The Pentax Optio S55 sports a giant 2.5 inch LCD monitor, a 3X zoom, and 5.0 effective megapixels. A handy mode dial helps select from 6 still image snapping modes. Use the Help mode to display function explanations for snapping and playback, and help reduce your instruction manual dependency. Add to these helpful features, a compact aluminum alloy design that ensures you will never sacrifice style with the PENTAX Optio S55.

Pentax Optio S55

Pentax Optio S55

Steve’s Digicams reviewed the Optio S55 this weekend. Here are a few quotes from their review-

“The ergonomics of the S55 are surprisingly good considering its diminutive size; the buttons are well placed and functional, and menu screens are legible and logically organized.
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The large 2.5-inch LCD was a pleasure to use in most circumstances. When snapping outdoors the LCD is quite usable, the brightness adjustment effective in mid-day sunlight.
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Battery life was good; the S55 captured over 250 images on a pair of 2500mAh NiMH rechargeable batteries with full-time use of the LCD viewfinder.
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The Pentax Optio S55 offers a good value with its under-$300 MSRP, 5-megapixel resolution, ease of fully-automatic operation, useful scene modes, durable compact design, built-in help screens, 2.5-inch LCD monitor and good image quality. It trails the competition, however, with its relatively sluggish performance, low resolution movie mode and the lack of both a focus-assist lamp and an optical viewfinder. If you’re in the market for an easy to use compact 5-megapixel digicam, you should also consider the Nikon CoolPix 5600 for about the same street price, or the Nikon CoolPix 5900 for about $50 more; both offer more robust performance and an optical viewfinder, the 5900 in addition also feature a focus-assist lamp.”

Optio S55 Features:
* Ultra compact 3.5 x 2.3 x 1 inches, weighs just 4.4 ounces
* Stylish and durable aluminum alloy body
* 3x Pentax zoom lens (35.6-107mm in 35mm equivalent)
* 5.0-megapixel CCD imager for images up to 2560 x 1920 pixels
* 320 x 240 motion JPEG with audio at 30/15fps, length limited to media capacity
* 30 second voice memos can be attached to images
* Snapping modes selected from a convenient mode dial
* Super macro mode coverage down to 2.4 inches
* Three metering choices: multi-segment, center weighted and spot
* 28-zone, 62-city, world time with alarm clock.
* Audio-Video output for TV display
* 2.5″ color TFT LCD monitor with 100% coverage
* Powered by CR-V3 or 2xAA batteries
* 11 MB of internal memory plus SD card slot
* PictBridge, Epson PRINT Image Matching II and Exif Print compatible
* USB Mass Storage compliant

Read the full Pentax Optio S55 review here.