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Pentax Optio 330 RS Digital Camera

 

	Camera QuickLook
	Review Date	09/22/02
	User Level	Novice to experienced amateur
	Product Uses	Family / Travel / Special Events
	Digicam Design	Point and Shoot / Full Manual Control
	Picture Quality	Good, 3.2-megapixel CCD
	Print Sizes	Good prints to 8x10
	Availability	Now
	Suggested Retail Price	$499

 

Camera Overview
Practically a carbon copy of the preceding Pentax Optio 330, the 330 RS is about the same size as a deck of playing cards, and definitely one of the more portable digicams on the market (similar to the larger members of the Canon ELPH series). At 3.6 x 2.3 x 1.4 inches (92 x 59 x 31 millimeters) and 7.1 ounces (200 grams) without the battery or CompactFlash memory card, the Optio 330 RS was made for stashing in a shirt pocket or tiny purse. The compact design includes a built-in lens cover which opens like a shutter when the lens telescopes out. The Optio 330 RS' 3x zoom lens offers both manual and automatic focus control, which, combined with the variety of manual exposure options, packs an unusual amount of creative power into such a tiny camera. The 3.2-megapixel CCD produces high resolution, print quality images, but also offers options for lower resolution images suited for email. New to the 330 RS is a 3D shooting mode (which debuted on the earlier Optio 230 model), as well as Interval Shooting and Time Lapse Movie modes, and a host of creative effects with the Digital Filter mode. The 330 RS also features a full 11 megabytes of internal memory, so you can start snapping pictures right out of the box, without having to buy a memory card. (The camera does have a fully functional Type I CompactFlash card slot though.) Everything considered, the Optio 330 RS is a great "take anywhere" camera, simple to operate, yet with a range of advanced controls, and rugged enough to ride around in your pocket without fear of damage.

The Optio 330 RS has a 3x, 7.6-22.8mm lens, the equivalent of a 37-111mm lens on a 35mm camera. (Very slightly more telephoto than the 35-105mm range that's customary in consumer-level cameras with 3x zoom lenses.) The lens focuses over a range of 1.31 feet (0.4 meters) to infinity in normal shooting mode, with a Macro option covering from 5.5 inches to 1.6 feet (0.14 to 0.5 meters). The Optio 330 RS offers both manual and automatic focus (AF) control, with Spot and Multiple AF modes. Within Spot AF mode, you can set the AF area to one of seven points. (Multiple mode bases focus on a larger area in the center of the frame.) There's also an Infinity / Landscape fixed focus setting. In addition to the optical zoom, the Optio 330 RS offers up to 2x digital zoom, (though I always remind readers that using digital zoom decreases image quality, since it simply enlarges the center pixels of the CCD image). You can choose between the real-image optical viewfinder or the 1.6-inch, color TFT LCD monitor to compose images, although I found the LCD monitor provided much more accurate framing. (As is commonly the case.)

Exposure can be manually or automatically controlled on the Optio 330 RS, a nice feature for novices wanting to learn more about photography - the convenience of fully automatic exposure when you want it, or full manual control when you'd like to experiment. An On/Off button on top of the camera controls the power, and a Mode dial lets you select between Automatic, Night Scene, Manual, Movie, 3D, and Digital Filter exposure modes. Most exposure options are controlled through the LCD's on-screen menu system, which offers very straightforward navigation. That said, you can control focus mode (auto, macro, landscape, or manual), the self-timer, drive mode, exposure compensation, and the flash mode externally. In Manual exposure mode, the user controls aperture (selecting from two available apertures, which range from f/2.6 to f/4.8, and from f/5.0 to f/9.2, depending on the lens' zoom position) and shutter speed (from 1/2,000 to four seconds), in addition to the White Balance, Metering Mode, ISO, Sharpness, Saturation, Contrast, and Flash settings (also available in Automatic mode). The Optio 330 RS' built-in flash is effective from 5.52 inches to 12 feet (0.14 to 3.7 meters) with the lens at full wide angle, with a more limited range at the telephoto setting.

