Pentax Optio S (discontinued)

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2. Users' opinions
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Manufacturer description

User opinions

User Rating: 10/10

Best investment I ever made. Best point-and-shoot 3MP, hands down.by robstak - June 20, 2005

Pros: The portability is truly unbeatable. I get compliments everywhere I go.

Cons: The body scratches easily. Picture to picture time delay

Review: Even with all the newer more expensive cameras out there I still get "oohs" and "ahhs" when I take the optio out of the altoids can i store it in (yup it's that small). This camera is truly portable. It's no $2,000 SLR, but that's not why I got it. I wanted something I could take anywhere. What I got was much more.
You can manually change a bunch of settings like focus, shutter speed, ISO, etc., which I don't believe other cameras this size can boast. The picture quality is great aside from a little dimming on the sides (makes piecing together panoramics a bit more work).
If you can find this camera for a good price (I got mine at walmart.com with a free memory card, tripod, case for $245 after rebate... and that was a year ago), I don't think there is a better point and shooter out there.

User Rating: 9/10

Best ever cameraby - February 16, 2005

Pros: I'v bought this camera last year and already taken more than 11.000 pics.with it. Good quality and reliability! Excelent for people that are on the move.

Cons: video quality and time of recording are low.

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User Rating: 7/10

Great for portability and portraitsby - January 23, 2005

Pros: Small size means I bring it with me. I really wanted something I could reasonably tuck into my pants pocket. And I use an Altoids box as a camera case. Image quality is acceptable, but not up to our old fashion film Nikon - but didn't buy it for that anyw

Cons: It is actually so small you really have to get used to how to hold and operate it. You must be aware of where the autofocus ports are and make sure you don't block them with your finger. Very difficult to get a focused shot in very low lighting.

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User Rating: 8/10

Great for me!by - January 23, 2005

Pros: as a non-professional snapshot-taker, the larger megpixels and smaller size are great, and i love the tons of fun features!

Cons: come to find out, Where I bought it it was a little pricey, but there are plenty of places with a better deal. When printing, the corners are a little fuzzy.

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User Rating: 8/10

Combat Provenby - January 21, 2005

Pros: I'm a soldier that bought this camera for use in Iraq. It's compact design is by far the best I've ever had. It fit perfectly with all of my worn combat gear and was readily accessible during those fierce combat operations. This camera took a beating and

Cons: The camera can only take a mere 30 second video clips and the visual quality is average.

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User Rating: 8/10

You can take it anywhere--all the time!by - July 21, 2004

Pros: I ALWAYS have this camera with me--it's so small I can carry it in my bag all the time. I never miss a photo opportunity. I keep it in an Altoids can. It takes great pictures and its perfect for my needs.

Cons: The only drawback I'd mention is the limited recording time in movie mode--it limits you to 30 second spots.

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User Rating: 7/10

Takes great (and not-so-great) photosby - July 17, 2004

Pros: Size (obvious, but it can't be over-mentioned). Durable, solid-feeling metal case. Outstanding photos in adequate ambient light and high rez modes (Always use max rez and "quality" settings, then "downsize" photos later if desired!) Excellent point-and-sh

Cons: Non-intuitive onboard menus. Often marginal quality (blurry/dark) in non-flash, low-light photos. No actual shutter adjustment. Scary battery/memory and USB and charger covers--but I have yet to see anyone say they actually broke off their tethers(!) Manu

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User Rating: 8/10

Great For Average Joeby - July 1, 2004

Pros: Small!!! It can fit in your pocket without even being noticed. I am a college student and this camera can be taken to parties without it being a bother. The battery is also great because it lasts forever, and can be recharged.

Cons: The small buttons are a bit hard to get used to. Just be careful.

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User Rating: 5/10

eye-catching, but not worth itby - June 22, 2004

Pros: tiny etcetc basically what other ppl wrote

Cons: i bought this camera less than 2 months ago, used it less than 10 times..it had a few problems turning on before..but it would work eventually...NOW, IT WONT EVEN TURN ON!!! also, the image quality SUCKS...i had an olympus digicam of the same megapixels a

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User Rating: 9/10

portableby - June 14, 2004

Pros: fits in an Altoids tin can which can impress girls. very good image quality

Cons: slow response (shutter lag) limited manual mode ISO only upto 200 barrel distortion in wide angle. buttons are hard to handle

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User Rating: 10/10

What an amazing Camera!by - May 24, 2004

Pros: It is a camera that everyone will ask you about! Have had mine for over a week and taken numerous photos. You'd be amazed with all of its features. A great camera!

Cons: It's soo small, you fear you might misplace it!

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User Rating: 1/10

Pentax doesn't honor warranties!by - May 2, 2004

Pros: Compact, good features, good photos!

Cons: Pentax doesn't honor it warranties (check out the many sites with complaints)!!! Slow shutter.

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User Rating: 8/10

Excellent take anywhere cameraby - April 25, 2004

Pros: I have friends who have "better" (higer mp) cameras but they don't take them with them because they are so large, I take mine with me everywhere. Picture quality is excellent as well.

Cons: Sky in pics can be a bit white at times. Power button is right next to shutter button so it can confuse first time users.

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User Rating: 9/10

Great camera if your in Iraqby - April 21, 2004

Pros: I needed a small light wieght camera for my deployment to Iraq. My wife came home with the optio S. Im in my fourth month of a year long deployment and I love this camera. Fits nicely in my extra firstaid pouch and takes great pictures. The battery life i

Cons: Still wondering if Im gonna break the battery door one day.

