Pentax Optio 555 5MP Digital Camera w/ 5x Optical Zoom

by Pentax

Product Details

Product Manual [2.63mb PDF]

• Product Dimensions: 1.6 x 3.9 x 2.3 inches ; 7.2 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B0000C4E3Y
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #23,032 in Camera & Photo (See Top 100 in Camera & Photo)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: September 3, 2003

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Succeeding the popular, award-winning Optio 550, the Optio 555 offers a quicker start-up time and reduced lag time between shots. This lightweight camera also offers a 5-megapixel resolution, 5x optical zoom, PictBridge direct printing, and movie mode with sound.

Optics and Resolution
With its 5-megapixel resolution, the Optio 555 delivers 2592 x 1944 pixel images for up to poster size enlargements. It also offers 2048 x 1536, 1600 x 1200, 1024 x 768, and 640 x 480 resolution modes. The high-precision SMC Pentax 5x optical zoom lens and employs advanced image processing technologies to capture powerful images. The ultra-compact zoom system allows the lens to fully retract in two stages and helps reduce the depth of the camera. It also features a 4x digital zoom, for a 20x total zoom.

Movie and Audio Modes
The Optio555 can also capture video with sound at 15 frames per second, with 320 x 240 recorded pixels. The videos can be as long as your memory card will allow. All clips are recorded in MOV format, allowing easy playback on a PC or Mac. The time-lapse movie feature runs a set of sequential recorded frames together as a short film. It offers a selection of X2, X5, X10, X20, X50, or X100 recording speeds and can be used to achieve effects such as construction scenes or clouds rushing across the sky.

The Optio555 can record audio to the full capacity of the external memory, allowing the Optio555 to be used as a regular voice recording device. With a 64 MB memory card, you can record up to 2 hours and 12 minutes of audio. It also allows you to record and attach up to 30 seconds of sound for each image.

More Features

This camera can connect directly to select printers. Learn more about PictBridge.

The Optio555 was designed to be ready within mere seconds of the power being turned on, and it is easy to switch between playback and shooting modes. A single touch of the playback button will bring up recorded images, and just a touch of the shutter button is all that's required to return to shooting. Modes are easy to select through a handy mode dial, and it is easy assign frequently used functions to independent buttons.

• 1.5-inch LCD monitor
• Viewfinder with actual image zoom allows you to conserve power by switching off the LCD monitor
• Macro mode lets you shoot as close as 5.9 inches from subject, while Super Macro mode gets you as close as .79 inches
• Built-in flash with auto, on, off, auto + red-eye reduction, and flash-on + red-eye reduction modes
• Shooting modes: Metered manual, Aperture-priority AE, Shutter-priority AE, Program, Picture, Panorama assist, Movie, 3D image, Digital filters, User
• Picture modes: Landscape, Night scene, Flower, Portrait, Surf & Snow, Autumn color, Sunset, Fireworks, Text

Direct Printing
The Optio555 also features PictBridge compatibility, which eliminates the need for PC connectivity during printing by allowing the camera to be connected directly to a compatible printer. This feature allows direct control over printing and a full range of other functions. Learn more about PictBridge.

Storage and Transfer
The Optio 555 is compatible with Secure Digital (SD) MultiMedia (MMC) memory cards; a 16 MB SD card is included. When shooting in Large/Normal mode (2592 x 1944), you can store 8 images on the included memory card. Images can be downloaded to either a Mac or PC via USB 1.1, which means the camera can be connected to any USB-based Windows Me/2000/XP and Mac OS 8.6 or later computer without installing any software.

Power and Size
The camera is powered by a proprietary rechargeable lithium-ion battery. It measures 4.84 by 3.35 by 3.35 inches and weighs 7.2 ounces excluding the batteries or 8.8 ounces when loaded with the battery.

What's In The Box
This package includes the Optio 555 digital camera, 16 MB SD card, rechargeable lithium-ion battery and charger, USB and A/V cables, strap, and CD-ROM with USB drivers for PC and Mac. It also includes ACDSee 5.0 digital camera software (a $150 value), which makes it easy to retrieve, view, manage, print, enhance and share your digital photos.

