Pentax Optio S1 Announced

Compact Pentax Optio S1 Announced - Pentax User goes hands on with the new camera.

Posted: 03/03/2011 - 09:33

Ever since the Optio S, Pentax have carved themselves a niche making incredibly slim compact digital cameras with a metal chassis that have a strong style element to them. When it was first introduced, the three megapixel Optio S was incredibly popular due to its diminutive dimensions and excellent build and optical quality.

Times have changed since then, and many manufacturers now offer slim, stylish compacts of a similar ilk. So how does this Optio S1 from Pentax set itself apart from the pack?

Starting with the design, the S1 is only 20mm thick and the lightweight aluminium shell has a stylish mirror-like finish to it, which is available in black, chrome and aquamarine green finishes. To finish things off nicely, a colour accent has been added around the lens barrel. The black version we saw has a metallic red coating around each section of the lens barrel, which becomes visible when the camera is switched on. The body feels quite sturdy, despite it's light weight and all the controls are well laid out, making it easy to handle despite the camera's small size.

The lens itself covers a 5x zoom range, starting at a 28mm equivalent wide angle, which should be useful for group shots in tight spaces, or for getting all of the Eiffel Tower in shot without having to run back to Boulogne. A mechanical stabiliser should iron out shakiness in low light conditions too. High sensitivities up to ISO6400 are also provided, which should make this camera ideally for those who take most of their snaps at night after imbibing a few beverages.

High definition video can be recorded at 720p resolution and 30 frames per second in 16:9 format, suitable for viewing back on your fancy wide-screen television. The 2.7inch TFT LCD screen on the rear is also suitable for playback on the move. The 14 megapixel CCD sensor should be capable of recording plenty of detail, suitable even for large print sizes.

The usual range of detections are provided to make snap-shooting easier. The face detection system is an updated version which also works out exposure based on any faces detected in the frame and a Smile Capture and Blink Detection features should mean the end of images where your visiting Uncle looks like he's swallowed a wasp.

Those who wish for a little more creativity are catered for by nine creative imaging filters, which alter the look of your images in differing ways. Presets include a toy camera mode for Lomography fans and a miniature filter which provides a similar effect to tilt-shift photography.

Power is provided by a compact Li-Ion battery, which is charged inside the camera via the supplied cable from the mains, or from a powered USB 2.0 socket, much like many mobile phones do these days. This is good or those on the move, as it means a separate charger doesn't need to be packed for your journey. As SDXC cards are supported, this camera supports huge capacity cards, which may alleviate the need to carry spares.

This camera is expected to be available in the shops by the end of March 2011 with an RRP of only £119.
Pentax Optio S1: Specification

Members photos with related tags: Optio,S1

nonur nonur

44 posts
16 years
Konya.

Posted 05/03/2011 - 08:50 Link

I find the transparent plastic covers on the buttons at the back hideous, otherwise seems to be a good compact.

Regards,
Nezih

kff kff

35 posts
14 years

Posted 06/03/2011 - 15:43 Link

When will make Pentax a professional compact with P-TTL like Olympus XZ-1 .... ?

nightjockey nightjockey

6 posts
13 years
United Kingdom

Posted 06/03/2011 - 18:03 Link

kff wrote:
When will make Pentax a professional compact with P-TTL like Olympus XZ-1 .... ?

Good point - this is a serious gap in Pentax's product range but one that is well within their capability. How about one that can shoot RAW and Jpeg, 14m pixels, good low light capability without flash etc etc for starters?

andyken andyken

13 years

Posted 16/03/2011 - 08:01 Link

'High sensitivities up to ISO6400 are also provided, which should make this camera ideally for those who take most of their snaps at night after imbibing a few beverages.'

With a 1/2.3in sensor? Sorry, but I don't think so. Anything over ISO1600 is likely to be effectively unusable....

RedPanda RedPanda

2 posts
14 years
Essex,
UK

Posted 17/03/2011 - 11:53 Link

Actually, this looks excellent for my purposes. I've been experimenting with aerial shots taken from a radio controlled glider using an old Optio S5i triggered by an IR LED. Guess what, this S1 also has an IR sensor (thanks Pentax!) and it's light enough and cheap enough to send aloft without too much worry. Highly promising.

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