Pentax Optio W20 Review

This is the "green" point-n-shoot mode. Here the camera controls all aspects of the exposure process. The Record and Mode menus are locked, you may only change the flash mode (Auto or Off), enable the Self-timer, or change between 9-point AF or Macro focus mode.

When in any mode other than "Green", press the 4-way controller "Down" to bring up this graphical menu of recording modes to choose from: Auto Picture, Program, Night Scene, Movie, Voice Recording, Landscape, Flower, Portrait, Underwater, Underwater Movie, Blur reduction, Surf & Snow, Sport, Sport, Pet, Frame Composite, Synchro Sound Record, Kids, Soft (focus), Self-portrait, Fireworks, Food, Text, Museum, Natural Skin Tone, and Report.

After selecting a record mode button, a description of that mode will appear on the screen explaining the functions of the mode for you.

Program AE mode with the real time histogram display enabled. You will also get icons for image size, quality, white balance, and ISO speed. See the menu below for all available settings.

When the shutter release is half-pressed, green AF target marks in the center of the frame indicate a good autofocus lock, they turn red when the auto focus fails. The shutter speed and aperture will also be displayed (not shown.)

Record menu options:

Recorded Pixels - 7M, 5M, 4M, 3M, 2M, 1024x768 or 640x480
Quality Level - Three (Best), Two (Better) or One (Good) "stars"
White Balance - Auto, Sunny, Shade, Incandescent, Fluorescent or Manual
AE Metering - Multi, Center-weighted, Spot
Sensitivity - Auto or fixed at 64, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600
EV Compensation - Override metering ±2.0EV in 1/3 steps
AF Setting - Focusing Area (9 point AF, Spot AF, Tracking AF), Focus Limiter (On/Off)
Movie - Enters the Movie mode menu (shown below)
Interval Shoot - Choose interval, number of shots, and start time
Digital Zoom - On or Off
Instant Review - Off, 0.5, 1, 2, 3 or 5 seconds
Memory - Memorize settings between power on and off
Sharpness - Settings for minus, normal, plus
Saturation - Settings for minus, normal, plus
Contrast - Settings for minus, normal, plus

The Macro focus mode covers from 0.4 in. (0.01m) - 2.0 ft (0.6m.)

In Manual Focus mode a sliding scale is shown on the LCD with distance marks. While you are adjusting the distance the display is enlarged so you can visually "see" the focus change.

You can record 640x480 or 320x240 motion video at 15 or 30 fps with audio. Movie clips are stored as QuickTime MOV format video files. Zoom and wide angle controls work while recording your movie, and the anti-shake setting helps to make a smooth recording. The length of these movies is limited only by available memory.

Approx. Storage Capacity

Setup menu options:

Format - Formats the SD card
Sound - Set volume and type of camera operation sounds
Date Adjust - Set Date & Time
Alarm - Set an alarm time
World Time - Set World Time
Language - Select the camera's language
Folder Name - Create an image folder
USB Connection - Set transfer mode (PC, PictBridge)
Video Out - Set video format (NTSC, PAL)
Brightness level - LCD brightness
Power Saving - Time delay before LCD auto dims
Quick Zoom - On, Off
Auto Power Off - On, Off
Quick Zoom - On, Off
Green Button - Function of green button (Green mode, Image size, Quality, White balance, AE metering, ISO, EV comp, AF Area, Sharpness, Saturation or Contrast)
Reset - Return settings to default