The Pentax Optio M20 is a simple digital camera. It has seven megapixels and a three times optical zoom lens. It comes in at the cheaper end of the digital camera market. The Optio M20 is aimed at anyone who is looking for a camera that is easy to handle, is relatively lightweight and can take a decent snap shot in most situations.
![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
When testing for shutter lag times I found that using the flash can really slow down the Optio M20. Without the flash I recorded 0.41 seconds for a single photo and 10.51 seconds for five shots. These are not the fastest times, but they are roughly in line with other entry level models. With the flash times rose to 1.65 for a single shot and 14.10 for five.
You can compare this camera to other models by taking a look at the Shutter Lag Comparison Table.
The 3x optical zoom lens has a focal length of 38 - 114mm in 35mm format. The lens aperture is f3.1-5.9. There is also a 4x digital zoom. For close up work you can get to within 5cm of the subject.
As with just about all digital cameras there is a selection of pre programmed scene modes. These are Night Scene, Landscape, Flower, Portrait, Surf & Snow, Sport, Blur Reduction, Kids, Pet, Food, Self-portrait and Frame Composite. By selecting a scene you give a clear indication to the camera of the type of photo you are about to take. It then changes settings accordingly.
The Built in flash unit works in a range up to 4m. Using the zoom lens decreases the range of the flash down to 2m. Flash modes are: on, off, automatic, soft flash and red eye reduction.
Other features include continuous shooting and a self timer (two or ten second delay). You can also adjust levels of saturation, sharpness and contrast. There is also a mode that lets you use the camera as a voice recorder.
More advanced settings you have access to include white balance (Auto, Daylight, Shade, Tungsten light, Fluorescent light, Manual setting), exposure compensation (±2 EV (1/3 steps)) and ISO settings (64, 100, 200, 400, 800 and 1600). Shutter speeds are controlled by the camera. These work in the range 1/2000 seconds to 4 seconds.
You can compose your shots by using the 2.5" LCD screen. This is made up of around 115,000 pixels.
In the box you will find the necessary cables and software CD to connect the camera to a computer, television set and compatible printer.
You can shoot movie until the memory card is full. Sound can be captured and you can also zoom in and out while recording the movie. The maximum resolution is 640 x 480 pixels and the top speed is 30 frames per second.
When it comes to ease of use I had no complaints. The camera is sensibly laid out and the menu systems are not difficult to work with. There is also a special green mode that makes the camera even easier to use by blocking access to the menu.
You can pick up the Pentax Optio M20 for roughly £75. At the time of writing the review this makes it the cheapest seven megapixel camera I am aware of. Other similar models include Fuji Finepix A700 (£105), Olympus FE-210 (£90) and Sony DSC S650 (£105).
One area I like is the look of the Optio M20. It has a pleasant simple appearance. You will find a slightly raised are on the front of the camera. This helps you to hold the camera steady when you are taking a photo. With dimensions of 61 x 94 x 23mm it is just about small enough for a pocket. It weighs 130g.
Two AA batteries power the Optio M20. Pentax estimate that you should be able to take roughly 220 shots before a standard set of alkaline batteries run out.
21.9 megabytes of storage have been built into the Optio M20. I was able to take 13 shots before the memory was full. This is enough to get you started, but you will soon need a larger memory card. The camera is compatible with SD and SDHC cards.
Click here to save money on Memory Stick Duo.
Simple design and style
Ease of use
Sharpness of photos
Colours
I'm sorry to say the Pentax Optio M20 is not a camera I feel I can recommend. The important test for any digital camera is does it take a good photo. In too many of my tests I struggled to do this.
Front View

Back View

Top View

Sample Menus
| Description: | 7 megapixels and a 3x optical zoom lens |
| Ease of Use: | 9 |
| Features: | 8 |
| Colour: | 7 |
| Macro: | 7 |
| Indoors: | 6 |
| Value for Money: | 7 |
| Style: | 8 |
| Movie Mode: | 8 |
| Image Quality: | 5 |
| Build Quality: | 8 |
| Total: | 73 |
| Verdict: | As far as I am aware the Pentax Optio M20 is the cheapest seven megapixel digital camera made by a leading brand. It is easy to use and very straightforward. I also like the simple design and style that make it small enough to slip into a pocket. |
| Review Date: | April 2007 |
| Related Pages: | Pentax Optio M20 Specification Pentax Optio M20 Sample Images |
| Camera | Rating |
| Canon Powershot A2100 IS | 83 |
| Canon Powershot A1100 IS | 83 |
| Fuji Finepix J250 | 82 |
| Fuji Finepix Z35 | 82 |
| Panasonic DMC LS85 | 82 |
| Canon Powershot A480 | 82 |
| Nikon Coolpix L20 | 81 |
| Nikon Coolpix L19 | 81 |
Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information on this site, please make sure you double check the feature set and specification at the point of purchase.
Pentax Optio M20