Product Description

Click here for Manufacturer Rebate form Camera Type: Compact-type digital still camera with built-in zoom lens, autofocus, auto exposure and auto flash Effective Pixels: 5.0 megapixels Image Capture Device Type: 1/1.8 inches interline transfer CCD with a primary color filter Total Pixels: 5.25 megapixels Color Depth: 12 bit x 3 colors Recorded Pixels: Still - 2592 x 1944 Pixels, 2048 x 1536 Pixels, 1600 x 1200 pixels, 1024 x 768 pixels, 640 x 480 pixels; Movie - 320 x 240 Focus System Type: Hybrid AF (TTL contrast detection autofocus system combined with exo-passive sensor) Autofocus: Wide AF, Spot AF and Infinity Landscape Mode Manual Focus: 0.79 inches (0.02m) to Infinity Focusing Range: Normal: 1.97 feet (0.6m) to Infinity; Macro: 5.9 inches (0.15m) to 2.13 feet (0.65m); Super Macro: 0.79 inches (0.02m) to 2.13 feet (0.65m) at 7.8mm Lens Type: smc PENTAX power zoom Focal Length: 7.8 mm - 39 mm 35mm Equivalent: 37.5 mm - 187.5 mm Aperture Range: f2.8 - f4.6 Construction: 9 elements in 7 groups (two dual-sided aspherical elements) Optical Zoom: 5x Digital Zoom: 4x Combined: 20x Light Metering Method: TTL metering with choice of: Multi-segment, Center-weighted and Spot meter Sensitivity: Auto, or user select ISO 64,100, 200, 400 Exposure Control Method: Program AE Exposure Modes: Metered manual, Aperture-priority AE, Shutter-priority AE, Program, Picture, Panorama assist, Movie, 3D image, Digital filters, User Exposure Compensation: +/-2 EV (1/3 steps) Shutter Type: Programmed AE electronic lens shutter with CCD electronic shutter Shutter Speed: Approx. 1/2000 - 15 seconds(1/1000 in Metered manual and Shutter-priority AE) White Balance Control: TTL Auto, Pre-set, Custom White Balance White Balance Setting: Auto, Daylight, Shade, Tungsten Light, Fluorescent Light (W, N, D), Manual Flash: Built-in series-control auto flash, flash exposure compensation (+/- 2 EV in 1/3 steps), auto discharge under low light and backlit conditions in auto mode Fl...

See all Product Description

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

60 of 61 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Camera. Unmatched options at any price, October 20, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Pentax Optio 555 5MP Digital Camera w/ 5x Optical Zoom (Electronics)

I was looking for a 5MP camera with maximum zoom in an small package. The Pentax Optio 555 satisfies all of these requirements and more.

I had a 4MP 4X zoom but was having a hard time capturing action shots of the kids. With the Pentax, I now have a camera half the size, 5MP and 5X zoom and the flexibility to adjust shutter speed to capture the moment. It's no easy task getting the soccer shots of the kids as they're always moving and you need a decent zoom to get close enough. This camera is perfect for that purpose. So far the battery life seems excellent. I fill up my 256MB SD card long before the battery runs out.

I'm very pleased with the quality of pictures. So far I've taken about 100 pictures. It seems to have some difficulty in low-light conditions but it's better than my previous camera so I'm not sure it's the camera's fault.

My only complaint is the 16MB included card is a joke. It seems typical of all mfrs to include such inadequate storage so it's not unique to the Pentax but never the less frustrating. The battery lasts forever but it also seems to take forever (~3 hours) to charge. I'm not usually in a hurry to charge but thought it was worth noting.

83 of 87 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Optio 555 - excellent choice for me, November 3, 2003

By 

"jaqatac" (Hong Kong) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pentax Optio 555 5MP Digital Camera w/ 5x Optical Zoom (Electronics)

I bought the Pentax Optio 555 on 2 November 2003 in Hong Kong.