In addition to these basic exposure options (offering surprising flexibility for a subcompact camera), the Optio 330 RS has a few other tricks up its sleeve. In Movie exposure mode, the camera captures moving images (without sound) for a maximum of 30 seconds per movie. Time Lapse Movie mode uses a slower frame rate to capture lengthy periods of motion (such as clouds moving across the sky), with capture ratios (the amount the camera will appear to speed up the action) ranging from 2 to 10. Interval recording mode takes this even further, for recording events taking place over long periods of time. Interval mode snaps from two to 99 successive photos at programmable intervals ranging from 30 seconds to 99 minutes. A Self-Timer mode provides a 10-second delay between pressing the Shutter button and the camera actually taking the picture, allowing you to get into your own shots. A remote control is available as an accessory, meaning you can take your time arranging the shot before tripping the shutter with the remote. For shooting fast action subjects, the Optio 330 RS' Continuous Shooting mode captures a rapid series of images for as long as you hold down the Shutter button, much like a motor drive on a traditional 35mm camera. The space available on the memory card determines the maximum number of images the camera will capture in the series, and details like resolution, shutter speed, and the state of the camera's "buffer" memory determine the shooting interval. For low-light or twilight exposures, Night Scene mode slows down the shutter speed to allow more ambient light into the image (a tripod is recommended when shooting in this mode to keep the camera steady and prevent any blurring).

First introduced on the Optio 230, the Optio 330 RS, offers a unique 3D recording mode, which produces three-dimensional "stereo pairs" of images similar to old-fashioned stereographs. The camera guides you to capture two images of the same subject (one just slightly off-center from the other) and then combines them as a "stereo pair" in a single frame of image memory. A transparent display of the first image captured remains on the LCD monitor, so that you can keep everything aligned as you move the camera over slightly and capture the second image. (Very slick, this eliminates one of the biggest problems with hand held 3D stereo photography.) A pair of 3D viewing glasses comes with the Optio 330 RS, and works whether viewing 3D images in the Parallel or Cross formats. (Parallel means you view the stereo photo with your eyes looking straight on, while Cross means that you cross your eyes to see the stereo effect. - Most people seem to have an easier time with the Cross format, but the 330RS supports either method.)

The Optio 330 RS has a surprising range of creative tools, including a Digital Filter mode, which offers eight color filters for special effects. Color filters include Black and White, Sepia, Red, Pink, Violet, Blue, Green, and Yellow. Also included under the Digital Filter setting is the Slim filter, which stretches an image horizontally or vertically for a unique effect. Image contrast, saturation, and sharpness settings provide further creative options, and the six-mode White Balance setting includes a manual adjustment for accurate color balance.

The Optio 330 RS has 11 megabytes of built-in memory, but can also store images on CompactFlash Type I memory cards. This is handy, but really doesn't give you enough space to take many photos at the camera's best quality setting. Plan on buying at least a 32 or 64 megabyte card at the same time as the camera. The camera uses a D-LI2 rechargeable lithium-ion battery pack for power, and both a battery and external charger are included with the camera. Since the Optio 330 RS does not accommodate AA batteries (or any other form of commonly available battery), I highly recommend buying an extra battery pack and keeping it freshly charged. (DigiPower now makes a battery pack to fit this camera, so availability of batteries should be better than in the past. - Look for the DigiPower model BP-NP60 in the stores.) The optional AC adapter could also be useful for preserving battery power when reviewing and downloading images.