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User Rating: 9/10

i luv it!by - April 20, 2004

Pros: My b-f just got me this camera for my b-day and i love it! it has so many features, and the sound recorder is excellent. i can record the videos, or just sound for pictures. on top of this, the camera is so tiny! its smaller than most cell phones! excelle

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User Rating: 8/10

Takes beautiful pics if you read the manual and use features beyond auto settings.by - April 20, 2004

Pros: Size(I carried this thing around Europe in a normal cigarette pack!) Aluminum body, 3X OPTICAL zoom, good resolution, beautiful pics

Cons: Typical poor video resolution, auto lens cover is not ideal for pocket use, extending lens is easily damaged should camera turn on in pocket

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User Rating: 7/10

can't believe its so tiny!by - April 20, 2004

Pros: Great price (bought online at Walmart as a package w/mini tripod that fits in the small camera case with the camera in it too!!, battery, charger, 128MB SD card), fits in my pocket, all the features of a regular sized camera, super lightweight, i have enl

Cons: joystick a little difficult to get used to, photos at night in the 'night mode' tend to come out blurry, covers for USB port and battery appear easily breakable, but they have held up well so far so maybe i'm wrong,

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User Rating: 8/10

Would Recommend To Anyoneby - April 20, 2004

Pros: Great camera!!! Went to the Canadian Rockies with it and came home with extraordinary pictures! LOVE IT! I especially like the size. Perfect for trips!

Cons: None

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User Rating: 8/10

great even for a beginnner w/digital!by - April 14, 2004

Pros: I love that you can take it ANYWHERE, its so small with a huge array of options. From several color& b/w filters to the ability to perfectly line up multiple shots for an extended panorama to the voice recording to add notations to a photo or the whol

Cons: I still have some problem using night mode when near candles or dim lighting, so i just avoid using that mode & keep on the flash.

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User Rating: 8/10

I love this Camera!by - April 14, 2004

Pros: I took it with me to Maui for a 2 1/2 week vacation and it did awesome. I was having a hard time disiding between a larger slr digital camera. But when I looked at my priorities (small, compact, easy to use, optical zoom, rechargable battery and great q

Cons: Battery cover seems a little flimsy.

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User Rating: 8/10

Great camera for the size and the $by - March 21, 2004

Pros: Nice pictures for the size of the camera. Very durable body, and very portable. This is a great camera for fun pictures--plus you can take it anywhere.

Cons: If you start getting picky about the resolution, then it can improve. Not a good camera for the serious photographer.

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User Rating: 7/10

Like it A LOT!by - March 9, 2004

Pros: Just got mine, and I'm thrilled that I have a camera that I can just put in my shirt pocket. Full feature set.

Cons: Think I got ripped on the price, $365.

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User Rating: 8/10

James Bond I am!by - March 3, 2004

Pros: Of Course the size! I am a point and shoot photo guy. I am no pro and don't want to be, I just want to capture pics of friends family and scenery. With the size of this camera, I take it EVERYWHERE, and it fits in my pocket. It Takes Audio and video wh

Cons: The multi focus has trouble focusing what you want, but its solved if you set it to single point foucus. A little sluggish on the transition between pictures. So don't expect to catch those candid moments of the baby. Unless you can make the baby or pet

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User Rating: 7/10

Great product in a small packageby - March 2, 2004

Pros: Very light (duh). Battery life is spectacular, and the controls are pretty intuitive. Picture quality in good lighting is surprisingly strong. My wife now carries this camera around all the time and gets to take pictures she would normally miss out on.

Cons: On/off button too close to picture button. Weak flash. Small lens doesn't seem to work well for dark shots. A little slow from picture to picture.

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User Rating: 7/10

sleek , great featureby - February 26, 2004

Pros: pretty much saying that l like this camera . i'm quite happy with the way pentax producing their digital cameras. get one if you want a qulity digital camera.

Cons: haven't taken any of pictures yet ..

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User Rating: 8/10

One little gem of a cameraby - January 24, 2004

Pros: Compliments from EVERYONE that sees my camrea... Ultra small, intuitive controls, cool mode options, powerful flash, can take SD for ex. memory, voice recording options

Cons: shooting speed on the slowe side

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User Rating: 8/10

Fun and Easy to use; Careful can be Fragileby - January 20, 2004

Pros: Fun to use. Easy to learn. Overall the size is the mail reason you will buys this. I have triplets and want this camera to be with me everywhere! I do like it. This is my secons Optio S becasue the first one I had was dropped, and it shattered! It woul

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User Rating: 8/10

Small and Great Pixby - December 19, 2003

Pros: A small camera that you will actually have with you is more useful than a big one that you leave at home because it's a pain to lug around. The menu and functions are very intuitive. It's well finished. I have received many compliments on the pictures t

Cons: Small camera means small lens so it is not able to captures action shots - sports etc.

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User Rating: 4/10

it's all good but picture quality really blows..by - December 12, 2003

Pros: it's cute as heck, so compact that u can't even feel it's weight even in a small purse..interesting options and ease of use.

