Pentax Optio RS1500 review

Budget point-and-shoot model with changeable covers

The Pentax Optio RS1500
Changeable covers are a fun gimmick, but is the camera beneath worth making a show of?

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Pentax optio rs1500: test shot 1

The camera's metering system largely manages to produce pleasing exposures.

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Pentax optio rs1500: test shot 2

Most of the time auto white balance performance is also good.

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Pentax optio rs1500: test shot 3

The camera's autofocus system did well to identify the main subject here.

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Pentax optio rs1500: test shot 4

At a mid-range aperture, such as f/4.8, corner sharpness is very good.

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Pentax optio rs1500: test shot 5

The camera has exposed for the darker buildings well, although the blown-out sky shows the typical limitations of dynamic range with such cameras.

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Pentax optio rs1500: test shot 6

As with practically all other compacts under £100, the camera struggles to retain detail at higher sensitivities.

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Pentax optio rs1500: test shot 7

At low sensitivities, details are perfectly respectable for a £70 camera.

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Pentax optio rs1500: test shot 8

Colours are slightly more vibrant than faithful, but results are pleasing nonetheless.

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Pentax optio rs1500: test shot 9

While mainly sound, there are occasions where the auto white balance errs, such as with this slightly cold beach shot.

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Pentax optio rs1500: test shot 10

Slight over-sharpening is visible in this image, which has resulted in some haloing.

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Pentax optio rs1500: test shot 11

There's a little distortion from the camera's optic, particularly visible in shots such as these two.

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Pentax optio rs1500: test shot 12

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