Basic Features

• 3.2-megapixel CCD.
• Real-image optical viewfinder.
• 1.6-inch color TFT LCD monitor.
• Glass, 3x, 7.6-22.8mm lens, equivalent to a 37-111mm lens on a 35mm camera.
• 2x digital zoom.
• Automatic or full-manual exposure control.
• Shutter speeds from 1/2,000 to four seconds.
• Aperture range from f/2.6 to f/9.2, depending on lens zoom position.
• Built-in flash with four modes.
• 11MB built-in memory.
• CompactFlash (Type I) card storage (card not included).
• Power supplied by one D-LI2 rechargeable lithium-ion battery pack or optional AC adapter.
• ACDSee software and USB drivers included for both Windows and Mac platforms.

Special Features

• Movie and Time Lapse Movie modes (without sound).
• Continuous Shooting mode.
• Interval Shooting and 3D modes.
• Night Scene photography mode.
• 10-second Self-Timer for delayed shutter release.
• Remote-Control mode for use with optional remote control unit.
• Digital Filter mode with eight color filters for special effects.
• Macro (close-up) lens setting.
• White balance (color) adjustment with six modes, including a manual adjustment.
• Image Contrast, Sharpness, and Saturation adjustments.
• Multi-Segment, Center-Weighted, and Spot metering modes.
• Sensitivity setting with two ISO equivalents (125 and 250) and an Auto setting.
• Adjustable, seven-point AF area.
• DPOF (Digital Print Order Format) compatibility.
• USB cable for connection to a computer (driver software included).

Recommendation
The Optio 330 RS offers decent picture quality in a very compact, well-engineered package. In full automatic mode, it'll be a good match for point-and-shoot photographers wanting a camera that travels easily in a shirt pocket or purse. With a full-manual mode though, it should also serve well as a "second camera" for enthusiasts too. The updated features on the 330 RS provide even more creative flexibility, and make the camera fun to use. (If you're a 3D fan, the camera's 3D mode is worth the price of admission all by itself.) Overall, an excellent entry into the ultra-compact digicam market.

Design
Literally no bigger than a (slightly thick) deck of playing cards, the Optio 330 RS is among the most portable digicams on the market. Its sleek, smooth styling is free from any significant protrusions except for the lens, which telescopes outward when powered on. When powered off, the Optio 330 RS' small dimensions of 3.6 x 2.3 x 1.4 inches (92 x 59 x 31 millimeters) mean you can stash it in a shirt pocket or even a small evening bag for shooting on the fly. The Optio 330 RS is light weight as well, at just 7.1 ounces (200 grams) without the battery or optional CompactFlash card.

The front of the camera holds the lens, flash, optical viewfinder window, flash sensor, self-timer lamp, and the sensor window for the optional remote control. A shutter-like, retractable lens cover protects the lens whenever the camera is powered off, sliding quickly out of the way when the camera is turned on. The lens then telescopes out from the camera body about an inch. The front of the camera is flat without any finger grips, making the grip a little tenuous. - I'd recommend keeping the wrist strap securely around your wrist when holding the camera.

On the opposite side of the camera are the USB and DC In jacks, covered by a flexible plastic flap that pops out and rotates out of the way to reveal the connectors.

The Optio 330 RS's top panel is fairly smooth, and features the Mode dial, Shutter button, and Power button.

A handful of external controls dot the camera's back panel, along with the optical viewfinder eyepiece and 1.6-inch color LCD monitor. Two LEDs next to the optical viewfinder report the camera's status, such as when focus is set, when the flash is charged, etc. At the top of the optical viewfinder eyepiece is a diopter adjustment control, which adjusts to accommodate eyeglass wearers. (It seems to have a pretty wide range, almost accommodating my 20/180 vision. It also offers a fairly high eyepoint, such that I could use it reasonably well with my eyeglasses on.) To the left of the viewfinder eyepiece are three multi-function buttons, which access different settings in Playback and Record modes. In the top right corner is the optical zoom control, which also controls playback zoom. A Four Way Arrow pad dominates the center of the back panel, with an "OK" button in the middle for confirming menu selections. The two remaining controls are the Menu and Display buttons.

