Pentax M50 Review

Camera Reviews / Pentax Cameras i Preview
Basic Specifications
Full model name: Pentax Optio M50
Resolution: 8.00 Megapixels
Sensor size: 1/2.35 inch
(6.0mm x 4.5mm)
Lens: 5.00x zoom
(36-180mm eq.)
Viewfinder: LCD
Extended ISO: 64 - 6400
Shutter: 1/2000 - 4 sec
Max Aperture: 3.5
Dimensions: 3.7 x 2.2 x 0.9 in.
(94 x 56 x 23 mm)
Weight: 4.1 oz (116 g)
MSRP: $230
Availability: 03/2008
Manufacturer: Pentax
Full specs: Pentax M50 specifications

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Pentax M50
8.00
Megapixels
5.00x zoom 1/2.35 inch
size sensor
image of Pentax Optio M50
Front side of Pentax M50 digital camera Front side of Pentax M50 digital camera Front side of Pentax M50 digital camera    

Pentax M50 Intro

The Pentax Optio M50 is an ultra-compact digicam with a flare for style and fun. It's thin and sleek, and is the perfect companion for busy consumers who want to take good snapshots at a moment's notice while letting the camera do all the work.

Pentax M50 Features

The Pentax Optio M50 has an eight megapixel CCD imager coupled with a Pentax-branded 5x optical zoom lens. A high-resolution 2.5-inch LCD display caters for image framing and reviewing, and the M50 has 51MB of built-in memory plus SD / MMC card storage. Power comes from a proprietary Lithium-ion battery. The Pentax M50 also features a Smile Capture function, which detects smiles on a subject and automatically releases the shutter.

Additional Pentax M50 features and details (adapted from the press release):

  • High-quality Images
    With a high resolution of 8.0 effective megapixels and a high-performance Pentax lens, the Optio M50 offers clear images.
  • 5X optical zoom lens
    The Pentax Optio M50 is equipped with a 5X optical zoom lens (angle of view equivalent to 36 to 180 mm lens in 35 mm format). A perfect zoom for portraits, landscapes, and other settings, the camera also features a digital zoom function (approx. 1X to 5.1X) for a maximum zoom equivalent to 25.5X.
  • Three Color Options
    The Optio M50 will be available in the United States in a choice of three colors: silver, pink and blue.
  • Generous 2.5 Inch LCD Monitor With Wide Viewing Angle
    The Optio M50 features a large, 2.5 inch IPS LCD monitor with approximately 230,000 dots resolution for easy viewing of the screen during photography, playback and for easier camera operating and setting. With a wide viewing angle of approximately 170 degrees from all directions, the monitor also makes it easy to confirm images even from the side or when viewing images in a group.
  • Face Recognition AF & AE
    Featuring Face Recognition Auto Focus and Auto Exposure, the M50 can automatically detect and focus on up to 15 faces and set the optimum exposure. In addition, a Smile Capture function distinguishes smiles on a subject and automatically releases the shutter.
  • Evolved Auto Picture
    Unique to Pentax cameras, the Auto Picture mode allows the camera to automatically determine the shooting conditions and program settings for Landscape, Portrait, Night Scene, Normal, Flower and Sports mode.
  • Digital Shake Reduction
    Digital Shake Reduction mode reduces camera shake and blur by adjusting sensitivity automatically to as high as ISO 6400 to match the brightness of the subjects. This feature allows photography at faster shutter speeds with less blur.
  • Movie recording function with shake reduction enabling high image quality rivaling camcorders
  • Mode palette provides quick access to 16 shooting conditions and 15 playback modes
  • Panorama mode for stitching three photographs into 1 panoramic picture
  • Auto-Macro allows for close-up photography as near as 5 inches (10cm) without changing the normal focusing mode
  • Auto-tracking AF continuously focuses on a moving subject
  • Date imprint function for easy image categorizing
  • Approximately 51.1MB of built-in memory
  • FotoNations red-eye compensation function for flash shots
  • Includes the ACDSee for Pentax 3.0 image viewer/image management software that supports Windows Vista™
  • Support PictBridge, DPOF functions, Exif Print, and PRINT Image Matching III

Pentax M50 Pricing and Availability

The Pentax M50 ships from March 2008 in silver, light blue and pink variants, priced at about US$230.

 

Buy the Pentax M50

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Pentax M50
Similar to the M50 but smaller lighter larger sensor cheaper But ...
loading
No cameras match your search criteria(s)
   

$128.00 (9% less)

20.1 MP (60% more)

Also lacks viewfinder

11% smaller

8x zoom (37% more)

M50 vs W830

$168.50 (17% more)

16.1 MP (50% more)

Also lacks viewfinder

Similar size

4x zoom (25% less)

M50 vs TS30

$166.98 (16% more)

2 MP (60% more)

Also lacks viewfinder

6% smaller

8x zoom (37% more)

M50 vs 180

$136.95

20.1 MP (60% more)

Also lacks viewfinder

8% smaller

8x zoom (37% more)

M50 vs A300

$284.50 (51% more)

20.2 MP (60% more)

Also lacks viewfinder

8% larger

12x zoom (58% more)

M50 vs 360 HS

$232.95 (40% more)

16 MP (50% more)

Also lacks viewfinder

46% larger

5x zoom

M50 vs WG-50

$288.00 (51% more)

18.2 MP (56% more)

Also lacks viewfinder

11% larger

2x zoom (75% more)

M50 vs WX350

$189.00 (26% more)

2 MP (60% more)

Also lacks viewfinder

Similar size

1x zoom (50% more)

M50 vs 190 IS

$119.00 (18% less)

16.4 MP (51% more)

Also lacks viewfinder

44% larger

5x zoom

M50 vs XP120

$109.00 (28% less)

16.4 MP (51% more)

Also lacks viewfinder

44% larger

5x zoom

M50 vs XP130

$156.95 (11% more)

13.2 MP (39% more)

Also lacks viewfinder

57% larger

3x zoom (67% less)

M50 vs W100

$229.00 (39% more)

16.4 MP (51% more)

Also lacks viewfinder

44% larger

5x zoom

M50 vs XP140

$0.00

16 MP (50% more)

Also lacks viewfinder

46% larger

5x zoom

M50 vs WG-80

$301.98 (54% more)

20.2 MP (60% more)

Also lacks viewfinder

53% larger

5x zoom

M50 vs WG-6

$319.00 (56% more)

20.2 MP (60% more)

Also lacks viewfinder

21% larger

25x zoom (80% more)

M50 vs SX620 HS

$386.95 (64% more)

16 MP (50% more)

Also lacks viewfinder

43% larger

5x zoom

M50 vs W300

$746.48 (81% more)

20.2 MP (60% more)

Also lacks viewfinder

53% larger

5x zoom

M50 vs G900

$348.00 (60% more)

18.2 MP (56% more)

Also lacks viewfinder

42% larger

3x zoom (83% more)

M50 vs WX500

$448.00 (69% more)

18.2 MP (56% more)

Has viewfinder

42% larger

3x zoom (83% more)

M50 vs HX90V

$368.00 (62% more)

18.2 MP (56% more)

Has viewfinder

42% larger

3x zoom (83% more)

M50 vs HX80

Suggestion for improvement? Head over here.