Rating: 
Summary: Don't leave home without it.
Review: I keep mine in my pants pocket at all times. Every other digital camera I've bought or even contemplated buying is enormous, because I always want a certain amount of control. But as a result, I never have a camera with me for spontaneous shooting. Yes, the Optio S has a lag between pressing the button and the shutter release; yes, there are plastic and rubber parts that you need to be careful with; but for crying out loud, folks, it fits in a 'Toid can! You can determine which settings are stored when you power down (my favorite feature); it has two macro settings; the battery lasts longer than any digital camera battery I've ever seen; and I love the images. This is definitely a watershed device for me in terms of taking more pictures and having more fun doing it.
Rating:
Summary: Get this camera now!
Review: I'm going to keep this simple. This camera is nothing short of spectacular. It is a mini marvel that will cause your friends severe techno-lust. If you read the specs and all the positive reviews - believe 'em. This camera lives up to the hype, and then some. If you just want to take point-and-shoot pictures, no problem. But for the more advanced photographers there are many features and adjustments you can put to good use. The movie mode is fantastic too and so is the sound quality. I printed out some 8 x 10 pictures on my Lexmark X75 and the sharpness, clarity, and color knocked me out. It's worth every penny. What good is a camera if it stays at home because it's a pain to carry around. You'll use the Optio S because you'll always want to carry it in your pocket (in your Altoids tin, of course.) I waited a long time to buy a digital camera and this is THE ONE for me.
Rating:
Summary: Pentax Optio S
Review: Have been a photographer for 40 years, and have used all types of cameras, from 35 to Medium format , this is a great digital camera, it's size does not present any problems.
It is my 4th digital, they get better all the time ,I do not miss the darkroom , that's for sure !
Rating: 
Summary: Wowee, until I found its ACHILLE's heel. Update 29 Apr 03
Review: So I've owned this little camera for about a week now (updated 29 Apr 03 - see below) and it is as good as everyone else has been spewing out. Currently I use a 3 MP Sony Cybershot P-5 as a reference, but I have owned another Cybershot and Fuji, too. THE GOOD:
1) What they said.
2) SIZE MATTERS. Although 18 mths ago my camera was tiny, this one takes the cake. I was considering the Sony Cybershot U20 until I saw this camera. Although the Sony is smaller, it actually felt heavier when I compared the two.
3) LOTS OF FEATURES. For its size, it has way too many features that other ones tend not to have. Manual focus override, panorama mode, 3-D mode, super macro (Focal length <2 inches), alarm clock, time-lapse mode, and on and on.
4) BATTERY LIFE. My sony battery always gives me about 50 min of continuous use. From other reports this one lasts about twice as long. Although I haven't tested this myself, it seems to hold up quite well so far. Officially, 100+ shots with 50% flash use and LCD on. THE BAD:
1) This is the deal breaker for me. First think about how many electronics you own with no battery cover -- all those TV remotes, portable CD players, and camera doors (hint). Before you buy, check out that battery door. The case is beautifully built, except for the second class battery door with two tiny, little prongs that are sure to break off with any little bump. I just don't get why they decided to save a couple bucks with this little stunt. If you can live with it, best of luck to you with your sticky, gooey tape residue holding such a wonderful camera together. Check it out.
2) The auto focus takes a little more time to focus than I'm used to, but seems more accurate with the multipoint focus.
2) Sorry, that's the best I could do. To nit pick, the optics or CCD sensor are not as sharp as my Sony, although very close. Writing to the SD card takes a little more time than the MS system on the Sony. And, the jog dial is sort of small. Don't get me wrong, I will probably keep this camera over my Sony, but if that little battery door breaks I will curse the day I bought this thing. UPDATE: It's week three now and I just came back from a trip in which I brought both my Sony and the new Pentax. I have to say the Optio S continues to impress me with its overall value, and I have not yet had any problems with the battery door, although I still cringe everytime I have to take the battery out. THE GOOD--
SIZE: Definitely as tiny as you could reasonable want a camera. The selector button on the back is too tiny for those with large hands, fortunately I am not one of them.
BATTERY LIFE: As above, I am still holding firm. During my week of vacation, I never had to charge the camera battery -- LCD always on, flashes in most pictures, and plenty of reviewing pictures on my hotel TV for a total of about 50 pix - and only one bar is missing from the battery meter. Definitely feels a little stronger than my Sony in this area.
FLASH: I continue to like the power of this flash in such a small camera, although it does give an electronic feel to some indoor pix as I have noticed in all digicams -- not washed out like my Sony though.
AUTOFOCUS and SENSOR: AF seems a little faster than I felt earlier. And, it seems to do just fine in low light with focusing even though the camera doesn't verify that it is locked on the picture subject. As for the camera sensor, it seems to pick up low light better than my Sony. In low light, my Sony only sees black at times when the Optio has no problems THE BAD:
OPTICS: Although the optics seem pretty good, because of the small lenses used, it tends to have a curving effect on objects in the periphery -- similar to a fish-eye lens, but less obvious. It is really only noticeable when a straight edge (like a building or pole) is on the side of the picture.
