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Pentax Point and Shoot and Non-DSLR
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Pentax Optio S7 First Impressions Review
by Richard Baguley
Published on January 01, 2004
Model Design / Appearance
The Optio S7 has a stylish, clean design that makes for a very usable camera in a small, convenient package.
Size / Portability
At just 3.5 ounces and with dimensions of 3.4 by 2.1 by 0.8 inches, the Optio S7 is a very portable camera. It would fit nicely into a shirt pocket or small handbag, making it very suitable for nights out where you wouldn’t want to carry around a bigger camera.
 Handling Ability
Although the S7 is a small camera, it fits comfortably into the hand, with the index finger falling naturally on the shutter button and the thumb onto the zoom control at the back of the camera. You’ll need both hands to use the menu, though. The menu and directional buttons are located too far down on the back of the camera to use comfortably with one hand.
Control Button / Dial Positioning / Size
Although the buttons are small, they are well-positioned and are separated enough that you won’t miss them. The zoom control is also a good size, with a positive feel so you know when you are pressing the button hard enough to zoom.
Menu
The menu system of the S7 is well-structured and easy to navigate, with most options where you would expect them to be. It’s accessed by pressing the menu button on the back of the camera.
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Rec Mode
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Recorded Pixels
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The size of the captured images (7M, 5M, 4M, 3M, 2M 1024, 640)
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Quality Level
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The quality of the captured images. (Best, Better, Good)
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White Balance
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White balance setting (AWB, Daylight, Shade, Tungsten)
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AF Setting
Focusing Area
Focus Limiter
Aux. AF Light
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Sets the Autofocus mode
Sets the Autofocus area (multiple, Spot, Tracking AF)
Limits the range of the autofocus
Enables the auxiliary AF light (on/off)
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AE Metering
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Sets the metering mode (multi-segment, Center-weighted, Spot)
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Sensitivity
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Sets the ISO rating (Auto, 50, 100, 200, 400)
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EV Compensation
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Sets the EX compensation (from -2.o to +2.0)
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Movie
Recored Pixels
Quality Level
Movie anti-shake
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Sets the movie mode
Sets the movie size (640 x 480, 320 x 240)
Sets the movie quality (Better, Good, Best)
Enables the anti-shake feature (on, off)
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Digital Zoom
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Enables the digital zoom (on, off)
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Instant Review
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Sets how long pictures remain on screen after they are taken
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Memory
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Formats the internal memory
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Green Button
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Sets what the green button does
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Sharpness
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Sets the sharpness
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Saturation
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Sets the saturation
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Contrast
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Sets the contrast
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Playback Mode
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USB Connection
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Sets the type of connection to the USB port (PC, PictBridge)
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Video Out
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NTSC or PAL
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Brightness level
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Sets screen brightness
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Power Saving
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Sets the screen to dim after a certain time (1 min, 30 sec, 15 sec, 5 sec, off)
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Quick Zoom
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Enables the faster zoom on images
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Ease of Use
The Optio S7 is an easy to use camera with a pretty standard approach to the on-screen menus. That’s not a bad thing – it presents the features you most commonly use first, and doesn’t take a great deal of time to navigate. But there’s nothing revolutionary about the design and implementation of the camera. It just does the job cleanly and effectively.
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