On the bottom panel of the Optio 330 RS are the tripod mount and battery compartment. The plastic, threaded tripod mount is just off-center from the lens because of the camera's small size, but provides a fairly stable mount. I prefer metal tripod sockets, but the small size and low weight of the 330 RS mean the plastic socket should hold up fine. The battery compartment features a locking, hinged door, too close to the tripod mount to allow quick battery changes while working with a tripod. (I doubt that this will be of much concern to most users though, as the Optio 330 RS is clearly designed for on-the-go shooting.)

Camera Operation
The Optio 330 RS' user interface is very straightforward, with only a few external controls and a fairly concise (though still three page long) LCD menu system. For standard point-and-shoot operation, the most basic features such as flash, focus mode, and zoom are all adjusted via external controls. The Mode dial lets you quickly set the camera's main operating mode, with just a turn of the dial. When it is necessary to enter the LCD menu system, you'll find it simple to navigate. Three menus are available, delineated by subject tabs at the top of the screen. The arrow keys of the Four Way Arrow pad scroll through each selection, and the OK button in the center of the pad confirms any changes. It shouldn't take much more then a half-hour or so to become familiar with the camera setup, as it's fairly intuitive.

External Controls

• Automatic Record: Places the camera in Record mode, lets you adjust all exposure features except for shutter speed and aperture.
• Night Scene: Basic exposure remains under the camera's control, though now with a bias toward longer exposures for darker shooting conditions.
• Manual Record: Gives you full control over the exposure, including shutter speed and lens aperture settings.
• Movie: Records silent, moving images, for a maximum of 30 seconds per movie.
• 3D: Records a stereographic pair of images in a single frame, for viewing as 3D images using the viewing glasses included with the camera.
• Digital Filter: Offers a selection of eight color filter modes, as well as a "Slim" filter for stretching images horizontally or vertically.

In Manual exposure mode, the up and down keys adjust the aperture setting, while the left and right keys change the shutter speed. In any other Record mode, the left and right keys adjust the exposure compensation, from -2 to + 2 exposure equivalents (EV) in one-third-step increments. In Playback mode, the left and right keys scroll through captured images on the memory card. In Digital Filter mode, the left and right arrow modes scroll through the available filters.

OK / Playback Button: Nestled in the center of the Four Way Arrow pad, this button confirms menu selections in any mode. In any Record mode, pressing this button during normal display enables Playback mode.

Camera Modes and Menus

• Record Mode Settings
  • Resolution: Sets the image resolution to 2,048 x 1,536; 1,600 x 1,200; 1,024 x 768; or 640 x 480 pixels.
  • Quality level: Sets the JPEG compression level to Good, Better, or Best (three stars being Best and one star being Good).
  • White Balance: Adjusts the overall color balance of the scene. Options include Auto, Daylight, Shade, Incandescent, Fluorescent, and Manual. (Manual white balance lets you use a white object to set the camera's color balance. This is an unusual feature to find in a primarily "point-and-shoot" camera.)
  • Focusing Area: Designates the area of the frame that the camera determines focus from, either Spot or Multiple. Spot AF lets you pick one of seven AF areas, or use the default center area to determine focus. Multiple mode bases focus on a large area in the center of the frame.
  • Digital Zoom: Turns the 2x digital zoom on and off. When enabled, the digital zoom kicks in after you've zoomed the optical lens all the way to its telephoto position.
  • AE Metering: Chooses how the camera determines exposure, choices are Spot, Center-Weighted, and Multi-Segment.
  • ISO Speed: Adjusts the camera's light sensitivity, options are Auto, ISO 125, or ISO 250.
  • Instant Review: Turns the Instant Review function off, or sets the review time on the LCD screen to 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 seconds.
  • Interval Shooting: Activates the Interval Shooting mode, and lets you designate the time interval between shots, the number of shots to record in a series, and how long to wait before beginning shooting. Intervals can range from 30 seconds to 99 minutes, the number of shots captured can range from 2 to 99, and the delay before starting can run from 1 minute to 3 hours 59 minutes.
  • Time Lapse Movie: Turns on the Time Lapse Movie mode, which uses a slower frame rate to capture long periods of activity. Frame settings extend from x2 to x100 (referring to the rate of playback speed).
  • Applied Photo Mode: Sets the 3D recording mode to Cross or Parallel. (Cross means you need to cross your eyes slightly to see the 3D effect. Parallel means you need to look straight ahead. Actually slightly "wall-eyed." Most people find the crossed-eye method easier.)
  • Sharpness: Adjusts the overall image sharpness to Normal, Hard, or Soft.
  • Saturation: Controls the level of color saturation. Options are Normal, High, or Low.
  • Contrast: Adjusts overall image contrast to Normal, High, or Low.
    