Cons: i'd purchased this camera after carefully looking over many others..it was actually recommended by a friend who knows that i hate anything that is too complex to use or too big that it makes my bag any heavier than it already is..so ive bought this camera

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User Rating: 10/10

Pentax Optio Sby - December 6, 2003

Pros: great small camera. I paid 280 for it and I don't regret a thing. Plenty of features and average image quality. This camera can't be beat for the size. No other camera comes close to the mobility combined with the features and 3.2 MP. If you want more, ge

Cons: Internal memory and SD card switch. Power button is in a goofy place.

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User Rating: 6/10

Fun Fun Funby - December 4, 2003

Pros: Compact, spontaneous, easy to make silly 30 second movies of goofy friends. It's the perfect camera for having fun out on the town.

Cons: People tend to turn the camera off when they are trying to take pictures.

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User Rating: 3/10

noisesby - November 28, 2003

Pros: you wanna digital photos whit alot of noise effects here is the canera for you.

Cons: i had nikon cp 2100. i was thinking the upgrade to 3,2 mp camera and i wanded smaler.but the image quality of this camera even cannot catch 2100.i sory but it is really bad images.

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User Rating: 9/10

A tiny jewel of a camera, feature-richby - November 10, 2003

Pros: Amazing size, many features, downloads as a mounted removable drive in Windows

Cons: Flimsy port covers

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User Rating: 7/10

Very Nice, Compact Cameraby - November 7, 2003

Pros: The best thing I like about the camera is that I can bring it with me practically everywhere because of its size. And I'll never have to worry about missing the "Kodak moment". It's got a good feature set and it's very easy to use. Oh, and you get to hear

Cons: I'm just a P&S guy so I can't comment on the picture quality too much but all in all it gets the job done. However, I did have some trouble with the software in Win98 but once I switched to XP, it's fine. Also, warn the others while using the "rocker"

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User Rating: 7/10

Excellent portableby - November 7, 2003

Pros: Size,quality,functions,ease of use.

Cons: Power and shot button positions should be reversed.

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User Rating: 10/10

lightby - November 7, 2003

Pros: light,light,light...small and yes it's damn light.

Cons: no...yet. oh maybe customer support in the future. pentax has not good reputation in this area.

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User Rating: 9/10

This cam's a jewel!by - November 7, 2003

Pros: So compact, I always have it on hand. So fast and easy to use, I capture more shots than ever. So versatile, there's little I can't shoot with it (wish there was a stronger flash though.) I love this little jewel!

Cons: Too many of my friends want to use it!

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User Rating: 10/10

more satisfied than imagined.by - October 26, 2003

Pros: small, light, SD( for my toughbook W2), design, build quality.

Cons: image quality is jusk ok to good. (considered also canon sd100 for its image quality, but I chose lighter one. (5.8 oz vs. 3.5 oz)....and that was very good choice.)

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User Rating: 4/10

Small but poor qualityby - October 21, 2003

Pros: very portable - small and light.

Cons: poor image quality - blurry occurs very often and the button positions were poorly designed. my canon s330 was WAY easier to use. scrolling thru images lags a lot, browsing pictures doesnt have the page up and down feature like the canon ones. why sacr

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User Rating: 6/10

spunky but fragileby - October 15, 2003

Pros: it's sooper light, has a fantastic macro zoom, has a self portrait setting that works well, the screen is good, the auto focus function also works well, and looks great.

Cons: it's kinda delicate ... mine broke when it bumped, and it was only two months old ... am still waiting for the verdict on if it is under warranty. on the performance side, it's a little weak on landscape shots with bright sun.

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User Rating: 9/10

You'll never buy film again!by - October 7, 2003

Pros: Feature rich, stylish, super-compact, user friendly menus, reliable and lot's and lot's of fun to use.

Cons: Okay, the on/off button could be moved. But that's it. Life isn't perfect- the Optio S camera is.

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User Rating: 7/10

Good sh*t.by - October 7, 2003

Pros: So I have read all review's and got my camera at costco. Was sceptical. Took the camera to european trip - london, spain. Came back with 300+ pictures (costco gave 128 meg memory card)! Camera rocks. Combination of _portability_ and quality in this cam

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User Rating: 8/10

Great everyday ultra-compact camera!!by - October 5, 2003

Pros: This is my 4th digital camera (I also currently own my pride-and-joy...a Canon PowerShot G2). I am very happy with this little camera. It's great for an active lifestyle such as mine (hiking, camping, backpacking, kayaking, etc.). It takes up such a sm

Cons: As an advanced amateur photographer who has been doing digital for close to 4 years, I wish there were more manual controls (especially Aperture and Time exposures). But, I've figured out how to work with the plethora of camera features.

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User Rating: 6/10

Lots of features, bordering on hard to use.by - October 2, 2003

Pros: Small size, light weight, many features. Shoots good photos once you turn off the stupid autofocus. The presence of a little speaker makes it possible to listen to audio and movie clips, and the voice recorder mode is very memory efficient. Over 17 hou

Cons: Tiny multi-function controls. I deleted ALL MY VACATION PHOTOS BY ACCIDENT while attempting to delete ONE PHOTO, but there is no additional confirmation required before memory was wiped. Pentax should upgrade the software on this camera, so that it is n

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User Rating: 10/10

Outstanding!!! What was Cnet thinking?!?!?!?by - May 9, 2003

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Review: I bought a Nikon 4300 thinking it was small enough to carry with me most of the time. WRONG! I went in Discount Cameras in SF with no intention of buying a new camera. I just wanted to browse and look at a Cannon. When I was shown the Optio S I immediately HAD to have it! It's incredible! I love it! It's easier to use than the Nikon. (which I promptly sold) The menus are very intuitive too. Features galore easy to learn and incredible shots. I paid $389 and I know Costco has it for $389 too. I've even sold 2 optio s's to people in camera stores (I'm always gadget shopping) just because I love the camera so much! Cnet was WAY OFF on their review. I usually believe them and now I have serious reason to doubt them. RUN DON'T WALK TO BUY THIS CAMERA!!!!

