A Second Digicam - Optio 330 or 430?

[Luke32204]

Hello all,

I'm looking for a second digicam to compliment my very nice (but very heavy & bulky) Nikon D100.

I'd like something pocketable and to take out with me as often as possible when an entire kit bag isn't really warranted.

I've looked around a little and like the 2 Pentax Optio's as they both use Compact Flash (what I've got for the Nikon).

Are there any others I should consider? Has anyone else been through this and found a nice solution.

Any hints or tips gratefully received.

Luke

 

[Lammy2002]

I'd like something pocketable and to take out with me as often as
possible when an entire kit bag isn't really warranted.

I've looked around a little and like the 2 Pentax Optio's as they
both use Compact Flash (what I've got for the Nikon).

Are there any others I should consider? Has anyone else been
through this and found a nice solution.

I think you should look for the new Optio 330RS and 430RS. The old models 330 and 430 have been taken out of production in early spring this year and they have been replaced with the new models in summer. I have got the 430RS and I am satisfied with it. Perhaps you may look at my website (see signature) for further information. I'm sorry that it is only available in german but you can try to use Google or Altavista to translate it. You will find many sample shots and a review of this camera - I hope that will be helpful to you. But you have to know that the Optio's will never be as good as your Nikon ;-)

Regards,
Christian

--
http://www.digitalfotonetz.de

 

[Chris Hunter]

Hi there...

I assume that you will be wanting quite high quality photos... although for the price and size, nothing will really come close to the D100. I have had the 330RS for about 4 weeks now, and I'm going to be selling it to buy the Canon S45.

I do like the Pentax, and for its size you can't beat the photos... but for the photos that I want to take - i.e. mainly in the student Union, or at concerts, the photos just arn't quite good enough.

I have heard that the 430RS is the same camera as the 330RS, but with 4mpx over 3mpx. This means that it uses the same processing on the photos, and from what people have said, save the money and go for a 330RS.

If you want to see example photos, then I have a few pages up on my site (I'd have more, but I'm trying to get a degree as well!), and I've had to bring them down to 640x480 for my website... I may upload some on my pbase directory though:

[URL='http://www.funkyberry.com/tenaciousd2002.htm'] http://www.funkyberry.com/tenaciousd2002.htm[/URL] [/URL]
[URL='http://www.funkyberry.com/fri01112002.htm'] http://www.funkyberry.com/fri01112002.htm[/URL] [/URL]
[URL='http://www.funkyberry.com/wed30102002.htm'] http://www.funkyberry.com/wed30102002.htm[/URL] [/URL]

Its a cool camera, really well built, strong, and lasts quite a long time on its battery (it seems to recharge the battery when viewing photos?!?), and its got CF.

Anything else you want to know, or example photos posting, then let me know.

-funkyberry-

p.s. its daylight shots are ok, and I've just figured out that you can do time lapse movies on it too - so now I just have to find one of those naked girls to do some Benny Hill recreations!!

Hello all,

I'm looking for a second digicam to compliment my very nice (but
very heavy & bulky) Nikon D100.

I'd like something pocketable and to take out with me as often as
possible when an entire kit bag isn't really warranted.

I've looked around a little and like the 2 Pentax Optio's as they
both use Compact Flash (what I've got for the Nikon).

Are there any others I should consider? Has anyone else been
through this and found a nice solution.

Any hints or tips gratefully received.

Luke

 

[Chris Hunter]

Hi there...

I was experimenting with the URLs, so I think this will make them work:

[URL='http://www.funkyberry.com/tenaciousd2002.htm'] http://www.funkyberry.com/tenaciousd2002.htm ]
[URL='http://www.funkyberry.com/fri01112002.htm'] http://www.funkyberry.com/fri01112002.htm ]
[URL='http://www.funkyberry.com/wed30102002.htm'] http://www.funkyberry.com/wed30102002.htm ]

-funkyberry-

 

[Zak44318]

Luke,

I would recommend the Optio 330 RS or the Optio 330 GS. The
difference being the the 330 RS is a more solid build and runs on
a Lithium-ion battery but ""Does Not"" have Video out capability
which may or may not affect your decision. The 330 GS is about the
same size but does not have as rugged body and runs on AA batteries
and ""Does"" have Video out capability and is approximately $150 CDN
less in price.

One more good point about the Pentax cameras is that they have an
"International Warranty." I mention this because I noticed that
you are interestd in Studio space in London (UK presumably) and there-
fore should something go awry during your (possible) stay in London,
you would at least have warranty coverage.

