Pentax Optio 30 Review

By: Steve's Digicams

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Pentax Optio 30

Review posted 5/06/04



Click to take a QuickTime tour of the Optio 30


The latest Optio from Pentax is designed for newcomers with little or no digital photography experience. In addition to 3.2 megapixels and a 3X optical zoom, the Optio 30 sports a simple menu prompt that provides helpful tutorial messages about frequently used digital camera functions. With a simple touch, this feature will guide new, and old hands, through the camera's array of digital features.

The PENTAX Optio 30 makes digital easy and fun. Equipped with PictBridge technology, a new direct-print standard released by the Camera and Imaging Products Association (CIPA), the Optio30 connects directly to your printer so you may print images without a personal computer. You can also record a favorite shot on the start-up screen and select customized wallpaper choices for the menu screen on the ample 1.6 inch LCD monitor. In addition to a variety of conventional picture modes (Landscape, Nightscene, Nightscene Portrait, Portrait, Surf and Snow, Flower), the Optio 30 features new lifestyle-oriented modes including Party, Cuisine, and Pet.

The Optio 30 sports a round-edge design that offers an easy-to-hold, steady grip, and the camera permits you to customize a wide range of camera settings so you may select how you use the camera features as your digital confidence grows. With 16MB of built-in memory, it will always be ready to capture that special moment, even if you forgot your larger memory card behind.

For added value, the Optio30 does include an ACDSee computer software package that is designed exclusively for PENTAX digital cameras. Valued at $150, the package includes ACDSee 5.1, FotoSlate, FotoCanvas and Photostitcher. ACDSee digital camera software makes it easy to retrieve, view, manage, print, enhance and share your digital photos.


Optio 30 Features:

  • 3.2-megapixel CCD for images up to 2048 x 1536 pixels
  • 3x optical zoom (38-114mm) with 4x digital zoom
  • Macro mode focuses as close as 0.79 in.
  • 1.6-inch TFT color LCD (approx. 85,000 pixels)
  • Shooting Modes: Program, Picture mode, Movie, Panorama assist, Landscape, Night scene, Night scene portrait, Portrait, Surf & Snow, Flower, Pet, Party, Food
  • Single-shot, Continuous, Multiple Continuous, Self-timer Drive modes
  • Multi-segment, Center-weighted or Spot-metering
  • Record Movies w/out audio up to capacity of memory
  • Built-in flash with Auto, Flash-Off, Flash-On, Auto + red-eye reduction, Flash-On + red-eye reduction modes
  • Digital Filters: (During play mode) Black & White, Sepia, Red, Pink, Purple, Blue, Green, Yellow, Brightness
  • White Balance: Auto, Daylight, Shade, Tungsten, Fluorescent
  • USB Mass Storage compatible for PC and Mac OS
  • PictBridge, Exif Print and PRINT Image Matching II compatible
  • 16MB of internal flash memory, SD Memory card slot
  • Uses 2 AA-type batteries or one CR-V3, RCR-V3 battery pack





Physical Views



Pentax Optio 30

Pentax Optio 30

Pentax Optio 30

Pentax Optio 30

Pentax Optio 30

Pentax Optio 30





Pentax Optio 30

Pentax Optio 30 and the Optio S40 for comparison





Pentax Optio 30

Pentax Optio 30 and a standard CD for size comparison




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Pentax Optio 30 Specifications

Type: Compact-type digital still camera with built-in zoom lens, autofocus, auto exposure and auto flash.
Effective Pixels: 3.2 megapixels
Sensor: 3.34 megapixels (total pixels) 1/2.7 inch interline transfer CCD with a primary color filter.
Color Depth: 10 bit x 3 colors.
Recorded Pixels: Still:
2048 x 1536 pixels
1600 x 1200 pixels
1024 x 768 pixels
640 x 480 pixels

