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The Pentax Optio S30 is designed to be one of the simplest digital cameras ever released. It is a compact 3.2 megapixel, 3x optical zoom digital camera with a simple menu system offering easy to follow functions.
UK/European Readers buy the Pentax Optio 30
It comes with all the normal shooting modes of landscape, portrait etc - but also comes with some new and fresh options which allow the user to shoot in 'party', 'food' and 'pet' mode. Also available are nine filters that can be applied after the photograph is taken on the camera itself.
Steve's Digicams writes - 'The latest Optio from Pentax is designed for newcomers with little or no digital photography experience. In addition to 3.2 megapixels and a 3X optical zoom, the Optio 30 sports a simple menu prompt that provides helpful tutorial messages about frequently used digital camera functions. With a simple touch, this feature will guide new, and old hands, through the camera's array of digital features.
The PENTAX Optio 30 makes digital easy and fun.'
For more specifications and to read reviews (as they come to hand) of the Pentax Optio S30 check out the following links:
- Josh Waller - Pentax Optio 30
- Imaging Resource
- Lets go Digital
- DP Review
- Photography Blog - Pentax Optio S30
The following is from the Pentax Press Release
The Optio30 — The simple, friendly and compact digital camera perfect for anyone, any time
The Optio30 is the ideal camera for the newcomer to the digital photography. Compact, ergonomic, and lightweight, it’s as comfortable in the hand as it is attractive to the eye. With the ample imaging ability of 3.2 effective megapixels and the versatility of 3X optical zoom, it has the power to offer a satisfying blend of clarity and compositional freedom. It also offers exceptionally easy operation, conveying a confident sense of satisfaction, even before you view its impressive results.
Specially enhanced for even simpler use
Despite its minimal dimensions, every effort has been made to make each of the controls as large as possible. It’s also exceptionally easy to understand how it works, enabling you to enjoy the ability to take quality shot virtually as soon as you take it out of the box. One of the key factors behind such easy operation is the Simple Menu, which offers straightforward explanations for frequently used functions. The Full Menu has also been enhanced too, allowing a whole range of camera settings to be fine-tuned to suit your tastes so you can configure the camera in different ways as you gain more and more confidence in your photography.
An appealing exterior that puts you at ease
From above, the Optio30 has a rounded outline that makes it seem somehow more approachable. It’s a form that also serves to make the camera easy to hold with a steady grip. A sense of comfort is even further enhanced by the ability to save a recorded shot as the start-up screen and the power to select a wallpaper for use with the menu screen.
No experience required; only your imagination
Just turn the power on and press the shutter release – that’s really all it takes! Indeed the Optio30 is the ideal response to the growing demand for a quality digital camera with the ability to perform with ease across a wide range of day-to-day situations. The secret of such versatility lies in the innovative virtual mode dial. This simple, yet ingenious feature lets the user select a suitable icon on the screen in response to which the Optio30 automatically sets the optimal settings for a wide range of different subjects and circumstances. Indeed in addition to the conventional Portrait, Self-portrait, Flower, Sunset, Landscape, Surf and Snow, the Optio30 also features Party, Food, and Pet modes too!
Major features
An attractive, appealing exterior with compact dimensions
The rounded overall appearance of the Optio30 gives it instant visual appeal. It also makes it feel exceptionally comfortable when gripped in the hands. Whenever a shooting opportunity arises, you can easily slip the camera out of a pocket or bag thanks to the body design and over all compactness.
Optical and digital zoom capability with the advantage of Macro too
The Optio30 offers the compositional advantage of 3X optical zoom with a focal range covering angles of view equivalent to those of a 38-114mm lens in 35mm format. It can also be used in combination with the 4X digital zoom to realize a total zooming capacity of 12X. Macro mode allows shots to be composed from as close as just 2cm from the subject.
Diverse shooting modes for wide range of circumstances
The virtual mode dial with easy-to-understand icons makes selection of the 12 shooting modes extremely easy. Simply select the most appropriate, compose and shoot!
Program mode
Lets you leave virtually everything up to the camera, allowing the Optio30 to automatically set the optimal shutter speed, aperture, and focus for the subject at hand.
Landscape mode
Makes the most of natural greens and blues for appealing nature shots and satisfying skies. It also ensures ideal clarity that extends sharpness as far as the horizon.
Night scene mode
Allows the camera to assume a slower shutter speed and capture greater detail with available light.
Night scene portrait mode
Enables pleasing shots of people to be taken at night without sacrificing exposure of the background.
Portrait mode
Captures natural looking skin tones, achieving results that are significantly more flattering.
Surf & Snow
Ideal when light reflects off water or snow. It helps ensure detail is preserved throughout the entire frame while still conveying a beautiful sense of brightness.
Flower
Puts the Optio30 automatically into Macro mode, leaving you ready and equipped to capture close-up detail in glorious colors.
Party
Ensures pleasing exposure for the main subjects with faithful reproduction of surrounding elements.
Food
Capture color and texture in a way that piques the appetite.
Pet
Capture the whites and black tones common to family pets in a pleasing manner along with their natural glow.
Movie
The Optio30 can record soundless movie files up to the available capacity of the selected recording media. It also offers a whole range of related choices – allowing you to select clarity of either 320x240 or 160x120 pixels, and even offering options for full-color, black and white, and sepia shooting. Movie files are also recoded in MOV format to enable easy playback on PC. *Recorded movies can be viewed using ACDSee for PENTAX (on systems with QuickTimeTM installed)
Panorama Assist mode
Allows you to take multiple shots of your subject in vertical or horizontal format, and then align and combine them using the user-friendly software provided.
Digital filters for fun and creative results
A key digital benefit of the Optio30 is the ability to apply filters to shots after they’ve already been taken. There’s a choice of 9 different filters, comprising black and white, sepia, red, pink, purple, blue, green, yellow, and brightness.
PictBridge compatibility
The Optio30 supports PictBridge,a new direct-print standard released by the CIPA (Camera and Imaging Products Association). Just connect the Optio30 via USB to a printer supporting PictBridge to make printouts of recorded images without the need for a PC and utilize other handy direct functions such as resizing, trimming, and digital filters.
Simple Menu
A crucial element in the success of such a multi-functional camera is the ability to offer simple operation. The Optio30 excels in this area thanks to the incorporation of a Simple Menu. Existing alongside the conventional Full Menu, this convenient additional menu is comprised of only frequently used functions – each accompanied by a simple explanation.
Posted by Darren in our Pentax category on February 03, 2004