My number one reason for choosing the 555 was: The longer battery life. My second reason was the 5x zoom, followed by stronger flash and additional features to learn now to use. Saying that, there will be times I wish I had the smaller, lighter, faster Minolta G500... So it was a serious compromise that was not an easy choice - they are BOTH excellent options for a small light 'everyday' camera!

Very basic - but my very first photos are here - nothing special, just really posting them so you can see the image quality - almost all done in P mode... and straight from the camera! http://www.pbase.com/jaqatac/optio555_firstshots_hongkong (this expires 5 Dec 2003)

OK - I have never owned a digital camera before, but I have owned most recently a Nikon F100 and do know a little about film cameras...

I bought it, battery took exactly 3 hours to charge...

While I waited, I read the manual

Oh - and the first thing I did was stop all the annoying sounds by turning them all off in the user menu.
The second thing I did was turn the digital zoom off
I also turned the start up picture off

I do not have a stop-watch - but here are some approximate times. NOT ACCURATE TIMES, NO STOP WATCH!

Sunlight/brightly lit room - I found the shot to shot time to be incredibly good - even with the flash and the pictures again were in focus with excellent lighting...

Dimly lit room - wide angle - 1-3 seconds
Dimly lit room - full Optical zoom - 1.5 - 3 seconds

Totally DARK room - wide angle - 3-5 seconds
Totally DARK room - full Optical zoom - 3-6 seconds

I mean TOTALLY DARK! But saying that - the photos look great, are well lit by the flash and in focus...
With the zoom, it takes a bit longer to focus BUT once it gets it, it is perfect. (how, I do not know)

Here are more accurate times from another review:
Auto Focus LAG Wide angle:
0.8 - 1.4

Auto Focus LAG Telephoto
0.8 - 1.5

Shutter Release LAG Viewfinder
0.1

Shutter Release LAG LCD
V1: 0.1
0.1 - 0.2

Shot to Shot Wide angle
1.8

Frames per second
1.1

I am using the P mode and I quickly set up the User Mode as Gordon (see DP Review Pentax Forum) suggested:
ISO 200
AWB
Low Contrast
Spot Focus

I have a 256 Panasonic SD card (10Mb/Second)
MAX Resolution of 2592 x 1944
At 1 * it is 243 pictures
At 3 *** it is 75 pictures
I am switching between * and *** depending on the subject.
I am looking forward to Panasonic coming out with a 2 Gig card!!!

The user mode with these settings is faster than the P mode by about 1 second in the dimly lit and dark rooms.

continuous mode with no flash - that was really fast too - I did not time this.

PIC - Night Scene Mode - I went out at night on the streets of HK and took three pictures of the same things - P Mode, User Mode, Night Scene Mode. What the Night Scene Mode does is really light up the whole area - I don't know how it does this, but the same photo in P mode was bright lights from the signs, and a bit dark everything else. While with Night Scene the whole photo lights up as if with a flood light - really amazing. At different times I would opt for P, User or Night Mode depending on my desired outcome.

Physical - the case seems sturdy, the buttons are well placed, it is easy to hold and shoot. I like the way it is easy to change what the LCD displays and to turn it off... It is not as [nice] as the G500, but it is a nice functional, sturdy camera!

OK - so this is the quick first impressions... but so far I am really enjoying it!...

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tons of options, sharp optics, incredible camera, December 11, 2003

By 

J. T. van Bergen (Phoenix, Arizona United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Pentax Optio 555 5MP Digital Camera w/ 5x Optical Zoom (Electronics)

I received the camera as a gift a few weeks ago, and expected to spend at least a couple of hours learning how to skate around the various optional settings. The menu driven software made it easy to navigate and I was up and shooting in 15 minutes. The paltry 16MB SD memory card can only hold a few of my 5Meg picutres at a time, so plan on getting at least a 250MB card for it. But the pics are unbelievably sharp and balanced in the auto mode. I haven't even scratched the surface of its capabilities, but the manual mode allows you to experiment with depth of field and exposure ... it used to take a whole camera bag to house all the filters and lenses etc. that this little shirt-pocket camera has on board.
I've owned digital cameras since they first came out, and the Optio 555 is a jaw-dropping, great little powerhouse. Put this one in the "highly recommended" column.