SPEED: Fast to start up and take a photo, but definitely too slow to store to memory compared to my Sony. I think this is attributed to the slower transfer speed using SD cards vs. Mem sticks. This is only an issue when you want someone to take a second photo in a hurry, just in case, and they have to wait for the camera to finish recording.
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Summary: What a little beauty!!
Review: We got this for a wedding gift ready for our honeymoon next month and we are so excited to use it. Theres loads of features on it, but after a quick run through the manual its easy to find things and remember how to use the functions. We have oly taken sample shots with this so far - but they have all been great. Onboard memory is small, but memory seems reasonable these days and we have ordered a 256 SD card to use with it. Battery life IS short, but it appears that it is possible to track down a second battery now on Amazon. Looks amazing - easy to use and just wonderful!
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Summary: Simply Amazing Macros!
Review: Just got the Pentax Optio S. with a leather carrying case. 256MB SD and extra battery on their way. I like cameras that are small and light enough that it's not a hassle to carry everywhere, yet still have sufficient bells and whistles that I can take great pictures under any circumstance. Overall, very pleased with this camera. Pros: 1. Great Macro settings - There are Macro and Super Macro settings. The regular macro setting can take good photos upto about a foot away. But the super macro can get as close as 2.5 inches and when shot at the highest resolution and best image setting, the details are amazing (note: flash unavailable in the S-Macro mode). 2. Size - I also have a Canon S200 and the Optio is much smaller and lighter in comparison. The Canon feels bulky now. I have a Pentax leather case for the Optio S and the whole thing fits inside the Canon leather case (PSC-100 - discontinued). When worn on my belt, I don't notice that it's there. 3. Manual Focus - great for low light situations where the camera sensors have difficulty getting a focus lock. 4. Audio functions - You can add sound recording (voice memo) to annotate each picture. And you can listen to the playback on the built in speaker. You can also turn on just the audio recording (lens remains retracted) so that you can use it for short voice recordings. 5. Battery meter - Finally, someone added this feature to a camera in this category!! 6. Pentax leather belt case (PTLX-40) - very snug fit, zippered main compartment and a vecro closed, accordion style, outer pocket (very nice and expandable, unlike my Canon case) for extra battery, SD cards, Altoids, etc. 7. Flexible battery cover - someone dropped my Canon S200 and the CF cover latch broke off (easily replaced but still a pain). The battery cover is attached (somewhat loosely) via an elastic polymer so that in case of an accident, the cover is less likely to break off. While some people might think this is flimsy design, I believe it will actually keep the battery/SD card cover from breaking off on impact (you may have other worries in that case anyway). 8. Long neck strap - you can hang the camera from your neck and you will hardly notice that it's there because it's so light. 9. Loaded with features - Ability to save configurations so that the camera returns to previous settings (such as zoom, flash, EV, resolution, etc.) when turned back on, ability to assign a custom function to the controller button. Ability to edit image size. Panorama stitching. 3D pictures with included 3D viewer. Instant review setting variable in 1 second increments (my S200 has only 2 or 10 second presets). User adjustable focusing area. Just too many to list that I have not had a chance to try yet. Cons: 1. If you have large hands, even fat fingers, the controller can be difficult to use. I have a medium sized thumb and I had to practice a while to keep from accidentally rocking the 4-way controller in the wrong direction. 2. Battery life seems somewhat short but that may have been due to my taking a lot of indoor flash pictures. Definitely need a second battery (as with most other digital cameras in this category). 3. PC/AV (USB) connector port is a bit difficult to plug into because there is a rubber cover/cap that gets in the way. 4. Small size - one of its best features but handing such a small object also takes a little getting used to. 5. Focusing option is somewhat limited (spot or multi metering) compared to newer Canons. Movable focusing center is an interesting feature but not very practical to use in the field. Update: 1.5 months later... Still very happy with the little camera. While shopping for an engagement ring, I took many super macro shots of rings on my fiance's finger and it really helped to be able to review the close-up appearances, styles and details of each ring. (FYI, every jeweler I asked said it was okay to take the photos of the jewelry we were interested in.) The 256MB SD card can hold about 124 pictures in the best quality highest resolution mode. Battery life was similar to my Canon depending on usage, about an hour of continuous shooting (I have a second battery and a second 256MB SD card that fit inside the pouch on the camera case). I have used the audio recorder only mode (lens stays retracted) a few times to record memos to myself and it proved to be quite useful. I really like being able to wear the camera strap on my neck because it provides ready access during a hike and is very light (you barely feel the weight of the camera hanging from your neck). If you can find/get the Pentax soft leather case, it's the perfect case to hold this camera, a spare battery plus a few SD cards. You can wear it on your belt or in your front jean pocket (comfortable if you have loose/baggy pants). I still have not explored the multitude of other special features but most of those (3D stereo, panorama, special filters, etc.) are not something I would use on a regular basis. They may be useful for some creative projects later on. Update 10/10/2003: I used the audio memo function of the Optio S while looking for rental housing. I took pictures of the places, of rooms and neighborhoods. It was very handy to make a voice memo for each picture of the rental units to remind myself later of any special features of each place, including rent+deposit, number of rooms, pets, floor style, utilities, impressions, etc. This is the only camera I use for all my digital imaging needs.
