Pentax Optio RZ18: Not a bad all-rounder for every day and a really good travel camera

The Pentax integration process into Ricoh is in full swing, and the first effects seem to be already evident in the company’s products. The minimalistic, chopped-up forms of the Optio RZ18 remind the Ricoh style too much, and the logic of the new model is somewhat similar: one notable plus and a basic level in all other respects. Still, it’s not a bad all-rounder for every day and a good travel camera at all.

16 MP 25-450 18x 3″

The main advantage of the RZ18 is its 18x optical zoom of 25-450mm. It can easily accommodate both open-air shots and photos of dense city life, and at the same time capture every little detail without much extra work.

Interesting, though, is not so much the range as the fact that it fits into a body 3.5 cm thick. Probably not quite the right thing for a breast pocket on a summer shirt, but you have to admit it’s very portable for the perspectives.

The camera also has a good screen: a 3-inch screen with 460K resolution. points. Other characteristics are on conditionally acceptable level. So, a 16-megapixel sensor doesn’t spoil you with speed or special prospects in terms of sensitivity and quality. Video shooting is limited to 720p and even that would be inconvenient to watch on a modern TV: the camera has no digital video output. The fully automatic RZ18 is unlikely to appeal to experienced photographers who focus on manual intervention in shooting.

But a very fair, low price tag is expected. For beginners, Pentax has traditionally offered solid automation and some fun tools like a built-in image editor with filters and frames. Finally, slightly sad in gray, the camera transforms in white, becoming an elegant and expressive beauty. Which is also important for a good camera.