Pentax X70

Photo gallery: Pentax X70

As first efforts go, the Pentax X70 superzoom camera is strong, though it succumbs to problems seen throughout the category — namely slow performance and a noticeable decline in photo quality above ISO 200. The camera's 26mm-equivalent wide-angle lens with 24x optical zoom is certainly very flexible and fun, and the X70 is outfitted with a large set of shooting options — from full manual to full auto. But a couple of feature missteps and, again, performance and photo quality troubles keep it from being a complete success.

Design

Lighter than most cameras with its zoom range, the X70 nonetheless looks the part of a superzoom camera and feels of reasonably good quality. Well, with the exception of the lens, which sort of floats loosely in the barrel. But otherwise, it feels solid with a big rubberised hand grip on the right and a similarly textured thumb rest on back. An eye piece for the electronic viewfinder juts out above the 2.7-inch LCD, and thankfully there's a button to take you back and forth between the two. All of the controls and buttons are big and clearly labelled, including the Mode dial on top. The camera's menu system is very straightforward and easy to navigate as well.

Features

Those looking to either work up to using or supplement a digital SLR or who need to satisfy a number of different user types under one roof will appreciate the large assortment of shooting options. With full-manual and semi-manual modes you get finer control or room for experimentation. There's also a User mode so you can define a frequently used group of settings. If you want the camera to do more of the heavy lifting, there are Program, Auto Picture (automatic scene recognition), and Scene modes. The X70 has Pentax's dedicated Green mode button that sends you straight into simplified automatic shooting with limited access to shooting options.

Most notable are an array of ISO sensitivity options. In addition to complete Auto and manual 50 through 1600 at full resolution, there are fixed-range auto options, which let you choose one of five ranges: ISO 50-100, 50-200, or 50-400, 50-800 or 50-1600. There are also two high ISO settings, 3200 and 6400, but the resolution drops to 5 megapixels. If you're going to keep it in Auto, use the ISO 50-200 range for the best photo results.

Performance

Performance is a sore spot for superzoom cameras of this calibre. Just because they look, feel and have shooting options in common with digital SLRs doesn't mean they perform like them. The X70, for example, is across-the-board pokey. Start-up to first shot is 3.1 seconds. Shutter lag in bright conditions is 0.7 second, while low-light shooting extends the lag to 1.4 seconds. Shot-to-shot times without a flash averaged 2.9 seconds, while turning the flash on pushes that up a bit to 3.1 seconds. If you're shooting landscapes, flowers, slow-moving animals, rocks, and sleeping and/or motionless people, these times probably won't matter to you.

There is no full-resolution continuous shooting mode, which is a real disappointment. Even a simple three-shot burst would have been nice. Instead, the X70 has three levels of high-speed continuous shooting at a 5-megapixel resolution. The fastest is able to capture up to 21 photos at an average of 12fps.

Most superzooms rely on AA batteries — alkaline, Lithium-ion or rechargeable NiMH — for power. Pentax used one of its rechargeable Lithium-ion packs instead. It's a small one, though, and battery life was not the best. You'll probably want to get a backup if you're going to be out shooting all day.

Shutter speed (in seconds)
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)

Time to first shot

Typical shot-to-shot time

Shutter lag (dim)

Shutter lag (typical)

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28

2.3 

1.8 

0.8 

0.6 

Canon PowerShot SX10 IS

1.5 

2.1 

0.8 

0.6 

Nikon Coolpix P90

2 

2 

0.8 

0.7 

Kodak EasyShare Z980

2.4 

1.1 

0.9 

0.5 

Olympus SP-590 UZ

1.6 

2 

1.4 

0.6 

Pentax X70

3.1 

2.9 

1.4 

0.7 

Image quality

Photo quality is very good for a superzoom, but it's still a point-and-shoot. Noise is present from the start at ISO 50 when photos are viewed at full size, though it doesn't get noticeable at smaller sizes until ISO 200. However, the X70 is one of the sharper 20x or higher superzoom cameras we've tested, and detail is good at these lower ISO settings. At ISO 400, noise reduction starts to blur detail. ISO 800 may be suitable for small prints if you're not too picky, but ISO 1600 isn't worth using. We don't recommend using the high-ISO settings; not so much because of the reduced resolution, but because, honestly, the results are really not good.

Noise is present from the start at ISO 50, though it doesn't get noticeable till ISO 200. At ISO 400, aggressive noise reduction starts to smear images causing a significant loss of detail. ISO 800 may be suitable for small prints if you're not too picky, but ISO 1600 isn't worth using. (Credit: Matthew Fitzgerald/CNET)

The X70 produces inaccurate colours, but they are pleasing. Test shots were all taken using the camera's Natural setting, which is the only setting for the camera's Auto Picture mode. Other shooting modes open your selections to Bright and Monochrome options.

As expected from a superzoom camera — especially one with a wide-angle lens — the X70 shows some barrel distortion at its widest setting and slight pincushioning at its longest position. Purple fringing isn't an issue until the X70's lens is fully extended. At that point, though, it's pretty bad. Lastly, Pentax's sensor-shift shake reduction works well, helping out immensely when that long lens is in use.

Purple fringing isn't an issue until the X70's lens is fully extended. At that point, though, it's pretty bad. (Credit: Joshua Goldman/CNET)

The X70 is capable of capturing 720p HD-quality video, but only at 15fps, which is pointless, frankly. Plus, the lens doesn't function while video is being recorded. If you want to use the X70 to record movie clips, use the VGA setting at 30fps; those results are actually fairly good.

Conclusion

There's no doubt that the Pentax X70's lens is a lot of fun and other than the crippled HD movie capture and lack of a full-resolution burst mode, it has plenty of shooting options. If your photos are going to only be seen on a computer screen or made into 4x6-inch prints with an occasional 8x10, you'll likely be more than satisfied with its photo quality, too. The laggy performance is the only other major issue, but again, if you're shooting slow-moving or still subjects, even that's not much of a hindrance.

Via CNET.com