• Memory: Lets you decide which settings will be remembered when the camera is shut off. Any setting not selected returns to the default setting whenever the camera is turned off and back on again. Features that can be remembered include Flash, White Balance, EV Compensation, Digital Zoom, AE Metering, ISO Speed, Focus Mode, Zoom Position, MF, Display, and File Numbering.
  
  
• Setup
  • Format Card: Formats the CompactFlash card, erasing all files (even protected ones).
  • Copy Image: Copies images from the internal memory to the CompactFlash card or vice versa.
  • Resize: Resizes the selected image to smaller pixel dimensions.
  • Trimming: Crops an image and saves it as a smaller file.
  • Alarm: Turns on the camera's alarm clock function, and lets you set as many as three alarm settings.
  • Beep: Turns the camera's beep sound on or off.
  • Start-up Screen: Determines what image is displayed when the camera is powered on. The "Pentax" screen is the default, but you can specify an image from the CompactFlash card or internal memory.
  • Date Style: Cycles through available date formats.
  • Date Adjust: Sets the camera's internal date and time.
  • World Time: Allows you to set the time in another city, so that you can display the time in London, for example, on the LCD monitor. A full list of cities is in the manual.
  • Language: Changes the menu language to English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, or Japanese.
  • Sleep Timeout: Disables the Sleep function, or sets the camera to go to sleep after 30 seconds, one, or two minutes of inactivity.
  • Auto Power Off: Turns this feature off, or sets the camera to shut off after three or five minutes of inactivity.
  • Quick Delete: When activated, this function displays the Delete screen (whenever the Flash / Erase button is pressed in review mode) with "All Images" automatically selected.
  • Quick Enlargement: When turned on, this function enlarges images to the full resolution size with only one press of the zoom toggle button.
  • Reset: Resets all camera settings to their defaults.

 Test Images
See all my test images and detailed analysis on the Test Images page for the P330 RS. The thumbnails below show just a subset of the test images. Click on a thumbnail to see the full-size photo.

Outdoor	Indoor	Indoor Flash
House	Musicians	Macro
Davebox	Resolution	Viewfinder Accuracy

 

Specifications
See the specifications sheet here.

• Color: The Optio 330RS generally showed good color, although it had a tendency toward slight magenta casts, most noticeable under strong sunlight. The effect wasn't extreme, but tended to make skin tones a little overly pink IMHO. Apart from the slight cast, color rendering was quite good, with accurate hues and appropriate saturation across the board. The 330RS had a little trouble with the incandescent lighting of my "indoor portrait" test, but produced an acceptable result using its incandescent white balance setting, and an excellent one with its manual white balance option.
  
  
• Exposure: The 330 RS' automatic exposure system did pretty well with my standard test shots. It underexposed the very bright Outdoor Portrait test by about the same amount as other cameras I've tested, but normal exposure was quite good in most other cases. (It did require slightly more exposure compensation than normal for the Indoor Portrait shot however.) The camera's default settings produce bright, attractive pictures, with somewhat high contrast. For those who like lower contrast though, the camera's contrast adjustment provides a convenient adjustment. Despite the slightly high contrast, the camera generally did pretty well at holding both highlight and shadow detail.
  
