Pentax Optio X90 superzoom reviewed, trumps many beginner SLRs
By Tim Stevens 
posted June 8th 2010 9:34AM
posted June 8th 2010 9:34AM
posted June 8th 2010 9:34AM
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If I liked cameras/taking pictures I'd definitely buy this.
@juanvaldez Lol. Interesting statement :) You got the Samsung?
better than K100D/K200D?
The power of an SLR without the main feature people like about SLR's - interchangeable lenses. No thanks.
Anyway, there's already a camera (actually two) with the power of an SLR for realz, interchangeable lenses and all, and the convenience of a compact: the Olympus PEN.
Also, "ease" of a compact? What's so difficult about using an SLR? Stick it on auto and it works exactly the same as any compact.
@badasscat "The power of an SLR without the main feature people like about SLR's - interchangeable lenses. No thanks."
People want interchangeable lenses, because the fixed range on compacts sucks most of the time. Here you have 26-676 which is pretty much enough for many.
"Anyway, there's already a camera (actually two) with the power of an SLR for realz, interchangeable lenses and all, and the convenience of a compact: the Olympus PEN."
The Pen cost a lot of money compared to this thing here.
@Atkins the bigger sensor should provide a noticeable distance. this compact probably sucks over ISO 200 maybe 400 at best. The E-PL1 stays great at ISO 800 and useable at 1600. Not to mention a wider aperture. I never liked superzoom cameras much. I prefer the upscale compacts like the Lumix LX3. An entry level dSLR or SLV is the way to start learning proper photography.
@JRKScope
I absolutely do agree with you. Still, some people prefer compacts - and you get what you pay for. That's one thing that bothers me with MicroFT you pay too much.
Also I have friends who wanted to absolutely have the best quality, bought DSLRs, and mind you, expensive ones, and they show their photos on an iPhone or on Facebook!!
I hate superzooms too btw :)
@badasscat
It looks like an absolutely awesome P&S, but with a sensor that is 1/20 the size of an APS-C and f2.8 to 5.0 depending on zoom... I don't think you're going to be getting much in the way of background blur or low natural light photography. A used Digital Rebel (anything since the XT/350D) and a "Nifty Fifty" will take you much farther.
If I'm a user that has no clue what or how a focal length works (yet) but still wishes he could handle a (d)slr BUT obviously doesn't have the cash for it (it would've been a waste anyways).
How good is this for me considering I've steered away from most P&S to avoid nerdraging over the bad image quality in low light or high noise, etc
@airbag888
Get a canon powershot g11 - read the reviews of it online.
@rutter9
Thanks I'll look into it. Would you say the Canon is better/much better/cheaper than this one?
@airbag888 I have the G10. It's a bit smaller than the Pentax, but you have only 28-140 (which is in fact not bad at all). I haven't handled the Pentax... but here's about the G10/11(almost the same):
- the build quality is amazing - really tough
- the sensor is a bit bigger than the Pentax and frankly the quality is amazing under good conditions (low-light performance sucks, but is improved on the G11)
- swivel LCD screen on the G11 (awesome for some uncomfortable shots and also when to change the angle so it can be a bit more visible under sunlight)
- better LCD than the Pentax
@Atkins
Thanks for the info. Not sure about 28-140 though (will have to look into what it means)
How feasible would it be to get a camera with
Proper low light performance
Decently sized sensor (without going micro4/3)
Good build
No need to buy seperate lenses
Proper zoom (15x+ ?)
Able to shoot HD (1080p might be asking too much though)
All this without falling into Micro4/3 or SLR category.
@airbag888
The X90 is a Superzoom. The G11 is not. Both are small sensor cameras. The G11 has better image quality all around, but much less focal length. G11 is probably the best overall small sensor camera on the market right now. Canon just announced the SD4000IS, which is a successor to the S90 and supposedly optimized for low light. G11 or SD4000IS are probably the best you will find in terms of small sensor camera image quality. If you want a Superzoom, Canon and Panasonic make the best, not Pentax. If you can afford $600 rather than $400, you can buy the Olympus EPL1, which is a micro four thirds camera targeted to amateurs. That has a sensor much bigger than the puny point and shoot sensors and will give you near DSLR image quality.
@airbag888
You can not get a "decent sized" sensor without moving up to micro four thirds. They and the newly announced NEX by Sony are the cheapest decent sized sensor cameras you can buy. And they are both interchangeable lens. Leica makes a fixed lens APS-C sensor camera but price puts it out of the realm of our converstation.
