Pentax Optio 430RS 4MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom

by Pentax

Product Details

Data Sheet [579kb PDF]

• Product Dimensions: 3.8 x 1.2 x 2.3 inches ; 7.7 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00006B12C
• Item model number: Optio 430 /RS
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #41,761 in Camera & Photo (See Top 100 in Camera & Photo)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: July 15, 2002

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Take razor-sharp and brilliantly colored digital photos with the Pentax Optio 430RS digital camera. Its 4-megapixel sensor is capable of resolutions of up to 2,301 by 1,712 pixels, which can produce quality prints from 11 by 14 inches to poster size. Sitting comfortably in your hand and encased in a stainless-steel shell, the 430RS has a 3x optical and 2x digital zoom for a total 6x magnification. Take pictures effortlessly with the autofocus, autoexposure, and autoflash systems, or you can switch to manual settings for more artistic control.

Several shooting modes are available for a variety of creative choices, such as standard, night scene, and metered manual. The movie mode records movie clips of up to 30 seconds. Digital-filter mode changes the picture tone to colors like sepia, red, and monochrome. A 3-D image mode gives photos a sense of depth and perspective when viewed with the included 3-D viewer.

Photos are stored on 11 MB of built-in memory, but you can add more memory via CompactFlash cards. Control and keep track of all the camera's functions with the large 1.6-inch LCD monitor. The camera can be easily connected to PCs and Macs through the USB port, allowing fast transfer of your photos and video to a computer for editing and sharing on the Internet. There is also a video-out jack so you can watch your work on a television.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best compact 4MP digital camera, September 13, 2002

By 

James F. Strasma "strasma" (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Pentax Optio 430RS 4MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom (Electronics)

Most high-feature cameras are too large to carry with me all the time. The Pentax Optio 430, on the other hand, fits EASILY in a shirt pocket, yet includes every feature I wanted, plus its quality matches Canon and Nikon. Interestingly, smaller size and matching features and quality was also the main virtues of the Pentax I used 30 years ago over the same competitors.
I've just returned from a two week trip to Northern California, during which it took over 300 pictures. I consider many of them great...
4MP means you can crop without losing visible detail. I added a Sandisk Ultra 512 Meg Compact Flash card and a spare battery, allowing me to take as many pictures as I wished each day, deleting bad ones each evening.
This camera replaced two Canons that still work well. Compared to both, I find it easier to use.
One suggestion: 1) cover the LCD with a plastic Palm screen cover. I once damaged a Canon for lack of that.
After 9 months of use, I still consider this the best small digital camera at any price. Highly recommended!

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Small enough to carry running; acceptable picture quality, September 24, 2002

By 

Michael David Jones (Orem, UT United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Pentax Optio 430RS 4MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom (Electronics)

Cons: Image quality is acceptable, but the inability to write tifs or raw image data hurts. Battery life is good for about 80ish pictures w/ no flash. It is very easy to scratch the screen (I did so on its first trip down a trail) so a PalmPilot screen protector is a must. The movies have a nifty old-school 8mm family movie look to them.

Pros: the big win for this camera is that I can carry it one hand when I run trails. I've taken it along on 1.5 hour runs and it has performed admirably. The camera is lighter than the water bottle I carry in my other hand. Well-exposed 8x10s look good at arm's length (HP DeskJet 970, glossy photo paper). 5x7's look just fine. On a recent trip to Brno, Czech Rep., the camera was very convenient for being a tourist without standing out as a tourist (as much).

Context: I've had the camera for 2 months now and shot about 400ish frames. I've shot tripod mounted, slow film, landscape stuff for 8 years.

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is just too cool!, October 13, 2002

By 

Heather "Mommy of Two" (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pentax Optio 430RS 4MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom (Electronics)

The reviews and specs do not give this camera justice. My favorite feature so far is the digital filter mode. You select the filter feature, and can take pictures in black and white, and use the following filters also: sepia, blue, red, yellow violet, and green. There is also a slim filter, where you can elongate vertically or horizontally.
In addition to the automatic mode, where you can zoom and the camera sets everything else, there is also a manual mode you can shoot in. For those of us who enjoy manual photography but don't want to pay the price for a super expensive manual digital camera, here is a good in between. You can set the shutter speed and aperture using the controls.
You can also do continuous shooting and a night-mode is also on this camera.
The 3-D feature is neat; the camera comes with a separate 3-D viewer. I am still figuring that one out.
The mini-movie (30 seconds long, no audio) is neat. It's good for when there is lots going on at once visually (no flash; need good lighting).
The zoom works quite well, also.
All in all, I love this camera and would highly recommend it.
I have Windows XP, and have had no problems. The only Windows software that the software is not compatible with is Windows 95. It comes with ACDSee, a photo editing software. I have Roxio's Photosuite 4 Platinum, and am able to edit my pictures no problem!