I have sold several of each of the above mentioned cameras and have
had no complaints from any of the customers.

BTW: FunkBerry, liked the Tenacioius D pics.

Hope this helps.

Cheers,

JRS

Hi there...

I was experimenting with the URLs, so I think this will make them
work:

[URL='http://www.funkyberry.com/tenaciousd2002.htm'] http://www.funkyberry.com/tenaciousd2002.htm ]
[URL='http://www.funkyberry.com/fri01112002.htm'] http://www.funkyberry.com/fri01112002.htm ]
[URL='http://www.funkyberry.com/wed30102002.htm'] http://www.funkyberry.com/wed30102002.htm ]

-funkyberry-

 

[Luke32204]

Thanks for all your tips and advice guys, I think I'll wait for a while or maybe keep an eye out on Ebay for a 2nd hand bargain?

Thanks again

Luke

 

[DougD]

i have a d1h and bought the optio 430 for my pocket camera. I REALLY REALLY DON'T LIKE IT. it's rugged, has a quick recovery time, is small, has limited but adequate battery life, has all of the features i wanted...but the images are very poor.

i'm the kind of guy who sees door dings that nobody else sees, and i AM very critical about image quality, so take this with a grain of salt: the images are very poor. did i say that already? the flash seems to work in a range of about 5.972 to 6.354 feet. closer and it's very hot. further and it's worthless. the autofocus indoors is like rolling dice. when you do get a crisp image, well, i don't know...not sure i've ever got one.

my wife is much less critical than me and she agrees that most of the images are bad.

now trying to decide between the canon s45 and the s230. life is too short to shoot with the optio 430. very disappointed.

Hello all,

I'm looking for a second digicam to compliment my very nice (but
very heavy & bulky) Nikon D100.

I'd like something pocketable and to take out with me as often as
possible when an entire kit bag isn't really warranted.

I've looked around a little and like the 2 Pentax Optio's as they
both use Compact Flash (what I've got for the Nikon).

Are there any others I should consider? Has anyone else been
through this and found a nice solution.

Any hints or tips gratefully received.

Luke

 

[Luke32204]

i have a d1h and bought the optio 430 for my pocket camera. I
REALLY REALLY DON'T LIKE IT. it's rugged, has a quick recovery
time, is small, has limited but adequate battery life, has all of
the features i wanted...but the images are very poor.

Hmmm.... and I had decided that it was the one to look out for too! Has anyone else had any bad experiences quality wise? Is Dougs a one off or am I going to be dissapointed with it? The Canon ixus V3 (as we call it here in England) looks nice and compact too. Anymore thoughts?

Luke

 

[Chris Hunter]

BTW: FunkBerry, liked the Tenacioius D pics.

Cheers

It was a great gig, and they were soooo cool.... infact, in Tenacious D's own words - TENACIOUS D ROCK!



-funkyberry-

 

[Chris Hunter]

Hi there...

Ok, a lot of people that say the images are not in focus or blury and stuff.... its down to them - not the camera.

I have taken loads of bad photos with the 330RS... but in all of them, it was my fault for taking the photo on a shutter speed that will give camera shake (for some reason, if it can't lock on something, or you over expose the photo, it always comes up with a shutter speed of 1/8th... although I haven't read the French manual)...

Only a few photos were bad becuase the 330RS couldn't focus, or focused on the wrong thing. Now I'm not a professional photographer, but I have taken some very good photos with the 330RS... but I take about 120 photos a night, 3 times a week...plue random photos during the day....

For most people that just want to point and shoot and get good photos... then this is ok.... if you are REALLY picky about the photo quality, or you want to print large photos on your printer, and resolution is key... then this is probably not for you.... but then again - its so tiny, that its quite amazing that they have this quality and number of features in the camera!

I would say Luke... look at all the images there are on the Pentax 330RS... download the ORIGINAL size photos, and if you don't like the quality of the photos, then don't buy the camera.

If you want to buy mine, then I'll sell it to you for £300? (128MB CF, and extra battery, box, etc..etc..)... Just let me know

Oh, and lastly, about the battery..... everyone knows that digital camera batteries don't last that long... that is why everyone I know that buys digital cameras, always buys 2 batteries with it!!

i have a d1h and bought the optio 430 for my pocket camera. I
REALLY REALLY DON'T LIKE IT. it's rugged, has a quick recovery
time, is small, has limited but adequate battery life, has all of
the features i wanted...but the images are very poor.