Movie:
320 x 240 pixels
160 x 120 pixels

Sensitivity: Auto, or user select ISO 50, 100, 200, 400
File Formats: Still - JPEG (Exif 2.2), DCF, DPOF. Movie - AVI (Motion JPEG Format) approx. 15 fps., soundless
Quality Levels: "Superior", "Super", "Normal", "Economy"
Storage Media: 16MB built-in memory, SD memory card slot
Lens: smc Pentax power zoom 5.8mm-17.4mm. (Equivalent to 38mm-114mm in 35mm format) f/2.9-f/5.0, 7 elements in 6 groups (2 aspherical elements)
Digital Zoom: approx. 4X
Focusing System:
Type: TTL contrast detection autofocus system. Manual focus, Infinity-landscape, and Macro modes available.
Focusing Areas: 5-point autofocus, Spot autofocus & Infinity Landscape Mode
Focusing Range: Autofocus: Normal: 1.64 ft (0.5m) to Infinity; Macro: 0.79inches (0.02 m) to 1.97 ft (0.6m); Manual Focus: 0.79 inches (0.02m) to Infinity
Exposure Control:
Metering System: TTL metering: Choice of Multi-segment metering, Center-weighted metering, Spot metering.
Exposure Modes: Program, Picture mode, Movie, Panorama assist, Landscape, Night scene, Night scene portrait, Portrait, Surf & Snow, Flower, Pet, Party, Food
Exposure Compensation: ±2 EV (1/3 steps).
Movie: Shooting Time: from Approx. 1 Sec. to memory card capacity, choose from full-color, black and white, and sepia
Shutter: Electronic shutter; Shutter Speed - approx. 1/2000 - 2 seconds
Drive Modes: Single-shot, Continuous, Multiple Continuous, Self-timer (2 or 10 sec.)
Flash: Built-in; Operation Modes - Auto, Flash-Off, Flash-On, Auto + red-eye reduction, Flash-On + red-eye reduction; Effective Range -Approx.0.65ft -9.51ft (0.2m - 2.9m) (5.8mm at Sensitivity Auto) Approx. 1.65ft -5.58ft (0.5m - 1.7m) (17.4mm at Sensitivity Auto)
White Balance: TTL Auto, Pre-set; Available Settings - Auto, Daylight, Shade, Tungsten Light, Fluorescent Light
Digital Filter: (During play mode) Black & White, Sepia, Red, Pink, Purple, Blue, Green, Yellow, Brightness
Optical Viewfinder: Actual Image zoom viewfinder
LCD Monitor: 1.6 inch, TFT color LCD- with Histogram Display
LCD Coverage: 100%
LCD Resolution: Approx. 85,000 pixels
Playback Specs. Playback Mode File: Single, Index - Nine image index
Magnification: 8X
Size Change: Trimming, Resize
Erase and Image Protect Modes: Single, All
PictBridge: One image Printing, All image Printing, DPOF Printing
Language: English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Chinese, Japanese
Interfaces: USB terminal, DC input terminal.
Video Output: None
Power Sources: One CR-V3 Lithium battery (allows approximately 600 shots*), or two AA batteries (lithium, alkaline, nickel and rechargeable Ni-MH), AC adaptor kit (optional) * According to in-house testing (with LCD monitor on and flash used for 50% of the shots.
Dimensions: (W x H x D): 3.7 x 2.4 x 1.4 inches (93.5 x 61.5 x 36mm)
Weight: 4.6 oz (130g) without battery and SD memory card, 6.3 oz (180g) loaded and ready
OS Compatibility: Mac Requirements: OS: Mac OS 9.0 or later (QuickTime 4.0 or later to view movies), CPU: Power PC 266MHz or higher, Memory: 8MB or more, Hard disk space: 6MB or more, Standard equipped USB port

PC Requirements: OS: Windows 98,98 second edition, 2000, Me, XP Home edition / Professional, CPU: Pentium or later recommended, Memory: 64MB or more, Hard disk space: 15MB or more, Standard equipped USB port

Specifications as represented by the manufacturer



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