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Note: this camera was first sold in Oct 2003. There may be newer versions available.

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Pentax Optio 550

5 out of 5

"Fabulous little camera"

1 out of 5

"Avoid like the plague"

See rating based on 51 user reviews
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Answered Questions for the 550

Q: What is the biggest SD card the Optio 550 can use?: A: 2 gig SD card will be the maximum capacity that is compatible with Optio 550.You can buy Sandisk, Kingston or... read more
Q: noisy when lens opens: A: I'd also recommend cycling the camera on/off several times to see if the lens works it's way back into proper... read more
Q: Pentax Optio 550, My screen picture is distorted: A: Hi Mrs. J,It sounds to me like your camera is having a problem with its CCD sensor, which is the... read more

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Editors' Comments

The Pentax Optio 550 manages to cram a 5-megapixel sensor and a 5x optical zoom into body little bigger than a deck of cards. This long zoom sets the Optio 550 apart from other compact 5-megapixel cameras, most of which offer only 3- or 4x optical zoom. Offering an impressive suite of manual controls, and a durable metal body, this camera combines form... read more

Specifications

5.0 megapixels (effective)
5x optical zoom/4x digital zoom
auto and manual focus
program and manual exposure
JPEG and TIFF file format
ISO range 64-400

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Share your opinion and read others' reviews of the Pentax 550

3.85 out of 5

Average rating based on 51 total reviews: 3.85/5

Pentax 550 Ratings By Site

Click stars to read reviews from external sites.

- 4.5 out of 5
Amazon: 19 User Reviews
- 4 out of 5
Bizrate: 6 User Reviews
- 2.45 out of 5
DigitalCamera-HQ: 11 User Reviews
- 4 out of 5
Shopping: 15 User Reviews

DigitalCamera-HQ User Reviews

Submit your own 550 review!

5 out of 5

Fabulous little camera (Peter Penarth - 12/8/06)

I have owned one of these since they first came out and I have nothing to criticise that I did not know about. My late... read more

1 out of 5

Avoid like the plague (Bob Balderson - 11/28/06)

Absolutely fabulous camera BUT mine is now trash. Some (not all) of these models have faulty CCDs which allow the ingress of moisture over time... read more

5 out of 5

Truly fantastic camera, use is properly! (Ashley Willis - 9/22/06)

The white lines referred to in other reviews occur because they have not set the camera to save at full quality (the optio allows 3... read more

See all 550 user reviews...

Professional Reviews

5 out of 5

The Pentax Optio 550 is a powerhouse that delivers almost every digital camera feature, mode, and parameter imaginable (PC Magazine - 10/10/03)

The Pentax Optio 550 earned an Editors' Choice award from this technology magazine: Despite its slow startup time, the Optio 550 is an easy-to-use camera that turns out great images. read original review

4.8 out of 5

The 550 is a great little camera, with a surprising range of features and capabilities (Imaging Resource - 10/10/03)

The Pentax Optio 550 impressed this reviewer with its great image quality and "surprisingly good" battery life. Image noise is a little high, but not a major problem. read original review

4 out of 5

This is a great choice for anyone who wants a highly portable camera that doesn't sacrifice shooting flexibility or picture quality (CNET - 10/10/03)

Two thumbs up for the Pentax Optio 550, which combines high resolution, great picture quality, and a broad feature set into a remarkably compact body. On the downside, the camera's autofocus is slow, and serious photographers may be disappointed by the lack of a RAW image format. read original review

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