The Pentax Optio S4 Discussion Thread (McBain Deal) [Archive]

synaptech

Apr 7th, 2005, 09:40 PM

continued from Hot Deals...

http://forums.redflagdeals.com/showthread.php?p=1519186#post1519186

Ok, we left off discussing batteries for this camera. Ebay has some offerings. What battery do you use.

How about the altoids tin, any tips for the felt?

Any tips in general?

edit - April 8. It arrived today :)

http://tinypic.com/2mjyv4

More pics:
top: http://tinypic.com/2mjzpl
bottom: http://tinypic.com/2mk12p
LCD: http://tinypic.com/2mk16q

synaptech

Apr 7th, 2005, 10:09 PM

these do use AA batteries :D

I don't think it does, but since you have the cam I really can't argue. The specs say it's a LithiumIon DL18.

synaptech

Apr 7th, 2005, 10:12 PM

In regard to the SD memory - does the brand make a difference? Are there faster SD cards? ANy experience from RFD members?

Cronic

Apr 7th, 2005, 10:36 PM

I don't think it does, but since you have the cam I really can't argue. The specs say it's a LithiumIon DL18.

if you do some more investigating you will soon find that the Lithium Ion battery is an option or 2 AA's. :lol:

Tennoh

Apr 7th, 2005, 10:38 PM

In regard to the SD memory - does the brand make a difference? Are there faster SD cards? ANy experience from RFD members?

Brands doesn't matter much with latest devices/cards. Standards are better enforced now so any SD card should work in any SD device. As for speeds in SD, yes it definitely makes a difference. But there's a big BUT, the camera has to be able to take advantage of the faster SD speeds. In the case of Pentax S4/S5/etc. they write very slow to card regardless. When I had a S5i, it took around 3-5 sec between shots to write to card, depending if flash needed to be recharged or not. Won't make a diff for these cameras whether you have faster SD cards or not.

synaptech

Apr 7th, 2005, 10:38 PM

if you do some more investigating you will soon find that the Lithium Ion battery is an option or 2 AA's. :lol:

meh, I'll just wait till it arrives. Wish I'd known this yesterday.

canook

Apr 7th, 2005, 10:39 PM

1100 mAH?! in the same size package? Wow, can you link to it? Batteries don't have a max, but typically more mAH means a bigger battery when using the same technology. Similar to the way AA and AAA rechargables have increased in capacity with better technology. So yes, higher mAH means a longer lasting battery (the units are the milliAmpere drain in hours),

Just do a search for NP-40, you'll find lots. Some claim to be compatible with Optio's (those are around 750 mAh) and some do not (1100 mAh).

And my other question copied from the old thread regarding the sale you linked to before...

This seller confuses me - auction says he's shipping from Canada, but then the text says from Hong Kong. Says he ships worldwide, but text says "Available to U.S. Only" and underneath "Will Ship Worldwide". HUH?

If it works out for you, let me know and I'll order some from him, too. Prices are good, just that the auction is very confusing.

canook

Apr 7th, 2005, 10:41 PM

if you do some more investigating you will soon find that the Lithium Ion battery is an option or 2 AA's. :lol:

You sure about that? I know that the newer S50's use 2 AA's or 1 single Lithium Ion CRV-3, but I'm pretty sure the S4 is strictly a proprietary battery. Of course, I'd be happy to be wrong!

synaptech

Apr 7th, 2005, 10:46 PM

This seller confuses me - auction says he's shipping from Canada, but then the text says from Hong Kong. Says he ships worldwide, but text says "Available to U.S. Only" and underneath "Will Ship Worldwide". HUH?

After you pointed it out I agree, but I didn't read it all I guess :) I was looking for a Canadian seller, but after seeing his prices the shipping from HK didn't seem bad. I have had emails from him and the items are apparently being prepared to ship. I'll let you know when they arrive.

rabbit

Apr 7th, 2005, 11:33 PM

if you do some more investigating you will soon find that the Lithium Ion battery is an option or 2 AA's.

Yeah, right. I don't know of any AA pairs that have three contacts on them nor any that are shaped into almost a thin square.

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000094FV6.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

Cronic

Apr 8th, 2005, 07:05 AM

hmmm.....these look like AA's to me! sorry about the ****** web cam quality!

http://images.kodakgallery.com/photos1102/2/24/9/84/83/4/483840924203_0_ALB.jpg

http://images.kodakgallery.com/photos1102/2/24/9/84/83/6/683840924203_0_ALB.jpg

Cronic

Apr 8th, 2005, 07:07 AM

let me apoligize!!!!!! he he he s40 I have.

canook

Apr 8th, 2005, 12:17 PM

I posted an update from McBain on order status in the original thread -
http://forums.redflagdeals.com/showthread.php?t=151773

I guess I'd better hold off on ordering batteries or SD cards till then.

Anyone know the max capacity for the memory cards? Is it 512, or will these take the 1GB SD cards?

