Pentax Optio Z10

Likes

- Functional optical zoom in Movie mode - LCD resolution - 52 MB internal memory - Very compact - Red-eye fix - Lots of playback editing - Decent movie mode - Better resolution than other internal lens cameras

Dislikes

- LCD glare and grease - Slow refresh rate on LCD - No AF assist beam - Gimmicky shake reduction - Slow autofocus - Small aperture - High noise and low dynamic range above ISO 200 - Poor color accuracy - Poor low light performance

Conclusion
The Pentax Optio Z10 packs a lot of seemingly great features into a small body. It has 8.1 megapixels and a 7x optical zoom lens that goes beyond the typical 3-4x zoom offered on most slim digital cameras. It also has a decently-sized 2.5-inch LCD screen with 230,000 pixels. Add in a generous 52 MB of internal memory and there are some very tempting components on the Z10.

There are quite a few serious drawbacks, too. The autofocus system is so slow that candid shots are out of the question. Every shot must be posed for it to be captured properly. The Pentax Z10 has a digital blur reduction system, but it isn’t as effective as optical systems on competing cameras. The Z10 also has a face detection system, but it is crippled by the shutter lag.

The Optio Z10 has a $249 price tag that isn’t terribly out of line, but there’s more and better competition in this price range especially when the Z10’s performance is taken into account. With less than ideal dynamic range and more noise than is tolerable (above ISO 200), the Pentax Optio Z10 is a hard sell for any photographer.

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