Digital Camera Review

Digital Camera Review

Aug 17, 2005 - By Patrick Singleton
The Pentax Optio S5z, a 5 megapixel compact camera with a 1/2.5-inch CCD, 3x zoom, and a 2.5-inch LCD, is the smallest camera in Pentax's Optio S line at 3.3 x 2.2 x 0.8 inches and 4.2 ounces. It's also the most expensive, with an MSRP of $349.95, though online prices range from $270 to $350. It's about $50 more than Pentax's Optio S55, and about $120 more than the Optio S45. Like the other cameras in the Optio S line, the S5z is clad in a bright aluminum alloy, and features the Pentax Sliding Lens system, which allows the lens to retract fully when the camera is shut off. Also like other cameras in the S line, the Optio S5z is very easy to use. Pentax's slogan for the cameras is in fact, “No experience required,” and they deliver.
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Likes
-Customizable controls
-Attractive styling
-Some unusual special features, including time-lapse video and image distortion
-The camera body is sturdy
-Icon-based Mode menu is a good alternative to a mode dial   
Dislikes
-The manual control options are extremely limited
-The front of the camera lacks grip
-Small size makes it hard to hold the camera steady
-Long shutter speeds are disabled in all but one mode
-Battery/SD card door is flimsy.   


Conclusion
The Optio S5z doesn't overcome the limitations inherent in such a small camera – it's hard to hold steady, the buttons are small, and the zoom is pretty short.

Just about every camera we have tested renders colors more accurately than the Optio S5z; however, its handling of noise is far superior to most. Since many prospective buyers are looking for images that look good straight from the camera, consumers will have to weigh the lack of color vibrancy against the increased clarity.

Pentax has made some wise choices in crafting the user interface of the Optio S5z. Check out the Design/Layout section of the review for more details, but here are some key points: It's too small to have a mode dial, so Pentax implemented a good alternative – the mode menu. It's easy to cover a window or sensor when gripping a camera this size, so Pentax put the least important one – the remote control sensor – in the most vulnerable spot. The “Quick” button can be programmed to provide shortcuts to just about any user's top priority controls. On the other hand, the camera should be easier to grip; there's a good spot for the right thumb on the back of the camera, but nothing comparable for the right fingers on the front of the camera.

As it stands, the S5z offers a few strong interface features, time-lapse video and a sturdy stylish build, but hardly enough to outweigh some hefty performance limitations.

Overall Impressions Page 11 of 12 Specs
Pentax Optio S5z Digital Camera Review Navigation

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