Pentax Optio X90

229 reviews

May, 2013

Positive
Screen (10)
Performance (10)
Image quality (9)
Design (6)
Lens (6)

Negative
Features (4)
Color (4)
Low-light (4)
Flash (1)

General overview
Price comparison
Product Specifications

alaTest has collected and analyzed 229 reviews from magazines and websites. Reviewers really like the lens and image quality. The screen and battery also get good feedback. Some have doubts about the flash and features. Comments about the connectivity and shutter are different.

performance, battery, screen, image quality, lens

build quality, color, low-light, features, flash

We analyzed user and expert ratings, product age and more factors. Compared to other Digital Compact Cameras the Pentax Optio X90 is awarded an overall alaScore™ of 89/100 = Very good quality.

Review analysis

(Based on 229 reviews)

Expert Reviews

User Reviews

Review Ratings

(54% of reviews)
Show all 5 star reviews (31% of reviews)
Show all 4 star reviews (8% of reviews)
Show all 3 star reviews (4% of reviews)
Show all 2 star reviews (2% of reviews)
Show all 1 star reviews

Features

Battery
Show positive (33%)Show negative (22%)(Show all)

Performance
Show positive (90%)Show negative (10%)(Show all)

Screen
Show positive (33%)Show negative (8%)(Show all)

Image quality
Show positive (19%)Show negative (5%)(Show all)

Build quality
Show positive (33%)Show negative (44%)(Show all)

More features

Showing 128 review(s)

Expert Reviews User Reviews

Showing 1 - 10 of 128 Show Reviews: in English | in other languages (105)

Expert review by: Kaitlyn Chantry (digitalcamerainfo.com)

Pentax X90 Digital Camera Review

The Pentax X90 is a solid ultrazoom camera, with strong performance and a healthy range of manual control options. The menu and controls are easy to navigate, so even a beginner would have no trouble figuring out how to perform a custom white balance...

The Pentax X90 is a great ultrazoom camera—especially for the low MSRP of $249.99. It certainly holds its own in the performance department, though the Panasonic DMC-FZ35 reigns supreme among this year's models. (The X90 has only average sharpness.)

Nov, 2010

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Expert review by: steves-digicams.com (steves-digicams.com)

Pentax Optio X90

Pentax's X90 is an incredibly versatile Super-Zoom digicam featuring a 26x optical zoom, 12.1-Megapixel imaging sensor and 720p video capture. While it lacks a little in image quality, it has pleasing performance and is easy enough for anyone to use.

26x optical zoom (26-676mm) ; Powerful pop-up flash ; Shake Reduction ; EVF and 2.7-inch LCD ; User-friendly Green mode ; Great overall camera performance ; HDMI output ; Captures pleasing photos indoors and out

Above average amounts of noise at all ISO settings ; Inaccurate Auto White Balance under mixed lighting ; Good amount of noise in videos

Jun, 2010

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Expert review by: Lars Rehm (dpreview.com)

Pentax X90

The sensors in these cameras are considerably smaller than you will find in a DSLR or mirrorless interchangeable lens model. One of the advantages of a smaller sensor is that, compared to an SLR, you need a physically much smaller lens. As you can see...

Jul, 2006

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Expert review by: Kaitlyn Chantry (reviewed.com)

Pentax X90

Strong performance, a nice manual control set, but not the most comfortable handling

Excellent sharpness; Low distortion and chromatic aberration

Proprietary USB port; Uncomfortable grip

The Pentax X90 is definitely on the small side for ultrazoom cameras. The body seems to be pushing the limit of compact size for so large a lens. The good news is that its small size makes the X90 incredibly portable. The bad news is that you really...

Nov, 2010

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Expert review by: Jim Keenan (digitalcamerareview.com)

Pentax X90 Review

Pentax was a latecomer to the ultrazoom market with the X70, and it received praise for good image quality mixed with criticism of battery life and poor video quality.

Good image, color quality ; Nice array of user inputs ; Good shutter lag, AF

Telephoto AF slower ; Disappointing video quality ; Burst mode LCD blackout

Of course, if video is your main concern you should really be looking at a dedicated video camera. On the other hand,if you're looking to get into the superzoom class the X90 is a good way to go.

Jul, 2010

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Expert review by: (imaging-resource.com)

Pentax X90

In low-light or when high shutter speeds are a must, resolution can be traded off against further increased sensitivity, for a maximum of ISO 6,400 equivalent at five megapixels or below. As well as increasing the maximum sensitivity, shooting at...

Wide-angle megazoom with sensor-shift image stabilization ; Compact body for its class ; Good build quality ; Command dial ; Generally good placement of controls ; Very fast prefocused shutter lag ; Low geometric distortion (automatically corrected...

Soft corners at wide-angle ; Detail drops off noticeably at telephoto ; Zoom control is too fast ; Menu navigation is confusing ; Menu font can be difficult to read ; Poor low-light focusing, though AF assist helps ; Slowest shutter speed is only 4...

ISO 100 shots, though, are a little soft for 13x19 inches, looking better printed at 11x14 inches.

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Consumer review by: bobegregg (cnet.com)

Excellent Camera , Great Price

Excellent Buy - more than most need

Light , Small footprint , Good Picture Quality

None its really fool proof

Jan, 2011

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Consumer review by: inrpce (cnet.com)

Great bridge camera for step-up from point and shoot.

Very happy with this choice. Have used AUTO-PICT setting more than I expected. It is very intuitive in choosing the right automatic mode even in this bright snowy weather we're having right now. The face recognition feature is of questionable merit to...

Excellent performance in a zoom lens. For a this retired ex-pro, it offers the user-controlled features I want for creative photography plus the size and weight acceptable for a 75-year-old to take traveling through airports

No accessory flash shoe. Plasticky feel

Jan, 2011

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Consumer review by: (amazon.com)

Amazon review summary for the Pentax Optio X90

alaTest has collected and analyzed 38 user reviews of the Pentax Optio X90 from Amazon.com. The average user rating for this product is 4.0/5, compared to an average user rating of 4.0/5 for other products on Amazon.com.

zoom, usability, value for money, viewfinder, screen

portability, color

79% of reviews on Amazon.com give this product a positive rating.

May, 2013

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Consumer review by: Linda (amazon.com)

Great Buy Camera

What I like about the Pentax X90 -Affordable -Comfortable to hold. -Easy to use. -Pictures are very good quality. -The Zoom Feature. -Buttons are in the right places. The BEST Advice is; Use it and keep your manual handy. Be patient as you learn how to...

Oct, 2012

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