any owner of pentax optio s

[mongoose]

I'm comtemplating whether to buy this camera for it's superb slim and small features or take the canon ixus ii or 400. can present owner of this camera share your opinion and feedback after having yours? Thanks alot

[chriszzz]

Originally Posted by mongoose I'm comtemplating whether to buy this camera for it's superb slim and small features or take the canon ixus ii or 400. can present owner of this camera share your opinion and feedback after having yours? Thanks alot

I don't own one, but you can read a detailed review at

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/pentaxoptios/

Bottomline : very small, light and convenient. Image is soft, with chromatic aberrations and some vignetting ==> relatively poor image quality.

This one is for someone who values size and convenience above all else. If you can bear with something a little bigger, the IXUS 400 is the best ultra-compact zoom digicam in terms of image quality, but it's almost twice the weight of the Optio S.

There is also the new Option S4, the 4MP equivalent. I don't know how good/bad it is.

[mongoose]

Originally Posted by chriszzz I don't own one, but you can read a detailed review at http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/pentaxoptios/ Bottomline : very small, light and convenient. Image is soft, with chromatic aberrations and some vignetting ==> relatively poor image quality. This one is for someone who values size and convenience above all else. If you can bear with something a little bigger, the IXUS 400 is the best ultra-compact zoom digicam in terms of image quality, but it's almost twice the weight of the Optio S. There is also the new Option S4, the 4MP equivalent. I don't know how good/bad it is.

what about this Casio EX-Z3? is it comparably lousy like the Optio S?

[rUffles]

Originally Posted by mongoose what about this Casio EX-Z3? is it comparably lousy like the Optio S?

I am looking at the Optio S too.

The Casio EXilim Z3 has the same lens as the Optio S, but it is slightly taller, and thinker. But still small in my opinion. Biggest different is the 2inch LCD display, but the resolution is the same though, just bigger that is all. There is a lot of scene mode in teh Exilim, but from reviews, the picture looks more video like.... Dunno what it means also hahaha. The Casio has a cradle for charging and trasfering files, very convenient I must say. Battery catch is also better than the flimsy Option S.

Anyway, the price is very very similar. Same if you compare the Optio S4 to the Casio EX-Z4.

You should have a feel of both since it is the same price and see which you prefer. Also do you research by reading all the sites for comparison.

Ultimately, it is up to your choice, as to which fit your lifestyle better.

*Take note I said lifestyle as this is what these cameras are about. If you prefer high quality pictures, you shouldn't be looking at these 2 models anyway....

Hope these helped....

[chriszzz]

er, Pentax just announced the Optio S4i. Maybe you want to wait a while more if you are not in a hurry.

[tmc17479]

Optio S ain't bad. My sister is using it. The picture quality is pretty good. Worth considering.

[morganoh]

I Had a Optio S once, I took around a thouand photos with it.

Heres my point of view.

Takes rather good pictures in Daylight. But can't focus at Low light conditions. And you can forget about taking night shots, cos the pics are not acceptable.

Focuing lag is very significant.

I would not recommend the Casio cos the shots are softer (or not as sharp)

Go for the Ixus400 and you would not need to upgrade for a very long time (best of all Ixus 400 can take sharp pic in any light conditions)

Ask me why didn't I bought the Ixus 400 in the 1st place.
I owned a Ixus 2 before, yes it take good and sharp photos, but its just too thick to be in my front pocket, Therefore I bought the S. its small and pocketable, bring it along with you and you will never miss a shot.

[mongoose]

precisely, since these are ultra small compact which is what i want it to be slipping even into my jeans pocket, which is why I understands Canon IXUS II or 400 cannot fight against it's dimension. So, I am really hesitating.

as for optio s4I, what is it? will it be higher pixel or etc and surely the price difference will be obvious.

so, what's the best market price that you guys aiming on this optio s got?

[morganoh]

Originally Posted by mongoose precisely, since these are ultra small compact which is what i want it to be slipping even into my jeans pocket, which is why I understands Canon IXUS II or 400 cannot fight against it's dimension. So, I am really hesitating. as for optio s4I, what is it? will it be higher pixel or etc and surely the price difference will be obvious. so, what's the best market price that you guys aiming on this optio s got?

An Optio S is actually enough, cos you will be able to print out beautiful photos of 8R size.

If I am not wrong the S4 will allow produce print of A3 size. but how many times do you print up to A3 size?
So would would you benefit on the S4 as it is an extra $100.

I dont quite understand what do you meant my "the best market price that you guys aiming on this optio s got?" do you mean the lowest selling price?

