"Picky Details" for the Pentax Optio S5i 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 S5i:

Power

The Pentax Optio S5i uses a custom rechargeable LiIon battery for power. Because it uses a custom external power connector, I was unable to conduct my usual direct power consumption measurements. I did time how long a fully-charged battery pack took to run down in the worst-case power consumption mode (record mode, with the rear-panel LCD illuminated), and found it to be a (very) respectable 111 minutes. While I always advise readers to purchase an extra battery right along with their digicams, the S5i's battery life is quite good, especially for a subcompact model.

Storage Capacity

The Pentax Optio S5i stores its photos on SD memory cards or approximately 10.2MB of internal memory. No memory card is included with the camera. (I strongly recommend buying at least a 64 MB card, preferably a 128 MB one, to give yourself enough space for extended outings.) The chart below shows how many images can be stored in the internal memory at each size/quality setting, underscoring the need for a separate memory card.