Pentax Optio RS1500 review
Not without problems, but serviceable photo and video quality, fun designs and a low price add up to an attractive deal.
Specifications
1/2.33in 14.0-megapixel sensor, 4.0x zoom (27.5-110mm equivalent), 127g
Barrel distortion appeared to afflict photos too, but we were relieved to see that the saved JPEGs had been straightened using digital processing. Details looked sharp, but this relied heavily on digital processing too, giving an odd-looking halo to high-contrast lines and exaggerating noise at slow ISO speeds. A combination of digital sharpening and noise reduction gave higher-ISO shots a slightly syrupy appearance when viewed up close.
Even so, this camera acquitted itself well in low light, with optical stabilisation to counteract shakes, well-chosen automatic settings and pictures that looked fine when resized to fit a computer screen.
It doesn’t stand out for image quality, but if the custom designs appeal, the camera as a whole doesn’t disappoint.
Basic Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Rating | **** |
| CCD effective megapixels | 14.0 megapixels |
| CCD size | 1/2.33in |
| Viewfinder | none |
| Viewfinder magnification, coverage | N/A |
| LCD screen size | 3.0in |
| LCD screen resolution | 230,000 pixels |
| Articulated screen | No |
| Live view | Yes |
| Optical zoom | 4.0x |
| Zoom 35mm equivalent | 27.5-110mm |
| Image stabilisation | optical, sensor shift |
| Maximum image resolution | 4,288×3,216 |
| Maximum movie resolution | 1280×720 |
| Movie frame rate at max quality | 30fps |
| File formats | JPEG; AVI (M-JPEG) |
Physical | |
| Memory slot | SDHC |
| Mermory supplied | 21MB internal |
| Battery type | Li-ion |
| Battery Life (tested) | 210 shots |
| Connectivity | USB, AV |
| HDMI output resolution | N/A |
| Body material | plastic |
| Lens mount | N/A |
| Focal length multiplier | N/A |
| Kit lens model name | N/A |
| Accessories | USB and AV cables |
| Weight | 127g |
| Size | 56x92x23mm |
Buying Information | |
| Warranty | one-year RTB |
| Price | £90 |
| Supplier | http://www.jessops.com |
| Details | www.pentax.co.uk |
Camera Controls | |
| Exposure modes | auto |
| Shutter speed | auto |
| Aperture range | f/3.2 (wide), f/5.9 (tele) |
| ISO range (at full resolution) | 100 to 6400 |
| Exposure compensation | +/-2 EV |
| White balance | auto, 4 presets, manual |
| Additional image controls | shadow correction |
| Manual focus | Yes |
| Closest macro focus | 8cm |
| Auto-focus modes | multi, centre, face detect, tracking |
| Metering modes | multi, face detect |
| Flash | auto, forced, suppressed, red-eye reduction |
| Drive modes | single, self-timer |
