Advantages: Many
Disadvantages: only 6 Mp

...An excellent camera for Pentax users moving from film to digital. This is a well built camera - perhaps a little lighter than one would expect if used to a Pentax MX, say, but comfortable and easy to use. The autofocus is fast and reliable and the viewfinder indications are easy to understand. One advantage for those with older Pentax gear is that many of the lenses produced for the more recent 35mm range also fit, and are fully functional, with this camera. (I picked up a complete 35mm kit from eBay for £60 which included a 70-300mm lens that works perfectly with the *ist DL). Another advantage is that the camera includes a hot-shoe socket for external flash and works with Pentax flash models previously produced for the analogue market. This camera produces good, sharp and clear images and is delightful to use. The only gripe I... Read review

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Advantages: Lightweight
Disadvantages: Uses AA Batteries

...The Pentax 50L has quite alot to offer a maximum of image quality with its 5 Megapixel resolution and several automatic and manual functions. This is a great camera for just the occasional family photo or sightseeing. The light-weight digital compact is equipped with a 2,5" LCD screen for perfect control of the images. The silver colored camera body is a real light weight with its 130g, the Pentax Optio 50. Pentax Optio 50L digital camera does not need a power outlet because of the energy supply from AA-batteries. The 3x optical zoom with a focal length of around 32 - 96 mm (according KB-format). Numerous picture modes as well as automatic functions make the handling of the Optio50L a pure pleasure. So it is easy to take brilliant and unforgettable photos of parties, vacation or the everyday life, even for beginners. Photos, video... Read review

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Advantages: High quality lense, nice compact size
Disadvantages: Carry case not included

...I have had my Pentax Optio 330RS for about two years now and totally love it. I chose this camera after lots of research and I'll highlight those benefits in this review. First of all Pentax have been making lenses and optics for decades - long before many of todays technology companies woke up and figured they could manufacture a quality lense. Ultimately this little Pentax has a superb output in terms of the pictures you print (A4 sized images print out in excellent detail and you won't see any pixelisation). When buying a camera make sure you use a well established optics brand like Pentax - the lense is the heart of your camera! Size matters! It certainly does to me. The 330RS is approximately the size of a cigarette packet - it is big enough not to be fiddly but you don't mind taking it with you as it will fit in an average pocket... Read review

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Advantages: creative possibilities, durability and pricing
Disadvantages: replacement of old parts would be pricey

...All photography students are well aquainted with the Pentax K1000 as it has been used as a value for money SLR for many years now. The choice of schools and Universities to buy this camera, alone emphasises its reliability and ease of use for a beginner. For those who have surpassed the beginners' stage, this camera provides an excellent and very compatible base for extras to be added. For instance larger lenses can be added which will magnify and allow greater scope for picture taking. A flash can also be added and there is a terminal on the camera front to where it can be attached for flash synchronisation. This hot shoe allows a variety of other components to be added to the camera for example an air release which will allow the photographer to stand away from the camera viewfinder and still take the shot. The joy of having... Read review

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Advantages: Full SLR, Digita OS
Disadvantages: slow shot-to-shot time, slow zoom

...Pentax has just released their consumer digital SLR camera, the EI-2000. This camera has the traditional 35mm SLR camera ergonomics and features: aperture and shutter priority, metered manual and programmed AE with picture modes (portrait, landscape, etc.). It has a top shutter speed of 1/1000 to 4 seconds and a manual zoom control via the lens ring on the lens barrel. Unfortunately, it does not have manual focusing via a lens ring but via the menu. The camera runs on Digita OS, which makes it very flexible -- being able to run Digita applications and scripts. The camera, however, performs no where near the previous Digital-enabled cameras - this one boots up in 2 seconds and processes the images quickly. There is a built-in, pop-up flash with a hotshoe for external flash support. The camera is powered by 4 AA NiMH batteries... Read review

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Advantages: small, extremely quick, huge lcd screen, functions
Disadvantages: cant think of one...

...I have had an olympus digi camera for a couple of years now and was getting fed up with it as it was slow and bulky so after some research i found this camera. It is new to the market and perect for what i was after. -quick start up time -very short lag time between photo taking and display -huge screen on the back -5miillion pixels -extremely small in size -lightweight -tons of features and effects! -long battery life what more could i ask for? It can record video and sound and it is so compact! Pentax have removed the little viewfinder which means they can allow for a bigger lcd screen which is fantastic for watching your photos back on. It has tonnes of features and the super macro mode is brilliant! Im off on holiday to china soon and cant wait to take photos with this little camera. highly recommended! I got it for under £200... Read review

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Advantages: EASY TO USE, BRILLIANT IMAGES
Disadvantages: NO SELF CLEANING

...I have owned this camera for six months now and it has been brilliant. The choice of aperture priority is the one I use most. I really don't get on well with instruction manuals and I'm pleased to say I can manage this without using the instructions - although one reason for choosing this model was that my old pre-digital lenses should fit it - I have tried one lens but got no response at all, so will have to go to the manual! The images are mainly sharp and bright although not quite so good in low light situations - in spite of me trying to compensate for the low light the results are not so good as with my old Pentax SLR film camera. The anti shake works so well that I have to pull myself up when using other cameras without it - it has made me a bit careless! The one drawback for me with this camera is that bits of dust have got... Read review

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Advantages: Sharp, Well built, Good looking.
Disadvantages: Purple fringing, Price.

...The Pentax FA77mm is one of the best lenses around. It combines excellent build quality, and a small size to create a world class lens - up with the likes of Zeiss, and Leica lenses. Its has great resolution throughout its aperture range. I have used the lens on an APS-C camera, but not yet a 35mm SLR, though have heard it performs just as well on both. Although wide open the corner resolution isnt fantastic, once stopped down the resolution is high all over the shot. The bokeh (Out of focus areas) is beautifully rendered by the 77Ltd, producing smooth backgrounds and excellent areas of shallow depth of field. Colour is vibrant and strong, and there are no odd blue or orange colour casts. Purple fringing sometimes occurs on APS-C digital SLRs, as with most lenses, but only in high contrast situations (Eg. Shooting trees against the light... Read review

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Advantages: Incredibly stylish due to its looks and size, solid feel and construction, good quality pics
Disadvantages: a bit slow on taking pictures

...The Pentax Optio s30 is a brilliant camera, cramed pack full with useful features. To start of with, the size and finish of the camera is extremly impressive especially when you see the results it produces. I was looking for something of decent quality I could carry around with me but without finding it a burden - exactly what I got... with a bit more. I found it very easy to use, while also containg complex manual settings for the more experienced photographer. The Lcd is brilliant and clear and the ACDC software is simple to use and the panoramic feature is also useful. The auto timer is great fun and very good also. The Pentax does have its flaws, the main one being some slowness, especially recovering between shots, but I find that pre-focusing means I can get action shots perfectly easily. I was in Africa over the summer... Read review

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Advantages: Large display screen, easy to use
Disadvantages: I haven't found any

...I was given the Pentax Optio S10 as a birthday present 2 months ago to replace my film camera and quite honestly I was convinced I would hate it and thought it was far too small and would be fiddly and not take photos as good as my SLR. Well I have to say I've been made to eat my words, Firstly the quality of the pictures is totally amazing, very crisp and clear, even when printed at A4 size they don't lose any clarity. The display screen is much larger than on many small digital cameras and makes it easy to use. The controls are very easy to use, when you click onto the mode screen there is a clear symbol for each type of operation and when you click on it, it gives a brief description of what it does which saves from having to consult the manual all the time. The battery life is a real plus as I'd heard that many digital cameras... Read review

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