Pentax Optio A10 Review: 1. Introduction: Digital Photography Review

Pentax Optio A10 Review
Simon Joinson, April 2006

Review based on a production Pentax Optio A10

The new 'flagship' in Pentax's long-running Optio range was announced at the CES show in January. The basic specification is fairly standard for a camera in this class; 3x optical zoom, 8 megapixels, 15 scene modes (including a high sensitivity / ISO 800 'candlelight' option) and a large 2.5-inch screen, but the Optio A10 does have a couple of tricks up its sleeve, including a CCD-shift image stabilization system, in-camera effects and frames, and the ability to record movies in the highly efficient (and widely used) MPEG-4 DivX format.

8.0 million effective pixel 1/1.8" CCD
New high speed ASIC
CCD-shift Shake Reduction System
Seven element 3x smc Pentax zoom lens
Compact, lightweight body
15 shooting modes
640 x 480 pixel, 30 fps MPEG-4 movie mode (DivX® certified)
Tracking AF
Candlelight mode with ISO 800 sensitivity (4MP max image size)
Frame composite function can add decorative frames to images
In-camera corrections and effects for saved images

Pentax Optio A10 Specifications

Street price	• US: 335 • UK: 230
Body Material	metal
Sensor	• 1/1.8" CCD • 8.32 million pixels total • 8.0 million effective pixels
Image sizes	• 3264 x 2448 • 2592 x 1944 • 2304 x 1728 • 2048 x 1536 • 1600 x 1200 • 1024 x 768 • 640 x 480
Movie clips	• 640 x 480 • 320 x 240 • 30 fps based on image signal at 20 fps • With sound and anti-shake • MPEG-4 DivX
Lens	• 38-114mm equiv • 3x optical zoom • F2.8 - F5.4
Focus	• TTL contrast detection autofocus system with AF spotbeam • 5-point multi AF • Spot AF • Manual focus modes • Pan focus • Normal: 0.35 m - infinity • Macro: 0.12 - 0.4 m at full wideangle setting • Super macro: 0.06 - 0.15 m at full wideangle setting
Shooting mode	15 modes (Auto Picture, Program, Night Scene, Movie, Voice recording, Landscape, Flower, Portrait, Sport, Surf & Snow, Candlelight, Food, Pet, Text, Frame composite)
Sensitivity	• Auto • ISO 50 • ISO 100 • ISO 200 • ISO 400 • ISO 800 (in Candlelight mode)
White Balance	• Auto • Daylight • Shade • Tungsten • Fluorescent • Manual
Metering	• TTL Multi-segment • Center-weighted • Spot • +/-2 in 1/3 EV steps
Image parameters	Sharpness (3 levels) Contrast (3 levels) Saturation (3 levels)
Continuous	Up to 1.1 fps (dpreview testing), limited only by card capacity
Flash	• Built-in • Modes: Auto, Red-eye reduction, On/Off • Range: (wide) 0.06 - 5 m (sensitivity Auto), (tele) 0.35 - 2.5 m (sensitivity Auto)
Storage	• SD card • 24MB internal memory
Viewfinder	No
LCD monitor	• 2.5" TFT LCD • 232,000 pixels
Connectivity	• USB 2.0 Hi-speed • AV out • DC in
Power	• Rechargeable D-LI8 lithium-ion battery • Optional AC adapter
In the box*	• Pentax Optio A10 • Rechargeable lithium-ion battery D-LI8 • Battery charging stand D-BC42 • AC cable • Video cable • Software CD-ROM • Strap
Other features	• PictBridge • Self-timer 2 or 10 secs • 1/2000 - 4 sec shutter • +/-2EV with 0.3EV steps • Shake reduction system • up to 4x digital zoom • Histogram display • Image protection • Built-in AF assist light • Post-capture effects: color filter, digital filter, brightness, red-eye removal and frames
Weight (inc batt)	145 g (5.1 oz)
Dimensions	89 x 55 x 23 mm (3.5 x 2.1 x 0.9 in)

* Supplied accessories may differ in each country or area.

If you're new to digital photography you may wish to read the Digital Photography Glossary before diving into this article (it may help you understand some of the terms used).

Conclusion / Recommendation / Ratings are based on the opinion of the reviewer, you should read the ENTIRE review before coming to your own conclusions.

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DPReview calibrate their monitors using Color Vision OptiCal at the (fairly well accepted) PC normal gamma 2.2, this means that on our monitors we can make out the difference between all of the (computer generated) grayscale blocks below. We recommend to make the most of this review you should be able to see the difference (at least) between X,Y and Z and ideally A,B and C.

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Pentax Optio A10 Review Simon Joinson, April 2006

Pentax Optio A10 Specifications

Pentax Optio A10 Review
Simon Joinson, April 2006