Pentax's first Optio compact — 3MP CCD, 3x zoom, steel body, CompactFlash storage, from 2001.
The Pentax Optio 330 was the camera that launched the Optio line of compact digitals in 2001. It arrived as one of the smallest three-megapixel cameras of its day, aimed at buyers who wanted respectable image quality in a genuinely pocketable steel-clad body. It should not be confused with the later, cheaper Optio 330GS, which is a different camera.
The Optio 330 pairs a 3-megapixel CCD with a 3x optical zoom lens that retracts fully into the body. Images are stored on CompactFlash Type I cards and power comes from a proprietary lithium-ion rechargeable battery. The all-metal case measures 92 x 62 x 31mm, with only the LCD cover, buttons and doors in plastic. Reviewers of the period noted quick shot-to-shot times for its class, with a noisy zoom motor and slowish start-up as the trade-offs.
As a first-generation ultracompact it suits collectors of early-2000s digicams and anyone after the muted CCD colour rendering of the era. Controls are conventional and easy to learn, making it usable as a simple carry-everywhere camera, though autofocus around 1.2 seconds means it is not a tool for fast action.
On the used market, check that the proprietary lithium-ion battery still holds charge and that a charger is included, as replacements are third-party only. It takes CompactFlash Type I rather than SD, so factor in card sourcing. Confirm the lens extends smoothly without grinding and inspect the early-generation LCD for bleed or dead rows.