Pentax Optio E30 First Impressions Review

Model Design / Appearance
The inexpensiveness comes through on the Optio E30. It's plain, but not elegant. Its simplicity stems from its lack of features, not of cunning design. The Pentax Optio line includes some attractive cameras, but the E30 is almost Kodak-like in its clunky look.

Size / Portability
Measuring 3.7 x 2.4 x 1.4 inches and 6.5 ounces ready to shoot, the E30 will fit in plenty of coat pockets, purses and backpacks. Its size is appealing, but it is not sealed against dust, dirt and moisture, so carrying it loose is a bad idea. Its lens mechanism will get gummed up, or its electronics will get flaky.

Handling Ability
The Optio E30 is comfortable to hold in the user's right hand. Though it doesn't have textured grips, it felt secure. All compact cameras perform better if users hold them with two hands. Unfortunately, the E30 doesn't really encourage a two-handed grip through design. The best option is to hold it with the left thumb supporting the bottom and the left index finger on top, but there are no divots or grips that indicate that.

Control Button / Dial Positioning / Size
The Optio E30's buttons are large enough, and well-spaced. We didn't have trouble operating them, or accidentally hitting the wrong one because it was too close to the one we wanted. The shutter release is large and has a good feel. The power button is too small, in a wrong-headed attempt to prevent the camera from being accidentally turned on. The zoom control is also difficult, overshooting the amount of adjustment we intended to make.

Menu
The Pentax E30 maintains the sensible and clear menu structure of the Optio line. Many items are superimposed over a live preview. The text is clear, and the entries are subdivided logically.

Shooting
Resolution	Choose the file size in number of pixels. The options are 7, 5, 4, 3, 2 megapixels, and 1024 and 640 kilopixels
Quality	Sets JPEG compression. Choices are 3, 2 or 1 stars.
White Balance	Set to type of lighting. Choices are Auto, sun, shade, tungsten, fluorescent or manual.
Focus Area	Choose a wide or narrow horizontal bar, centered in the frame
ISO	Set light sensitivity. Choices are auto, 80, 160, 320 or 400
EV compensation	Have the E30 shoot lighter or darker images than its light meter indicates. 2EV above or below meter reading, adjustable in 1/3-EV increments.
Movie	Choose 640 x 480 or 320 x 240 resolution, and color, black and white or sepia tone.
Digital Zoom	Set to allow the E30 to digitally interpolate a high magnification telephoto setting. This feature is poisonous to image quality on most cameras.
Instant Review	Set length of time that images show onscreen after they're shot. Set from 5 seconds to ½ second, or shut off.
Memory	Retain settings for many camera options when the camera is shut off
Sharpness	Set amount of digital sharpening
Saturation	Set vividness of colors
Contrast	Set contrast
Date imprint	Imprint shooting date on the image

 

Set-up
Format	Erase all data in memory
Sound	Set volume, choose sounds for camera operations, or turn all the noises off
Startup screen	Choose from various artwork for image shown as camera is powered on.
Date/Time	Set date and time
Language	Choose from 13 languages for menu and alert text.
Folder name	Name image folders sequentially, or by date.
USB Connection	Set for image download or direct printing.
Video out	Set compatibility to NTSC or PAL
Power Save	Set to dim the LCD and save power. Interval can be set from 5 seconds to 2 minutes. The feature can also be turned off.
Auto Power Off	Set to turn off unattended E30 after 5 or 3 minutes. The feature can be turned off.
Quick Zoom	Set to have E30 playback mode jump to maximum magnification when zoom pressed.
Reset	Return E30 to default settings.
About	Show firmware version.

Playback
Slide Show	Show images in sequence. Choose interval, transition and sound.
Downsize	Reduce resolution and/or Quality.
Crop	Save just a portion of an image.
Rotate	Turn image 90, 180 or 270 degrees
Voice memo	Record sound to associate with an image
Protect	Prevent an image from being deleted
DPOF	Print directly, or create print orders for download

Ease of Use
The Optio E30 is very easy to use in its fully automatic modes. Features that allow a bit of user discretion are not easy to access, however. Exposure compensation is a menu item, for instance. One of the 4-way controller buttons should bring it up directly. The live previews are very good, reflecting changes in the white balance setting or exposure compensation. The E30 lacks a histogram, a feature that even casual snapshooters should use. Again, the zoom control has a backlash problem, and changing the SD card risks having the batteries fall out.