Pentax Optio A20
Review based on a production Pentax Optio A20
As is the nature of this business the Option A20 replaced the A10 only seven months after that model had been announced (and is itself about to be replaced by the further upgraded A30). The |A10 was one of the disappointments of last year, offering typical Pentax high quality output and wealth of features but with serious performance issues that made using it frustrating to say the least. The A20 has a new ASIC (processor), two million more pixels (10.0 MP 1/1.8-inch sensor) and a handful of new features. We decided to find out if Pentax has solved the problems that stopped the A10 from being a really great camera, starting as ever with the headline features:
- 10.0 effective megapixels
- High-performance smc PENTAX 3x zoom lens
- New ASIC
- SR (Shake Reduction)
- Face Recognition AF & AE
- Auto-tracking AF continuously focuses on a moving subject
- High-quality movies with an anti-shake function
- Auto Picture mode automatically determines the best settings for the shooting conditions
- ISO 64-800
- Shutter Priority, Manual and numerous scene modes
- SDHC support
- Post-shot red-eye removal
Pentax Optio A20 Key specifications
| Street Price | • US: $270 • UK £150 |
|---|---|
| Body Material | Metal |
| Sensor | • 1/1.8 ” Type CCD • 10.37 million pixels total • 10.0 million effective pixels |
| Image sizes | • 3648 x 2736 • 3072 x 2304 • 2592 x 1944 • 2048 x 1536 • 1600 x 1200 • 1024 x 768 • 640 x 480 |
| Movie clips | • 640 x 480 @ 30fps • 320 x 240 @ 30fps |
| File formats | • JPEG Exif v2.2 • DCF • DPOF • PRINT Image Matching III • AVI MPEG-4 |
| Lens | • 38-114mm (35mm equiv) • F2.8-5.4 |
| Image stabilization | • SR (Shake Reduction) • Movie anti-shake |
| Conversion lenses | No |
| Digital zoom | up to 4x |
| Focus | TTL contrast detection AF |
| AF area modes | • 5-point multi AF • Spot AF • Tracking AF switchable |
| AF assist lamp | Yes |
| Focus distance | • Normal: 0.35m – infinity • Macro: 0.12m – 0.4m (at full wide-angle setting to 11.5mm) • Supermacro: 0.06m – 0.15m (at full wide-angle setting) |
| Metering | • TTL metering • Multi-segment • Center-weighted • Spot |
| ISO sensitivity | • Auto • ISO 64 • ISO 100 • ISO 200 • ISO 400 • ISO 800 |
| Exposure compensation | +/- 2EV in 1/3 steps |
| Shutter speed | 1/2000 sec to 4 sec |
| Aperture | F2.8-5.4 |
| Modes | • One shot • Self timer • Continuous • Remote Control |
| Scene modes | • Auto picture • Program • Night scene • Movie • Voice recording • Landscape • Flower • Portrait • Kids • Blur reduction • Surf & snow • Sport • Pet • Text • Food • Frame composite • Shutter Priority • Manual |
| White balance | • Auto • Daylight • Tungsten light • Fluorescent light • Manual |
| Self timer | 2 or 10 secs |
| Continuous shooting | n/a |
| Flash | • Auto • Flash On / Off • Soft Flash • Red-eye reduction • Range: Wide: approx 0.06m – 7.1m / Tele: approx 0.35m – 3.5m |
| Viewfinder | No |
| LCD monitor | • 2.5-inch TFT Low-reflective type • 232,000 pixels |
| Connectivity | • NTSC / PAL • USB 2.0 Hi-speed • AV out • DC in |
| Print compliance | PictBridge |
| Storage | • 22MB built-in memory • SD / SDHC card compatible |
| Power | • Rechargeable D-L18 Lithium-ion battery • Optional AC adapter |
| Weight (no batt) | 125 g (4.4 oz) |
| Dimensions | 88.5 x 54.5 x 23 mm (3.5 x 2.1 x 0 |