Pentax Optio M30 Review

The Review button brings up the last image captured in full screen mode with some information overlayed. Press "right" or "left" to scroll through the captured images. A musical note indicates an audio memo has been added to an image, press "up" on the 4-way controller to hear the recorded message.

Pressing the OK button in the center of the 4-way controller toggles the amount of exposure information displayed with an image. Here you can see extended information for image size/quality, white balance, ISO, shutter speed, aperture, and the histogram display.

In playback the Wide Zoom control button brings up the thumbnail index of all photos taken. You can now quickly search through the stored images and select one for full screen playback. Press it again and the calendar mode is displayed.

Once you have a photo selected for full screen playback you can magnify an image up to 8 times in 26 steps by pressing the telephoto zoom control. Now you can check the photo to see if need to reshoot or not. Using the 4-way selector allows you to move around inside the enlarged image.

Playback menu options:

Slide show - Set image play intervals (3,5,10,15,20,25 and 30 sec.)
Resize - Create an image with Lower Resolution and or Quality Level
Cropping (Trimming) - Crop image to different size
Copy Image & Sound - From internal memory to SD or MMC card
Image rotation - rotates image for proper orientation
Digital Filter - Digitally alter you images
Brightness Filter - Adjust the image brightness
Frame Composite - Add decorative frames around your images
Red-eye Compensation - Remove red-eye from your portraits
Voice Memo - Add a voice memo to an image
Protect - Protect image from deletion; On or Off
DPOF - Set DPOF printing information
Start-up Screen - Manage the start-up image and sound

Adding an audio memo up to 30 seconds and attaching it to an image couldn't be easier, super for real estate professionals.

In camera resizing is achieved through just a few menu options. This is easier than trying to learn a photo editing software program and great for beginners.

Many times we look at photos we have taken and discover we did not do a good job at composing or maybe we took a bad photo but would like to salvage a portion of the image. Now you can CROP the image in the camera! Again, no need for a software program and a computer.

Movies are played back in fullscreen mode in the camera with sound provided though the built-in speaker. Feel free to review your movie frame by frame, then pause, fast forward, or rewind with the 4-Way Selector.

Decorative frames are a hit with the scrapbookers and there are 3 to coose from within the Frame Composite option. Have fun!

Setup options:

Format - Format the SD card
Sound - On/Off
Date Adjust - Set Date/Time
World Time - Set World Time
Language - Set user Language
Folder Name - Standard or Date
USB Connection - PictBridge, PC
Video Out - NTSC or PAL
Brightness Level - Adjust LCD back light
Power Saving - Off, 5sec, 15sec, 30sec, 1min, 2min
Auto Power Off - Off, 3min. or 5min.
Quick Zoom - On/Off
Green Button - Choose the operation of the Green mode button (Green mode, Resolution, Quality, White balance, ISO, etc.)
Guide Display - Enable the brief popup labels when switching modes
Reset - Restore settings to factory Default