How good is the Optio?

I started a thread a while ago about bridging cameras as my Mrs wants a "better" camera.

Looking at it now and discussing things with her I don't think she'll want anything SLR based. ( I can't ask her directly as I plan to get it as a Christmas present ).
I think what she wants is a compact camera with a reasonable zoom function. Her phrasing was, " I don't want it to look like I was 3 miles away when I took the photo". This is really for school concerts etc. when she is sat half way down the hall.

So, do I go for the Fujifilm bridging camera with 10x zoom and convince her it's what she wants, or the Optio with 3x zoom that she can put in her pocket?

I'd opt for the canon g9, a 430 ex flash, and one of those camera bags that look like a nice purse.

or a decent (heck even a cheap Flip Mino) camcorder.

but that's me...
I like the bridge cameras, and would grab one of those before a cheaper pocket camera.
the thing you need to know before parting ways with your money is this:

will she mind lugging a big camera out once in a while, knowing you'll be lugging a dslr, and probably grabbing better shots... or will she want to get the video, while you get the stills, or would she rather have a smaller camera on her at all times, (remembering to keep it charged), to use often?

I love going to the kids concerts, knowing I can use my camcorder, while Gerri grabs the k10....

What about this, the price is good.
I had an optio 550 with 5X zoom and found the images superb.
If you go to the Park cameras site they have a good selection of colours.
The advantage with an Optio is they fit easily in the pocket and give great results.

I wouldn't go for a Pentax compact at all. I'd go for almost anything but to be honest.
Don's advice is really not so daft - Canon do a very fine range of compact and bridge cameras. A Canadian friend produces stunning photos with her Canon compact. The BP had a Canon S3 (now an S5 or even higher?) which was a great camera with 12x zoom. He now as my Ds, and misses the zoom!

The Panasonic TZ series have long (28-280mm equivalent, f3.3-4.9, Leica designed) zooms and are fairly compact, well made, good value for money and quite capable of turning out high quality results (by compact camera standards).

They lack RAW and any real form of manual control (look to the more expensive LX range for this) but the latest TZ5 has shake reduction, more scene modes than you can shake a stick at, some very clever AI and HD video capability.

That's where I'd start looking anyway...

One of the Optios (there are many!) may have enough reach if the hall is not huge and you're prepared to crop the image somewhat. It will indeed be nice for the camera to be truly pocketable.

I've just a bought compact that wasn't a Pentax - but that was mainly to get a wider angle than anything Pentax offers. I would have considered (another) Pentax compact otherwise.

Other makes may provide certain better features, and even better image quality, but too often they are clearly designed by electronics manufacturers rather than camera designers.

I have an Optio S5i and now a Panasonic LX2. The Panasonic is certainly superior in some technical ways, but the little Optio is still nicer to use.

The Optio? Pentax list 44 Optios on their website.

You are going to need to narrow it down a bit!

Ooops. Didn't know there were various models

I'll have to do a bit more research.

We do have a camcorder, but I usualy end up using it; Mrs Ted doesn't really do technology, that's another thing which puts me off the bridge camera.

Hardgravity...that looks just the ticket. Decent zoom, but point and shoot.

I'm going to Liverpool in a couple of weeks, so I'll visit some camera shops and get a feel for them.