on it, but at least another .5 inches would help this camera ALOT.

- increase the size of the font of all the info in the viewfinder. All the newer cameras with the larger viwfinders using larger font as squinting to read critical information is just not fun.

Thats my take - this camera is far better than some of the competitors, and I hope Pentax is listening and will make some improvements, as i love this extremely functional camera now, but can't wait for the next model!

Rating :

an excellent pocket camera

This is billed as an upgrade to the earlier Optio 550, and when my much used & much appreciated 550 went over a cliff with a grad student (the student survived, the camera, alas, did not)I went straight out and ordered a 555. Good news/bad news. Good news is that I find the 555 has all of the things that I loved about the 550 -excellent resolution, remarkably good automatic exposure even in very weird lighting situations, the VERY nice 5x optical zoom that has allowed me to get some really good "up close & personals" with my study birds, and downright AMAZING batery life (I took my 555 off for a week in Wales, filled up a 256 Meg card with pix -many using flash- & STILL had plenty of battery when I got home.)It also seems very rugged & forgiving (although I am keeping it away from cliff-diving grad students!. SO, what's the bad news? To be honest I don't see much of a difference bewteen the 550 & the 555. The lens is still slow coming out, there is still a noticeable lag between pressing the shutter release & the picture actually taking, so this definitely ISN'T the camera that you want if split-second timing is critical. Other than that however I would say that if you want a really light-weight high resolution field camera with a good lens, look no further (DO get a big memory card however, you will be eating up a lot of bytes very quickly).

Rating :

BEST ON BALANCE

I have taken a look at several digital cameras, from friends, work, etc. (I have to add that I'm basing this review on the Optio 550 which is very similar to the 555).

There are some great features of this camera, and a few drawbacks.

The good:
-The 5X zoom is fantastic. It's hard to find a 5X zoom 5MP camera that is portable and where the lens fully retracts. I don't need the 5X often, but when I do it's great to have.
-Good night photos. I'm not saying they are better than the other cameras, but the night photos are reliable.
-East light adjustment settings. Digital cameras do their best to figure out the light settings, but sometimes if the sun is behind your subject it will make your subject too dark; similarly too bright for overly sun-lit objects. The Optio 555 lets you quickly adjust the light settings without changing to any menus.
-SD card. I prefer SD cards, because they are smaller and cheaper than everything except CF cards, which I find too large. The complaint about the proprietary USB cable on another review is easily circumvented by a faster and easier card reader.
-Long battery life. I can easily take about 130 pictures on one battery charge.
-Focus. Fast and reliable, except in the darkest environments.
-Durable! I dropped the camera in a river (well actually I fell in the river with the camera - it was in fact in the Ardeche River which is very lovely at least) and the camera was back working more or less within a week.
-Light enough. Some other cameras have the air of durability (though they really arent) because they have heavy steel bodies. This doesnt help the camera, and in fact can hurt it by transferring shock into the more sensitive interior.

Bad points
-Long turn-on/turn-off time. It takes forever for the camera to turn on - by that I mean 3-5 long seconds.
-Recharger is annoying. I hate carrying around the recharger; i'd rather have either AA batteries or a direct plug-in.

I don't know the model well, but my next purchase will be the Pentax 5X zoom/5 MP that is smaller, but I am sure has similar strengths (and weaknesses).


Rating :

More reviews...

1. 5 megapixel sensor for enlargements up to 20 x 30 inches
2. 5x optical zoom plus 4x digital zoom (for 20x total)
3. Optical viewfinder shows actual image zoom, innovative stereoscopic shooting
4. Compatible with Secure Digital (SD) and MultiMedia (MMC) cards
5. Powered by rechargeable lithium-ion battery(included); connects with Macs and PCs via USB port

Editorial Review :

The sleek, sophisticated Pentax Optio 550 digital camera offers high-level performance and is convenient enough to make you want to carry it everywhere. The Optio 550 features 5-megapixel resolution, a 5x optical zoom lens, automatic operation (as well as a wide range of manual control), and compatibility with Secure Digital and MultiMediaCard memory cards.

Optics and Resolution
Featuring a 5-megapixel CCD sensor, the Optio 550 delivers image detail up to 2,592 x 1,944 pixels for print enlargements up to 20 by 30 inches. The exceptionally compact lens offers a high level of performance with 5x optical zoom. Zooming power can be augmented through combination with digital 4x zoom for a total of 20x zoom performance.

Storage and Transfer
Images are stored on either Secure Digital (SD) or MultiMediaCard (MMC) memory cards. Images can be downloaded to either a Mac or PC via USB storage-class connectivity, which means the camera can be connected to any USB-based Windows Me/2000/XP and Mac OS 8.6 or later computer without installing any software.

Movie Mode
In addition to taking still photos, the Optio 550 is capable of recording up to 10 minutes of video at 15 frames per second, with 320 x 240 recorded pixels. The Optio 550 can also be used as an audio recorder, with up to 30 seconds of sound added to images.

