...But it has horrible low light focusing ability which is just unacceptable. I bought one of these a couple of days ago with high hopes. It seemed to have all of the features I have been waiting for in a compact camera: VGA movie mode, swivel LCD, wireless remote, etc. Unfortunately I quickly learned that the low light focusing was just not working at an acceptable level. I had hoped the latest firmware would help but after extensive testing, both before and after the firmware upgrade, it seemed to make no difference at all. Since I had read similar experiences on DPReview.com that this may be a problem I did extensive testing in different low light situations using my Panasonic FZ20 and my Sony P-150 along side the 750Z. Both the Panasonic and Sony could literally focus on anything. Not so with the 750Z... and I hate that because I really wanted this to be my compact, carry-everywhere camera, replacing the Sony. (I do love the Sony but not enough manual features for me) Maybe I got an unlucky lemon, but from what I've read from other sites I don't think so.

I think this camera deserves 5 stars for all of the incredible features that are packed into such a compact camera but if a camera can't focus in all situations then it does me no good, hence the 2 star rating. Your mileage may vary.

Size is great, when considering features. Swivel screen added plus for travelling alone and wanting to get in the shot. Lacks RAW, but TIFF is satisfactory for my needs. Retro-design makes having a nerdy-love for technology much more inconspicuous! It being a Pentax, I feel like a high-schooler with a thrift/pawn shop 35mm!!! (this isn't a shot at anyone, I still love my Canon AE-1, bought at a pawn shop when I was a junior in high school!!!) Only giving it a 4* as no RAW, no hot shoe for external flash, can't adapt extra lenses, proprietary battery. Considering all that, still chose over Canon G6, Sony V1.

I stumbled into the pentax digital market by accident - having researched the Nikon's and Sony's and found average reviews and been singularly unimpressed by the 3 Canon's I'd used at work. I have been using a Sony cybershot for work during the last 2 months and the images are APPALLING! So blurry and poor quality!But the Pentax Optio range has been amazing and this camera, the Optio 750Z does just about everything I would want of a digital camera!

I have used the Pentax Optio 750Z extensively over the last 2 months, in the grey winter of Vancouver, the autumn of Tokyo, the desert summer of Australia, the ice mountains of Antarctica, parties, gatherings... And you know what? The photos are UNBELIEVABLE!

Pro's:

** Excellent quality pictures
** Very very VERY long battery life (takes about 300-400 pictures over a week without needing recharge)
** No longer has the 'blurring down the left side of image' of the original Pentax Optio S versions I was using
** Improved super macro - deeper focus area than on Pentax Optio S (and able to get THREE times closer than the next closest model with supermacro on a Canon)
** Improved colour over Pentax Optio S i.e. greens really are green etc. I find I very very rarely fiddle with the white balance anymore to try and tweak a picture - it looks great as it is. I love flowers, and now photos of flowers look STUNNING!
** Amazing zoom
** Very sharp images
** No blurring (for me anyway) as I zoomed out to 5x. 2x digital is reasonable but I wouldn't bother with the 8x digital zoom
** Seems pretty rugged in the harsh weather conditions I had it out in (snow, rain, heat, dust, ice...)
** Decent time exposures allowed
** Rarely need to use the program modes as it does so well in Automatic.
** Lots of easy-to-access filters (for those who don't want to use Photoshop...)

Con's:

** I too experienced a few more problems with the autofocus than on the original optio S. I don't know why - it was a bit intermittent. I found in the end it was better to have it on 'wide focus' rather than spot.
** Takes a bit longer to turn on than an Optio S but still quite quick
** A little bit fiddly when using the manual features (focus, apperture, shutter speed), but this was rarely a problem as I rarely needed it since I was getting such good pictures on automatic
** Bit disappointed that when programming functions to the up/down etc cursor it was now a 2 step process not one... I like playing with the white balance but it is more awkward now.
** I, er, liked the dinky little camera case that came with the Optio S cameras as it was extremely easy to flip open with one hand (very important in my job!) and get the camera ready to take a picture. I wish that Pentax included the same case for the Optio 750Z. Instead, it provides NONE and I am not impressed with what is on the market so far as far as camera cases are concerned.

I bought this camera for it's small size, high resolution and many manual options. In well-lighted situations at less than full zoom the pictures were great. In low light, or at full zoom, the camera often had trouble focusing properly and also exhibited a fair amount of lens-shake. This is to be expected in a zoom camera this small, but not to the extent I experienced (in my opinion). Finally I returned it after the auto lens cover stopped functioning (stuck at halfway --(I've heard this has happened to others as well) after 2 weeks of normal use. Packing so many features into such a small package seems to be an exercise in compromise -- I'm going to go with a smaller point and shoot for spontaneous shots (perhaps the pentax s51 or a small casio or pannasonic) and the Panasonic fz20 for my primary long-range shooter.

I'm a fan of Olympus and Canon so I was pleasantly surprised to find this to be such a great camera. The view finder is very good, unlike the 5mp 550, the photos are excellent, it's easy to use, has several movie modes and even lets you use a digital zoom is some of those modes. The battery lasts a good length of time and it pretty quick, even in the highest resolution settings. All the reviews I've read state that it preforms better than the Canon and Olympus cameras of the same MP and general size. My only complaint is that it is heavier then the canons I've used. All in all, it is the best in it's class.