Snapper is friendlier but still has image problems
Product: Pentax Optio S4i Price: $3,580 Pros: Great screen, improved user interface Cons: Image quality only slight better than elder siblings
I should mention that I bought the original camera-that-fits-in-an-Altoid-can, and thought it was great. The original Pentax Optio S was a three-megapixel wonder that had 3x optical zoom, tons of features, and took pretty good pictures for a camera of its size.
The latest incarnation, the Optio S4i, repackages the concept in more user-friendly fashion. The main difference between S4i and the earlier model is the larger 1.8 inch LCD screen at the back of the camera, making the review of still pictures a much easier task.
Gone is the cumbersome wheel-shaped on-screen menu system, which made accessing features laborious at times when combined with the miniscule four-way navigation controls. This has been replaced by a larger button that is easy on the fingers, and a friendly Palm-like icon system for accessing camera features.
Another complaint with the Optio S and its brother Optio S4 was the flimsy battery door, which when flicked open hung at the mercy of a thin rubber strip, waiting to be torn off. The Optio S4i replaces this with a sturdy metal hinge.
For a camera this small, the original Optio S had to trade in some image quality. There was a tendency for busy images to have one corner out of focus, and a yellow tinge to images taken in low-light conditions. Both issues have been addressed to some degree in the new model but are yet to be completely solved. Issues that remain unaddressed include the stronger than average lens distortion, and weak red-eye reduction. The image quality is slightly better than it is with the camera's older siblings. There is some noise in large uniform-coloured areas, but purple fringing is not a problem.
The new model also comes with a cradle for recharging the battery without taking it out of the camera. However, the cradle does not double as a connection to the PC.
There is also an underwater preset model, which requires an optional protective case.
