Manual Control Options
The Pentax Optio A30 might be small, sleek, and minimalist in its design, but it comes with an impressive list of manual control features that should certainly satiate the demands of the budding photo enthusiast. The list of options is comprehensive. Users can manually control focus, ISO, white balance, exposure, shutter speed, aperture, and metering, although the degree of functionality offered varies from control to control. The manual controls can be found within the Record menu of the Capture modes as well as on the four-way controls on the back of the camera.
Focus
Auto Focus (7.25)
The Pentax Optio A30 has a 5-point TTL contrast detection autofocus system. The camera’s autofocus features extend beyond the standard Auto and Macro modes with a wide selection of settings. They are: Standard, Macro, Super Macro, Pan Focus, and Infinity mode. The settings are displayed vertically along the right side of the LCD screen and are accessed by pressing the right arrow of the four-way control. Also listed in this display is the manual focus option.
The Pan Focus and Infinity mode settings are not typical of a camera in this price range. Pan Focus is intended for shooting subjects that are far apart. When shooting in this mode the camera has an approximate range of 7.55 feet to infinity in full wide and 30.51 feet to infinity in full telephoto. The Infinity mode is used for subjects far away from the camera. The Super Macro mode worked with impressive results, aptly handling the entire 2.3- to 5.9-inch range.
The camera’s Face Recognition AF and AE features are only functional in the Portrait and Kids Scene modes. The A30’s face detection system locates, focuses on, and sets the appropriate exposure for human faces.
Photographers can choose from three autofocus area options. Multiple uses a wide area in the center of the screen and focuses on the closest subject. The Spot mode is used to focus on a specific subject. The Automatic Tracking mode tracks and continuously readjusts focus on a moving subject.
There is a 2-second delay before the scene snaps into focus, and it struggles when shooting in low light or at close proximity with the standard Shooting mode. Also, the image on the LCD jumps slightly when the shutter is partially depressed.
Though the A30 offers a nice selection of focus options, its slowness may cause unfocused shots or missed moments.
Manual Focus (5.5)
Shifting to the Focus mode is simple when in Capture mode; press the right arrow of the four-way control. This opens an on-screen display listed vertically as a series of icons on the right side of the LCD. In addition to a handful of autofocus modes is a manual focus option. The focusing range is displayed vertically on the left side of the LCD. It is sluggish, so patience is essential. When manual focus in engaged, The center of the screen expands to fill the entire LCD when adjusting focus; some users may find this more frustrating than helpful. The manual focus range for the Pentax Optio A30 is 0.06 meters to infinity in full wide-angle and 0.35 meters to infinity in full telephoto. Though the A30’s manual focus is slow, it is a feature that many of its competitors do not include. It will come in handy when the autofocus system struggles to focus in low light or on a low contrast subject.
Metering (7.5)
Users can adjust metering with the Pentax Optio A30, a great feature considering the number of times difficult lighting conditions, such as backlit scenes, ruin an otherwise well composed photograph. The different metering settings give users the option to set how much of a scene the camera uses to determine proper exposure. The A30’s metering options, listed within the Record mode menu, are: Multi-Segment, Center-Weighted, and Spot metering. The Multi-Segment mode measures the exposure for the image based on the entire composition; Center-Weighted adjusts based largely upon the center of the screen; and Spot metering depends on a small area in the center of the screen. The Metering modes are easy to use and alter. Metering options are found in most cameras in this price range and are an exceedingly helpful feature.
Exposure (7.75)
Manual controls are one of the A30’s big selling points. There are Program, Shutter Priority, and Manual Exposure modes. The Pentax Optio A30 has an exposure compensation setting that can be adjusted +/- 2 EV. The EV compensation scale, located in the Record menu, is similar to most point-and-shoots, and can be adjusted in 1/3 EV increments by pressing the left and right arrows of the four-way control. If taking photos using the Auto mode, the exposure is set to +/- 0 EV.
White Balance (7.5)
White balance is another of the Pentax Optio A30’s features that can be manually controlled. The white balance settings are listed in the Record menu, and include a number of presets, as well as Auto and Manual modes. The preset white balance options for the A30 are Daylight, Shade, Tungsten, and Fluorescent. Some competing cameras such as the Canon SD40 offer multiple Fluorescent settings, but the A30 has an adequate amount of white balance presets.
When the white balance option is selected, the LCD screen returns from the menu system to a live view screen, with white balance settings listed along the left side of the monitor. Adjusting the white balance manually is easily accomplished by focusing on a white surface and pressing the green button on the back of the camera. Once the white balance is set and the OK button is pressed the photographer can return to the main Record menu.
ISO (8.75)
The image sensitivity for the Pentax Optio A30 is also manually controllable. The ISO feature is in the Sensitivity submenu in the Record menu. In addition to Auto, the camera provides photographers with a range from 64 to 1600 ISO. The Digital SR shooting mode option within the Custom shooting mode palette can expand the image sensitivity to 3200 ISO, although at this level the image quality will be marred by noise and the image resolution will be drastically reduced from the maximum 3648 x 2736 to 2592 x 1944.
Shutter Speed (6.0)
The shutter speed for the Pentax Optio A30 can be adjusted in both the Shutter Priority and Manual Exposure modes, located in the Capture mode. Users can choose from the Program, Shutter, and Manual exposure icons listed in the upper left corner of the LCD.
The shutter speed range on the Pentax Optio A30 is 1/2000 of a second to 4 seconds. Some competing models have longer shutter speeds, ideal for capturing dark scenes on a tripod. The Panasonic TZ3, for instance, has a long exposure of 8 seconds and when it is set to the Starry Sky Mode, 15, 30, or 60 second shutter speeds. Adjusting the A30’s shutter speed during shooting is quite easy and allows for fast changes. Once the shutter speed is selected, users must press the OK/Display button before taking a photo. Failing to press OK will lock the camera in the shutter/aperture priority screen. This can be an especially aggravating when trying to shoot quickly.
Although not entirely user-friendly for novices, the manual shutter speed feature is a great addition. While some competing cameras such as the TZ3 have longer shutter speeds, others, such as the Canon SD40, do not give users manual control of this setting.
Aperture (2.0)
The Optio A30 has an aperture range from f/2.8 to 5.4. The inclusion of manual aperture control is a surprising feature on this petite camera, but manual control enthusiasts will find its presence to be an advantage over many similarly-priced cameras. Aperture is accessed through the camera’s Manual Exposure mode, located within the Program/Tv/M mode. Once the Manual mode is selected, the aperture is adjusted using the up and down arrows of the four-way controller. The maximum aperture for the camera is f/2.8 in wide-angle and f/5.4 in telephoto.
