"Picky Details" for the Pentax Optio WP digital camera
(Timing, Power, and Storage Info)
Timing
When you press the shutter release on a camera, there's usually a lag time or delay before the shutter actually fires. This corresponds to the time required for the autofocus and autoexposure mechanisms time to do their work, and can amount to a fairly long delay in some situations. Since this number is rarely reported on (and even more rarely reported accurately), and can significantly affect the picture taking experience, I routinely measure both shutter delay and shot to shot cycle times for all cameras I test, using a test system I designed and built for the purpose. (Crystal-controlled, with a resolution of 0.001 second.) Here are the numbers I collected for the Pentax Optio WP:
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(secs) |
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Power On -> First shot |
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Shutdown |
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First time is simple shutdown, second time is worst-case
buffer-clearing time.
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Play to Record, first shot |
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Time until first shot is captured.
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Record to play |
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First time is that required to display a large/fine
file immediately after capture, second time is that needed to display
a large/fine file that has already been processed and stored on the
memory card.
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Shutter lag, full autofocus |
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First time is at full wide-angle, second is full telephoto. | |
Shutter lag, continuous autofocus |
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Shutter lag, manual focus |
0.586
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Shutter lag, prefocus |
0.149
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Time to capture, after half-pressing shutter button. | |
Cycle Time, max/min resolution |
2.30 / 2.23 |
First number is for large/fine files, second number is time for "TV" mode (640x480) images. Times are averages. In large/fine mode, shoots 7 frames this fast, then slows to 4 seconds per shot. In TV mode, continues at this pace for over 50 shots. Buffer clears in 13 seconds in large/fine mode, 4 seconds in TV mode. | |
Cycle Time, continuous mode, max/min resolution | 1.27 / 1.10 (0.79 / 0.91 fps) |
First number is for large/fine files, second number is time for "TV" mode (640x480) images. Times are averages. In large/fine mode, shoots 6 frames this fast, then slows to 3 seconds per shot. In TV mode, continues at this pace for over 100 shots. Buffer clears in 12 seconds in large/fine mode, 47 seconds in TV mode. | |
Cycle Time, "High Speed" mode, max/min resolution | 0.29 (3.49 fps) |
Image size is fixed at 1280x960 pixels. Times are averages. Shoots 7 frames at an irregular pace, clears the buffer in 5 seconds, and is ready for another burst. |
Power
The Pentax Optio WP uses a custom rechargeable LiIon battery for power.
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(@6.5 volts on the external power terminal) |
(four 1600 mA cells) |
Capture Mode, w/LCD |
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Capture Mode, no LCD |
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Half-pressed shutter w/LCD |
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Half-pressed w/o LCD |
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Memory Write (transient) |
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Flash Recharge (transient) |
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Image Playback |
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Storage Capacity
The Pentax Optio WP stores its photos on SD / MMC memory cards or in approximately 11 MB of internal memory, and no card is included with the camera. (I strongly recommend buying at least a 64 MB card, preferably a 128 MB one, to give yourself extra space for extended outings.) The chart below shows how many images can be stored in the internal memory at each size/quality setting.
Resolution/Quality 16 MB Memory Card |
Fine | Normal |
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2560
x 1920 |
Images (Avg size) |
3 3.4 MB |
6 1.8 MB |
10 1.0 MB |
Approx. Compression |
4:1 | 8:1 | 14:1 | |
2304
x 1728 |
Images (Avg size) |
4 2.6 MB |
8 1.4 MB |
11 950 KB |
Approx. Compression |
5:1 | 9:1 | 13:1 | |
2048
x 1536 |
Images (Avg size) |
5 2.1 MB |
9 1.1 MB |
14 758 KB |
Approx. Compression |
5:1 | 8:1 | 12:1 | |
1600 x 1200 | Images (Avg size) |
8 1.2 MB |
15 737 KB |
20 540 KB |
Approx. Compression |
5:1 | 8:1 | 11:1 | |
1024 x 768 | Images (Avg size) |
18 589 KB |
33 327 KB |
42 262 KB |
Approx. Compression |
4:1 | 7:1 | 9:1 | |
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Images (Avg size) |
39 278 KB |
61 180 KB |
75 147 KB |
Approx. Compression |
3:1 | 5:1 | 6:1 |
Download Speed
The Pentax Optio WP connects to a host computer via a USB interface. Downloading files to my Sony desktop running Windows XP (Pentium IV, 2.4 GHz), I clocked it at 751 KBytes/second. (Cameras with slow USB interfaces run as low as 300 KB/s, cameras with fast v1.1 interfaces run as high as 600 KB/s. Cameras with USB v2.0 interfaces run as fast as several megabytes/second.)
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