Pentax Optio S40 4MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom

by Pentax

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 1 x 3.5 x 2.3 inches ; 3.5 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B0001FFMCA
• Item model number: OPTIO S40
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,024 in Camera & Photo (See Top 100 in Camera & Photo)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: February 2, 2004

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Combining advanced Pentax lens technology with a detailed digital imaging system and some advanced features, the Optio S40 is well-suited to be the family's digital camera. It's encased in a compact aluminum body designed to stand up to the knocks and dings of travel, and its features make it accessible to photographers of all skill levels.

Optics and Resolution
Featuring a 4-megapixel CCD sensor, the Optio S40 delivers photo-quality prints at sizes up to 11 by 15 inches. The camera has an smc Pentax 3x optical zoom lens, which is equivalent to 35-105mm lens for the 35mm film format. Combined with 2.6x digital zoom, the S40 can magnify images up to 7.8x.

Movie Mode
The Optio S40 can capture short video clips with sound in movie mode. The maximum length of the movies this camera can capture is governed by resolution settings, framerate, and memory card size, but generally these movies are a few minutes in length. While they aren't camcorder quality, these types of video clips are fun and convenient, and they're perfect as e-mail attachments. You can even watch and listen to them on the camera's built-in color LCD screen and speaker. The camera lets you record audio notes, too, which is ideal for those situations when you want to preserve the names of people or places you're photographing.

More Features

• Compact, durable aluminum body
• Bright LCD monitor that's easy to see even in direct sunlight
• Three metering options (multi-segment, center-weighted, and spot) help determine the appropriate light response during flash photography
• Three image-quality settings
• Seven auto picture modes take the guesswork out of composing for the most common photo environments. They are landscape, flower, portrait, self-portrait, surf & snow, autumn color, and sunset.
• Focus Free mode allows you to place a focus point anywhere in the image area
• Help button explains dial positions and features

Storage and Transfer
Images and video are stored in 11 MB of internal memory, but the camera also has a slot for optional use of Secure Digital (SD) memory cards (memory card not included). Files can be downloaded to either a Mac or PC via USB connectivity, which means it can be connected to any USB-based Windows 98/Me/2000/XP and Mac OS 8.6 or later computer without installing any software.

Power and Size
The camera is powered by two AA-size batteries (alkaline included, rechargeable lithium ion recommended). The camera measures 3.5 by 2.3 by 1 inches and weighs 4.4 ounces without batteries and memory card (approximately 6.1 ounces with).

What's in the Box
Optio S40 digital camera, two AA-size alkaline batteries, USB and video cables, strap, and ACDSee image software

Product Description

MD) CL) AA) PENTAX OPTIO S40 DIG CAM

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good camera for the price, June 1, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Pentax Optio S40 4MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom (Electronics)

I purchased this camera for my Dad for fathers day. The main reasons for the purchase were:

1) A "Smiley Face" mode - The "smiley face" is the symbol on the camera to select full automatic exposure. My parents want to take snapshots not worry about the exposure settings

2) Ability to use a variety of batteries - the camera accepts a Lithium Ion rechargable battery pack, AA rechargable batteries and AA alkaline cells. if they're traveling and don't have recharged batteries, then alkaline AA batteries can get them through in a pinch

3) size / portability - it's a small camera - the length and width is about the size of a credit card and the depth is about an inch or so. It's more compact than the Canon Elph series or Nikon Coolpix. If the camera is too bulky, the won't carry it and use it.

4) Price - even though it is a 4 Megapixel camera, it is priced in line with the 3 megapixel offerings from Canon, Nikon and Minolta. I bought it from Costco for $279 and that included the Li On recharger, a 64Megabyte SD card, and several rechargeable batteries

I had the opportunity to try it out with my parents to make sure that it worked and ensure they could use it. Here's what we found:

Picture Quality - Picture quality is good for snapshots, it's a little soft relative to other 4 megapixel offerings, but certainly better than 3 megapixels. The color balance is good and the pictures are sharp. We had the pictures printed at Walgreens and one could not tell that it was from a digital camera

Flash performance - the flash is a typical flash for a compact camera - not great, but usable. It has a range of about 10 -12 feet

Cycle time - the camera is not the fastest - it takes a few seconds to cycle up and down between shots. It is about the same as many of the other digital cameras I have used. I think Canon SD 110 and Minolta Xg are definitely quicker

Program Modes - The "Smiley Face" mode does a great job of exposure settings. It truly is set and forget

Battery performance - we got about 25 shots on a set of AA alkaline batteries, using flash for all pictures and using the LCD as a viewfinder

Construction - the stainless steel housing feels solid and makes it easy to hold withuot shaking the camera

In general, the camera is great for the price. It is not as good as other 4 megapixel cameras I have used, but the camera's low price means that it should really be compared with 3 megapixel cameras, in which case it is a great value. The issues with the camera are typical with other point and shoot cameras in this size range.

39 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A mighty mite of a camera, May 4, 2004

By 

Rob "eandtee" (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pentax Optio S40 4MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom (Electronics)

I've been using the Pentax S40 for the past three weeks, and am pleased with my purchase. I too selected this model because of the AA battery capability and have found the battery life to be very acceptable. I took over 100 flash pictures yesterday on a fully charged set of NiMH batteries. Spare NiMH batteries and a charger are quite cheap and most folks would carry a second set anyway.

The photographic results are quite impressive. Certainly on par with my other digital camera which is the (much larger) Sony DSC-F707, though the slightly lower resolution (4mp to 5mp) would likely show on an 8x10. The viewfinder doesn't show the full size of the scene being framed on the LCD screen, but I believe this is true of most digicams.

The telephoto works smoothly, and the LCD screen provides a clear and smooth look at the scene being framed. As with most LCD displays, it becomes less useful in bright sun.

The camera is easy to set up and its menu system is intuitive and logical with a surprisingly large array of photographic options. It can also be used as an auto focus point and shoot camera with good results as my 12 year old daughter did recently on a school trip. Subsequently she spent a bit of time learning the camera, and now navigates the menus, etc., with ease.

I'm using a 256mb Simpletech Secure Digital (SD) Pro-X High Speed card which has a much faster (10MB/sec) transfer rate than a standard SD card. The faster write speed frees the camera for its next shot much more quickly, and you won't believe how fast it transfers 256mb to a PC over a USB 2.0 (separate USB 2.0 reader needed) connection - whew!

I also purchased the Pentax Optio Warranty Extension which gives this camera a full three years of coverage. I figured my family will be using this camera for at least that long.

All in all, this is an excellent and fully featured camera in a very small package.

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great size, image quality only so-so, June 19, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Pentax Optio S40 4MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom (Electronics)

The S40 is a very convenient size and light enough that it can be worn around your neck or carried in a shirt pocket. It uses two AA batteries instead of a proprietary battery, so you can power it with a couple of sets of rechargeable NiMH batteries. It has a 3x zoom and a nice selection of different shooting modes. The user interface is pretty good - you can select the 'hot buttons' that are most frequently needed to change resolution, exposure override, etc. So far, so good - right?

Unfortunately, image quality isn't on a par with other 4MP cameras. The S40 that I had was consistently soft along the left side of the image and had a similar, although smaller area on the right side of the image. Image sharpness wasn't great throughout the frame regardless of the zoom setting, although the colors were accurate and well saturated. There was a good bit of distortion at the widest setting, although this seems to be pretty common with very small digital cameras. I was diasppointed enough with the S40 to return it - a pity, because I loved the small size and light weight.