- 12.1 megapixel CCD
- 720p high-definition video at 30 fps
- Wide-angle 5x optical zoom (28-140mm equivalent)
- 2.7" LCD 16:9 display
- Waterproof up to 20 ft
Technical Details
Product Details
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Product Description
From the Manufacturer
The eleventh generation Pentax Optio W90 waterproof digital camera is built for rugged adventure in every way. It offers enhanced waterproof, shockproof, dustproof, and coldproof performance and features an inventive Digital Microscope mode with LED lighting to capture small but intriguing subjects. Designed with the look of mountaineering equipment, the Optio W90 kit includes a woven web fabric strap complete with a carabiner to attach the camera to a backpack and other outdoor gear.
Adventure photography doesn't get any better than this. The rugged Optio W90 offers photographic performance, innovative features and style that surpass other outdoor compact digital cameras now available on the market.
- Waterproof to 20 feet for reliable underwater photography
- Shockproof to 4 feet withstanding the rigors of extreme use
- Coldproof to sub-freezing temperatures for use in wintery, snowy activities
- 12.1 megapixel sensor and wide angle 5x optical zoom (28-140mm equivalent)
- Digital Microscope mode with LED lens lighting perfectly captures the smallest and closest macro subjects as near as 1cm from the camera
- Eye-Fi wireless SD memory card connectivity for built-in Wi-Fi capability to transfer photos and videos from the camera to a computer or an online sharing site such as Picasaweb, Flickr, Facebook and YouTube. (Eye-fi cards sold separately.)
- Large 2.7-inch LCD with 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio that is easy to view in strong light or underwater
- Capture movies in widescreen 720p HD video at 30 frames per second An HDMI port plays back beautiful high-resolution imges and video on HDTVs
- Advanced Pixel Track Shake Reduction captures blur-free images in any lighting Fast Face Detection, Smile Capture, Blink Detection, and processing modes specifically designed for portraiture, and new Pet Recognition captures up to 3 pre-programmed pet faces in memory
- Infrared remote control compatibility with new waterproof Remote Control WP, as well as other Pentax infrared remotes
- Autofocus assist lamp helps to quickly and accurately focus, even in challenging lighting
Waterproof, Shockproof, Dustproof, Freezeproof
Rated JIS Class 8 waterproof, the Pentax Optio W90 captures images up to 20 feet underwater (four feet deeper than the previous Pentax W series model) for up to two hours. The shockproof* Optio W90 is designed to withstand falls from a height of four feet without damage to the body. Rated JIS Class 6 dustproof, the Optio W90 also offers exceptional coldproof performance for reliable operation at temperatures as low as -10 degrees C, making it a perfect choice for active photographers who venture to shoot pictures in demanding outdoor conditions. The camera also comes equipped with carabiner strap to attach the camera to a backpack or other outdoor gear.
* Measured under Pentax-original testing standards (from a height of 1.2 meters, onto a surface of 5cm-thick plywood), conforming to the Method 516.5-Shock of the MIL-Standard 810F.
Digital Microscope mode for nature observation from 1cm away
Combining a macro shooting capability from less than one inch away with the Digital Zoom function, the Optio W90's new Digital Microscope mode magnifies the view and captures miniscule subjects that are difficult to observe closely with the naked eye.
* Three LED Macro Lights installed on the face of the lens barrel camera captures subjects such as plants and insects clearly and brightly on the LCD monitor for extreme macro photography.
** When using the Digital Microscope mode, the image size is fixed at 2.1 megapixels (at 16:9 proportions).
Eye-Fi wireless SD memory card connectivity
Eye-Fi SD memory cards store media and offer built-in Wi-Fi capability that accesses an assigned wireless network to effortlessly transfer photos and videos from the camera to a computer and online sharing site such as Picasaweb, Flickr, Facebook and YouTube. Equipped with an Eye-Fi Card, the Optio W90 allows users to enable/disable the Eye-Fi Card's Wi-Fi connectivity via the camera menu and provides an on-screen card activity indicator. (Eye-fi cards sold separately.)
Upgraded face detection detects dogs and cats
The Optio W90 features a new-generation Face Detection AF & AE function, which instantly and accurately detects up to 32 faces in the image field and captures each in sharp focus and optimum exposure in just 0.03 seconds. This upgraded version is programmed to detect not only human faces, but also the faces of dogs and cats. When the user selects pre-registered dog or cat faces (up to 3 choices), the camera automatically detects them and optimizes focus and exposure. Users may program the camera to automatically release the shutter the moment the subject's face turns straight toward the camera, which is helpful for pet photography.