More Features
With the 3-D image mode, the Optio 550 adds a totally new dimension to digital photography. Just take two shots following a simple set of guidelines to achieve shots that have a genuine sense of depth and perspective when seen through the special viewer provided

Other features include:

• 1.5-inch TFT LCD display
• Optical viewfinder displays actual image zoom, which helps to conserve battery power by switching off LCD display
• Digital filter mode provides effects similar to conventional filters, from sepia to color tones (red, pink, yellow, green, blue, and purple)
• Built-in flash can be automatically set to fire; also includes red-eye reduction, flash-on, and flash-off modes
• A range of shooting modes to choose from, including metered manual and shutter priority AE
• Interval shooting mode lets you set the time to start shooting, the duration of the interval between shots, and the number of frames

Power and Size
The camera is powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery (included). It measures 3.9 by 2.3 by 1.6 inches and weighs 7.2 ounces.

Customer Review :

a decent camera PLUS 5x zoom in compact package

the optio 550 is a solid camera with one big advantage over the competition: 5x zoom in a compact package.

pros:
- 5MP resolution with good image quality.
- beats competition with a 5x optical zoom in a compact package (dimensions are 3.9 x 2.3 x 1.6 in, weighing 8.7 oz.).
- accurate color reproduction.
- low image noise at low ISO setting.
- allows a great deal of manual control.
- live histogram in shooting and play modes.
- very good macro capability.
- spot metering.
- long movie clips - up to 10 minutes each!
- convenient shooting priority play mode - a half-press of the shutter brings you back to shooting mode.
- decent night exposures with automatic noise reduction.
- no color cast when using flash.
- camera feels solidly built.
- bright, high resolution LCD monitor with anti-reflective coating.
- passive AF sensor helps with focusing.
- impressive battery life.
- price (compared to competition).

cons:
- noise noticeable at ISO 100 and above.
- some purple fringing/chromatic aberration visible.
- some lens distortion from half-zoom to telephoto.
- autofocus speed could be better.
- shot to shot times not as fast as competition.
- no slow-sync flash setting.
- RAW format not supported.
- metal body scratches easily.
- high redeye occurrence.
- vignetting visible from half-zoom and wider.
- slow startup: >5 seconds.
- fastest continuous shooting speed is only 1 fps.
- slowest shutter speed available is 3 seconds.
- cannot physically access the battery or memory card while mounted on a tripod.
- plastic tripod mount.
- 16MB SD card is inadequate - be prepared to shell out more $$ for more memory.
- the batteries supplied are proprietary so add a few bucks to your budget for a spare.

the optio 550 has a very impressive feature set, better than competition 5x zoom, and 5MP of resolution. there's not one glaring omission but there are enough minor ones that it got a 4 star rating.

i hope this helps you in your buying decision. peace.

Rating :

Optio 550 gets a great review

I love the Optio 550. It takes great pictures, with lots of options for the more technical person. I haven't figured out how to use the 3D function yet (but I'm not sure I ever would) and the flap to the PC/AV card is a little flimsy (but it hasn't broken yet). The zoom is awesome. I love to be able to blow up a picture and have it maintain its resolution. The pictures are clear. I am still trying it out, but so far it works great.

Rating :

Everything You Expected...But Since it was Given PCWorld's

I think capitalism is a fine thing. Everyone deserves their fair profit.

I read the PC World "Editor's Choice" review and bought the camera for less than $500...and still got $50 back on the rebate. That's a net of $450. I also did a lot of other homework. Many side-by-side comparisons. I read the Consumer Reports Digital Camera issue which didn't rate this camera because it was too new.

Today you will be hard pressed to find the camera for less than $599. Although it is still worth every penny.

I am surprised at the speed with which online retailers responded to the demand. Maybe the camera is in short supply. It should be!

Pentax has developed a great product. Even if the price has gone up 25% in two weeks, you will still get a wonderful camera (others have outlined its features so I do not have to) and after your $50 rebate (Hurry)you will have many chances to share the love ;-)

Get a 256MB SD card right away. The little 16MB that comes with it is good for about 16 high quality (or 50 lower quality) stills. I took about 300 photos in two days. There was still battery power left and the color was as good as my 35mm SLR.

Just outstanding!

Rating :

Pentax Optio 550

I really didn't have any luck with the camera. I took it with me to New Orleans and about 2/3 of the pictures turned out. The other third did not. Some had shadows around the frames and some objects were fuzzy around the edges and those were the day shots. I set the camera on the night scene mode, for night shots in the French Quarter and that was a disaster as there were streaking lights and double exposures. I had practiced with the camera at home before the trip and night shot worked good, but I think the problems were caused by electrical interference as there was a warning in the manual about it, but I had never experienced it with my other digital camera. I had always kept the Pentax on point and shoot for the most part to be safe as the camera was supposed to take care of everything.

I was used to my Olympus Camedia which pretty much gave it up after 4 years and chose the Pentax as a replacement. Frankly, there was no comparison, with the Olympus I could shoot anything at any time with fantastic results. People were so impressed with the photos they would ask what camera I used. I thought the Pentax would have the same quality.

I had planned to return the camera to Pentax so they could check it out, but it unfortunately it went missing on my trip, leaving me only with a spent SD card.

