What does the Optio 555 have more than the Optio 550?

I want to buy a new digital camera and after doing some extensive research I was thinking of getting a Pentax Optio 550.

However the camera's noise problems that I read in some reviews made me worry. Now I hear that the Optio 555 is coming

out in October. I have decided to wait for this model instead. If someone can help me out I would like to know if:

1. The LCD screen on the Optio 555 is 1.5 or 1.6 inches?

2. Is the movie recording limited to 10 mins or you can record as much as you want with the O555?
3. Is the noise problem solved or at least better in the O555?
4. How will the change in maximum exposure from 4s to 15s affect the O555?

5. How will the change in minimum exposure from 1/4000s to 1/2000s affect the O555?

6. What other improvements apart from faster start up have been implemented on the O555?

I would appreciate it a lot if anyone can help me out with these queries. Thanks in advance for your help.

Go to the Pentax website:
http://www.pentax.com/products/cameras/camera_compare.cfm?productid=18273
and you can compare the 555 vs the 550.
Warren

Ruben77 said:

I want to buy a new digital camera and after doing some extensive
research I was thinking of getting a Pentax Optio 550.
However the camera's noise problems that I read in some reviews
made me worry. Now I hear that the Optio 555 is coming
out in October. I have decided to wait for this model instead. If
someone can help me out I would like to know if:

1. The LCD screen on the Optio 555 is 1.5 or 1.6 inches?
2. Is the movie recording limited to 10 mins or you can record as
much as you want with the O555?
3. Is the noise problem solved or at least better in the O555?
4. How will the change in maximum exposure from 4s to 15s affect
the O555?
5. How will the change in minimum exposure from 1/4000s to 1/2000s
affect the O555?
6. What other improvements apart from faster start up have been
implemented on the O555?

I would appreciate it a lot if anyone can help me out with these
queries. Thanks in advance for your help.

Click to expand...

Ruben77 said:

I want to buy a new digital camera and after doing some extensive
research I was thinking of getting a Pentax Optio 550.
However the camera's noise problems that I read in some reviews
made me worry. Now I hear that the Optio 555 is coming
out in October. I have decided to wait for this model instead. If
someone can help me out I would like to know if:

1. The LCD screen on the Optio 555 is 1.5 or 1.6 inches?

Click to expand...

1.5 inches, same as the o550.

Ruben77 said:

2. Is the movie recording limited to 10 mins or you can record as
much as you want with the O555?

Click to expand...

Limited only by memory space - 256 MB = about 12 minutes, 512 MB = 24, 1 GB = 48 minutes (15 fps only with QuickTime format - not the ultimate movie machine).

Ruben77 said:

3. Is the noise problem solved or at least better in the O555?

Click to expand...

Only Pentax knows for sure. Sample images on Pentax website are at ISO 64 so don't tell us much.

Ruben77 said:

4. How will the change in maximum exposure from 4s to 15s affect
the O555?

Click to expand...

About as much as you would guess! Almost 2 EV steps increased exposure.

Ruben77 said:

5. How will the change in minimum exposure from 1/4000s to 1/2000s
affect the O555?

Click to expand...

Same as the last answer! 1 EV less in exposure - but only affects automatic exposure modes, ie. Full auto AE and Av, not Tv and Manual exposures.

Ruben77 said:

6. What other improvements apart from faster start up have been
implemented on the O555?

Click to expand...

Now supports PictBridge and PIM II for better prints direct from camera for printers that support this.

Now can rotate images and convert images to any of the filter modes, such as sepia or black and white, using the Play Mode Menu.

Pentax states that it now has a Slow Flash Sync for use in Night Scene mode. Maybe this is the same as Second Curtain Flash?

That's for the changes they are telling us about. Other than reduced noise, we hope it focuses faster, has less pre-focus shutter lag, saves pictures faster (write speeds optimized for faster SD memory), and uses the passive IR AF system more effectively in the dark so that it returns to this focus point if no other can be found by contrast detection.

Hope this helps, GordonBGood

GordonBGood said:

GordonBGood said:

2. Is the movie recording limited to 10 mins or you can record as
much as you want with the O555?

Click to expand...

