Pentax Optio S5z Review

By Movable Type Admin



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Review posted 7/12/2005

Click to take a QuickTime VR tour of the Optio S5z
Click on the Optio S5z to take a QuickTime VR tour


Following in the footsteps of the popular Optio "S" series, the Optio S5z features the highest megapixel count in this ultra-compact series, with 5.0 effective megapixels and a 3X optical zoom lens. It features a stylish design in an ultra-compact, lightweight, alimnum alloy body. The Pentax digital advantage doesn't stop there. Equipped with PictBridge technology, the Optio S5z can connect directly to any PictBridge compatible printer, so you may print images without the need for a PC.

Featuring Pentax's legendary smc optical zoom lens and their unique Sliding Lens system that allows the lens to retract fully inside the camera when it is powered off. The Optio S5z is sleek and compact enough to carry everywhere. With the optional acrylic waterproof housing, everywhere may well include the exciting world of underwater digital photography! For optimal results it features both Marine Picture and Marine Movie modes to correctly capture the underwater colors.

A Quick button function allows the user to designate one mode from a choice of 10 to act as a shortcut button to a selected function. By default, the Quick button is set for Green mode, which leaves all settings to the camera with the exception of zooming. Additional modes accessible via the Quick button include: Green mode, USER mode, Movie mode, Mode Palette, White balance, Mode memory, Resizing, Trimming, Image/voice copy, and Format.

Despite its size, the Optio S5z is packed with features found only on larger digital cameras; Records VGA MPEG-4 video at 30fps with sound up to the capacity of the memory card, built-in movie editing features, a voice recording mode that also allows for attaching 30-second memos to selected images, a large 2.5-inch color LCD monitor with 100% coverage, selectable metering modes, white balance settings, exposure compensation, approximately 10MB of built-in memory expandable with any size SD card, audio-video output for display on TV sets and USB connectivity with your computer.



Optio S5z Features:

  • Ultra compact 3.3 x 2.2 x 0.9 inches, weighs just 3.7 ounces
  • Stylish and durable aluminum alloy body
  • 3x Pentax zoom lens (36-107mm in 35mm equivalent)
  • 5.0-megapixel CCD imager for images up to 2560 x 1920
  • 2.5" color TFT LCD monitor with 100% coverage
  • Records 640x480 MPEG-4 video with audio at 30fps, length limited to media capacity
  • 30 second voice memos can be attached to images
  • Shooting modes selected from a virtual mode dial
  • Super macro mode coverage down to 2.4 inches
  • Three metering choices: multi-segment, center weighted and spot
  • 28-zone, 62-city, world time with alarm clock.
  • Time-lapse movie mode
  • Audio-Video output for TV display
  • Rechargeable lithium-ion battery included
  • ~10 MB of internal memory plus SD card slot
  • PictBridge, Epson PRINT Image Matching II and Exif Print compatible
  • USB Mass Storage compliant






Physical Views



Pentax Optio S5z

Pentax Optio S5z

Pentax Optio S5z Pentax Optio S5z

Pentax Optio S5z

Pentax Optio S5z





Optio S5z

The Optio S5z compared in size to a standard CD.





Optio S5z

Optio S5z

The Optio S55 and the Optio S5z, both are 5MP with 2.5" LCD.






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Features & Controls





Optio S5z Specifications

Camera Type: Compact-type digital still camera with built-in zoom lens, autofocus, auto exposure and auto flash
Effective Pixels: 5.0 megapixels
Image Capture Device: Type - 1/2.5 inch interline transfer CCD with a primary color filter

Total Pixels - 5.25 megapixels

Color Depth - 12 bit x 3 colors

Recorded Pixels:

Still: 2560x1920, 2304x1728, 2048x1536, 1600x1200, 1024x768, 640x480

Movie: 640x480

Focus System: Type - TTL contrast detection autofocus system

Autofocus - 7 point AF, Spot AF, 49 point selectable & Infinity Landscape Mode

Focusing Range:
Normal 1.31 ft (0.4m) to Infinity
Macro 7.1 inches (0.18 m) to 1.64 ft (0.5m)
Super Macro 2.4 inches (0.06m) to 7.9 inches (0.2m) at 10.2mm
Manual Focus 2.4 inches (0.06m) to Infinity at 10.2mm