In case your wondering why I didn't buy another Olympus is because the retractable lense made alot of noise and they use some plastic parts, which didn't set right with me as the new one would have been over $500.00. The memory card was also changed.

Maybe the bad experience with Pentax is that is was just a bad camera out of the lot, maybe the camera was just too sensitive for my use or maybe it has too many bells and whistles and gets confused in the point and shoot mode.

Rating :

Excellent quality pics! Software is old though...

I am excited and very happy with the quality of these pictures and the size of the camera! 5x zoom is great! 5 MP is great! My only 2 issues are once it was shutting down (low battery) and battery went dead and camera lens cover jammed and left lens exposed. Had to force it closed with newly charged battery. But my biggest complaint is that I thought I was getting a $70 piece of software along with this camera in ACDSee, but found out it's a version a few years old! It's version 3.x!!! 5.x is out! What a bummer, so I emailed Pentax and got no reply...

Rating :

More reviews...

1. 4-megapixel sensor captures enough detail to create photo-quality 11-by-14-inch enlargements
2. Pentax 3x optical zoom combines with a 4x digital zoom for a 12x combined zoom
3. 7 picture modes; 1.8-inch color LCD display; movie mode with sound
4. Store images in 12 MB internal memory or on optional Secure Digital memory cards (memory card not included)
5. Powered by lithium-ion rechargeable battery (included with charger)

Customer Review :

needed factory repair 2x

I had 3 problems with my S4i, always at the worst times. I do have to say that Pentax Customer Service has been okay to me. I bought the camera in April 2004. Around Sept 2004, it just stopped working. I was at a charity event, took it out of the case to snap a few photos, but it wouldn't operate. When I pressed the power button, I got 2-3 beeps, a sound like the lens was trying to open, then the camera just powered off. Then it started working again, at least for a while. A month later I took it on a short weekend holiday. Of course it stopped working there. Sent back to Pentax for repair. Got it back about 2 months later, repaired. 6 months later was going on another short holiday. Took the camera out of the closet to confirm it still worked, and again was disappointed. When powered up, the lens opened, autofocus failed, lens closed, and camera powered off. Had to buy another digital camera (this time a Canon) for that trip. Sent the camera back to Pentax, as my cust. svc. rep told me it would be repaired under the 1 year warranty dating from time of first repair. I just received it back a week ago. Hope it continues to work.

Rating :

Terribly dissappointed

This camera was not inexpensive and takes mediocre photos. The flash doesn't reach most of my subjects and I get a lot of black photos back. Half the photos are blurry and I cannot get it to focus. You have to wait what seems like eternity between shots as it won't let you take a photo within 5-10 sec of each other. So sad :-( Taking a loss on this one and looking for something more consistent and reliable.
Don't waste your money here.

Rating :

Great vacation camera

I bought this camera to take on vacation to New Zealand. Its very easy to use. Having never used many cameras before, I was able to figure out my way around this camera, its modes, and even began messing with exposure times. The image quality is exceptional, especially for a camera that is so small and light that I sometimes forgot I had it strapped to my belt.

The battery life was quite good. I was able to take a couple hundred pictures with flash and display on before having to recharge.

A couple of things to note, though. The battery life indicator isn't very accurate. When the battery started draining fairly low, I'd power on the camera and sometimes it would show that it was fully charged, sometimes it would show that it was about to lose power alltogether.

Also, don't plan on taking either action or night shots with this camera. The shutter delay (time between pushing the button and it taking the picture) was long enough that I missed taking a few shots that I really wanted. (ie, a whale's tail as it was diving). For night shots, there is a lot of noise on the images, and objects tend to blur a little. (lacking detail on faces/etc)

That aside, I'd still recommend it for point-and-shoot users that want a record of their vacation. For the price and size, I couldn't be happier.

Rating :

Pentax Warranty Problems

This is a very small camera with no protrusions so that it is easily carried in a pocket or purse. Two of my friends have this model and have taken hundreds of excellent photos. However, my experience with it not been good. When the camera arrived, the on/off button did not function correctly. I managed to take a few good pictures with it on a vacation trip before it became unusable. When I returned it to the Pentax Distribution & Service Center, the Center claimed that the camera had internal damage "due to the penetration of liquid or oily substance" and could not be repaired under warranty. The camera was never exposed to a liquid or oily substance while in my possession. I cannot recommend this camera or any other Pentax product because of this failure to repair or replace this camera that was defective or damaged before I received it.

Rating :

Fragile -- Do Not Purchase!

Everything said on this forum about the fragility of this camera and the terrible customer service is true. The camera worked great for a few months, then mysteriously stopped working. When I took it to an authorized repair facility they voided the warranty because of "impact damage" and claimed that the entire zoom mechanism would have to be replaced to the tune of $200. What a bunch of b.s.! The "impact damage" was a tiny scuff mark that did not result from a drop (since it was never dropped). We babied this camera and took extreme care to be careful with it and it just decided to quit on us. I suspect that taking this camera out of its case subjects it to "impact" -- it just feels delicate and is an accident waiting to happen. Don't waste your money.

Rating :

More reviews...