Limited only by memory space - 256 MB = about 12 minutes, 512 MB =
24, 1 GB = 48 minutes (15 fps only with QuickTime format - not the
ultimate movie machine).

Click to expand...

Fair enough. However I think that SD is available in 512mb max. 256mb cards seem to be more widespread. Is there a 1GB SD card that I don't know of then?

GordonBGood said:

GordonBGood said:

3. Is the noise problem solved or at least better in the O555?

Click to expand...

Only Pentax knows for sure. Sample images on Pentax website are at
ISO 64 so don't tell us much.

Click to expand...

I feel that this camera is a kind of an update for the 550 so I hope Pentax did something on the noise problem.

GordonBGood said:

GordonBGood said:

6. What other improvements apart from faster start up have been
implemented on the O555?

Click to expand...

Now supports PictBridge and PIM II for better prints direct from
camera for printers that support this.

Now can rotate images and convert images to any of the filter
modes, such as sepia or black and white, using the Play Mode Menu.

Pentax states that it now has a Slow Flash Sync for use in Night
Scene mode. Maybe this is the same as Second Curtain Flash?

Click to expand...

I assume this means that night photos are better quality?

GordonBGood said:

That's for the changes they are telling us about. Other than
reduced noise, we hope it focuses faster, has less pre-focus
shutter lag, saves pictures faster (write speeds optimized for
faster SD memory), and uses the passive IR AF system more
effectively in the dark so that it returns to this focus point if
no other can be found by contrast detection.

Hope this helps, GordonBGood

Click to expand...

I will wait for the Optio 555 then. Hope it comes out as scheduled in mid October and that it's not much more expensive that an Optio 550.

I'm shopping around for my first digital camera. I'm debating between the Oly 5050, Canon G3 and the Optio 450.

The reason I'm more interested in the 450 than the 550 (or the 555) is that the sample photos at steves-digicams.com seem to indicate (noticably) that the 450 produces sharper results.

Just my opinion. Good luck!

Raj

Ruben77 said:

I want to buy a new digital camera and after doing some extensive
research I was thinking of getting a Pentax Optio 550.
However the camera's noise problems that I read in some reviews
made me worry. Now I hear that the Optio 555 is coming
out in October. I have decided to wait for this model instead. If
someone can help me out I would like to know if:

1. The LCD screen on the Optio 555 is 1.5 or 1.6 inches?
2. Is the movie recording limited to 10 mins or you can record as
much as you want with the O555?
3. Is the noise problem solved or at least better in the O555?
4. How will the change in maximum exposure from 4s to 15s affect
the O555?
5. How will the change in minimum exposure from 1/4000s to 1/2000s
affect the O555?
6. What other improvements apart from faster start up have been
implemented on the O555?

I would appreciate it a lot if anyone can help me out with these
queries. Thanks in advance for your help.

Click to expand...

Ruben77 said:

Fair enough. However I think that SD is available in 512mb max.
256mb cards seem to be more widespread. Is there a 1GB SD card that
I don't know of then?

Click to expand...

Sandisk and others have announced 1 GB cards which should get to market this year. Next year, expect 2 GB cards to become available.

Pressureman said:

Ruben77 said:

Fair enough. However I think that SD is available in 512mb max.
256mb cards seem to be more widespread. Is there a 1GB SD card that
I don't know of then?

Click to expand...

Sandisk and others have announced 1 GB cards which should get to
market this year. Next year, expect 2 GB cards to become available.

Click to expand...

Thanks for that info. So does SD have any advantages over Compact Flash which is realtively cheaper to buy? Is it faster?

Ruben77 said:

Thanks for that info. So does SD have any advantages over Compact
Flash which is realtively cheaper to buy? Is it faster?

Click to expand...

Close to the same price, although more companies make CF, so more competition there. SD is smaller, not necessarily faster according to the specs (both have a range of speed specifications), but newer, so more camera manufacturers seem to be able to take advantage of the speed when it's there. Few cameras offer slots for both, so one is forced to buy whatever your camera takes.

Regards, GordonBGood