And anyone who tries an 1100 mAh battery, please post results! :)

Doom Dealer

Apr 8th, 2005, 04:42 PM

I'm glad that synaptech got a camera that did not have any physical damage (scratches/dents).

My friend bought a refurb'ed Canon S400 from McBains last year during a sale; the camera he got was full of dents and scratches everywhere. Although we knew the camera was a refurbished unit, we certainly didn't expect it to have any dings all over the casing. :(

Let's hope all the people who jumped on this deal will get a scratch/dent-free camera! :)

nightwolf

Apr 8th, 2005, 07:06 PM

the battery rabbit posted is correct.

the S up to S5i so far all use that battery.

i used to have the S, upgraded to the S5i, i love these cameras.

BoxsterS

Apr 8th, 2005, 09:24 PM

synaptech

Apr 8th, 2005, 09:51 PM

And you believed him? I'm sure I could have found a lot of cosmetic damage within the first 5 minutes. Not to mention the damage you can't see on the inside.

yup I posted fake pics - they really sent me a bar of soap with an LCD sticker on the back. :rolleyes:

BoxsterS

Apr 8th, 2005, 10:01 PM

yup I posted fake pics - they really sent me a bar of soap with an LCD sticker on the back. :rolleyes:

What did you take those photo's with? Your cell phone?

synaptech

Apr 8th, 2005, 10:25 PM

What did you take those photo's with? Your cell phone?

your point? If you mean the pics are crap then I wouldn't argue that, but you're implying I am misleading you/RFD. If you choose not to believe then that's fine.

ak47num1

Apr 8th, 2005, 11:26 PM

If there are more dents than we like, we can return it within 7 days, right? :(

Nhiem

Apr 10th, 2005, 09:35 PM

>..>.

Doom Dealer

Apr 10th, 2005, 10:54 PM

And you believed him? I'm sure I could have found a lot of cosmetic damage within the first 5 minutes. Not to mention the damage you can't see on the inside.

And do I have any reason not to believe him? In any case, I was just sharing my personal experience with McBain's. It is entirely possible that someone might have recieved a camera free from any physical damage.

Of course, it is also possible that synaptech is lying and the camera is indeed damage. However, on RFD I tend to trust people on what they said unless it's been proven that the person is known for lying.

Mooseport

Apr 12th, 2005, 04:25 AM

And do I have any reason not to believe him? In any case, I was just sharing my personal experience with McBain's. It is entirely possible that someone might have recieved a camera free from any physical damage.

Of course, it is also possible that synaptech is lying and the camera is indeed damage. However, on RFD I tend to trust people on what they said unless it's been proven that the person is known for lying.

I got my camera today and it was free of dents and scratches. It looked fine to me.

sephlod

Apr 17th, 2005, 04:01 PM

Anyone bought or modded a good case for this camera? Would like to see what people have come up with, or bought.. Links/pics would be awesome.. Looking for a case myself

nightwolf

Apr 17th, 2005, 07:11 PM

charge

Apr 18th, 2005, 03:44 AM

i used an Altoids mint can with my S camera, was a perfect fit. not sure if the S4 is the same dimensions as that one.

the S5i i have now has a small metal piece on the side now, so it wont fit anymore in the tin can :(

The S4 fits the same as the S, very minor exterior differences, mostly finish and labelling. linky (http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/OPTS4/S4A.HTM)

I bought the Pentax battery/case/cloth kit, the leather case is more versatile than the Altoids tin and its a little more visually appealing when you have it hanging around your neck. :)

So far, have not needed to change the battery during a day's use, seems to be tons of juice to last and last in those Li-ion pack's. But its handy to have if you forget to charge one night.

lankyq

Apr 21st, 2005, 11:50 AM

got my camera...perfect condition.

one question for those in the know:

if i want to reduce the amount of memory a pic takes up, is it better to reduce the quality setting or the size setting? I'm heading out on a long trip, and even w/ 1gig SD, at max size/min compression, there's only 350 pics on a card.

synaptech

Apr 23rd, 2005, 07:43 PM

Well I have been experimenting a bit, not the best pic, maybe overexposed

http://img169.echo.cx/img169/2460/hyacinth68aj.th.jpg (http://img169.echo.cx/my.php?image=hyacinth68aj.jpg)

http://img221.echo.cx/img221/2081/hyacinth53uo.th.jpg (http://img221.echo.cx/my.php?image=hyacinth53uo.jpg)

and underexposed

http://img221.echo.cx/img221/9729/hyacinth15di.th.jpg (http://img221.echo.cx/my.php?image=hyacinth15di.jpg)

On a related note - the ebay batteries work quite well so I'm pretty happy with this little camera. Anyone else have some pics?

Oh, and Boxster - it's ok, no apology necessary :razz:

canook

Apr 23rd, 2005, 11:14 PM

Not a brilliant photo by any stretch, but I am pretty impressed by the "Super Macro" mode on this camera.

http://img87.echo.cx/img87/1241/ants13kp.th.jpg (http://img87.echo.cx/my.php?image=ants13kp.jpg)