Pentax Optio X70

Pentax Optio X70 is best defined as a crossover camera between a Digital SLR and a point and shoot digital camera. Super zoom for a camera of this size is what makes it unique. It’s got a zoom of 24x optical zoom lens with a 26mm -624mm zoom range. It has intelligent zoom which allows magnification up to 150x, without compromising optical performance of zoom lens.

It has a 2.7 inch LCD screen with anti reflection coating which helps prevent glare from sunlight providing effective outdoor viewing. The Electronic View Finder has a resolution of around 200,000 dots with shooting information display feature. It has true hardware sensor with movement shake reduction.

It has smile detection which automatically releases the shutter if it detects a smile. Blink detection warns the photographer if the subject’s eyes are closed. It can detect 32 faces in 0.3 sec. The camera is provided with auto picture mode enabling it to auto adjust and detect favorable picture conditions. This makes it the right mode choice for naïve photographers.

Some of the drawbacks in this camera are:-
1. It is not provided with a hot shoe for attaching external flash.
2. It can only click pictures in jpeg. No other raw shoot photography option is provided.
3. If you want to record a movie only digital zoom is available which blurs the picture and loses clarity when zoomed in while recording.
4. The battery lasts for 150 to 175 shots in case of still photography and around 70 minutes of video.

If you want a handy camera which gives you advantage of a DSLR and Compact digital camera then Pentax Optio X70 is a worthy consideration.