Hmmm.... and I had decided that it was the one to look out for too!
Has anyone else had any bad experiences quality wise? Is Dougs a
one off or am I going to be dissapointed with it? The Canon ixus V3
(as we call it here in England) looks nice and compact too. Anymore
thoughts?

Luke

 

[lectraglide]

I have the Optio 430RS and at first I was disappointed, as I do landscapes, arboreal things sometimes with cattle and/or horses. I do them and sell 11x14 or 11x17 prints.

It turns out my problems were solved when I reset the sharpness level to the lowest setting, (To be corrected in your post camera program in such as Unsharp Mask at something like 130/1.7/4 ... don't overdo). I left contrast at middle setting, reduced automatic exposure by about 3 stops. I also engaged the "infinity" setting on any subject area over 50 foot and became more aware of camera shake (It is a very small camera and movement is easy to overlook).

Most people at first say the LCD is too bright to view ....the answer is to tilt the camera BACK about 30 degrees from the 90 degree position in front of your eyes, then you will have an almost perfect picture to view.

Go back in this forum and read suggestions by Gordon and a couple of others that have learned how to get the most from the Optios.

I am now very fond of the camera and I can take it anywhere I go, on my belt and I can actually use the pictures I take, just like the one from my big camera. Battery life is great if LCD is only used to review picture for a few seconds. I do carry a spare battery however. I recommend a large card because the pictures from the 430RS are large at the best quality setting
Good luck, ...lectraglide.

 

[Zak44318]

i have a d1h and bought the optio 430 for my pocket camera. I
REALLY REALLY DON'T LIKE IT. it's rugged, has a quick recovery
time, is small, has limited but adequate battery life, has all of
the features i wanted...but the images are very poor.

Hmmm.... and I had decided that it was the one to look out for too!
Has anyone else had any bad experiences quality wise? Is Dougs a
one off or am I going to be dissapointed with it? The Canon ixus V3
(as we call it here in England) looks nice and compact too. Anymore
thoughts?

Luke,

Are you talking about the Pentax Optio 430 RS or the Optio 430?

I would consider the Pentax Optio 330 GS just because it has the
"video out" capability where as the 330 RS and the 430 RS do not
has this capability but the RS cameras have much sturdier bodies.

As for the S230 or Ixus V3 it is more similiar to the 330 RS in size
and ruggedness but it is $50 more than the 330 GS but about
a $100 less the 330 RS camera. Also, their has been a run
on the S230/Ixus V3 of late and have sold at least 5 to 6 this
week along which was quite similar to the 330 GS when it
first came out.

I am not sure which camera to purchase. If you are planning
on any travelling the Pentax does come with an International
Warranty and is AA battery (NIMH's recommended) capable.

Hope this helps.

JRS

Luke

 

[DougD]

i received my canon 230 and have taken lots of comparison pics between the optio 430 and the canon 230. i stand by my comments that the optio 430 pictures are poor in comparison to the canon 230.

i use this camera as a point and shoot, almost always hand-held and usually indoors. both cameras operate about the same as far as ease of use and speed. the display on the canon is better. the canon is a tiny bit smaller.

i have a much higher % of in-focus shots with the canon and the flash seems to give better exposure.

here are a few shots:

the first two have been cropped and saved as low quality jpg. taken from about 4 feet away. this is the unscientific comparison:

canon:



pentax:



this comparison had both cameras firmly placed on my desk, with the videos about 8 feet away...i cropped a tiny section, then resized/resampled 200% in photoshop:



what do you think?

i have a d1h and bought the optio 430 for my pocket camera. I
REALLY REALLY DON'T LIKE IT. it's rugged, has a quick recovery
time, is small, has limited but adequate battery life, has all of
the features i wanted...but the images are very poor.

 

[timo]

A colleague of mine has the 4mp Canon Powershot and I have an Optio 430rs. In terms of pics straight off the camera the main difference seems to be (as everybody says) that the Pentax pix are definitely not as sharp when you crop or get up to A4, and the sharpness settings do not improve things (if anything they make things worse when you blow the pics up). BUT the key is Photoshop - as another reviewer recommended on the web, if you set the camera to 'soft', and apply 'unsharp masking' at about 0.4 pixels, 200 or so %, it makes a fantastic difference, and the result ends up as good as the Canon. So if you have access to Photoshop and a computer, I would go for the Pentax. If you want slightly less hassle in return for slightly more weight and bulk, go for the Canon. With prints smaller than A4, it's less of an issue.

Tim