@airbag888 Well, that's the problem - there are no compacts with decent sensors when you don't count MicroFT or NEX. Of course, that depends on what you understand by "decent sensor".
With compacts you loose good quality, low-light performance and control. With DSLRs you loose portability and money.
For really good quality there is no replacement for a DSLR - but most people wrongly think they need the highest quality, buy a DSLR and the post their pictures on Facebook and are happy with it.
What photography do you want to do? For example, why the 15x zoom?
@FatDrunkAndStupid
you make me sad =[
@FatDrunkAndStupid I have to agree here. In DSLRs it is another story, but for compacts Canon and Panasonic rule.
@Atkins
Ok, then this is probably the wrong way about it but I'm looking for some good flexibility. From being able to do low light pics at say a family event to being outdoors (lots of hiking) and taking pictures of landscapes down to insect level or an animal/plant perched on some tree.
@airbag888 I am shooting landscapes too, some wildlife, macro, and some portraits.
It is for wildlife that you will need a better zoom, but frankly my 300mm (which with the crop factor is 450mm) is largely enough for birds.
For the indoors you will need low-light performance.
As I see it you want a really flexible system and this won't be a compact. So here we come to this - how motivated you are to go out and shoot and learn? If you just want the casual picture on the computer or you are not sure, I would suggest buying a good compact and playing with it until you see how you like it, maybe it will be enough (when I say good compact, I mean one that offers you possibilities when shooting). If you feel motivated, or you want good quality and especially sometimes print stuff, get a DSLR by all means (you'll have to deal with the bulk and weight though). Can't really suggest MicroFT, I find the too expensive for what they are.
Buy a second hand camera if you need, you can find very cheap DSLRs.
@rutter9 Yes. +1 on the G11. Fantastic cam.
Regarding the Optio X90, Tim points out the inability to zoom while shooting video. There are some very expensive dslr cams that also have this shortcoming.
@Atkins
That's exactly the kind of shooting I'll be doing. Unfortunately because of the country I'm from I don't expect to have access to second hand DSLR or at least trustworthy sources for any, not to mention proper repair shops =\
Let's say either way (new or not) there is a risk, but the risk is (supposedly) a bit lower if the item is new.
Either way, what would be a good entry level DSLR that would do for the shooting we've talked about? I'll go webshopping see what can be had.
@airbag888 , atkins, et al
Just wanted to say thanks for this little exchange of comments... I'm going on a road trip in August and wanted a new camera, and pretty much going w/ an entry level SLR based on what you all said. Very helpful.
@airbag888 For the same price you can find a begginer nikkon d40 which is a dslr with interchangable lenses and everything.
@airbag888 Here are some entry-level DSLRs:
Nikon
D3000 550$ with 18-55 lens (no live view)
D5000
Canon
an older model that you can still find new 500D
Pentax
K-x 513$ with 18-55 lens (very good camera for the money)
Sony
here's a bit weird, the actual entry-levels are pretty expensive considering the features, but
A330 550$ with 18-55 lens
If you can find older models like
A100, A200, A350 it would be better (although only the last has Live view)
//All price from BHPhoto.com
I think you can live without Live view, but most beginners like to have it. Suggestions:
- best is to handle the camera in a shop - very important, because in the end every DSLR will give you good pictures
- google "crop factor" and understand what it is before buying
- don't forget you invest in a system - you buy a camera and lenses, then you just change the camera and keep the lenses
Canon and Nikon have the widest ranges of lenses and accessories
Sony and Pentax have in-body image stabilization, meaning that every lens will be stabilized while with Canon/Nikon only some lenses will have stabilization
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image_stabilization#Optical_Image_Stabilization
@Atkins Some older models:
Nikon
D40, D80
Canon
450D
Sony
A100, A200, A300
@majortom1981 does it come with lenses that'll do for what I'm looking for at that price?
@airbag888 Sadly, nothing will come with all the lenses you need for a good price. But just start with something.
@Atkins
First of all many thanks for this extended handholding. I've been looking around, found a great website for first timers like me (now that I know I want a DSLR) and I'm learning still.
You mentionned Image Stabilisation, that is a big factor for me. I guess I took for granted that it would be included in a DSLR de facto, but like you said it appears that some models have it on their lenses.
So right now i need - Find a brand that will sport reasonably priced lenses (canon/nikkon/pentax?) See how much their entry level dslr are at (with hd video recording hopefully) and how much 2 additional lenses will cost(wide angled 10mm? for outdoors scenery/indoors shots + telephoto).
