WTT: Trex for Optio A10

[enigma]

I need a camera! I would like an Optio A10 or similiar, must have IR remote capabilities! I posted here because this is where the photo boys hang out. Ask for details, what is included will depend on type and condition of camera offered. Thanks- Enigma

[WillJames]

I am having a hell of a time getting good image quality with mine. It is hard to get the exposure speed high enough to make the pics non-blurry without raising the sensivitity to where they are grainy. I really hope to get it to work, got the GentLED auto switch for it and everything.

Here is a link to some of the testing I have done. Scroll down to see the progression. Still not there yet, but to rainy to fly for a few more days.
http://www.helifreak.com/viewtopic.php?t=18574

[enigma]

so are you thinking of getting rid of it?

[WillJames]

No not really since I paid 349 for it 4 weeks ago and you can buy them from the same place (bestbuy) for 299 now. I bet I will have it forever.

I just wanted to let you know that it is proving to be hard to get pics with the A10 that are anywhere close in quality to what my 10D is getting on the same machine.

[Teej]

I just had to spend last night taking apart my 10D. What a PITA.

[enigma]

How are the pics off the heli?

[Arthur P.]

I-ve had an A10 and had great difficulty getting good pics off of it using it on an EasyStar and EasyGlider-E. Pics were way too blue, and the only settings which got about 60% of pics shap was manual focus at infinity, ISO 100, sports mode, and that after upgrading the firmware. I also found the camera way too slow, with about 1 pic per 4 sec.

I then replaced it with the A20. Colour is a lot better, as is the basic software. And speed marginally better with about 1 pic per 3 sec. However, vibration was an unsurmountable problem, even with foam padding around the camera I was getting less than 50% sharp pics irrespective of camera settings.

I believe Pentax use a piezo based anti-vibration system and I think the vibration problems with both cameras have to do with the chip mounted on this system vibrating. Even the smallest of movements of the chip will then show as vibration artefacts. When shooting from the hand this can even be evident if you shoot immediately after a fast handmovement coming to a sudden stop. Under normal conditions of hand-based point and shoot this is not a problem. But for RCAP purposes I think the A10 / A20 are useless.

I have had NO problems of this sort with the Panasonic LX1 --but noise was a problem-- or with the LX2 which is my real favourite. And I-m in the process of testing the Casio Exilim EX-Z1050 which first tests show to be an excellent addition with very high shot rates (about 1 per second, similar to the LX1 / LX2) even in full auto mode, with limited or no movement artefacts when shooting from a stretched arm out a side window of a car moving at about 50 mph (nice test of the RC AP conditions with a sidelooking mount, only doesn't simulate high freq vibrations).

[WillJames]

Very interesting Arthur. I am still unable to get more than about 70% in focus shots from mine as well. What a disappointment.

[Arthur P.]

Look on the bright side: You can make a present to your wife / daughter / girlfriend out of the A10. It has a lot of sexiness and is actually quite a nice point and shoot camera which fits nicely in most lady's bags. And that might get you the goodwill to move on to e.g. a Panasonic or Casio camera which does work properly for RCAP ;=)

[KarbonBird]

Any camera without manual shutter settings will give you blurred images. If you are happy with poor quality and don't intend charging for your pics then the A10 may be the camera for you.

See the comments about it here (Digital Photography Blog): http://www.livingroom.org.au/photolog/reviews/pentax/pentax_optio_a10.php


Digital Camera Info reviews the Pentax Optio A10 and writes - 'The Pentax Optio A10 is a small, well-built compact camera, designed to be Pentax's new flagship of their Optio line with the addition of a shake reductrion system. But there are some serious omissions: the lack of access to commonly-used manual controls is a big problem for a camera supposedly designed for more advanced users. There's no way to manually set shutter or aperture and the manual focus is a pain. The battery life is also on the low side. '

Digital Photography Review has put together their wonderfully review of the Pentax Optio A10 where they give a rating of 'average' and write - 'The Optio A10 is a deeply frustrating camera for a reviewer; on the one hand it is capable of producing some of the best results in its class, the lens is obviously excellent, image processing is fairly subtle, and unlike so many similar cameras the default contrast, saturation and sharpening are spot-on. On the other hand it can be really, really annoying to use; by today's standards shooting feels slow and unresponsive, and has a screen that can't be seen at all in bright weather. Throw in the dismal battery life and total unsuitability as a social 'party snaps' camera and you'd think this was a camera you'd only recommend to someone with a masochistic streak, or someone you really didn't like.'