It’s not just the dimensions of the Optio SV that remind me of the Ixus 500, the specs are very similar too, with a five megapixel CCD – although the maximum image resolution is slightly lower at 2,560 x 1,920. But where the Optio SV does have the edge over its rival is in the optical zoom department. Whereas the Ixus 500 has a 3x optical zoom, Pentax has managed to squeeze a 5x optical zoom into the Optio SV – that’s equivalent to 36mm – 180mm in 35mm language. Pentax attributes this feat to its newly designed “Sliding-Lens Technology�, but marketing babble aside, having a 5x optical zoom in a camera this small is definitely a bonus. There’s also a 4x digital zoom, but I’d never recommend anyone to use a digital zoom – you’re better off cropping and zooming in Photoshop later.

View Source

No Comments »

You may not want to try and take the pistol-grip, raygun-shaped Pentax Optio MX4 through airport security. But otherwise it’s a passable, inexpensive 4MP superzoom still camera, and quite a good still/video hybrid as well. If you’re looking primarily for a superzoom that shoots great stills, you can do much better, but if you want one camera that’s also suitable for shooting a lot of video, the MX4 is well worth considering.

The camera has a f/2.9 to f/3.5 5.8-mm to 58-mm (37-mm to 370-mm, 35-mm equivalent) lens. The MX4’s body is a 4-inch-long rectangular barrel with rounded corners that narrows to a blunt end. A shooter looks “through” the swiveling 1.8-inch LCD (there’s no optical viewfinder). Most mode dials, power control and similar controls are located atop the barrel. A few are on the left side of the barrel, and the shutter, zoom toggle, and video trigger are all located atop the rotating pistol grip.

View Source

No Comments »

The Pentax *ist DS is a consumer version of the *ist D, Pentax’s first digital SLR, introduced in late 2003. While the *ist DS is a competitor to Canon’s Digital Rebel/EOS300D and Nikon’s D70, it is a much more compact and lighter dSLR than either of these. Weighing in at 605g (21.3oz.) with the kit lens, the *ist DS is the lightest DSLR currently on the market and still offers compatibility with a wide selection of lenses, and the comfortable ergonomic design of an SLR body.

View Source

No Comments »

DC views wrote in ‘Pentax *ist Ds review’: Pentax *ist DS, with an array of advanced and user-friendly functions like high speed USB 2.0 connection, large and bright pentaprism viewfinder, PictBridge and Print Image Matching options, 2.0 inch TFT monitor and 18 custom functions, it offers quick and effortless operation and easy portability thanks to its compact size.

View Source

No Comments »

While on paper the Pentax Optio SV sounds like a real winner, in reality it left me feeling somewhat disappointed. Sure, it’s small, stylish, and offers way more zoom than the competition. However, image quality, battery life, and overall performance are below average. First, here’s what I liked about the Optio SV. It’s a compact metal camera that packs a “big” 5X zoom lens — way more zoom power than the typical ultra-compact camera. Construction is good for the most part, save for the plastic door over the memory card / battery compartment. The SV offers a full suite of a manual controls, though the longest shutter speed is 4 seconds (which is long enough for most people). Other bells and whistles include a super macro mode that lets you get 3 cm from your subject, a digital filter function (in playback mode), and a 30 frame/second movie mode (albeit at 320 x 240 and with awful sound recording). The included charging stand is a nice bonus, as it can recharge a spare battery along with the one in the camera.

View Source

No Comments »