Pentax Optio M40 - Expert Reviews

Review summary: The Pentax Optio M40 comes with an affordable price of $200; it has little, though, to distinguish itself from other 3X-zoom, 8-megapixel point-and-shoot cameras (but perhaps we're getting a bit jaded). Its compact metal body feels solid and reliable. ...

Pros: Solid metal body Programmable shortcut button on the back

Cons: Poor image results with flash A bit dated looking compared to others

Verdict: The Optio M40 is a relatively compact camera, but it's mostly average in its performance and features. For $200, though, it's a good buy

Review summary: The sales blurb that comes with Pentaxs Optio M40 states that its new camera is "a standard-class compact digital camera that is easy to carry". Talk about under-selling a brilliant product.

Verdict: The Pentax Optio M40 has all the basic functions of an entry-level camera… and then some. But with its ultra-slim lightweight body and seriously good looks, a more than ample resolution of 8Mp and the ability to let you take complete manual control ...

Pros: Easy to use, Good wide-view screen, Nice design and build, Good colour and metering performance, ISO and exposure compensation in most settings.

Cons: Noise at all ISOs, Pixel fringing, Lens soft at edges, Poor low light focus performance

Verdict: The M40 is a nice camera, and that's the problem, it is nice not brilliant

Review summary: Easy to use and on paper looks good, so just how good is it?

Pros: Easy to use, good wide-view screen, nice design and build, good colour and metering performance, ISO and exposure compensation in most settings

Cons: Noise at all ISOs, pixel fringing, lens soft at edges, poor low light focus performance

Verdict: The M40 is a nice camera, and that's the problem, it is nice not brilliant

Review summary: Pentax has upgraded its slimmest pocket compact, but has it improved it?

Verdict: The Optio M40 is only a marginal improvement over the M30, but it is not a bad little camera. It is well made, has good handling for an ultra-compact, and is extremely easy to use. It performs fairly well, and apart from the lens distortion the image ...