The Pentax Optio V20 - 5x zoom and less than an inch thick
Pentax has just released an interesting budget compact today - the Pentax Optio V20. Boasting an 8MP sensor, a 5x zoom lens (36mm - 180mm equivalence) and a pretty generous 3 inch LCD all in a pretty compact 3.8 x 2.2 x .9 inch body.
Coming in at an MSRP of $279.95 this May, the V20 looks set to be a very interesting option for those shopping for a sub-$300 compact. The zoom range on the lens is certainly useful, but again, regular readers of this blog know that I much prefer a wider lens instead of a longer one. But the zoom range on the V20 isn’t all that bad, if not rare in this price range.
Unfortunately the lens lacks image stabilization, which would’ve been useful for a lens with that reach, but given the price, it’s hard to complain. Pentax does throw in a Digital Shake Reduction feature, which is just another way of saying that the camera simply ‘intelligently’ boosts your ISO when it detects shake. Useful, but it’s at the expense of image quality and more grain in your images. Which is of course still better than getting a blurred picture - but still not a real alternative to true image stabilization. But again, given the price range and the zoom range of the lens, it’s hard to complain.
The 3 inch LCD dominates the back, and as you can see there is no optical viewfinder (unfortunately) so you will have to do all your framing using the LCD.
The V20 also features what Pentax calls an Auto-Macro mode - which allows close-up photography to as close as 4 inches without changing the focusing mode.
You also get the latest gimmick in compact digital camera’s this year - the smile shutter. 
I’ve never actually seen one in action - but the camera supposedly ‘detects the key facial expression of happy people and releases the shutter automatically.’ (Not my description, that’s from the Pentax Press Release)
Plus a Blink Detection feature which warns you if the camera detects any subjects with closed eyes, so you can re-shoot if you want to. As well as the usual plethora of scene modes like ‘Night Scene, Portrait, Natural Skin Tone, Sports’ etc..
The Pentax Optio V20:
- 8 Megapixels
- 5x zoom (36mm - 180mm equivalence)
- 3 inch LCD
- Compact body, less than in inch thick
- ISO 80-3200 (ISO 6400 available in Digital Shake Reduction mode
- Uses SD Cards
- Auto-Macro Mode
The Pentax Optio V20 is currently available for pre-order from Amazon for just $279.95.