I bought the Pentax Optio 430RS because the guy in the camera shop used the 330RS, and you can get the 430RS for the same price online.
Obviously the 430RS has more pixels (4 Meg), so you can expect a pretty good resolution.
The user menu is really easy to operate compared to some I have looked at.
I bought the digital camera because I wanted to have the choice of having only the good pictures instead of the usual 3 out of 36 type holiday photos that are any good.
The battery lasts quite well, but I have bought a spare battery (£27) as when people in a crowd want to see the pics the display eats the power. With the display on, but no people looking a the pics you can easily get 150 pics at 1024x768 high res
The display can be on, off, or have a histogram showing which is basically a light meter in the form of a graph, which gives a good idea of how light or dark your picture is going to be. If you see the displayed picture looking very white and washed out, then just tip the camera forward a bit to see the colours a bit better as they will look.
Night time photography pictures of people even those that are very close is very good and the automatic exposure does a very good job. As with most indoor dark shots the background can get a bit dark and muddy, but unless you get a tripod and expose the picture for a bit longer you can expect that.
The zoom function is pretty good, the picture quality is very acceptable, but with zoom you would again be better with a tripod, no substitute for getting in close!
Getting in close, the macro function is pretty good and you can use the manual focus for close-ups, and if you select teh correct aperture, you can get quite a narrow depth of field making the background look a bit out of focus, which can be nice. Close ups with the flash are also really good, and colour in the pictures does not get washed out with a big white patch.
I also bought the remote control, as I noticed in 99.9% of my pics, I wasn't in them, all my friends in glorious high res, but I was always on the wrong side of the lens.
I will be taking the camera to Knockhill Racing Circuit to see how it performs with fast moving motorbikes and cars on the track, this will take some practise as the shutter takes a fraction of a second to operate after the button is pressed, but I hear this is a problem faced by digital camera owners regardless of brand.
I have had this camera for about 6 months now, and short of getting an SLR digital camera this one has enough toys on it to keep me from wishing I had spent even more money. I was advised in the shop to get something like this camera because I wanted something a bit more 'future proof' than a basic digital camera.
One last think I would say, is have a look in the digital photography magazines and read up about them all, but get the best you can afford with most functions, even if you dont think you will use them, you might just try it out and find you like it.
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and remote flash photography (when switches to Slave On mode. The device features 4 slave modes that allow it to work with cameras that fire their built-in flash instantaneously or that have single or multiple flash red-eye reduction systems. Please check your camera's owner manual to determine which flash system your camera has.
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When your digital camera needs support for unique photo shoots, an ordinary tripod might ... more
not be able to tackle the job. The Gripster is the lightest and most versatile camera tripod available today. Featuring over two dozen flexible leg joints that bend and rotate, the Gripster will firmly secure your compact digital camera to virtually any surface ? anywhere and everywhere! Gripster is the ideal camera accessory for photographers on the go. Throw it in your pocket or backpack and you'll be ready for your next adventure! While the Gripster serves all the functions of a traditional camera tripod - steadying your camera under low-light conditions, taking timed group shots,etc. - it is the only tripod malleable enough to provide you with the perfect shot while wrapped around a tree branch, hanging from a pole, or perched on a jagged rock. The possibilities are endless!
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BRAND NEW! 145cm (57 Inch) TRIPOD For Use With Most Digital Cameras&Video Cameras** ... more
Bonus** Free Carry Case* 20mm Legs Diameter* Extends To 145 cm (57 Inches)* Folds To 55.88 cm (22.2 Inches)* 1 kg (2.2 Lbs)* Made Of Quality Aluminum Materials That Will Provide Stability For Your Camera For Many Years Features* 3 Section Channel Legs Locks* 3 Way Fluid Pan Head With Bubble Level* Quick Release Mount* Center Column Brace And Lock* Center Column Bubble Level* Adjustable Rubber Feet* New Pro Hand Grip"*More*This Camera Tripod is designed for most film and digital cameras as well as camcorders. Featuring a quick-release plate that makes it a breeze to switch to handheld shooting and a professional grip for fluid 3-way panning and tilt, This Tripod lets you capture images from any angle you can imagine. The tripod can extend to a height of 145 cm (57 inches) when in use, and collapse to just 55.88 cm (22.2 inches) for travel or storage. For your convenience, a carrying case is included. Lightweight, versatile, and affordable, This is a great tripod for photographers of all levels of experience.
Postage & Packaging:£5.02 Availability:Usually dispatched within 3-4 business days...
Mar 9th, 2003
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