Pentax Optio SV Review

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Pentax Optio SV
3.5 stars
Average rating for this product is: 3.5 out of 5

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aidememoire's Review of Pentax Optio SV

29th Nov 2004

Overall Rating

3.5 stars
  • Value for money
    3.5 stars
  • Image Quality
    3 stars
  • Features
    4.5 stars
  • Time Digital Camera Owned
    1 - 4 Weeks
  • Battery Life
    3.5 stars
  • Ease of Use
    4.5 stars
Good Points

Good focusing, low noise, long telephoto lens.


Bad Points

Blurred images.


General Comments

I purchased a Pentax SV just over two weeks ago and on the whole I have been very impressed, but it may have a flaw that would limit any serious photography. At the wide angle setting on one side the pictures are out of focus. I hasten to add that at all other zoom lengths the camera is capable of generating pin sharp pictures that have good colour saturation. I've contacted Pentax about this issue and I seem to be the first person to have experienced this fault/flaw, however as they said it could be a result of having the smallest 5x zoom on the market.
Generally detail in the images is excellent and prints can easily be made up to A4 size only at an ISO setting of 400 does noise become apparent and even at this speed results are very good for a point and shoot camera. The only other issue I have discovered is than on automatic ISO setting the camera is very reluctant to use the more sensitive speeds i.e. 200 and 400 resulting in a very real risk of camera shake in low light, the camera only seems to step up to greater sensitivity when the shutter speed reaches 1/10th of a second. Obviously it is impossible to hand hold a camera with a 180mm zoom at these speeds.
To summarise the Pentax SV could have been a really excellent camera, I would wait until other reviewers rate the camera before buying. If my experience is unique then this camera is definitely worth considering. As the camera stands it has a usable range of a 4x zoom, in that case save your money and buy a cheaper camera with a more tried and trusted technology.

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