User Rating: 9/10

for the $$$..packed full of great featuresby - May 9, 2003

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Review: it takes a bit of getting used to the small controls, but what do you expect from a 3.2 meg-a-pix cam that will fit in a altoids tin !!!

User Rating: 8/10

Got it into Pearl Jamby - May 8, 2003

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Review: While everyone else with digital cameras were being told to take them back to their cars at the Pearl Jam concert, I was able to get my Pentax camera inside. I kept it in its Altoids tin and no one noticed. Made a nice video from the footage I was able to get inside the concert via iMovie. Love this camera.

User Rating: 8/10

come on!!!by - May 8, 2003

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Review: I read many Cnet reviews and find them to be a generally invaluable resource, but I do not think they gave the OptioS an adequate shake. I have had it for a month now and it is absolute perfection for my needs. I doubt I will ever take my pics off the computer, except possibly to print a 4 by 6 picture. It is perfect for when I travel and has a plethora of features. Cnet reviews the camera as if it is trying to be a Cannon A70 or even better; I say review the camera on the basis of what it is trying and able to achieve, portability, convenience, and decent picture quality. And then give it the 8.3 that it deserves. Just take a look at the user comments, all owners are happy with the camera because it is exactly what they've been waiting for...period!

User Rating: 8/10

Lost it in a movie, but will buy it again!by - May 6, 2003

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Review: Had it for a month and loved everything about it. This was my fifth digital camera and I loved how it was able to cram alot of features in such a small package. Unlike the Sony Cybershot U and the Casio Exilim, the flash on the Pentax is actually usable beyond close-up range. Only problem was that I lost it in a movie theatre while it was inside an altoids tin. When I looked for it the next day, I was told that anything resembling junk food is automatically tossed in the garbage. Bummer!!! Still, I love it enough that I'm saving up to buy it again. It's that good!!!

User Rating: 10/10

Lots of features in a small packageby - May 4, 2003

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Review: There a lot of features, 3x zoom, 3.2 megs, a/v connectors to use as a web cam if you have a tv tuner, small as altoid box, record memos, 30 sec clips. great camera...but the OK button is the same button as the direction button. Some cameras do this but this is the size of ...well its way too small. they should separate the OK button from the direction button. cause i will accidentally press OK when im selecting something. Stabilizer is ok, not horrible, but not the best. Picture quality is great. Taking pictures is a little slow though. Overal a great camera, best quality is its size.

User Rating: 7/10

Excellent Camera for General Purposeby - May 4, 2003

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Review: I researched many cameras including the Canon and Minolta cameras. My criteria: Size. I was a bit concerned with the flash and night-time shots. No problems there. My first use was inside a pitch-black bar and the pics are fantastic. If powerful pics and micro-size are your criteria...then this is the camera.

User Rating: 9/10

Great Camera, GReat Camera Great Cameraby - May 3, 2003

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Review: Great Camera, ton's of features, was looking at sony p9 canon s40 and elph s400, bought the optio s after comparing 8x10 photo's of them and LOT's of research first pentax to offer the legendary pentax coated lenses in a digital camera. Canon buys this coating and lens from them for their high end SLR and digital's Picture Quality amazing, noticed a difference after 8x10's has more feature's then the amateur needs, great if you want to get into digital photography and experiment and take off. Best Camera for 400 overall, hands down. Battery cover is a little flismy, that is because it is connected using Rubber, but metal for the actual cover would have been nice, if you drop it it's ok because it doesn't weigh to much more than a feather, and it's built like a little tank. great buy, great product.

User Rating: 3/10

Unimpressive resolutionby - May 3, 2003

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Review: I bought the Optio S due to its compact size and a number of reviews touting its picture quality. I beg to differ with the latter. Although it's hard to beat the utility of a camera that is so small that it fits in an Altoids box, the final product is less than stellar and far below the clarity and resolution of a compact Sony P9 or the Canon S45. I found the menus quite easy to use. The leather carrying case is too small for the camera. I'd line an Altoids can with felt and use that instead. In my opinion, skip this micro-cam and opt for a slightly larger Sony or Canon.

User Rating: 7/10

Very cool, fine little camera!by - May 2, 2003

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Review: Smaller and lighter than can be believed, and takes quite decent photos once you find how to set the numerous adjustable settings for the kind of photos you take. (What in the world was the negative "stabilizer" reviewer talking about???) The macro mode is stunning, as my wife agreed. All around a great little camera to always have in your pocket- HALF the weight of most of the competition!

User Rating: 10/10

Simply AMAZING!by - April 29, 2003

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Review: This camara's size is such that if it were any smaller, it would look stupid! Think Zoolander's cell phone stupid (not a good movie though)! Yet the Optio S has a fully-loaded feature list including the most important ones... >3 MP and a 3x optical zoom. In other words, this camara is PERFECT in size, and POWERFUL in features. And the chics dig it.

