End of an Era

My humble 5 megapixel Pentax Optio S gave out about three weeks before Christmas.

It was somewhat coincidental; I got the Optio for Christmas in 2004.

I suppose seven years is not bad for a point-and-shoot camera.

Still I'm sad to see it go.



Just about every photo on this site was taken with the Optio - right up until this one.



The odometer turned over on the Optio in August. The next picture after the above ( both shots of Wayne Newton's digs), was IMGPX0001.

I replaced the Optio with a Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH27 which I picked up at Costco for $99.

It seemed like a good price - everything else in its class was going for about $150.

So I spent $100 in 2011 to replace a camera (also purchased at Costco) which cost $300 in 2004.

What's different?

Well, primarily, the Optio had in-camera image effects. There were about nine different effects that could be applied to any image in the camera's memory. The camera would make a copy of the original and then apply the effect.

The Lumix, although lacking the effect application (it will apply effects as pictures are taken, no post-production), has image stabilization and 720p video.

There's a few small things lacking in the Lumix: no histogram on the display, most controls are in the touch-screen, not in buttons. Only two custom controls can be "favorited" to the touch screen as opposed to four for the Optio. But the audio and video are light-years ahead of the Optio.

So, a decently superior camera for a third of the price.

[Update]

A few more minor nits, in case someone finds this page by searching on the camera model:

1 - The display always has at least two icons on it - you cannot view images without those two icons in the way.

2 - and this may be debatable as a detraction - it uses a proprietary rechargeable battery. So, in order to not get left out of juice, you'll have to cough up about $10-20 for an extra battery and be sure and take the charger with you on trips.

3 - The lens always comes out when the camera is turned on. There is no way to select a "view only" mode. (It retracts a few seconds after image viewing is chosen from the touchscreen icon) Other cameras I've had experience with allow you to select "view only", usually by pressing two buttons in tandem, and the lens stays put. This means that simply viewing images will put extra wear on the most mechanically complex parts of the camera.