or Browse:
Type
Brand
Price
Need
Browse By Brand Find a digital camera from your favorite brand
Browse by Price Choose a max price using the slider below
Max Price
Any

$150.00

Any Price
Advertisement

Pentax Optio V20

Digital Camera Review

Previous: Page 4

Speed and Timing

Next: Page 6

Design / Layout

Viewfinder (0.00)
As with most modern point-and-shoots, the V20 does not include an optical viewfinder. It's a feature we miss on those bright summer days when peeking through a viewfinder to frame a picture is easier than trying to deal with the glare from an LCD screen. On a camera as compact as this one, though, there's no room to squeeze in a viewfinder.

LCD Screen (6.75)
The V20 provides a 3-inch LCD screen with a run-of-the-mill 230,000-pixel resolution. We found the LCD both attractive and practical indoors and out, with a nice bright display and rich color reproduction. Screen brightness can be adjusted in seven steps through the Setting menu, though the changes aren't terribly noticeable. And while the glossy screen is a fingerprint magnet, the glossy surface contributes to the high-contrast pop of the pictures on screen, so the occasional shirtsleeve wipe seems a small price to pay.


Flash (4.50)
The flash is located above and to the right of the camera’s lens. This off-axis placement helps limit redeye when shooting faces in dark environments, but it causes a problem when holding the camera: it's too easy to block the flash with your right middle finger when holding your index finger over the shutter button. As for flash output, it's reasonably bright but noticeably uneven, with a bright hot spot in the middle and rapid falloff around the edges.

Flash modes are accessed using the left button of the four-way selector: Auto, Off, Forced On (useful for fill-flash outdoors), Auto with Red-Eye Reduction, On with Red-Eye Reduction, and Soft Flash, a useful setting that lowers flash output for shooting at close range.

According to Pentax, the flash reaches 14 feet at the widest lens setting when set to auto ISO, and 9.2 feet at maximum telephoto.


The off-center flash position helps minimize red-eye.


Lens
(4.75)

The Optio V20 has a 5x optical zoom Pentax lens with a 6.3mm-31.5mm range (equivalent to 36mm-180mm in 35mm photography).This zoom range compares favorably with most cameras in this size and price range, which ordinarily provide only 3x optical zoom. The lens extends approximately 3/4 inch (19mm) from the camera body in three sections.

Pentax offers an Intelligent Zoom function that boosts zoom range at the price of image resolution. Shooting at 5 megapixels instead of the full 8-megapixel resolution allows 6.3x zoom, with 7.1x available at 4 megapixels, 8.0x at 3 megapixels, and 10.2x at 2 megapixels. This feature works by using only a subsection of the image sensor, providing a higher effective magnification without employing the mathematical chicanery, and inevitable image degradation, of standard digital zoom.

The Optio V20 offers digital image stabilization, which automatically increases the ISO to minimize image blur due to shaking hands. It's better than nothing, but distinctly inferior to true hardware-based image stabilization, which moves either the sensor or a lens element to compensate for camera shake. Some similarly-priced point-and-shoots, including the Canon SD1100 IS, do offer optical image stabilization.


With its snout out the V20 zoom lens protrudes about 3/4 inch.

Shop for the Pentax Optio V20

Loading Recently Viewed Products
Advertisement

Latest News
& Reviews

Top Rated Point & Shoots

  • Panasonic Lumix FZ150
    Panasonic Lumix FZ150
    $462.25
    1

    Panasonic Lumix FZ150

    Excellent image quality, speedy performance, and a great design add up to the best superzoom that has ever graced our labs. That distinction seems to change hands every week, but trust us when we say that the FZ150 is a truly great camera. Read full 16-part review

    $462.25
    Types
    Any Zoom
    3,5.1
    3.1x to 5x Zoom
    5.1,10
    5.1x to 9.9x Zoom
    10,
    10x & Larger Zoom
    Any Megapixels
    0,8
    < 8 Megapixels
    8,10
    8 to 10 Megapixels
    10,
    > 10 Megapixels
  • Canon  PowerShot SX40 HS
    Canon  PowerShot SX40 HS
    $378.89
    2

    Canon PowerShot SX40 HS

    Canon's SX30 got a CMOS makeover that resulted in the SX40 HS, an impressive ultrazoom that captures beautiful shots in almost any scenario. Read full 16-part review

    $378.89
    Types
    Any Zoom
    3,5.1
    3.1x to 5x Zoom
    5.1,10
    5.1x to 9.9x Zoom
    10,
    10x & Larger Zoom
    Any Megapixels
    0,8
    < 8 Megapixels
    8,10
    8 to 10 Megapixels
    10,
    > 10 Megapixels
  • Sony  Cyber-shot HX100V
    Sony  Cyber-shot HX100V
    $428.00
    3

    Sony Cyber-shot HX100V

    This professionally-geared ultrazoom offers some of the best color accuracy we've ever seen. It's a shame the other scores weren't quite so strong. Read full 16-part review

    $428.00
    Types
    Ultra-Zoom
    Any Zoom
    3,5.1
    3.1x to 5x Zoom
    5.1,10
    5.1x to 9.9x Zoom
    10,
    10x & Larger Zoom
    Any Megapixels
    0,8
    < 8 Megapixels
    8,10
    8 to 10 Megapixels
    10,
    > 10 Megapixels
    16.8 MP
  • Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ47
    Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ47
    $362.59
    4

    Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ47

    Panasonic resists the urge to cram more megapixels and more focal length into their latest ultrazoom. The FZ47 instead focuses on image quality and features, resulting in an incredibly strong camera that we loved shooting with. Read full 16-part review

    $362.59
    Types
    Any Zoom
    3,5.1
    3.1x to 5x Zoom
    5.1,10
    5.1x to 9.9x Zoom
    10,
    10x & Larger Zoom
    Any Megapixels
    0,8
    < 8 Megapixels
    8,10
    8 to 10 Megapixels
    10,
    > 10 Megapixels
  • Canon  PowerShot S100
    Canon  PowerShot S100
    $429.00
    5

    Canon PowerShot S100

    Canon's PowerShot S100 improves on the popular S95 and takes its place at the top of the point-and-shoot food chain. Read full 16-part review

    $429.00
    Types
    Any Zoom
    3,5.1
    3.1x to 5x Zoom
    5.1,10
    5.1x to 9.9x Zoom
    10,
    10x & Larger Zoom
    Any Megapixels
    0,8
    < 8 Megapixels
    8,10
    8 to 10 Megapixels
    10,
    > 10 Megapixels

Features

Shop for the Pentax Optio V20

Advertisement
Pentax Optio V20
Digital Camera Review

Previous: Page 4

Speed and Timing

Previous: Page 6

Design / Layout