Pentax Optio A40 Review

Having previously owned an Optio digital camera and been very pleased with the performance I bought the Optio A40 last year. Within a few days (I had used the camera only once) the screen display was broken (I hadn't dropped it, banged it, just had the camera in a bag in its case). After a bit of a battle Pentax repaired the screen at no cost. But the screen has just gone again. I have researched this issue and it seems that this is a particular vulnerability for these cameras.

I shot professionally for a number of years and have been searching for compact digital camera I can take on vacations. Like most professional photographers, I like having control of the image every once and a while and that is what is missing from most compact cameras; they were mostly point and shoot. For me the Pentax Optio A40 is just what I was looking for. I first tested for the A40 was a back-lighted subject and was impressed with its ability to adjust based on where I put the point of focus. Having the ability to have manual control over f-stop and shutter speed in a compact camera for less than $200.00 is great. So far I am impressed. A great buy

After a bit of researching on the net, I bought a Pentax OptioA40 on 10.03.2009. I used it twice. The second time I was using it, I was wandering around a public garden taking photographs..one minute the camera was ok...the next..the sreen display looked like something had burned out in the centre of it...I returned it to the store who sent it off to Pentax...I have just been informed today that it would cost me £92 to have it repaired and a further £6.90 to have it returned to me!!...They've told me its 'impact damage'..which I totally dispute!...I asked how the camera can be in perfect condition on the outside whilst sustaining an impact severe enough to break the innner display and was told these cameras are very delicate....RUBBISH!!!..I owned a digital camera for 7 years...not I may say a Pentax...without any problems...Bill D..you are right..these cameras obviously have a fault and they are trying to 'shaft' the customer when they go wrong...I intend to have mine independently examined and until I get some satisfaction..I intend to post about my experience with Pentax on every site relating to them that I can find!!!