Review of the Pentax Optio T30

www.pentax.co.uk RRP: £199 As the latest addition to Pentax’s T range, the 7MP T30 replaces the T20, featuring the same 3in touch-screen LCD and a range of in-camera editing facilities. It looks perfect for both the style-conscious and those seeking some creative fun from their camera, but is it a worthy upgrade? The T30 offers the same 37.5-112.5mm equivalent zoom as its predecessor, but there are some new features. An increased ISO range now stretches from 64 to 3200 and there are four extra autofocus points, options to stitch and divide movies, and a few new filters. Some are useful and some gimmicky, but they give you plenty of post-processing options. Though the camera is clearly geared towards those wishing to experiment with its multitude of effects, it does boast manual focusing and spot-metering for the more-advanced user. The sleek, metal design of the camera is similar to the T20, although a bit lighter and smaller. Using the touch-screen to navigate through the menus utilises the 3in LCD as a control panel and the large buttons prove very user-friendly, though some of the smaller ones can be fiddly. Navigating through pictures is swift, as is focusing, except in low light. Start-up time is not too bad, as is the general functioning speed. Verdict A great camera to have fun with, with useful features, but let down by average image quality. What Digital Camera Score 84%