@airbag888 Yes, read everything you can. I am not going to give you specific brand suggestions, it'll be biased.
But again:
try stuff in a shop
check the crop factor
@Atkins As far as I can see crop factor is 'countered' by using the appropriate lens. I've been going around sites looking at prices and for everything I wish I had the camera's running at $1500+
:p
I'll take your advice though and see what they have available locally, read up on those and determine if even with their ridiculous markup (30%+) it's still worth it.
@airbag888 "As far as I can see crop factor is 'countered' by using the appropriate lens."
Yes, but you must know this to buy the correct lens :)
Don't rush to buy everything. Build the system slowly, look for discounts, buy second hand if possible, etc.
Good luck and just know that you can't make a mistake. Nikon, Pentax, Canon, Sony all make great stuff.
@Atkins
I will take it slow, see you around. Thanks again for your time.
@airbag888 You're welcome :)
@Indefinite Implosion - Languages evolve. I think we're dealing perfectly fine with it.
A bit of source critique please.
This camera has a sensor that is less than 1/11th of standard APS-C sensors, and quite small optics covering an extremly long focal span.
Physically there is no way the image quality will be able to compare to even an entry level DSLR. Even with the cheapest optics.
And taking one look at the sample images is also enough to completely dismiss that it " trumps many beginner SLRs" or even comes near in terms of IQ which is main reason to buy a entry level DSLR for 90% of people.
Compared it to my 5D MK II it looks like a bad cellphone camera, and compared to my GF's Panasonic GF1 it looks like an average cellphone camera.
So you get 626mm zoom at rather bad quality. The reach is good for many... but it is not comparable in any way to a DSLR. Not in terms of IQ and nor in terms of practical use.
@Legarth
I was just about to post a similar reply.
A tiny little sensor means image quality is nowhere near as good as what you can get with even the cheapest SLR. I'm not sure what planet the Photography Blog reviewer was on when he came up with that evaluation.....
If you want a decent sized sensor in a small camera, the Micro Four Thirds are probably the best bet right now. I am sure this will change in the future, but really, comparing this Pentax to an SLR is not representing the product correctly.
@Legarth Also the fact that you can get a nikkon d40 for the same price.
@wunch Evolution can go in the wrong direction...
@jw518 You are absolutely right. But look at what most people do - post photos on the internet - what quality do you need for that? For a few hundred bucks here you get a great range - try to cover this with lenses for a DSLR or a MicroFT and see how much it will cost you.
So while in terms of IQ it sucks, in terms of focal range for the price, it kills every interchangeable system out there.
I think that is what they meant.
@Atkins
Yeah, the allure of the Superzoom is super long reach at low cost with a significant sacrifice in image quality. But there is nothing particularly DSLR-ish about a Superzoom other than the shape. The image quality is nothing like a DSLR. And as someone who has handled a lot of Superzooms, unless Pentax has really upped their game from their last version, the image quality of this think will likely be significantly worse than even it's Superzoom leading peers Canon and Panasonic.
A superzoom can be a really useful tool for somebody that needs mega-reach on a budget and shoots in mostly bright daylight or is willing to compromise a bit on overall IQ and especially low light IQ. But it is not a DSLR. It's a pocket cam with a long lens.
@FatDrunkAndStupid
Agreed.
What on earth has the fact that it is "a british site" have to do with the anything?
@coolblue2000
Exactly what I was thinking :-(
@jasonx
British people spell colour as "colour". Americans usually spell it "color". It's just like grey. In UK it is always "grey", while in America people are usually split 50/50 between "grey" and "gray".
@FatDrunkAndStupid
Ahh, Talk about subtle... I thought it was saying something about the colour perception of the uk.... (Which is why I thought it was so strange). Perhaps it is being a developer and having to type color all the time in code so often that it does not even register anymore...
Now Fender is a different matter though... ;-)
@FatDrunkAndStupid
Doh I get it now thank you :-)
SP-800UZ is 50 dollars less...Whats better about this one?
@Nitesh
I own the Olympus 800Uz, and though it decent for the (US 300.00) price, it's a pretty amateuristic affair with very little manual control, no eye-level EVF, and far more lens distortion and ISO noise than it really should have,
The Fujifilm HS10 is a much better photographic instrument on every level.
@Atkins
But then it's not evolution, is it? America is intent on destroying our language ):