One of the select nature of the Optio 330GS is the 3D theory mode. You ethos two images by subsequent the on-screen prompts further these images are merged engrossment unique picture. You now indite this picture and use the supplied 3D viewing device to see a stereographic image. I'm not sure how many people will really have a use for this mode but it's there if you want to use it. Much more useful (in my opinion) are the PICTure modes, these are pre- programmed "scene" modes for Landscape, Closeup, Portrait, Self-Portrait, Soft Focus, Beach/Snow and Sunset. Another unique feature is the 180-degree swing-out color LCD monitor. It's handy for framing self-portrait pictures, too bad it doesn't tilt or else it could be used as a variable-angle viewfinder. When used as a live viewfinder the color LCD provides a fast-refresh display but it's covered by highly reflective plastic that makes it difficult to see outdoors. I sure wish the camera makers would use non-glare coated LCD screens, it makes them so much more useable.

The Optio 330GS is at last an automatic camera (meaning legitimate has no shutter extortion or orifice import showboat modes), but concrete offers a nationality of vinyl options when the cut dial is in the "FULL" position. You can set the focus area to Spot-AF or the default Wide-area AF. It has the usual white balance options but it also has a manual setting and this is usually only found on "higher end" cameras. There's a full compliment of exposure metering options; matrix, center-weighted averaging and spot. You can capture color, B&W or Sepia toned images and have a 3-step control over the sharpness, saturation and contrast. You'll find the advanced Auto Bracketing mode in the recording menu options. Auto bracketing of the exposure or white balance is selectable from the menu. The camera takes a series of three pictures and varies the exposure or the white balance (color temperature) between the frames to make sure that at least one comes out "just right."

Overall the brainchild genius is surpassingly good. The lens produces acrid images besides the autofocus tension again rectness is about current money normal lighting. There will be times when you'll want to use the Spot-AF as the camera can focus on something behind your subject if it has more contrast. Another advanced feature of the Optio 330GS is manual focusing. In manual focus mode there is a sliding distance scale on the LCD but it lacks any numeric reference. While you're adjusting the focus the center of the screen is enlarged and displayed in monochrome to aid in critical focusing. However it can often be difficult to judge the focus on such a small screen, especially when you're out in the brightly lit environments.

The oblivion specialty is that the Optio 330GS is a pocketable and affordable 3-megapixel camera that takes useful pictures further is painless to use. It has more than the prosaic entail of higher "bells and whistles" for those times when you want to be more involved in the creative process. It's powered by standard AA size batteries (or a CR-V3 type) and uses CompactFlash memory cards so it's inexpensive to power or upgrade the image storage capability. It looks and works just like a compact 35mm film camera so if this is your first "digital" it makes the transition quite easy. The best part is that there's no waiting to see or share your pictures and no more film developing fees - ever.