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Optio S4

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Pentax Optio S4


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Pentax Optio S4 Review at Imaging Resource
 
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Rating
Reviewed by: 

awkwards

( Intermediate)

Review Date
April 24, 2004

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
0-1 years

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5,
4 votes

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Review 1 of 5

Price Paid:  $300.00 from walmart.com

Summary:

Great performance and features in an ultra-compact design. I highly recommend this camera for those who have a larger, higher-end camera and want a pocket camera that can be taken anywhere. This is also a good camera for families who want a single, easy-to-use camera with plenty of features and good photo quality. I write that photo quality is "good," but it is not on par with cameras featuring larger, higher-quality lenses. It stacks up quite favorably against samples I've looked at from similar cameras. Overall, this camera's tiny size, great features, good photo quality, and low price make it an outstanding value. I also recommend: * At least one spare battery (Pentax part number D-L18) * The Pentax-manufactured leather case (part number PTX-L40; although it fits great, an Altoids tin tends to wear on the corners of the camera!)

Strengths:

* TINY size fits in any pocket, even top shirt pocket * Solid construction with possible exception of battery door * Vast array of features, shooting modes, and controls. * Excellent outdoor shots. * Stunning macro mode.

Weaknesses:

* Some softening in corners of the images. * This camera is challenged by mid-light situations and complex subjects for focus (i.e., trees from 10 ft away). * Teeny 4-way control can be tricky if you're in a hurry * The lens cover gets stuck half-way from time to time--I think it may be vulnerable to dust or even a very tiny impact

Similar Products Used:

Canon Powershot SD100, Penax Optio S40, Minolta Dimage F100

Customer Service:

I have heard that Pentax's customer service is abominable, but I don't have personal experience. Based on their reputation alone, I decided to buy a 2-year extended warranty from walmart.com, so if anything goes wrong I don't even have to speak with Pentax.



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Rating
Reviewed by: hl1lxp
 (Intermediate)

Review Date
February 2, 2004

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Used product for
0-1 years

Visitors rate this review
3.75 of 5,
4 votes

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Review 2 of 5

Price Paid:  $335.00 from Seoul, Korea

Summary:

Ultra compact size & weight makes it a great camera for everyday carry-around. With useful video, voice recording, and even alarm clock features, I bet this cutie is great for business travel. Yeap, this is noisy in low light and produces just so-so images, but think of your primary purpose when you try this kind of camera. Isn't that portability?

Strengths:

- Smallest size and lightest weight - Fairly nice & useful video mode

Weaknesses:

- Noisy especially at ISO200 - Hard to find half-shutter point - Weak(looks!) battery & memory cap

Similar Products Used:

- Panasonic LC20 - Fuji S2 Pro & lots of film cameras

Customer Service:

- Never used...



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Rating
Reviewed by: Pete
 (Casual)

Review Date
December 1, 2003

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Used product for
0-1 years

Visitors rate this review
4.33 of 5,
9 votes

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Review 3 of 5

Price Paid:  $365.00 from B&H Photo

Summary:

Overall a great camera if size is the most important attribute you are looking for. Picture quality is the trade off: I compared this to a Canon S400... took a few dozen pics with each at the same time... printed on Noristu 400... The Canon won in a side-by-side comparison in all except 1 set: better color, edge sharpness, overall exposure. The Optio build quality is high... controls seem to be good for such a small package. You can really put this in your pocket and forget it's there.

Strengths:

- Size & weight - Battery Meter on display - Excellent "frame to frame" review of photo - Fast start up and shut down time - Good menu... fairly easy to make adjustments as you are shooting - LCD screen: clear, btight... seems pretty close to what the pic will look like when printed - Build quality

Weaknesses:

- Prone to red eye (common for small P&S cameras where the flash is so close to the lens) - Dark corners, especially bottom right and left - Image softness... corners and edges - Not so good in low light... too dark - LCD panel seems to do a lot of "wavering" - Auto exposure in high contrast (sun & shadows)... bright areas over exosed; shadows under exposed

Similar Products Used:

Canon Digital S100 & S400 Canon Elan 7 Nikon P&S



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Rating
Reviewed by: Josh Levine
 (Casual)

Review Date
November 27, 2003

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
0-1 years

Visitors rate this review
4.00 of 5,
1 votes

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Review 4 of 5

Price Paid:  $349.00 from ibuydigital

Summary:

great camera. i bought it for my wedding and honeymoon because i wanted something small that i could take everywhere with me. it's so handy that i carried it the whole time and took tons of photos. the photo quality at night wasn't the best, and wasn't as good as my old yashica with the zeiss lens, but it was good enough.

Strengths:

compact. tons of features and shooting modes. great price for 4-megapixel.

Weaknesses:

less-than-perfect shots at night, alternate modes are a chore to figure out unless you want to spend several hours with the manual.

Similar Products Used:

toshiba, tons of 35mm cameras.



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Rating
Reviewed by: phdezra
 (Intermediate)

Review Date
November 24, 2003

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Used product for
0-1 years

Visitors rate this review
4.00 of 5,
7 votes

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Review 5 of 5

Price Paid:  $349.00 from BuyDig.com

Summary:

This camera is as small as all the ads say it is. Easily fits in my jacket pocket or pants pocket. I have been carrying it around for a few days now, and it weighs as much as my tiny Nokia cell phone (or less!). Overall, the images are excellent and can easily be printed up to 8x10. There is a very small learning curve, as the user modes are all selectable on the LCD (versus a wheel-knob on other cameras that are larger).

Strengths:

- Small and lightweight - Inexpensive 4 MP camera - Easy to use - Decent quality images

Weaknesses:

- Compact lens not as 'sharp' as prosume digicams - Lacks advance controls - Buttons a bit too small

Similar Products Used:

Minolta Dimage X

Customer Service:

N/A



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