Pentax Optio E70 and Optio P70 by Jon Sienkiewicz Pick from this Pair of Pentax Optio Cameras Article rating: 9.60

There are so many high quality pocket-size digital cameras on the market these days—how can anyone choose the model that’s just right for them? If all cameras were the same, as some folks contend, there would be only one for sale and everyone would use the same brand. People are different, and so are cameras. And we’re lucky for that—on both counts!

Hardly a day goes by that someone doesn’t ask me for a camera recommendation. I always try to give them some tips on how to make their own good decision. What’s right for one person may not be right for another. And now that cameras come in different colors—red, green, even purple and orange cameras—cosmetics has become an important consideration as well.

Pentax, like most camera makers, offers a wide selection of choices and several color options. I’ve been using their two latest offerings for the last few weeks and have grown fond of both. Actually, I’ve been using the Pentax Optio P70 the most because my just-turned-eight-years-old daughter latched onto the Optio E70 and permits me to use it only on school nights when she’s doing homework or practicing piano. More on that later.

Pentax Optio P70
The Pentax Optio P70 is so thin and silvery it could be mistaken for a business card case. That means it slips into even the smallest pocket or bag with ease. The body is made of a lightweight aluminum alloy and it’s available in three fashion colors (silver, red and white). But don’t let the chic, svelte styling mislead you. Inside the highly portable body beats the heart of a full-size, powerful camera. The Optio P70 is a fully featured 12-megapixel camera with options normally found only on larger models.

For example, the lens is a 4X wideangle zoom that ranges from 27.5 to 110mm (equivalent in film camera terms). Having a true wideangle lens is a real advantage and significantly increases the versatility of any camera. And the 110mm telephoto gets you close to the action (at soccer games, for example) and is perfect for frame-filling portraits.

To help you get sharp pictures at both ends of the zoom range, Optio engineers have incorporated Pentax’s proprietary Pixel Track Shake Reduction. Camera shake is the Number One cause of unsharp pictures—and Shake Reduction helps neutralize it. And for convenient, creative composition and comfortable playback (without squinting) there’s a bright 2.7 inch LCD monitor.

Using Auto Picture mode, the P70 automatically selects from 8 shooting modes for expert results. It also offers Advanced Face Recognition (discovers up to 32 faces in 0.03 seconds) plus Smile Capture and Blink Detection (recognizes when a subject smiles and releases the shutter automatically). For those of you who enjoy shooting short video clips, the P70 provides HD movie capture (wide-screen 720p at 15 FPS).

The Pentax Optio P70 is powered by a rechargeable Lithium Ion cell which delivers shot after shot in everyday use. The on/off switch is a recessed button on the top (instead of a sliding switch) which is easy to find and not subject to accidental activation.

On the back of the camera there’s a green “all automatic” button which—get this—can be remapped to a different function. For example, instead of the button shifting the camera into “pure point-and-shoot mode” you can set the button to evoke White Balance, ISO control, AE Metering, Resolution, or one of several other options. You can even map that button to start the built-in Voice Recorder. That’s a very handy feature.

Last but not least, the Optio P70 has several “fun options” including built-in digital filter effects and the ability to add frames and masks to your photos after you’ve captured them.

Pentax Optio E70
Available in Wine Red, Deep Blue and Champagne Gold (looks like warm silver to me) the Pentax Optio E70 is quite fashionable and attractive. It’s a bit larger than the P70 and the feature set has been slimmed down, but there’s still an awful lot to like. To begin with, the price is very affordable (around $120). And it’s powered by a pair of common AA-size penlight batteries—which can be obtained anywhere in the world, an important consideration for travelers or folks to prefer to go without packing a charger. If you prefer rechargeable battery power, nonpolluting AA nickel metal hydride (NiMH) cells are readily available and can be charged up to 500 times.

 

Pentax Optioi E70 Digital Camera

The E70 offers 10-megapixel resolution and is equipped with a sharp 3X zoom (32 to 96mm equivalent). The LCD measures 2.4-inches diagonally. Inside you’ll find Pentax’s convenient Auto Picture mode which selects from 7 shooting modes automatically, plus Advanced Face Recognition (finds up to 32 faces in 0.03 seconds) and Smile Capture with Blink Detection (as described above).

One of the coolest features—in my opinion and in the opinion of my eight-year-old—is the Digital Panorama mode. In a nutshell, it automatically stitches a series of pictures into one wide 180-degree image. It seems like it’s never possible to get a wide enough angle—well, this addresses that problem with ease.

Take a look at the elongated image of the Vermont covered bridge. It was shot by a then-seven-year-old using the built-in automatic Digital Panorama mode without coaching or instruction. In fact, all of the images in this article were shot by her (except, of course, the images of her).

But her favorite feature of the Optio E70 is clearly its ability to add frames and do in-camera editing. As you can see from the shot of the Westie, there’s no shortage of optional frames and borders to play with. “Being able to add Frames makes it more exciting than a regular picture,” she told me. “For kids it makes it better than just any kind of camera.”

Pentax Optio P70 Feature/Benefit Summary
Slim, lightweight aluminum alloy body construction
12-megapixel resolution for large, sharp prints
4X wideangle optical zoom (versatile 27.5–110mm equivalent)
2.7 inch LCD screen for easy composition and Playback
Available in three fashionable colors
Pentax’s proprietary Pixel Track Shake Reduction
Advanced Face Recognition (discovers up to 32 faces in 0.03 seconds)
Smile Capture and Blink Detection (recognizes when a subject smiles and releases the shutter automatically)
Blink Detection (warns photographer to retake the pictures if subject(s) eyes are closed)
Pentax Auto Picture mode automatically selects from 8 shooting modes for expert results 
Vertical Snap mode (operates similar to a cell phone by remapping shutter release to another button)
HD movie capture (wide-screen 720p at 15 FPS)
In-camera editing (add frames, filter effects)

Pentax Optio E70 Feature/Benefit Summary
10-megapixel resolution
3X internal optical zoom (32–96mm equivalent)
2.4 inch LCD screen
Stylish Design (multiple color options)
AA batteries (replacements can be purchased anywhere)
Pentax Auto Picture mode (selects from 7 shooting modes automatically)
Advanced Face Recognition (finds up to 32 faces in 0.03 seconds)
Smile Capture and Blink Detection (as described above)
Digital Panorama mode (automatically stitches a series of pictures into one wide 180-degree image)
Super affordable
In-camera editing (add frames, filter effects)