Rating:
Summary: Perfect for on the go
Review: Pros: Super fast performance... almost instantly ready after power-on and the fastest camera i've ever seen as far as being ready for consecutive pictures. very good quality pics, even in low light. I am shocked by its size... it really does fit into a altoids (R) tin. Pentax has been making quality cameras for years, this definitely adds to their name. Cons: The "power" button is right next to the shutter button. When you try to take a pic you sometimes hit the wrong one and turn it off. Incandescent lighting can cause a "yellowy" tone to appear, but can be corrected by using a flash or using the "white balance" feature. Battery charger doesn't plug into camera, only charges battery. Fine if you have more than one battery, but inconvenient otherwise. Overall: not the cheapest camera on the market, but increadibly small with wonderful features. If you can afford it, there is no better. You will find yourself using this more than you would a larger camera. worth the [money].
Rating: 
Summary: Amazingly small package with only one caveat...
Review: First off, I have long been eyeing this camera, as well as the soon to be released Casio EX-Z3, and the mystery-release-date Minolta Dimage XT. I do not own this Optio S but my coworker just purchased it. Let me just say this: 5 minutes after he brought the camera into the office, our boss began drooling over the little puppy. He immediately fled to the B & H Photo store and purchased it! I'm not kidding. 5 minutes folks, 5 minutes is all it took--and without reading any reviews on amazon[.com]! Anywhooo, this camera is truly amazing size wise. My coworker went out to buy an Altoids tin just to be sure that Pentax wasn't lying about the "fits into an Altoids Tin" marketing ploy. Pants pocket size? How about the little coin pocket within the pants pocket!?! My Sony Cybershot which is but a year old looks and feels like a brick compared to this camera. The entire body is a nice solid aluminum shell with minimalism written all over it. The lcd screen seems to be the typical 1.5" or so. The zoom lens extends amazingly far from the body, making one wonder where the heck it disappears to back inside. The only problem I forsee with this model is the miniscule sized jog button on the back. The button is way too small to nagivate the menu screens efficiently. I have a similar problem with my Sony P-71 camera. Basically, when the left-right-up-down controls are merged into one button along with the center push, motion control becomes extremely tricky. Not suprisingly, Sony's newer model P-72 separates all 5 directions. I'm sure that was as a result of numerous complaints from users. Aside from that little nuisance, there seem to be a plethora of functions packed into this little beast. I really didn't have time to go through them all, but the fact that you can take video clips with sound is a nice addition. The battery is a propriety one so I would definitely get a second spare. The memory is Secure Digital which, at least from my perspective, is a hell of a lot better than Sony's memory shtick. One lesson I've learned is NEVER buy something that uses proprietary memory cards that no other manufacturer will embrace. SD capacity is on the rise, unlike Sony's memory stick which has topped out at 256mb for models pre-2003. Well, enough of my rant on Sony. I would recommend you handle this camera in person prior to purchasing it. Overall, it seems like a marvelous contender in the super slim sized 3 megapixel digital family.
Rating:
Summary: Almost perfect camera
Review: First off, this camera rocks. The number of options on it boggle the mind. I have gone through them and they do make a difference. The other nice thing is that the interface is very intuitive. I've read through the manual once and now all of the icons make perfect sense. The camera takes high quality pictures. I simply love the fact that it fits in an Altoids tin. I keep it in my pocket and I don't even notice it. :-) Now, the reasons for not a perfect 5.
1 - The battery life is short. I have a 256 MB card, and I can't get through it without recharing.
2 - The software isn't exactly great. ACD starts up every time that the camera is attached. Then it promptly crashes. Thankfully, it works once the pics are copied to the hard drive.
Rating:
Summary: Small camera with a knockout punch
Review: I have only one complain about this camera. The menu joystick on the back is very sensitive and takes a little getting use to. With that said, everything else about it is absolutely great!!! I sold my Canon S230 to purchase this camera and I am very satisfied with it. It has a lot of features than the S230, its way smaller, better picture quality (IMO), and it has a 3X optical zoom. The red eye reduction flash actually works, unlike the S230 plus it has a great fill flash program. The macro mode is excellent. I think I will be keeping this camera around for long while. And if that's not all it has a voice recorder built-in too. Oh...you can also adjust the sharpness, contrast, and saturation of the images and crop them in the camera. Damn, when Pentax went after Canon did they it vengence.
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