Pentax Optio 33LF Review

By
March 19th, 2004


Summary

PENTAX digital technology brings new meaning to the term all around in the new Optio33LF digital camera. With an innovative LCD monitor that swivels 180 degrees horizontally and up to 270 degrees vertically, the Optio33LF features 3.2 effective megapixels and a 3X zoom lens. This latest PENTAX digital camera gives you the freedom to frame subjects exactly as you prefer, especially from high and low angles. In addition to the versatile monitor, the Optio33LF features an optical viewfinder. 

Specs

Product Specifications

  • Type: Compact-type digital still camera with built-in zoom lens, autofocus, auto exposure and auto flash
  • Effective Pixels: 3.2 megapixels
  • Image Capture Device Type: 1/2.7 inch interline transfer CCD with a primary color filter
  • Image Capture Device Total Pixels: 3.34 megapixels
  • Color Depth: 12 bit x 3 colors
  • Recorded Pixels: Still -2048x1536 pixels, 1600x1200 pixels, 1024x768 pixels, 640x480 pixels; Movie - 320x240
  • Focus System Type: TTL contrast detection autofocus system
  • Autofocus: 5 point AF, Spot AF and Infinity Landscape Mode
  • Manual Focus: 3.93 inches (0.01m) to Infinity
  • Focusing Range: Normal: 1.31 ft (0.4m) to Infinity; Macro: 3.94 inches ((0.1m ) to 1.64ft (0.5m)
  • Lens Type: PENTAX power zoom
  • Focal Length: 5.8mm- 17.4mm
  • 35mm Equivalent: 38mm-114mm
  • Aperture Range: f2.6- f5.0
  • Construction: 6 elements in 5 groups (one aspherical element)
  • Optical Zoom: 3 X
  • Digital Zoom: 2.7X
  • Combined: Approx. 8X
  • Light Metering Method: TTL metering with choice of: Multi-segment, Center-weighted and Spot meter
  • Sensitivity: Auto, or user select ISO 100, 200, 400
  • Exposure Control Method: Program AE
  • Exposure Modes: Program, Picture mode, Night scene, Movie, Panorama assist, 3D image, Digital filter, Auto Bracket
  • Exposure Compensation: +/-2 EV (1/3 steps)
  • Shutter: Type - Programmed AE electronic lens shutter with CCD electronic shutter, Shutter Speed - approx. 1/2000 - 4 seconds
  • White Balance: White Balance Control - TTL Auto, Pre-set, Custom White Balance; Available Settings - Auto, Daylight, Shade, Tungsten Light, Fluorescent Light, Manual
  • Flash: Built-in series-control auto flash, Auto discharge under low light and backlit conditions in auto mode
  • Flash Modes: Auto, Flash-Off, Flash-On, Auto + red-eye reduction, Flash-On + red-eye reduction
  • Flash Range: approx. 0.66 feet(0.2m) - 16 feet (5.0m) (5.8mm at ISO auto); approx. 0.33 feet( 0.1m) - 8.9f feet(2.7m) (17.4mm at ISO auto
  • Shooting Modes: Program, Picture mode, Night scene, Movie, Panorama assist, 3D image, Digital filter, Auto bracket
  • Picture Modes: Landscape, Flower, Portrait, Self-portrait, Soft, Surf and Snow, Sunset, Illustration
  • Digital Filter: Black and White, Sepia, Red, Green, Blue, Black and White and Red, Black and White and Green, Black and White and Blue
  • Drive Modes: Single-Shot, Continuous, Self-timer-10 sec. Self-timer-2 sec., High-speed, Continuous
  • Movie Mode: As long as the memory remains, no sound
  • Time Stamp: dd/mm/yy, mm/dd/yy, yy/mm/dd
  • World Time: Display of the time in 62 cities (28 time zones)
  • Image Storage Media: 12MB built-in memory, SD memory card, Multimedia Card (MMC)- removable
  • File Formats: Still - JPEG (Exif 2.2), DCF (Design rule for Camera File system), DPOF (Digital Print Order Format); Movie - AVI (Motion JPEG Format) 30 fps - no sound
  • JPEG Compression Mode: Good, Better, Best
  • Recorded pixels with 16 MB card(Size- Best, Better, Good): 2048 x 1536 - 8, 16, 33; 1600 x 1200 - 13, 27, 60; 1024 x 768 - 24, 50, 89; 640 x 48 - 50, 89, 128
  • Optical Viewfinder: Actual Image zoom viewfinder
  • LCD Monitor: 1.6 inch, TFT color LCD- with Histogram Display -Swivels 180o horizontally, 270 o vertically
  • LCD Coverage: 100 percent
  • LCD Resolution: 72K Pixels
  • Playback Modes File : Single, Index- Nine image
  • Magnification: 12X
  • Slide Show: In playback mode
  • Erase Modes: Single, All
  • Image Protect: Single, All
  • Interfaces Type: AV output terminal, USB terminal, DC input terminal
  • Video Output: Compatible with NTSC and PAL formats
  • Power Source: Lithium battery CR-V3 (650 shots according to in house PENTAX tests) or two AA batteries (Lithium, Ni, Ni-MH, Alkaline), AC adaptor kit (optional)
  • Operating temperatures: 32 - 104 degrees F (0 - 40 degrees Celsius)
  • Camera Casing: Plastic
  • Dimensions (W x H x D): 4.3x2.5x1.6 Inches (108.5x64.5x41.5mm) (excluding protrusions)
  • Weight: 6.3 oz (180g) without battery and SD memory card. 8.1 oz (230g) loaded and ready
  • Mac Requirements: OS: Mac OS 8.6 or later (QuickTime 4.0 or later to view movies), CPU: Power PC 266MHz or higher, Memory: 8MB or more, Hard disk space: 6MB or more, Standard equipped USB port
  • PC Requirements: OS: Windows 98,98 second edition, 2000, Me, XP Home edition / Professional, CPU: Pentium or later recommended, Memory: 64MB or more, Hard disk space: 15MB or more, Standard equipped USB port
  • Kit Inclusions: Optio 33LF Camera, CR-V3 Lithium, Video Cable, USB Cable, 3D Image viewer, Software (CD ROM) - ACDSeeTM, USB Driver, Strap, Operating manual, Serial number card, Product registration card, Service network directory


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