Designed for novice users, the 5-megapixel Optio S55 digital camera from Pentax makes photography a cinch for those still learning how to compose their shots. Users simply access the Auto Select function to automatically choose the best shooting mode for the scene at hand, with such choices as Program, Portrait, Landscape and Night Scene. It also provides optimal settings for white balance, Autofocus area and exposure metering. For even easier operation, the OptioS55 features a handy Help function that displays explanations of button functions on the screen for shooting and playback. That makes it easy to understand and operate even without the manual. Priced at $2,690, the Optio S55 incorporates a 3X optical zoom Pentax lens covering angles of view equivalent to those of a 35.6-107millimetre lens in 35mm format - a range that opens up a pleasing array of compositional capabilities.
