Pentax Optio S4i Digital Camera

Pros: Size! Features Solid build quality Pentax name Image quality (yeah, I know) Bundled software
Cons: Wish it came bundled with a cheap slip cover or case for protection

I spent a long time researching digital cameras, I wanted one of the new breed of ultra-small ones and was willing to give up a little on image quality over features. Several appealed to me, including the Sony DSC-T1, Casio EX-Z40, Minolta DiMAGE Xg and ...

Pros: Compact, Simple, Convenient, Reliable.
Cons: None

My Pentax Optio S4i was purchased as a corporate "travel" camera. Associates at my company asked me to purchase an ultra compact camera for their upcoming trip to Australia. They were leaving the following day so my decision was rushed to say the least. ...

Pros: Small & light. Great pictures. Very easy to use.
Cons: Flimsy. Too many technical problems. No security for strap. Software messes whole computer.

After a week of owning this camera, I returned it. During that week, I had over 5 calls to tech support, including speaking with a senior tech twice. When they told me that I'd have to send it in for repair, I returned it, as I'd only owned it for a ...

Pros: Can't beat the quality, size, features, & design of this camera.
Cons: Doesn't come with a case; you need to purchase one.

I purchased this camera after almost two months of researching other ultra-small/4+ megapixel cameras. During this researching period, I noticed how my own opinion changed dramatically when I actually held the camera and tried it out at a store after ...

Pros: Tiny Size, Fair Still shots needing a flash, small video clips with sound
Cons: Need the flash to capture action moments

Updated July 6, 2004 Went to a wedding and a good friend had an Optio too. We took pictures all day. I took about 15 min of video and she took about 100 shots (hi resolution), both our batteries died. If you consider this camera buy extra batteries. ...

Pros: Great quality photos in a small package.
Cons: None really. It's no SLR as far as quality, but it's an ideal point-and-shoot.

A nice little camera. Small enough to take anywhere. It is true...it fits inside an Altoids tin (although I would recommend something a little softer to carry it in). Picture quality is great; that 4 megapixel CCD really makes a difference. Turn on and ...

Pros: small, easy to use.
Cons: I know four people with this camera all four have broken!

I found the photos to be grainy and usually unfocused.

I found no problems at all with the software or the use of the camera (they are all very simple to use).

I LOVE how small it is and how I can take it just about anywhere!

Very delicate camera, look at it wrong and it will break, careful!

Shutter speed is slow take about 2 seconds to take the shot after you press the button.

Pros: Size, Quality of Photos, Price
Cons: The only con would be that it is delicate.

This camera is simply amazing. The size is perfect and you are not carrying some clunky camera. You can easily put this on your belt to hold on your side. The zoom is amazing and goes very far. The quality of pictures is also not excellent but superior.

Pros: Size, features, cost, speed, ease of use.
Cons: Picture quality, second shot speed, video quality (especially zoomed), green mode hangs up, reliability ???

I saw someone with one of these cameras and I had to have one. I immediately ordered one from WalMart.com and got it 2 days later. I could have gotten it cheaper elsewhere and not paid tax, but now I'm glad I didn't.

The pictures from this camera looked very good, but when I did several side-by-side comparisons with my current camera, a Sanyo VPC-AZ1, there was no comparison. The Sanyo pictures looked like I had cleaned my glasses and couldn't believe how dirty they were. All of the colors were more vivid and accurate and every detail, from right in front of the camera to far into the distance, were much better on the Sanyo. I decided to return the Pentax.

Then, while downloading the pictures I had taken with the Pentax, it just froze up on me. It still beeps when I turn it on, but that's it. I'm glad I got it from Wal Mart and can just walk into any store and return it.

Pros: compact, small enough to fit in your palm
Cons: doesn't last longer than 2 years.

We bought the pentax Option S4 2004, and recently it is broken. I had used other brand digital camera, which are much reliable than this one. Since it broke so easy, the best thing a consumer can do is not to buy it.

Pros: small size, movie mode, picture clarity.
Cons: hard to handle at times, somewhat fragile.

I bought this camera because I was advised to do so by my cousin. I subsequently took it to FL on vacation and I was very impressed by the clarity and sharpness of the LCD screen. It was much better than that of the Casio Exilim, which was my camera before although the LCD screen size is the same in both cameras. Bright light and dusk pictures came out beautifully, as did the panoramic and the movie option. The nighttime pictures didn't turn out as well as I had hoped (they were too under-exposed) even though I used the night setting.
I love the camera's small size and the overall clarity of the pictures. I don't like that sometimes it's hard to steady while taking pictures and it doesn't fit into an Altoid's box. I've had a run-in with Pentax tech support about it and they were very nice and expedient. All I had to do was fedex them the camera and they took over the rest under warranty. Once they fix it, the warranty will be re-set for another year.

Pros: picture quality and the many settings as well as the big screen
Cons: none

We had a friend who used one and bragged about it and my daughter said she wanted one for her birthday so because of the affordability we ordered one, we find that the 4 megapixel camera does better than any other camera we have purchased, the size is quite small for me but my kids love it and it is easy to use

Pros: Great picture quality, compact and easy to use.
Cons: It didn't come with a case.

This camera is awesome. I researched so many cameras before buying this one. I can say enough about it. It is so easy to use and I just love the pictures I get with this camera. I think for all its options and versatility this camera offers it is the best camera for the money, I liked it better than the Sony T1. Much better design and weight (which made it awkward to use)..the picture was also much better. I have used this camera for about 4 months now and just love taking pictures with it.

Stina

Pros: Size
Cons: FRAGILE

Would be the perfect Pocket camera if it worked. The PIX from it were sharp and well exposed with reasonable noise levels. Easy to use once you learned to not leave your finger in the way.

HOWEVER, Size does not matter when you put it in your pocket the LCD will fail. $146. at Pentax USA as they say you must keep it at all times in a case. They recommended a Pelican or an altoids tin. Why would you want a small camera that you can't use?

They built an inferior product. The design is wonderful but the parts used lack quality and shear toughness. Hence, with repair costs and lack of use, 3 weeks so far, it is way over priced and under quality and very hard to use when its in Colorado.

Pros: A tiny workhorse
Cons: None

I bought this camera 4 years ago in 2004; I had gotten so tired of a bulky, heavy camera that for the last week of a month-long trip I would leave it in my room and take no photos. I wanted something James Bond-like!

It's been a dandy. I haven't had any of the fragility issues some others have experienced. I put it in my jean's pocket, let it bounce around in my purse, have even dropped it a couple of times, and it's been fine. I've never used a case -- that would just add weight and bulk.

Now I'm noticing that it requires more frequent recharging, and I thought this might be the time to upgrade to newer technology. But from everything I've been reading, I'm probably better off just replacing the battery in this one and keeping it.

By and large I've been very happy with the photo quality. The ease of use is terrific. Best of all, I have it with me all the time. If I had one wish, it would be that the flash were a bit more powerful when photographing at a distance in a darkish setting.