Pentax Optio M50 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 (not shown).

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, metering, 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 various steps by pressing the telephoto zoom control. Now you can check the photo for critical focus, etc. Using the 4-way controller allows you to move around inside the enlarged image.

Playback menu options:

Digital SR - Digitally correct images that show camera shake
Slide show - Set image play intervals, Screen and Sound effects
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
Movie Edit - Capture a single frame or divide a movie clip
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
Image Recovery - Recover image and sound files that were accidentally deleted
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 this menu option. This is an easy way to downsize your images, without trying to learn a photo editing software; great for beginners.

Here you can see the in-camera crop feature. Again, no need for a software program and a computer. Files are saved as a new image.

Movies are played back in full screen mode with sound provided though the built-in speaker. You get VCR like controls to pause, stop, fast forward, or rewind the video clip using the 4-Way Selector.

Here's an example of the Frame Composite function.

Setup options:

Format - Format the SD card
Sound - Choose settings for operation volume, Playback volume, start-up sound, etc.
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 browsing different menu option and modes
Reset - Restore settings to factory Default