Pentax Optio 430 Review

The Optio 430 employs an ultra-compact F2.6-F4.8 Pentax 7.6-22.8mm power zoom with a 37 - 112mm equivalent in 35mm format.   It's an all-glass lens constructed with 7 elements in 6 groups, including 2 dual-sided aspherical elements. When powered down the lens will automatically retract into the camera and is protected by a builtin lens cap.

Featuring a 7-point, TTL contrast detection autofocus system with selectable focus points or a Spot focus option. The AF range is from 1.3ft to infinity in normal mode and from 0.46ft to 1.64ft in macro mode. Manual focusing is available from 0.46ft to infinity and it has a fixed infinity/landscape setting.

The zoom lens control is on the upper right corner of the back. This switch also serves as the zoomed-playback control in Play mode.

The eyelevel, real-image zoom viewfinder has a frame coverage of about 85% and a diopter adjustment. The two LEDs indicate the flash and focus status.

There are dedicated buttons for the Flash mode (functions as the Delete button in play mode), Drive mode (Selftimer, Remote, Continuous), it's the DPOF (Digital Print Order Format) button in play mode and Focus mode (Macro, Infinity, Manual Focus), this is the Protect / Unprotect button in play mode.

The MENU button calls up or dismisses the onscreen menu system. The 4-way selector switch is for navigating menu options, you press the OK button in the center to accept selections. Pressing the OK button in playback toggles the thumbnail index mode. The DISPLAY button controls the 1.6-inch color LCD and the information displayed on it.

On top you'll find the power On/Off button and the Mode Dial with the shutter release in the center. The Mode Dial has positions for Play, Record, Night Scene, Manual Record, Movie and Multiple Exposure mode.

Images and movie clips are stored on CompactFlash Type I cards, Pentax provides a 16MB size CF card with the camera. The ejector button pushes the card out just far enough to catch the edge of it with your fingernail.

There is a miniature USB connector on the side that is also where you plug the video cable when connecting the camera to a TV set. Below that is the DC IN port for an optional AC power supply or external battery pack.

A tiny camera requires a tiny battery. The Optio 430 is powered by a proprietary D-L12 (3.7v @ 900mAh) rechargeable lithium-ion battery. It also comes with the D-BC2 external charger that fully charges the battery in 120 minutes or less.

Pentax claims 125 shots (50% with flash) or 75 minutes of playback time per charge. As with all cameras that use proprietary batteries, I highly recommend that you buy at least one more of these batteries and keep it charged and ready.