Home > Consumer Reviews > Pentax Optio S Ultra-Slim Digital Camera [3MP 3xOptical]

I wanted a digital camera that was not only small but also had decent specifications so when I saw the pre-release information about the Optio S, it seemed to be the one for me. When I unpacked the camera, I was astonished by just how small it is - a mere 3 x 2 x 3/4 inches - at that size, I will be happy to have it tucked in my pocket wherever I go. The exterior casing appears to be of decent strength and construction - I have ordered a waterproof wallet to protect the camera from damage. The extent and number of menus, sub-menus and settings are initially mind boggling and mastering them requires patient study of the manual and a bit of practice. There are a number of very useful picture settings such as sunset, portrait etc. The main 4 way control button may prove difficult for anyone with fat stubby fingers but I found it easy to get used to. The picture quality is superb including those photos taken with use of the flash. The LCD display is tiny but amazingly clear. I haven't required the packaged software because, with my Apple Mac's iPhoto program, all do is plug in the USB cable, click "import" and it's done! I bought the Viking 64MB multi media card to top up the internal memory of 11MB. The low resolution of the movie mode results in rather poor quality but it's a fun option to have. The battery life is satisfactory and the battery only takes about 1.5 hours to fully charge. The only downside I've noticed is a slight gap between pressing the shutter button and the photograph being taken and so action shots could be missed. There is however a continuous shooting mode that on occasions is likely to prove useful. So far, I am delighted with this camera and amazed at the technology that allows so much to be packed into such a tiny unit.

Not knowing much about digital cameras, I chose this camera after getting advice from a friend, and I haven't been disappointed. Not only is it smaller than the size of a playing card, but the picture quality is out of this world. My photos have crystal clear definition and rich colours, something I could only have dreamed of before going digital. The camera comes with 11MB of memory, but take my advice and invest in a memory card at least 256MB, so you're not out of memory at the vital moment.

The menu functions are clear and easy to use, although the 4-way button with "OK" in the middle is a little fiddly, but shouldnt pose too many problems. The zoom is also very good, together with the auto focus.
If you're looking for a great digi camera and can afford it, buy this one. If you can't afforsd this one, keep saving, you won't be disappointed.

I have been a digital camera user for some years using a Fuji Finepix 4900. However, as I want to do some work using candid shots ( i am an artist, not a photographer)I needed a truely compact camera to keep in my pocket at all times. After considerable research, I chose the Pentax Optio s and have been amazed by the results. The camera is very small-light and unobtrusive and yet it feels sturdy enough. However I wouldn't recommend it to someone with fat fingers! Basic use and control is mainly intuitive for an experienced user, but it is a steep learning curve to master the more complex features, of which there are many. To assist, the instruction manual is excellent. I miss the digital viewfinder of the Fuji for some shots, but the LCD is very clear and bright, even though my reading specs have to be employed for detailed analysis. Even though there is some embedded memory I bought a 256mb card to go with it, so I doubt that i will ever run out. Battery use seems very good so far- I played for hours over a weekend and it kept on going. The ability to record sound bites for shots might be useful...
My only criticism so far is that the instant review time for images is max 5 secs, which means instant decisions are needed. The results are impressive and easy to download - I fear the Fuji might gather dust from now on!

Just echoing other buyers, this is my first digital camera too. Did a lot of research on the net and also asked friends their thoughts on a camera. I wanted something that was 3MP, had zoom and was compact enough to carry around. It was a toss-up between the Canon A70 and the Optio S, with the pentax winning due to its size (tiny!) and weight.

Ok, on with the review, having only had it for over a week and first used on a trip to New York, I cant comment on all the features. Primed with a 256MB SD card I had over 800 photos available at 1024x768 res (max is 2048x1536). Everything about this camera is great! Picture quality is more than excellent for my purposes, it also has many features of the bigger cameras. With many picture modes and options, you are spoilt for choice when taking snaps.

I also found from other owners that they use an Altoids mint tin as the case for the camera, so while in the states I bought a tin to house this mini picture beast!

Will comment more on the camera when i've used it in different environments, but so far its the best 3MP/3 optical zoom camera out there.

very small with great features, pic quality not the best i've seen, but its small size makes up for it.

Pros: Easy to use, great zoom, its size is smaller than a pack of cards, functionality, battery life. Passed the in club photo test - Great flash!

Only cons, are that it scratches very easily, and some softness on image corners. Also the 4-way controllers need some getting used to and the battery door is very 'plastic'