Pentax Optio A40

The Optio A30 was replaced by the A40 in the spring of 2008 The difference from the A30 is slim, however.
THE OPTIO A10 was the first premium member of the growing Optio family, available from the end of March 2006. The Optio A10 was subsequently replaced by the A20 with slight improvements, and this was again rather quickly replaced by the 10MP A30 that finally seems to live up to the promises made for this premium Pentax compact series. The next entry will be the Optio A40 with a 12 MP sensor that was delayed to the spring of 2008 after a fire in the battery factory. Pentax (Japan) A40 listing. DPReview release notes.

Dimple Pinky stars Pucchi and Evil flank the neat Pentax A30 compact camera.

The Optio A10 was the first digicam from Pentax to feature image stabilization, or Shake Reduction, as Pentax would have it. Two sensors register camera movements and move the image sensor to compensate with the help of two solenoids.
The probably worst thing with the A10 was the display that was virtually useless in bright light. The A30 screen is better but still difficult to see in sunlight. New in the A30 is Face Recognition for Auto Exposure and Auto Focus. The movie feature offer some Shake reduction and can save as DivX (on a PC) for longer movies.

The Optio A30 is slightly larger than the original Optio A10. The sensor now boasts 10 MP.

The Optio A30 screen is the same size but much improved, although it is not obvious in this photo.

Impressions

Cliff Smith of Trusted Reviews finds the Optio A30 to be Pentax’s best ultra-compact camera to date. With stylish design, and outstanding picture quality. “It is a superb camera and one which puts Pentax firmly back into contention at the top of the market.”

OK, this is an Optio A10 photo but quite nice, nevertheless, I think ;-)

The usual bath house window shot with the Optio A30.

Unretouched and uncropped part of window photo showing the fine resolution of this tiny camera.

Links

Macworld review Pentax Optio A40
DCWatch presentation (Japanese) Optio A40
DCWatch blurb (Japanese) Optio A40
Megapixel.net review Pentax Optio A30
Review be Trusted Reviews Pentax Optio A30
DCWatch 1st view (Japanese) Optio A30
DCWatch 1st view (Japanese) Optio A20
DCRP Review: Pentax Optio A10
Digital Photography Review Pentax Optio A10 Review
Digital Camera Reviews Pentax Optio A10 Digital Camera Review
Replacement frames for Optio S6/A10
DCWatch longterm report final (Japanese) Animation
DCWatch longterm report #8 (Japanese) Street Snaps
DCWatch longterm report #7 (Japanese) Supermacro Photography
DCWatch longterm report #6 (Japanese) Scenery with Rainbow
DCWatch longterm report #5 (Japanese) Flash Night Photography
DCWatch longterm report #4 (Japanese) Night Photography
DCWatch longterm report #3 (Japanese) Night Photography
DCWatch longterm report #2 (Japanese) Spring Flowers
DCWatch longterm report #1 (Japanese) Spring Haze
DCWatch review (Japanese) Optio A10
DCWatch preview (Japanese) Optio A10
Pentax USA details Optio A10
DCWatch news flash (Japanese) Optio A10

The early bird still has to eat worms.