Electronics

The Pentax Optio S4i is a slightly updated edition of their top-selling S4 model, with a few enhancements that make it even more desirable for photographers who are frequently on the fly. Its 4 megapixel imager and 3x optical zoom lens match that of the S4 but a larger 1.8 inch color LCD monitor give it the edge in the viewfinder department, and the S4i is even lighter and more compact than its predecessor. Heres a quick glimpse of what else distinguishes the Pentax Optio S4i from both the S4 and other comparably priced digicams.

Performance Far Beyond its Weight: The Pentax Optio S4i
More improvements on the S4 in addition to the bigger monitor include a more ergonomically designed finger grip on the front and a 3x zoom that covers the same area as that of a 35-105mm lens in 35mm film and can be boosted with a 4x digital zoom to give you an impressive total zoom range of 12x. Theres also a new quick reset button on the posterior housing that takes you instantly back to Green mode, the mode that lets you take any shot you want while the camera configures all of the necessary settings.

Another significant enhancement of the Pentax Optio S4i is its 21 shooting modes accessed via the LCD, which let the user choose whatever lighting situation conditions demand and has the camera perform all necessary adjustments to white balance and metering. Night Scene is ideal (obviously) for capturing shots set against nocturnal backgrounds while Landscape mode is specially designed to bring out the richest hues of blues and greens in panoramic compositions. 3D image mode allows the user to snap two shots of postcard dimensions and then look through an optionally available viewer for a genuine 3D effect that conveys amazing depth and perspective.

Nine archived shots can be simultaneously displayed on the LCD and after one has been selected, the user can zoom in on it at 4x magnification to study intricate details. A built-in flash can be set to automatically activate whenever the camera detects that youre shooting in dusky lighting conditions. And on top of all the visual opportunities the Pentax Optio S4i supplies, the camera also offers full audio recording capabilities as cutting-edge as most stand-alone units.