Pentax Optio 555 Digital Camera (Pentax-18273)

Pentax Optio 555

Optio 555 Digital Camera (Pentax-18273) Review, by Alan Stafford December 9, 2003

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• Reviewed by: zhuchok

  Strengths: * Multitude of manual control options* Sturdy aluminum alloy body* Excellent zoom optics* Long battery life* Battery charger is included with the camera* Relatively compact size

  Weaknesses: * Built-in flash has relatively small effective range* Not the best camera to use in low-light conditions (zoom may fail to focus altogether)* Red eye effect is common for in-room images

  Overall: If you are looking for a relatively inexpensive high-quality digital camera that would allow you a lot of manual control over your pictures, look no further, for this is the camera you need! On the other hand, if most of the time you would rather rely on the default "auto" settings to produce the best possible image; this digital camera may not be your best choice.

• Reviewed by: kaye_vicencio

  Strengths: Rich with features, great shutter control, ability to save to TIFF for better quality photos, and good value

  Weaknesses: Needs aesthetic improvements to look more sleek, More pricey than other 5mp digicam

  Overall: With the richness of features of the Optio 555, it enables you to explore different possibilities and expand your creativity in photography. The features are endless, and it makes you feel that you paid for such good value. Taking pictures have never felt as exciting now than ever before.

• Reviewed by: regimarc

  Strengths: super macro feature is incredibly sharp and accurate, permitting the user to capture the finest details of flowers

  Weaknesses: lens cover got stuck on second time I used the camera - I am a very cautious person

  Overall: We had researched this camera carefully before buying it. It has been very disappointing to have a serious problem right away. I am sixty years old, and so did not grow up in the computer age. I feel very disappointed that I ran into difficulty although I was willing to try the technology after studying the manual. If I were going on a trip I would take one of my other cameras as well as the Pentax because I would be afraid of further malfunctions.

• Reviewed by: bhpete37

  Strengths: 5X zoom, Picture resolution good, relatively easy to use.

  Weaknesses: Red eye correction is not adequate. Instruction booklet is not always clear. The operating manual is also very complacated for a beginner. The lack of a dependable warranty is the major drawback.

  Overall: MY RATING IS TWO (2) STARSMy negative rating is primarally related to the issue of the veracity of Pentax and their caprecious use of their warranty. A warranty is only as good as the integrity of the company which issues it. Don't trust Pentax. Specifically my camera lens would not close after I had used it. I sent it in for repair and they would not honor the warranty. Others have reported this problem I don't know what their experience was but Pentax said I had damaged it. How they came to that decision I have no idea. All of the communication was through a local repair service and I was given no opportunity to address the issue personally. I had to either pay them a $215 repair fee or lose the total cost of the camera.Pentax buyers beware. Once you have bought the product Pentax will support it as it humors them.

• Reviewed by: joliefleur

  Strengths: Easy to use. Intuitive menus/displays.

  Weaknesses: Lens cover mechanism could get damaged.

  Overall: I bought this camera three days prior to taking a two week trip to Spain. I was worried about getting good photos from this camera so I took my Olympus 35mm camera and film with me as a backup. I never used the backup camera.This camera is surprisingly easy to use. I found the configuration menus easy to read & understand. I played around with the exposure settings, letting the camera choose and selecting my own. I was able to get some very good pictures inside churches with minimal lighting and in places where flash pictures was not allowed. The only suggestion I would make is that a tripod should be used in low light conditions. I couldn't stand still enough to get consistently sharp photos under low light conditions.I had read reviews about the shutter delay. It is a little slow. Don't buy this camera if you're mainly going to be shooting action photos of sports.My biggest concern is the mechanism which protects the lens. It's open to the world and there's no way to protect it. You've got to be very careful carrying the camera around and protect the front. Pentax went for a flat front design which looks great but in the long term I think I will have to send my camera in for repairs for a stuck lens cover.