Lens: Type - smc PENTAX power zoom

Focal Length - 5.8mm - 17.4mm

35mm Equivalent - 36.5mm -107mm

Aperture Range - F2.6 - F4.8

Construction - 6 elements in 5 groups (2 dual-sided aspherical elements) Optical Zoom - 3X Digital Zoom - 4X Combined - 12X

Exposure Control: Light Metering Method - TTL metering with choice of: Multi-segment, Center-weighted & Spot meter

Sensitivity - Auto, or User select ISO 80, 100, 200, 400

Exposure Control Method - Program AE

Exposure Modes - Green, Program, Night scene, Movie, Panorama assist, 3D image, Landscape, Flower, Portrait, Self-portrait, Surf & Snow, Autumn Color, Sunset, Museum, Text, Food, Sport, Digital filter, USER

Exposure Compensation - +/-2 EV (1/3 steps)

Shutter - Type: Programmed AE electronic lens shutter with CCD electronic shutter; Shutter Speed: Approx. 1/2000 - 4 second

White Balance - White Balance Control: TTL Auto, Manual; Available Settings: Auto, Daylight, Shade, Tungsten Light, Fluorescent Light (W,N,D), Manual

Flash - Operation Modes: Auto, Flash-off, Flash-on, Auto + Red-eye reduction, Flash-on + Red-eye reduction, Auto backlight compensation; Effective Range: Approx. 0.65 ft - 11.5 ft (0.2m - 3.5m) (5.8mm at Sensitivity 200), Approx. 0.65 ft - 6.6 ft (0.2m - 2m) (17.4mm at Sensitivity 200)

Shooting Specs: Digital Filter - Black & White, Sepia, Red, Pink, Purple, Blue, Green, Yellow, Brightness Drive Modes - Single-shot, Continuous, Remote control, Self-timer (2 sec, 10 sec) Movie Mode - Shooting Time: from approx. 1 sec. to memory card capacity
Time: Modes - dd/mm/yy, mm/dd/yy, yy/mm/dd World Time - Display of the time in 70 cities (28 time zones)
Image Storage: Storage Media - Approx 9.3MB built-in memory, SD memory card removable File Formats - Still: JPEG (Exif 2.2), DCF (Design rule for Camera File system), DPOF (Digital Print Order Format), PRINT Image Matching III; Movie: MPEG-4 approx. 30fps with sound; Sound: WAV (ADPCM), Monaural Recordable time depends on the remaining capacity of the memory card Quality Levels - Best, Better, Good
LCD Monitor: LCD Monitor - 2.5 inch, TFT color LCD- with Histogram Display LCD Coverage - 100% LCD Resolution - Approx. 110,000 pixels
LCD Viewfinder: Optical Viewfinder - None
Playback Specs: Playback Modes File - Single, Index- Nine image Magnification - 8X LCD Function - Slide show, Image rotation, Voice memo available in playback mode Size Change - Trimming, Resize Erase and Image Protect Modes - Single, All
Pictbridge: One image printing, All image printing, DPOF auto print, Paper size select
Language: English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Swedish, Dutch
Interfaces: Type - AV output terminal, USB terminal, DC input terminal Video Output - Compatible with NTSC and PAL formats (monaural sound)
Power Supply: Rechargeable Lithium-ion D-LI8 battery (allows approximately 180 shots*) AC adaptor kit (optional) * According to in-house testing (with LCD monitor on and flash used for 50% of the shots)
Physical Specs: Operating Temperatures - 32 to 104° Fahrenheit
(0 to 40° Celsius)

Camera Casing - Aluminum alloy

Dimensions (W x H x D) - 3.3 x 2.2 x 0.9 inches
(83 x 55 x 21.5mm)

Weight - 3.7 oz. (105g) without battery and SD memory card; 4.2 oz. (120g) loaded and ready

Specifications as represented by the manufacter





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Visitors of Steves can visit the stores below for real-time pricing and availability. You can also find hot, soon to expire online offers on a variety of cameras and accessories at our very own Camera Deals page.

Pentax Optio Camera Battery
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Seller: SterlingTek

$16

Condition: New

In Stock: Yes


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