User Rating: 9/10

It has everything I want in a point and shoot camera!by - April 29, 2003

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Review: I have had this camera for 2 weeks so far and I love it. It is so light and small I can bring it anywhere. (You don't get to take many pictures if you never remember to bring your camera along.) The small size,the quality optics, the 3X optical zoom, the high resolution and the fact that this camera is not made of plastic, are a winning combination!I am so pleased I got this camera!

User Rating: 8/10

Some improvementsby - April 29, 2003

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Review: This is a goodbuy, but the u have to take the battery out to charge it. Why did pentax make the charger and the adapter as one? How long can the battary door can hold as it looks fragile?

User Rating: 7/10

nice, micro-compact cameraby - April 28, 2003

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Review: This is a great little camera. Pentax crammed a lot of features into a very small form factor. I compared it to my Sony 707 5-megapixel, and there is a noticeable drop in resolution. This camera is most suitable for snapshots on the go.

User Rating: 9/10

CNet has interests with Canonby - April 28, 2003

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Review: Don't expect a good review if any from Cnet. The fact that it's been a month now raises eyebrows about cnet. The Canon S400 review sure came out quick though! BTW, the Optio S is simply amazing.

User Rating: 2/10

I rather have my old sony than this so call CAMERA manufacture brand!!!by - April 28, 2003

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Review: I thought it was cool, but unitl I compare this with my old sony 3.2 mp the picture are so fussy. This camera doesn't have any so call steady shot feature. I've tried playing with all the features and the shutter speed. Most of the other features on the pentax beat the sony as far as picture quality. But just doesn't have anything to sablize the picture. So what's good for a camera without stabliztion. I haven't really test much digital camera but for sure this one is not good for taking picture while your in motion. You just have to HOLD REAL STILL!!!

User Rating: 9/10

Small with it allby - April 27, 2003

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Review: I've been deciding whether or not to go with the Optio S, S400, or even the A70. My local Coscto (Northern CA) was selling the camera for $389 with 128MB SD Card and carrying case, so I jumped on it. The camera is fantasic. The pictures are pretty decent. The night shots were impressive, with not a whole lot of noise. The amount of features in this camera are simply mindblowing, with everything from Panorama mode to the (kind of dinky) 30 second movie mode (that you can take timelapse video with!). One thing I wish they would've changed is the four-way nubby. It's so small that people with non toothpick fingers might accidentally trigger ok instead of the direction they want to select. Other than that, no complaints yet.

User Rating: 10/10

Cruise Surpriseby - April 26, 2003

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Review: I had not yet seen the Optio S but am a big fan of the compact Pentax point and shoot cameras which I have used for sometime. This past week I went on a cuise taht stopped in St. Thomas and saw the S while shopping. Compared it to some of the others I was looking at (Canon, Olympus, Nikon and the other pentax Optios), but couldn't get over the size, convenience ease of use and image quality of the Optio S. After going back an forth between the stores in downtown St. Thomas, I was able to get my Option for $400 including leather case, 128 MB SD card, and extended US Pentax warranty -- and best of all -- no tax or shipping. I used the camera for he rest of the cruise and have been amazed at the images taken both indoors and out, the number of features the camera offers that I am still learning to use but which are very user friendly, and the overall COOLNESS of the tiny package. Believe me, as an avid photgrapher who has lugged around the big Canon EOS and a Mamiya, the freedom and quality the Optio S brings is great. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED -- GET YOURS TODAY.

User Rating: 8/10

Amazing for its sizeby - April 23, 2003

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Review: As soon as I received this camera, I was amazed at how many features and the quality in a camera that size. It by far outperforms our camera we bought a few years earlier that is much larger and was $150 more.

User Rating: 9/10

Had to Have It!by - April 21, 2003

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Review: I couldn?t be more pleased! I really wanted a pocketsize unit w/o sacrificing features and functionality of my 35 mm. After reading many reviews and opinions, here and elsewhere, I came across the Optio S product announcement. It seemed to be everything I was looking for including the Pentax reputation for quality optics and the 3X optical zoom. I think the Altoids tin ploy hooked me. Glad I waited! Wal-Mart had it available online only, including a 64 MB SD card for the same price most others were asking for the camera alone. I ordered on Saturday and received it on Tuesday without paying any shipping premium. As this is my first digital, I?ve got a lot to learn on both the camera and software. It was a breeze to install and use the software on Windows XP Professional. The panoramic assist is going to come in handy for capturing our summer vacation scenery. Prior to any trips I?m going to buy more storage and a 2nd battery. The only negatives are the close proximity of the ON/OFF to the Shutter Release, and somewhat flimsy battery and connection port covers. The ON/OFF will only throw novice users. So whenever you have a stranger take your picture just make sure the unit is still powered on when they hand it back. Otherwise, they?ve pushed the wrong button.

User Rating: 8/10

Love everything about it, BUTby - April 21, 2003

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Review: I have used several cameras and this is my third digital camera. I love everything about it except one thing. The stabilization is not good. If I shake a little it will easily blur. I pretty much solved the problem by just keeping my hand steady. A tripod will even do a better job. So if you do not care about having to hold the camera reeeaaalllly steady, then buy it. Also the size in incredible. I do not even notice it on me so I hope I do not lose it .

