Pentax Optio Digital Camera

[disneyfanatic60]

Does anyone have a Pentax Optio 3xZoom 5MP Ultra Compact Digital Camera or know anything about how good of a camera it is? My daughter is thinking about buying a "decent" digital camera for herself. She's been involved in a photography program in her high school for the past year and really has taken a serious interest. We bought her a good Nikon 35mm for Xmas that she enjoys using but now she would like to have a good digital camera as well.

Does anyone have any comments or additional recommendations? Thanks.

 

[ukcatfan]

We would have to know the model number to know what features the camera has, but in general ultra compact cameras do not offer many manual control features. They are usually designed for the point and shoot user that does not want to worry about manual control. I would guess that a photography student would want the most manual control features available. There are many point and shoot cameras that offer the manual controls, but they are usually on the larger side. Go to a review site and do some research. I like Steve's Digicams, DPReview, and DCResource. You might want to consider buying a digital SLR if she is really serious. They cost more and are larger but take better shots, offer room to grow, and are much more flexible.

 

[Kelly Grannell]

If she's already learning photography, dSLR is the ONLY answer. Don't waste your money on point and shoot. At the very least, get Pentax IstD L kit. That'll last her at least a couple of years. (My first SLR lasted me about 10 years or so)