Are the Optios really that bad?

I am looking at getting a compact for times when I am not allowed to take my dslr to a festival or gig.

The Optio P70 looks like it fits the bill with a f2.6, 27.5mm lens and high iso capability - BUT -

looking around this forum no one seems to have agood word to say about them so I was wondering if I should look at the Fuji F60fd instead?

Any thoughts?

Andy

Compared to the DSLRs all the compact cameras are not as good, but they're not bad for occasional or casual use.

I'm using a Pentax T30 at the moment, which is no better or worse than any others I've tried, and I've tried plenty!

I still like the ergonomics and ease-of-use of my old Optio s5i, and would consider another Optio again in future if the specification was about what I wanted at the time. The "27.5mm" lens of the P70 does indeed sound useful.

My last compact purchase was a Panasonic LX2. Whle it is excellent in some ways (sharp Leica lens, 16:9 sensor, manual modes, RAW option) I don't enjoy using it very much, to be honest. It's a digital camera rather than a camera that happens to be digital. Pentax products tend to be the latter.

Look at this, this and this

Not DSLR quality but they were taken with my latest camera, an Optio E50.

I was lazy and left it on full auto.

If you set the smaller cameras up right they can produce quality shots.

Are they worth having? Try getting a K200d in your jeans pocket!

I recently bought a P70 and have been surprised at the quality of the images.

I wanted a very small and simple to use P&S that had decent IQ and so far it certainly fits the bill. The only thing I find irksome is the pixel track SR, it's a bit of a joke and incredibly slow. It takes around 5 secs after the exposure to process the image, so it's a pain in the A! But it does seem to work, but by how much? I'm not sure. I would have much preferred to have sensor shift SR as in the A40, but I suspect an A70 is not coming. But I do like the 28mm wide end.

I think that the Casio models are made by the same OEM and their top models have sensor shift SR, but I wasn't prepared to spend the extra for it.

The specification says the lowest shutter speed is 1/4 sec, but this is not so, you can get 4 secs when set to the night modes. As I like to take night shots using a small tripod or bean bag, this is useful.

The lens is pretty good with very low distortion.

Here's a shot taken inside SRS at ISO 500 and 28mm.




Click here for a larger image link

we have two, and S50 which is wonderful - metal body and great results, and am M20 - plastic body and awful results except on macro! Clearly they vary.

"Are they worth having? Try getting a K200d in your jeans pocket!"

Exactly! That's what I am looking at as I have bought a K20D and like you say it is a bit of squeeze! Also,a lot of big venues will not let you take a dslr if you have not got a press pass - and I never will - so I am looking for a compact that will give me something useful.

I must say the images posted here are very good indeed.

Cheers,
Andy

Just a thought. For a cheap older model Optio check Here out.

That's where mine came from and it is Pentax's own outlet.

Good hunting.

I did a Jessops, for mine an E40, in the super discount sale how about under a tenner, brand new in a box every thing incuding postage