User Rating: 9/10

Perfect Carrying Caseby - April 21, 2003

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Review: Visit Tempur-Pedic website and request free information kit, they'll send you a free real tempur-pedic material sample, cut the material, modify it and put it in the Altoid tin, boom, you got a safe, sturdy, secure, cool, and cheap carrying case for your AWESOME Optio S, btw("S" stands for "SWEET")

User Rating: 10/10

Buy it NOW!by - April 19, 2003

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Review: Having looked at digitals for two years and finding them all wanting, I was holding the small sony in my hand, lamenting the lack of features when the optio JUMPED off the shelf at me. This one has the looks, the features (130 page manual of features) and amazing image quality. This one will be travelling everywhere with me. The joystick is a little fussy, but you get used to it fairly quickly. Buy it and love it!

User Rating: 10/10

IPAQ of Digital Cameras? It's Better!by - April 18, 2003

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Review: Somebody compared this to the Ipaq of Digital Cameras. Hardly Fair! When the Ipaq was released it had great style and some nice features, but also had loads of problems! I can't hardly find ANYTHING wrong with this camera. The photos are amazing, it's stock FULL of great features, and it's amazingly small. I've messed with Sony's micro camera, and this camera may not look smaller, but it's ALOT easier to carry around then Sony's fat little "U" cameras! I've only see one little problem... the joystick control is kinda hard to work. It's too small and it's too easy to click "OK", instead of Up or sideways. They should have used direction buttons and skipped the weak joystick. The OptioS is worth far more then it's asking price. At $400, it's a freaking steal! (BTW, use the Regular sized Altoids tin, it won't fit in the small ones. My camera smells like Spearmint!)

User Rating: 9/10

*WOW* SIZE *WOW*by - April 18, 2003

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Review: WOW!! I've had this thing for a couple weeks and all my friends at school are amazed at how small my camera is. I just whip it out of my pocket and take a picture. The flash is suprisingly strong which is awesome for nite shots. I love how you can make audio recordings, very handy when taking down numbers from girls . The movie mode make good quality AVI's for the size of this camera. I haven't tried all of the many different types of scenery shots but they do look promising. This thing is very easy to learn and very fun to use. I just can't believe the size of this wonder. You would think that you would sacrifice features for size, but not with this amazing camera. I have a 256 MB SD card and now I can take (depending on the quality) anywhere between 100-320 pictures. One of the great features is that that it has assited panarama that even a caveman could use. And one of the coolest features is that it is an alarm clock. A few tips for those who are getting it or who already have one. Increase the colour saturation. Brings out the colour way more. Increase sharpness. I can't find a differences of picture quality when you change the quality level. And I don't exactly remember the exact camera case but it's a Fuji one and the camera fits nice and tightly. If I could say there was one weakness it would have to be that the movie mode should be longer than 30 secs. I give it a 9/10. Go out and buy it now.

User Rating: 8/10

Size isn't everythingby - April 16, 2003

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Review: This is currently the best offering in a compact camera. Smallest size around with 3.2 megapixels and at 3.5 ounces9(4.1 weighed down; and is sufficient for printing on anything larger than 8 by 10. If your like me and need a camera that "truly" fits in your pocket, is suited for traveling, and has a plethore of features, look no furhter. My friend bought the 4 megapixel sony cybershot and is envious of the features like manual focus, user settings, and manual light balance, to name a few; and his pictures don't look any better... also, relatively fast shutter speeds and continuous shooting mode are great for sports and action. I researcched for months, and when this came out snatched it up in a day and didn't look back. Spread the word!

User Rating: 8/10

Optio S - a 'Curiously Strong' Performer!by - April 15, 2003

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Review: If you're like 99 percent of us, you're not using a digital camera as your lifeline (the technology still has a ways to go to catch SLR). You're using it for fun. And under the theory that you'll always miss 100% of the shots for which you don't have your camera with you, I submit the Optio S as the reigning champion of the ultracompact market. $400.79 gets you a camera with 3.2MP, manual focus, tons of features, and optics of high enough quality that Canon's using them in their new S400. (That's $399 for the camera and $1.79 for the Altoids tin -- yes, that's the hard case of choice for most Optio S owners. It really does fit, and snugly enough that there's no chance of damaging the camera!) I've taken about 250 shots with the Optio S and have been amazed at the quality vs. other "first-generation" 3MP digitals. Images are sharp and clear, with no fringing or haze. (Manual focus really is a godsend on this camera, and allows you to take shots that other ultracompact cameras couldn't manage.) They aren't quite up to the quality of the Canon S45, but then again, the camera is half as big and weighs less than half as much! And they run all over the Dimage X, the 'other' 3MP ultracompact on the market. Battery life is impressive for the size - over 100 shots with mixed use of the flash and LCD always on. The included software is easy to use, if a bit lacking in functionality (you're almost better off using Windows Picture Editor). All in all, the only possible competitor to this camera I could imagine would be the Canon S400. And for the $100-plus extra you'd pay for the Canon, you can get the Optio S AND a 256MB SD card (which you'll need), and never notice the 0.8MP difference unless you're blowing your pix up to 8x10 or larger. For a 'carry-around' digital camera that ensures you'll never miss a photo op, there really is no genuine competition for the Optio S. Buy one and prepare to be amazed!

User Rating: 10/10

in one woed- great!! to wards f****g great!!!by - April 14, 2003

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Review: just bought the camera yesterday worth any $$$ i paid. this camera is something remarkble! if you need to ask me Q b4 buying send to my email pls...

User Rating: 8/10

The best to date.by - April 7, 2003

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Review: I never write reviews, but had to for this camera. Besides being the smallest and lightest 3 megapixel camera out there, the camera is feature rich as well. Check it out, it just makes you smile.

