Front (7.5)
The Optio S5z appears a little more polished than the less-expensive Optio S cameras, offering a general impression of classy simplicity. The telescoping lens mount dominates the front of the camera. The mount looks oversized in comparison to the small lens that peeks out from the lower half of the assembly. The odd-looking arrangement accommodates the Pentax “Sliding Lens system” for storing the lens when the camera is powered off. The system slides the middle optical group up and out of the optical path, so that the front and rear elements can slide together, into a flat profile that fits into a camera that's only 0.8 inches deep.

The lens is labeled “5.0 Megapixels SMC PENTAX LENS 3X OPTICAL ZOOM 5.8-17.4mm” around its inner perimeter. An outer ring reads “PENTAX” four times, once at each of the cardinal points. The metal face of the camera is textured with very finely grooved rings that radiate from the lens mount. This makes the textured surface easier to grip than plain metal, and gives the camera a gleaming effect, reminiscent of the data side of a CD.

Two circular windows adorn the upper right and left corners of the Optio S5z's face. The one on the right is the self-timer indicator and the AF assist light. The one on the left is the infrared receiver for signals from an optional remote control. A tiny slot to the right of the lens is the microphone port and the flash is along the top edge of the camera, slightly left of center. Check out the “Components” section of the review for more specifics on the flash, and its limitations.

A vaguely wedge-shaped, shiny horizontal bar accents the left side. The camera is embossed “PENTAX” above the bar, and “Optio” upon it.

Back (7.5)
The 2.5-inch LCD takes up about three-quarters of the back of the camera. It's surrounded by a black border, which is labeled “Pentax” at the bottom. The remaining quarter of the back, along the right side, is home to most of the camera's controls. From the top, they are: two very small status lights, a red one for the flash and a green one for focus; the zoom/magnification rocker, which operates the zoom lens in shooting mode, and the image magnification control in playback; the Quick/Trash button, which, in shooting mode, sets all the controls to automatic, and in playback mode, deletes images; the playback button, which switches the camera into and out of playback mode; the four-way controller, which allows navigation through menus and image playback, and controls flash mode, focus mode and self-timer/burst mode; the menu button; and the mode button.

Just below the zoom control, along the side of the camera, five rubber bumps form a grip for the user's thumb. They're very effective – it's easy to grab the camera, and it's easy to feel the bumps, which indicate to the user that their thumb is in the right place. Read the “Design/Layout” section of the review for more on usability.

Left Side (5.5)
The left side of the Optio S5z features nine holes arranged in a square to form the speaker grill. There are also two screw heads. The seam between the front and back of the camera runs down the side, and on the model we reviewed, the seam is uneven. It fits well toward the top of the camera, but there's a gap between the halves at the bottom.

Right Side (6.5)
The right side of the Optio S5z features a swiveling lug for a wrist strap. The swivel is a useful feature, helping the strap remain untangled, although it might require the assistance of a thin loop of cord to attach the strap. Two sliding doors cover jacks for a USB and A/V port, and a power supply. The sliding doors are a pretty durable option for covering ports. On the Optio S5z, Pentax uses a tethered, rubber cover with a friction fit, which also seems pretty robust. Both are better choices than the hinged hard plastic doors on many competing cameras. The Kodak EasyShare C360 is an example of what to avoid – its hard plastic, hinged door seems more vulnerable to breakage than the little sliders on the Optio S5z.

Top (6.0)
The top of the Optio S5z is home to the power switch and the shutter release. Both are on a chrome pad on the right side of the top. The pad turns up at either end, creating a comfortable indent for the user's right index finger. The shutter release itself is chrome and about a half-inch long, making it easy to locate by feel. There is a status light at the center of the Optio S5z’s power switch. When the camera is set to take pictures, it glows green. When the camera is set to record audio, it glows red.

Pentax printed “Optio S5z” on the top of the camera to the left of the controls. Our sample unit arrived with some of the paint scuffed off, leaving the camera looking a little worn. The camera wasn't abused – it hadn't been dropped, and the metal under the paint wasn't harmed, so it seems that the paint came off in the course of normal use. Losing a painted label certainly wouldn't affect use of the camera, but it's too bad that the markings are so vulnerable.

Most users would rather have their new camera look pristine for a little longer than ours did (assuming it ever looked pristine in the first place).

Bottom (7.0)
Aesthetics rarely if ever apply to camera bottoms, and the Optio S5z is no exception. The tripod mount is directly under center, which is a reasonable spot for it on this camera. On cameras that might be used with a tripod more frequently, it's best to have the mount centered under the lens, but the Optio S5z’s lens is too far to one side for that. The tripod mount is made of plastic, so it would be very easy to strip the threads and ruin the mount by over-tightening or cross-threading it.

The battery and SD data card slot are accessible through a door in the bottom of the Optio S5z. The door is hard plastic, painted to match the aluminum that covers the rest of the camera. The door slides closed with a click. The door is not as heavily-built or durable as it should be. In general, doors that simply snap shut aren't as tough as ones with a latch.

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