Try Alan Photo it around $580 (thats the price a mth ago)

[mongoose]

Originally Posted by morganoh An Optio S is actually enough, cos you will be able to print out beautiful photos of 8R size. If I am not wrong the S4 will allow produce print of A3 size. but how many times do you print up to A3 size? So would would you benefit on the S4 as it is an extra $100. I dont quite understand what do you meant my "the best market price that you guys aiming on this optio s got?" do you mean the lowest selling price? Try Alan Photo it around $580 (thats the price a mth ago)

yup, that's right, was wondering what's the lowest price u guys gathered for this Optio S. I'm really still comtemplating. Scare that this coming year, suddenly canon or some other brand might release such similarly small sized liked Optio S and then I would really hate myself for this...

[chriszzz]

Originally Posted by mongoose yup, that's right, was wondering what's the lowest price u guys gathered for this Optio S. I'm really still comtemplating. Scare that this coming year, suddenly canon or some other brand might release such similarly small sized liked Optio S and then I would really hate myself for this...

This is the risk everyone takes when they buy any electronic device because things improve so fast. We should be thankful for progress, which is the reason why you can stuff a $600 dollar digicam into your pocket that we can only dream about just a few years ago. Progress ! DVD players that used to sell for $500 - $1000 can now be bought for $199. Harddisks that cost several thousands now cost $150, etc etc etc. If you put off buying because of the unknown models that will be introduced, you will never be able to buy anything.

A more reasonable approach would be to wait for models that you know WILL be introduced. That way, the waiting time is finite and deterministic. In this case, I know that Optio S4i will be introduced, so I would wait for it IF I AM NOT IN A HURRY. If it turns out to be lousy, I still can buy a Option S or S4 for a much lower price.

The IXUS 400 is still pretty small. You should go to a camera shop and try putting one in your pocket. If it feels comfortable in your pants, then go ahead and buy it. Image wise, it beats the Optio S from the reviews I've seen. As a bonus, the 400 uses CF cards, which can be re-used if you upgrade to a higher body, such as the S50, G5, 300D, or most prosumer bodies.

If you view the large full sized Optio samples, the softness and CA at the corners is very obvious, but these will not be so noticeable when you print them out at 4R. I'm afraid at A4 it will still be quite obvious. Even A4 images from my old G3 showed some softness. Maybe it's just me. It all depends on what is acceptable to you as a "sharp" and "good" image.

[morganoh]

Originally Posted by mongoose yup, that's right, was wondering what's the lowest price u guys gathered for this Optio S. I'm really still comtemplating. Scare that this coming year, suddenly canon or some other brand might release such similarly small sized liked Optio S and then I would really hate myself for this...

I'm in the same situation too.
I wanted somethings small and at that time Optio S was predicted to be in the Market only after 9mths. So I bought a Sony U20 first, sold it 6 mths later and bought a new Optio S.

Check www.dpreview.com for the latest new. If canon does not anounce any new "SMALL" digital, No point waiting for a product that may not exits.

Buy what you need now.

[mongoose]

Originally Posted by morganoh I'm in the same situation too. I wanted somethings small and at that time Optio S was predicted to be in the Market only after 9mths. So I bought a Sony U20 first, sold it 6 mths later and bought a new Optio S. Check www.dpreview.com for the latest new. If canon does not anounce any new "SMALL" digital, No point waiting for a product that may not exits. Buy what you need now.

I problem is I did ever recalled from news or something in the papers that Canon is indeed gonna be releasing new almost 20models for the coming year. Most of them will be ultra compact as accordingly. So, that's why I hate to know when it can finally comes to S'pore and the pricing???

[morganoh]

Originally Posted by mongoose I problem is I did ever recalled from news or something in the papers that Canon is indeed gonna be releasing new almost 20models for the coming year. Most of them will be ultra compact as accordingly. So, that's why I hate to know when it can finally comes to S'pore and the pricing???

Then buy one 1st. cos you will have to wait till maybe 6mths to a Year (cos you do not know the date of release).

WAIT.. if you do not need a digicam now. Cos most of the time we buy a camera just because we wanted to not because we need one.

We can tell you our experience with a particular digicam and its quality, but we can tell you when to buy and when you need it.

So you will have to decide for yourself.

[mongoose]

yup, your sec sentence is more like mine situation, I look forward to buy a digicam which I did don't really have the urgency to work with it.

anyway, I did owned one digicam before, & sold it off when newer models just come out a few weeks later. so lost 200 for nothing. which until now, comtemplating.