User Rating: 10/10

Tiny Camera, Lots of Features, Excellent Picturesby - April 5, 2003

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Review: I have a 3+-year-old Sony Mavica that I like very much, but it's too big and bulky to travel with and it only has 1.6 megapixels which isn't good for 8x10 prints. I have been looking for a small, very light digital camera that I can carry with me at all times, especially travelling. The Pentax Optio S is it! I saw it demonstrated on television from the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January and was hooked. I had looked at several tiny digitals and was seriously considering the Canon Elph until I saw the Pentax Optio S. I wanted a minimum of 3 megapixels and a 3x optical zoom. The Optio S meets both of these criteria plus it's a lot lighter than the Canon Elph. The pictures are gorgeous printed off of my Canon S900 printer. I've had the camera a week and am absolutely delighted with it. I have not loaded the software and haven't needed to. I use a SanDisk Cruzer to read the SD memory card and Photoshop and/or Canon software for printing. My only complaint, and it's not much of a complaint, is that I wish Pentax had shipped some sort of case with the camera. I also want to buy a spare battery and haven't been able to find one yet, but I'm sure they'll be on the market soon. The only problem I can see with this camera is that if you have large hands you might have trouble with the controls. Since I have small hands this is not a problem for me. In truth, I find nothing wrong with this camera; it's absolutely perfect for me and even better than I thought it would be.

User Rating: 10/10

VERY COOL, GREAT CAMERAby - April 3, 2003

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Review: I recently purchased this Optio S and currently I?m very satisfied. The pictures turn out sharp and clear, colors accurate and print great. I looked around for a 3mp camera for a while, I liked the body of this one, very small but it gives a good grip. Optio S offers a bunch of features giving you that great picture you want. I appreciate Pentax for coming out with this camera and hope they continue to create quality like this one. For people looking at cameras I encourage you to look at this one and seek out the options you want in a camera. I have put a photo, un-edited online (of my friends) for people who want to see the quality photos this camera takes, its about 1 megabyte so if you have a dial-up modem it will take more than a minute to load. Set on the Highest Resolution and Media Quality. http://jmbridger.tripod.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/preview.jpg

User Rating: 9/10

Impressed with Optio sby - April 2, 2003

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Review: I compared the Optio s with the Minolta Dimage Xi. Optio S wins with more features, especially a manual focus. Have used it both indoors and outdoors for 2 weeks. Clarity at best resolution is stunning. Autofocus has some problems in low light, but that's where having the manual focus pays off. Dimage Xi does not have this. Only complaint is the tiny toggle button, which controls many functions. It is easy to just push "down" on it, which activates the voice memo function, instead of left or right. Takes some getting used to. But for an ultra-compact digital camera, so far I think this one can't be beat. (Only case available for it as of 4/2/03 is indeed an Altoids tin!) I will be happy to answer any questions you might have by email.

User Rating: 8/10

envy-inspiringby - April 1, 2003

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Review: I am a new purchaser (ie 2 days), not expert in these things. But I can offer a few comments,largely in praise of this camera. First, it is incredibly small, and pulling it out of an Altoids tin pretty much blows people away. Small size means that you are manipulating small buttons, including a little .6 cm button that actually functions as a 4-way joystick-type button. It is not appropriate for someone with old arthritic hands, but the rest of us can use this thing just fine. The basic operation of point, shoot, review picture, delete if one wants to, or keep is very straightforward. Plugging it into a Mac from the included USB cord is easy. I installed absolutely no new software on my Mac; once I plugged the camera in, the Mac-native iPhoto software simply indicated that it was aware of the attached camera and asked me if I wanted to import the photos. What will take some time to learn with the camera are all the shooting modes, the features, customization of the picture density, etc. I have tried out the audio recording mode. You can use the thing as a dictaphone, and it will record 48 minutes on its internal 11MB memory. It sounds like a dictaphone, obviously, not high-quality. One can also shoot little movies, and they look just fine on a 1 inch screen like that found on the back of the camera. For the size, it is pretty easy to handle. The surface is a kind of roughened steel that is easy to grip, and there is an obvious imprint on the back for your thumb. Taking control of the many other features is going to require some study. There are macro modes for taking pictures up to 2 inches away. Then there are modes like "nightscene" which is used for dark night landscapes, and requires having the camera on a tripod. There is a "portrait" mode for emphasizing the central person portrayed and it probably blurs the surroundings. There are modes for getting Flowers to have bright colors, to emphasize autumn colors, sunset/sunrise color enhancement, and a Panorama mode that apparently would permit a Windows user to join together several pix into a Panorama, if you use the enclosed CD for that feature. Anyway, I am a novice at digital photography and dont really understand all that this camera can do, but on whole I think this is a pretty feature-rich camera that comes in a remarkable package size.

User Rating: 8/10

Excellent Pocket Camera!!by - March 22, 2003

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Review: Got this camera on march 17th. It really fits in an aloitds tin. Excellent picture quality and fast response time. Even records movies with sound. Better than any other compact digicam on the market. Plethora of feaures is a plus. No camera this small has 3x optical with 3.2 MP. Sony U series is small..but lacks features. Optio S only compact way to go!

