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Put simply, this is a competitive sector of the market, and the A20 - despite ticking all the right boxes on paper - simply doesn’t have what it takes to compete. For the typical user of a compact like this image quality (where the A20 does pretty well) is not the only measure of a camera, and it’s in these other areas the A20 fails to impress. There is enough here to lift the A20’s rating above the A10, but not enough to allow an unconditional recommendation. 

The PENTAX-DA* Series delivers the highest level of optical quality and reflects the PENTAX commitment to delivering ultimate image quality in digital photography. Bringing together advanced optical technologies, including aspherical elements, special optical-glass elements and original lens coatings, these new interchangeable lenses are superior to any existing lens series in terms of contrast, clarity and edge-to-edge sharpness. 

The PENTAX-DA* Series delivers the highest level of optical quality and reflects the PENTAX commitment to delivering ultimate image quality in digital photography. Bringing together advanced optical technologies, including aspherical elements, special optical-glass elements and original lens coatings, these new interchangeable lenses are superior to any existing lens series in terms of contrast, clarity and edge-to-edge sharpness. 

With an enhanced waterproof design, the Optio W30 performance capacity has more than doubled and now allows photographers to capture images underwater up to 10 feet for 2 hours. The generous 2.5 inch LCD monitor offers an LCD Bright Mode that can adjust the brightness of the screen as necessary for improved viewing in the sunlight. 

The PENTAX Optio A30 features 10.0 effective megapixels, a 1/1.8 inch CCD with a wide dynamic range for superior tones, an smc PENTAX zoom lens and an image processing engine that gives a rich color reproduction. The PENTAX original Shake Reduction (SR) technology in the A30 has been improved by adding both Digital and Movie SR for improved image capture in low-light settings and telephoto capture. A unique Face Recognition AF & AE function offers better results in photographs by automatically detecting faces, and then adjusting exposure and focus to properly capture portraits. 

Bottom line - The Pentax Optio M20, with features such as Auto Picture, Blur reduction, Movies with Anti-Shake, Face Recognition AF and AE, and an outstanding battery life, make this an impressive model. It’s compact, yet fits well in your hand and has enough features to keep most camera buffs happy. With a price of under $200, the M20 is a well-balanced addition to Pentax’s Optio line.