Pentax Optio LS465

Pentax Optio LS465 review

The new Pentax Optio LS465 is a budget, ultra-compact digital camera that can customise its looks thanks to swappable ‘skins' designed to change the camera's face plate, presumably in order to help it match your outfit. This is quickly backed up by a look at the camera's web page; it is unashamedly aimed at women, as the shot of the camera with matching lipstick testifies.As well as purple model we tested, the camera comes in black and very, very, bright pink and you get 10 skins in the box that allow you change the look, from cow patterns or zebra stripes to adding your name and address. A rubberised ring around the lens throat holds it all in place. Priced at a very affordable 89.99, the LS465 features a 16-megapixel resolution and HD video complete with a 5x optical zoom (that's a 28-140mm range in 35mm terms). Every inch a point-and-shoot camera it is nonetheless a stylish little beauty; there's a suite of auto picture modes and some of the more familiar creative filters such as miniature effects, HDR simulation, and the like, with some of the more ‘normal' features built into its tiny 102mm x 46mm x 18mm and 125g body, includes face detection and smile capture.