Pentax Optio S55

In the compact Optio S55, Pentax has included a 1/2.5-inch 5.36 total megapixel CCD and 3x optical zoom lens, equivalent to 35.6 - 107mm in 35mm format. Available online for as low as $212 (USD), the Optio S55 offers point-and-shoot consumers an economic, fairly nondescript alternative with some advanced features and some strong limitations. The camera is packaged in a stylized silver body and designed for ease of use. Marketed as a digital camera with 'no experience required,' Pentax has applied a large 2.5-inch LCD with a magnified-text setting for increasing visibility of on-screen menus and a 'Help' function in the 'Auto-select' mode to help guide less knowledgeable users through the photographic process. Cased in a 3.5 x 2.5 x 1.1-inch aluminum alloy frame, the Optio S55 extends a bit thicker than some of its direct competitors. This will provide more stability than many of the S55's counterparts, but sacrifices a bit of pocket-portability. The Optio S55 joins a dense pack of sub-$300 point-and-shoot offerings and looks to a combination of ease of use, solid build, and extra features to set it apart from the rest.