Tips on Pentax Optio S

• Six great photo tips by CNETonlinecourses on March 15, 2007
• Naming (and renaming) photo files by CNETonlinecourses on March 15, 2007
• Shrink photos for e-mail or the Web by CNETonlinecourses on March 15, 2007
• See all Pentax Optio S tips

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Pentax Optio S specifications

• General
• Product Type Digital camera
• Width 3.3 in
• Depth 0.8 in
• Height 2.0 in
• Weight 3.2 oz
• Body Material Aluminum alloy
• Localization English
• Main Features
• Resolution 3.2 megapixels
• Color Support Color
• Optical Sensor Type CCD
• Total Pixels 3340000.0 pixels
• Effective Sensor Resolution 3200000.0 pixels
• Optical Sensor Size 1/2.5 in
• Light Sensitivity ISO 50 , ISO 200 , ISO 100
• Analog Video Format NTSC
• Digital Zoom 2 x
• Shooting Modes Frame movie mode
• Shooting Programs Landscape , Surf & snow , Sunset & moon , Portrait mode , Autumn leaves , Flower , Night scene , Panorama assist , Self-portrait , 3D image
• Special Effects Sepia , Black & White , Slim
• Max Shutter Speed 0.00050 sec
• Min Shutter Speed 1.0 sec
• Exposure Metering Center-weighted , Spot , Multi-segment
• Exposure Modes Program
• Exposure Compensation ±2 EV range, in 1/3 EV steps
• Auto Exposure Bracketing 3 steps in 1/3 EV step
• White Balance Automatic , Presets , Custom
• White Balance Presets Daylight , Tungsten light , Shade , Fluorescent
• Digital Video Format AVI
• Still Image Format JPEG
• Remote Control Optional - None
• TV Tuner None
• Video Capture AVI - 320 x 240 - 30.0 sec - Max clip duration
• Memory / Storage
• Flash Memory 1.0 x 11.0 MB Flash - Integrated
• Supported Flash Memory MultiMediaCard , SD Memory Card
• Floppy Drive None
• Digital Storage Media None - 11.0 MB
• Image Storage Normal JPEG 1600 x 1200 : 43.0 - With 11MB built-in memory , Fine JPEG 1600 x 1200 : 9.0 - With 11MB built-in memory , Economy JPEG 1600 x 1200 : 21.0 - With 11MB built-in memory , Fine JPEG 2048 x 1536 : 36.0 - With 11MB built-in memory , Fine JPEG 1280 x 960 : 90.0 - With 10MB built-in memory , Normal JPEG 2048 x 1536 : 47.0 - With 11MB built-in memory , Normal JPEG 2048 x 1536 : 5.0 - With 11MB built-in memory , Fine JPEG 1280 x 960 : 15.0 - With 11MB built-in memory , Economy JPEG 640 x 480 : 9.0 - With 11MB built-in memory , Normal JPEG 1280 x 960 : 19.0 - With 11MB built-in memory , Economy JPEG 640 x 480 : 14.0 - With 11MB built-in memory , Economy JPEG 2048 x 1536 : 67.0 - With 11MB built-in memory , Economy JPEG 640 x 480 : 14.0 - With 11MB built-in memory
• Camera Flash
• Camera Flash Built-in flash
• Flash Modes Fill-in mode , Flash OFF mode , Auto mode
• Red Eye Reduction Yes
• Effective Flash Range 8.0 in - 11.5 ft
• Lens System
• Type Zoom lens - 5.8 mm - 17.4 mm - F/2.6-4.8
• Focal Length 5.8 mm - 17.4 mm
• Focal Length Equivalent to 35mm Camera -70.0 mm
• Focus Adjustment Automatic , Manual
• Auto Focus TTL contrast detection
• Auto Focus Points (Zones) 7
• Min Focus Range 15.7 in
• Macro Focus Range 6-50cm
• Lens Aperture F/2.6-4.8
• Optical Zoom 3 x
• Zoom Adjustment Motorized drive
• Lens Construction 5.0 group(s) / 6.0 element(s)
• Lens Manufacturer Pentax
• Features Aspherical lens
• Additional Features
• Self Timer Yes
• Self Timer Delay 10 sec
• Flash Terminal None
• Additional Features Date/time stamp , Auto power save , Built-in speaker , DPOF support , Audio recording , Auto daylight savings time
• Viewfinder
• Viewfinder Type Optical - Real-image zoom
• Viewfinder Color Support Color
• Magnification 0.28 - 0.78x
• Dioptric Correction Range -3 to +1
• Display
• Type LCD display - TFT active matrix - 1.6 in - Color
• Display Form Factor Built-in
• Display Format 84000.0 pixels
• Digital Player (Recorder)
• Type None
• Microphone
• Type Microphone - Built-in
• Microphone Technology Electret condenser
• Microphone Operation Mode Mono
• Connections
• Connector Type 1.0 x Composite video/audio output ( 4 pin USB Type A ) , 1.0 x DC power input , 1.0 x USB
• Expansion Slot(s) 1.0 x SD Memory Card
• Software
• Software ACD Systems ACDsee , Drivers & Utilities
• Miscellaneous
• Carrying Case None
• Tripod Mountable Yes
• Included Accessories 3D image viewer , Carrying strap
• Cables Included 1.0 x A/V cable , 1.0 x USB cable
• Power
• Power Device Battery charger - External
• Battery
• Supported Battery 1.0 x Li-ion rechargeable battery ( Included )
• Manufacturer Warranty
• Service & Support 1 year warranty
• Service & Support Details Limited warranty - 1 year
• Environmental Parameters
• Min Operating Temperature 32 °F
• Max Operating Temperature 104 °F