Pentax Optio A30

Updated - Monday, 24th September 2007

Latest - Review at CNET.co.uk (added 24 September ‘07)

Pentax Optio A30 Features Include:

10.0 megapixels
1/1.8″ CCD
ISO 1600
CCD-shift shake reduction
2.5-inch LCD
3x zoom

Check Current Price

Reviews - (updated 24 September ‘07)

CNET.co.uk
DigitalCameraInfo
Trusted Reviews
Computer Active
IT Reviews
Megapixel
Pocket-lint
Steve’s Digicams
DigitalCamerReview

CNET.co.uk - 24 September’07 - reviews the Pentax Optio A30 and writes;
“Despite a few flaws, notably in video quality, the Pentax Optio A30 is a strong compact camera. The plasticky buttons and cutesy menus don’t do justice to the excellent manual options, shooting flexibility and respectable picture quality.

What we think: Decent pictures and manual options in a deceptively modest package”

DigitalCameraInfo - 18 September’07 - reviews the Pentax Optio A30 and writes;
“The Pentax Optio A30 is a moderately priced point-and-shoot, with an initial MSRP of $349.95. Its clean and concise design, aluminum alloy body, and wealth of features and manual controls make it a worthwhile consideration for a range of users. The Pentax Optio A30 has a 10-megapixel CCD with Sensor Shift Shake Reduction, and carries two additional digital stabilization shooting modes, one for still images and one for videos. The camera has a 2.5-inch LCD with 232,000-pixel resolution, 3x optical zoom lens, and a face recognition system for both autofocus and auto exposure. A full host of manual controls allow for control over metering, exposure compensation, ISO, white balance, aperture, and shutter speed, although with mixed, and sometimes sluggish, results. The camera’s LCD tends to solarize and the substandard software program only allows users to make the most basic of edits. The A30’s true shortcomings however, are in its performance. With inaccurate colors, high noise levels, limited dynamic range, and terrible video quality, this camera isn’t worth the $350 price tag”

Trusted Reviews - 6/18/2007 - reviews the Pentax Optio A30 and writes, “The Optio A30 is Pentaxâ€™s best ultra-compact camera to date, combining stylish design, excellent build quality, easy handling and much improved performance, with outstanding picture quality and a comprehensive set of features including many unusual and useful options. It is a superb camera and one which puts Pentax firmly back into contention at the top of the market.”

Computer Active - 6/13/2007 - reviews the Pentax Optio A30 and writes, “Pentaxâ€™s reputation for making solid, feature-heavy, attractive cameras while keeping the cost down remains in place with this device â€“ it’s a snip at the price, but it’s not as accomplished as some seemingly less well-equipped models.

A well-specified camera and good-looking, too, but doesnâ€™t deliver great images in low light conditions.”

IT Reviews - 6/4/2007 - tests the Pentax Optio A30 and writes, “Amateur photographers who don’t want everything on an auto setting can take comfort from the Shutter Priority, Manual (where you select both shutter speed and aperture) and Program AE (which keeps the auto exposure but allows you to choose other control options including White Balance) modes. Another welcome addition is the Face Recognition AF & AE which will detect and highlight the human faces in your photos.”

Megapixel - 5/18/2007 - reviews the Pentax Optio A30 and writes, “Negatives: Barrel distortion - vignetting and softness at the wide angle end - Wide angle chromatic aberration - Only two apertures - Underpowered flash Positives: Good image quality - High resolution - Good optical qualities past the wide angle - Effective Shake Reduction system - Good metering - Good color rendition - Excellent build quality”

Pocket-lint - 5/9/2007 - reviews the Pentax Optio A30 and writes, “On the surface and for the average digital photographer the A30 is a great camera that is both stylish and easy to use.

However as soon as you start to delve deeper you see that Pentax is merely number chasing in an attempt to make sure it has a 10 megapixel offering.

While image quality from afar is fantastic, on closer inspection its noise filled. Furthermore, the introduction of a 3200 ISO setting is so crazy, that like newspapers keen to have a bigger page supplement in order to beat the competition, we get the feeling that Pentax is doing the same here, just making sure its one up on the competition.”

Steve’s Digicams - 4/16/2007 - reviews the Pentax Optio A30 and writes, “Pentax has made a great improvement over the A10 from last year. With 10-megapixels, 3x optical zoom, Shake Reduction technology, a durable all-metal body and plenty of exposure modes, the Optio A30 is an appealing “ultra-compact” model.”

Digital Camera Review - 4/16/2007 - reviews the Pentax Optio A30 and likes the fact that Pentax chose to add Shutter Priority and Manual exposure modes. They continue to write, “The Pentax A30 offers vibrant color reproduction, great image quality, some manual controls, image stabilization, good shutter response and a 10 megapixel sensor in an easily portable compact digital camera.”

Sample Test Photos - (updated 18 September ‘07)

[Sample Test Photos at DigitalCameraInfo]
[Sample Photos at Trusted Reviews]
[Sample Photos at Megapixel]
[Sample Photos at Pocket-lint]
[Sample Photos at Steve's Digicams]

Specifications

[Official Pentax Specifications]

Owners Manual

[Owners Manual Download Page]

Press Release

PENTAX Corporation is pleased to announce the launch of the new PENTAX Optio A30, a compact digital camera featuring 10.0 effective megapixels, enabling for photography of fine, high-quality images. The Optio A30, which is a camera in PENTAX’s top class, also has enhanced anti-shake functions.

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