Pentax Optio S55 review

What you need to know

Reviewed by: Michael Shapiro

Reviewed on: 27 October 2005

Tags: Pentax, Pentax Optio S55, manual focus, recording, contrast

We like:

Attractive design; easy-to-pocket ultracompact; large display; can shoot low-res 30fps movie clips limited only by size of SD/MMC card; in-camera help function; can apply filters to photos after capture

We don't like:

Sluggish shot-to-shot and continuous shooting; output not terribly sharp; movie clips are 320x240 pixels max; tendency toward slight underexposure

You might also need:

Two rechargeable nickel-metal-hydride batteries and a charger; an SD/MMC card with a capacity of at least 128MB

CNET UK judgement:

The Pentax Optio S55 is a fun ultracompact camera with some handy features, but the camera's slow continuous shooting and inconsistent image quality might compromise your enjoyment

Full review:

Pentax currently has a slew of 5-megapixel cameras on the shelves. Among them is the Pentax Optio S55, an ultracompact model with a 3x optical zoom, tailored slightly more toward the novice than the company's S5z. Though remarkably similar to that model, the Pentax Optio S55 is a smidge larger and touts a help function to better explain its various modes and buttons without sending you to the operating manual. Continue Reading...