The new Optio S55 is a compact camera that packs a 5 megapixel imager and a 3X optical zoom lens in a sleek aluminum design. It featuring a smc Pentax lens coupled with their Sliding Lens system that allows the lens to fully retract inside the camera when it is turned off. Equipped with PictBridge technology, the S55 connects directly to any PictBridge compatible printer so you can print images without the use of a personal computer.

Digital Camera Info have reviewed the Optio S55 and say-

“Many fundamental aspects of the Optio S55 – its size, 5 megapixel CCD, 3x optical zoom lens, 115,000-pixel LCD, $250-or-so street price – are decidedly middle-of-the-road. There are loads of cameras with those specs, because many, many snapsnapers will get the results they want with cameras like that. The camera is easy to use in automatic mode and built well enough to survive rough handling – if you forget about it in the bottom of your backpack for a while, it will probably emerge okay. The on-screen help features should be useful to casual users as well. Unfortunately, the S55 also contains some glaring flaws that will frustrate even the most complacent snapsnaper. Pentax heavily markets the camera’s large LCD screen, omitting the fact that its quality is extremely substandard, making it difficult to accurately perceive the frame and review images. There is also no manual mode included, forcing those beginner users looking to grow into the medium to look elsewhere or buy multiple cameras. Furthermore, the S55 eats through batteries faster than any other camera that we have reviewed, and for those who like the freedom of AAs, the seemingly affordable point-and-snap will soon become a constant cash-consumer. Therefore, those users looking to learn more about photography should look at other cameras that offer more manual control, but for the snapsnaper on a tight budget, with a slight decrease in price (below $200), the S55 would be a reasonable choice.”

Pentax 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 Optio S55 review here