The Pentax Optio Z10 radically differentiates itself from the rest of the line by its innovative look (for Pentax) and especially a particularly attractive 7x optical zoom.

Handling

At a width of 25 mm, the Z10 has a lens cover that protects the periscopic zoom (called a refraction lens system and meaning the lens does not extend).  The focal range is a bit disappointing at 38-266 mm and is too much.  Here a true wide angle would have been welcome such as we find on the Ricoh R7.  Startup is activated when you slide the lens cover and the camera is ready to shoot in less than 1.5 seconds.  While autofocus is relatively reactive in well lit situations, it’s a lot less so indoors and with the zoom.  With the face detection system, the Z10 gains a little speed.  The 2.5 inch screen (230,000 pixels) is very fluid but its coating is very glossy and can be problematic in overly bright environments.

Image quality

The Pentax Optio Z10 produces rather average quality images.  Sharpness is rather good in the center of the photo, while detail on the edges is less defined and there are unwelcome purple fringes.  Indoors, white balance controls can go astray and in our test lab images were bluish.  As for exposition, it’s rather good.  Noise is already noticeable at 200 ISO and becomes very bothersome at 800 ISO, while higher sensitivities are only as a last resort.  The macro mode is a bit deceiving with focus at 8 cm from the subject.  Only the flash is well dosed.  The absence of optical stabilization also penalizes this compact and means we have to rely on higher sensitivities, an area where it is not necessarily at ease.