  
• Resolution/Sharpness: The Optio 330RS turned in a very respectable 3 megapixel performance. Details were sharp throughout my testing. Resolution tested out at about 1050 lines per picture height on the laboratory resolution test target, a good level for a three megapixel camera, particularly one as compact as the 330RS.
  
  
• Closeups: The Optio 330RS performed a bit below average in the macro category, capturing a fairly large minimum area of 5.4 x 4.1 inches (137 x 102 mm). Resolution was fairly high in the center of the frame, but there was a lot of softness in the corners. (A not-uncommon digicam failing in closeup work.) The Optio 330RS' flash throttled down for the macro area reasonably well, though coverage was uneven with dark corners. Overall, the 330RS will be acceptable for occasional closeup shots, but probably not your camera of choice if you need to do a lot of macro work.
  
  
• Night Shots: The 330RS did pretty well in the low-light department, capturing bright images at levels as low as 1/2 foot-candle at ISO 125, and 1/4 foot-candle at ISO 250. Noise was low at ISO 125, moderate at 250. Color was good, but with a slight pink tint. Since typical city street lighting corresponds to a light level of about 1 foot-candle, the 330RS should do well in typical night shooting conditions.
  
  
• Viewfinder Accuracy: The Optio 330RS' optical viewfinder is tight, showing about 87 percent of the frame at wide angle and approximately 85 percent at telephoto. The LCD monitor turned out to be just slightly "loose," as my standard lines of measurement were very slightly outside of the frame in both shots. The LCD monitor is close to 100 percent accuracy though, so the 330RS' LCD finder is about as accurate as you'll find.
• Optical Distortion: Optical distortion on the Optio 330RS is fairly high at the wide-angle end, where I measured a 0.99 percent barrel distortion. The telephoto end fared much better, as I measured a 0.016 percent barrel distortion. (Essentially imperceptible.) Chromatic aberration is moderate, showing about three to four pixels of coloration on either side of the target lines. (This distortion is visible as a very slight colored fringe around the objects at the edges of the field of view on the resolution target.) The strongest visible distortion was some corner softness, along the left side of the frame.
• Battery Life: The Optio 330RS uses a custom LiIon battery, providing surprisingly good battery life for a compact camera. Based on my power drain measurements, worst-case battery life (capture mode with the LCD turned on) should be almost two hours. With the LCD off, capture-mode run time increases to a bit over 2.5 hours, and run time in playback mode is almost 3 hours. I still strongly recommend purchasing a second battery though - (DigiPower now makes their model BP-NP60 replacement battery, so it should be fairly easy to find the extra battery in stores.)

In the Box
The following items are packaged with the Optio 330 RS in the US (Bundles in other countries may differ):

• D-Ll2 rechargeable lithium-ion battery pack.
• Battery charger with AC plug cord.
• USB cable.
• Wrist strap.
• 3D image viewer.
• Software CD.
• Operating manual and registration card.
  

Recommended Accessories

• Large capacity CompactFlash memory card. (I'd recommend 32MB as a bare minimum, 64MB would be preferable.)
• Additional D-LI2 lithium-ion battery pack.
• AC adapter.
• Small camera case.

Conclusion
The Optio 330 RS offers a lot in a small package at a reasonable price. Image quality is quite good, and the camera manages to offer a wide range of features without losing the ease of use that's key to a successful digicam. I found its shutter response annoying at times, as it sometimes seemed to take much longer than average to take a shot. Apart from that one wrinkle though, it performed well, shot very good pictures, and ran for a suprisingly long time on each charge of the battery. (Something I'm not accustomed to seeing in compact digicams.) Overall, a good choice for a take-anywhere digicam, with good color and a surprising range of capabilities.