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Pentax Optio A20

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  1. User ratingsUser ratingsratings of product added by Productz users
  2. Expert ratingsExpert ratingsexperts ratings from editorial reviews
  3. Consumer ratingsConsumer ratingsratings from the biggest online stores worldwide
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  4. Average
4.3
based on all reviews
User ratings:
6
4.3 out of 5
6 user ratings
5 stars
33 %
4 stars
66 %
3 stars
0 %
2 stars
0 %
1 stars
0 %
Editorial reviews:
6
  1. See more
6 editorial reviews
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:Read more
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:Read more
What Digital Camera test review of the Pentax Optio A20Read more
Read editorial reviews

Pros

  • colours are silky smooth and shadows solid
  • A20's interface is generally good
  • compact

Cons

  • A20 shoots just a single frame every ten seconds
  • too easy to accidentally re-select the main mode menu
  • pain really kicks in after images have been captured

Key specs

  • CCD
  • 5.744x4.308 mm
  • 10 Mpx
  • 3648, 2736 px
  • 5.4
  • Contrast Detect (sensor), Single, Live View
  • 2.5 in
  • no

Compare technical data of the product to its category

Pentax

Pentax Optio A20 - Pros & Cons

Pentax Optio A20

Pros

  • colours are silky smooth and shadows solid
  • A20's interface is generally good
  • compact
  • well made and fits nicely into one hand
  • beautifully sharp and balanced
  • produces good-quality shots in most eventualities
  • make it easy to shoot compelling lifestyle images
  • solid and well-built

Cons

  • A20 shoots just a single frame every ten seconds
  • too easy to accidentally re-select the main mode menu
  • pain really kicks in after images have been captured

Pentax Optio A20 - Technical Overview

PoorAverageGoodExcellent
IconScreen size
2.5 in
Best:
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W710
Screen size: 6.7 in
IconISO maximum
800
Best:
Pentax KP
ISO maximum: 819200
IconEffective pixels
10 Mpx
Best:
Hasselblad H6D-100c
Effective pixels: 100 Mpx
IconMax resolution
3648 x 2736 px
Best:
Leica M11
Max resolution: 9528 x 6328 px

Pentax - Video Reviews (1)

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Pentax Optio A20 - Full Specifications

Icon
Sensor
Sensor typeCCD
Sensor size0.23 in
Sensor photo detectors10.0 Mpx
Effective pixels10.0 Mpx
Image ratio w:h4:3
Max resolution3648 x 2736 px
Other resolutions
  • 3072x2736
  • 2592x1944
  • 2048x1536
  • 1600x1200
  • 1024x768
  • 640x480
Icon
Optics and focus
Optical zoom3.0 x
Digital zoom4.0 x
Minimum aperture2.8
Maximum aperture5.4
Focal length equiv38 - 114
Focus adjustmentAuto
Autofocus
  • Contrast Detect
  • Single
  • Live View
Manual focusyes
Normal focus range13.78 in
Auto Focus (AF) assist beamyes
Macro focus range2.36 in
Icon
Photography features
Camera shutter typeElectronic
Minimum shutter speed4.0 s
Maximum shutter speed1.0 s
Shutter priorityno
Aperture priorityno
Exposure compensation plus2
Exposure compensation minus-2
Expousure compensation steps1/3
Self-timer delay
  • 2
  • 10
Built-in flashyes
Flash range7.1
Flash modes
  • Auto
  • Flash OFF
  • Redeye Reduction
External flashno
Scene modes
  • Beach
  • Children
  • Documents
  • Night
  • Portrait
  • Sports
  • Landscape
Self-timeryes
Icon
Design
Body typeCompact
Colour of productSilver
Environmentally sealedno
Icon
Storage
Internal storage22.0 mB
Compatible memory cardsSD
Maximum memory card size4.0 GB
Storage types
  • SD
  • MMC
  • Internal
Icon
Connectivity
HDMIno
USB version2.0
Remote controlyes
PictBridgeyes
Icon
Image
ISO
  • 64
  • 100
  • 200
  • 400
  • Auto
ISO Autoyes
ISO minimum64
ISO maximum800
Maximum image resolution3648 x 2736 px
White balance presets5
White balance modes
  • Auto
  • Daylight
  • Fluorescent
  • Manual
  • Shade
  • Tungsten
Custom white balanceyes
Image stabilization typeSensor-shift
Uncompressed formatNo
Icon
Screen and viewfinder
Screen size2.5 in
Screen technologyLCD
Screen dots232000
Touch screenno
Live viewyes
ViewfinderNone
Icon
Videography features
Maximum resolution640 x 480 px
Video recordingyes
Supported video file formatsAVI
Motion JPEG frame rate30.0 fps
Icon
Dimensions
Weight4.41 oz
Width3.48 in
Height2.15 in
Depth0.91 in
Icon
Power
Battery technology
Lithium-Ion
Icon
Other features
Timelapse recordingno
Orientation sensorno

Pentax Optio A20 - Q&A

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Pentax Optio A20 Pentax - Editorial Reviews (6)

4.2
Based on 6 reviews
  • 5
  • 4
  • 3
  • 2
  • 1
Pentax Optio A20 Pentax Optio A20 Review
DPReview logo
DPReview
Published: 05.03.2007
Pentax Optio A20 Review

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:

Pentax Optio A20 Pentax Optio A20 Review
DPReview logo
DPReview
Published: 05.03.2007
Pentax Optio A20 Review

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:

Pentax Optio A20 Pentax Optio A20 Review
Trusted Reviews logo
Trusted Reviews
Published: 05.03.2007
Pentax Optio A20 Review
4.3

What Digital Camera test review of the Pentax Optio A20

Pentax Optio A20 Pentax Optio A20 review
TechRadar logo
TechRadar
Published: 19.12.2006
Pentax Optio A20 review
4.0

Pentax's flagship compact is slow and steady

Pentax Optio A20 Pentax A20 Review
Imaging Resource logo
Imaging Resource
Published: 21.08.2006
Pentax A20 Review

Pentax A20 review, find out how the A20 stacks up against the competition in our real-world review with in-depth image quality comparisons.

Pentax Optio A20 Review: Pentax Optio A20 - Tech Digest
Tech Digest logo
Tech Digest
Published: 25.10.2006
Review: Pentax Optio A20 - Tech Digest

The Propaganda It might only be October but to most tech companies think that means it is basically Xmas already – because the festive season is such an important time of year for sales, most manufacturers have already prepared...