High-quality, HD-proportioned movie recording
The Optio W90 captures beautiful, flawless movie clips at 16:9 high-definition TV proportions (1280 x 720 pixels) at a frame rate of 30 frames per second. This mode also offers a variety of editing functions: Still images may be extracted from movie clips; title images can be added to the beginning and/or end of a movie clip; and more. The Optio W90 also provides an HDMI micro terminal for audio/video signal output.
Extra-wide 2.7-inch LCD monitor for effortless outdoor viewing
The Optio W90 features a large 2.7 inch high-brightness color LCD monitor with approximately 230,000 dots and horizontally extended 16:9 proportions. This monitor is treated with a special AR (Anti-Reflection) coating to cut the glare of external light and minimize annoying reflections, making it easy to view recorded images and on-screen menus even in bright sunlight.
High image quality
Combining approximately 12.1 effective megapixels with the Pentax-developed imaging engine and the high-performance Pentax zoom lens, the Optio W90 delivers brilliant, high-quality images with well-defined details. Even when images are enlarged to larger sizes, users are assured of sharp, high-resolution prints with edge-to-edge sharpness.
Optical 5x zoom lens with a 28mm wide-angle coverage
Despite its compact dimensions, the Optio W90 features an optical 5x zoom lens covering focal lengths from 5mm to 25mm (equivalent in the 35mm format to approximately 28mm wide angle to 140mm telephoto). This wide zoom range may be used for a wide variety of subjects and scenes, from spectacular landscape and group shots to tightly framed snapshots taken from a distance.
Triple anti-shake protection to prevent different types of camera shake
Pixel Track SR
When recording still images, the Optio W90's Pixel Track SR (Shake Reduction) effectively compensates for camera shake by processing affected images.
High-Sensitivity anti-shake mode*
When the Optio W90 detects low-lighting conditions in still-image shooting, it automatically raises its sensitivity to as high as ISO 6400, making it possible to use a higher shutter speed. This effectively minimizes the adverse effects of camera shake and subject shake under poor lighting conditions.
Movie SR**
During movie recording, the Optio W90 prevents blurry images by effectively minimizing annoying camera shake through the use of exclusive software.
*When the High-Sensitivity anti-shake mode is selected, the recorded size is fixed to five megapixels (2592 x 1944 pixels).
**When the Movie SR is selected, the angle of view becomes narrower than normal shooting.
Subscreen Input function for constant display of a favorite image on the screen
The Optio W90 features a Subscreen Input function that allows users to display a thumbnail of a recorded images in the upper left corner of the LCD panel for a picture in picture effect that may be used as a reference. This features is helpful when the photographer wants to shoot subjects from the same angle and at the same image size every time (such as photographing prepared food in the same way to compile a recipe file) or when the user wants to constantly keep a favorite image on the screen.
Additional features
- Remote Control Waterproof O-RC1 (available as an optional accessory) for wireless remote shooting*
- New Collage function to compose a single picture from multiple images
- New Ink Rubbing filter to create a monochromatic, high-contrast image from a recorded image
- Auto Picture mode to automatically select one of the eight shooting modes for the optimum result 12 digital filters to add distinctive visual effects to recorded images
- Digital Wide function to compose an extra-wide-angle image (equivalent to an image taken with an approx. 21mm lens in 35mm format) from two images
- MediaImpression 2.0 for Pentax image viewing, editing and filing software included (compatible with latest operation systems, such as Windows 7 and Mac OS X 10.6)
Product Description
PENTAX 16426 12.1 Megapixel Optio W90 Digital Camera (Green)
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
49 of 54 people found the following review helpful
Amazon Verified Purchase
Pros: easy to use, both underwater and on land. Easy to hold and small size fits well in pocket. Like the caribeener for my primary uses. Underwater pictures turned out very nice.
Cons: On the first visit to the pool, it worked for about 25 pictures, and then suddenly got into a mode where the camera would automatically take a picture when turned on, but none of the controls other than power would work at all. Presumably, some drop of water made it through the waterproofing (note that no "abuse" occurred, as the camera was never under more than 5 ft of water, and was not subjected to any fast moving water, etc...). After 4 days, it finally started working correctly again, and I was able to use it with no problem for over an hour of snorkeling in salt water.
Hopefully, this was a fluke in manufacturing of this particular camera, but I'm returning it and trying the Panasonic TS2 instead.
UPDATE: I have to credit Amazon for a really smooth return. I returned the camera just under the 30 day limit, and they have refunded not only my purchase price but the expedited shipping charges that I had paid for 1 day delivery. So far the Panasonic Lumix TS2 is holding up after its first trip to the pool :)
Cons: On the first visit to the pool, it worked for about 25 pictures, and then suddenly got into a mode where the camera would automatically take a picture when turned on, but none of the controls other than power would work at all. Presumably, some drop of water made it through the waterproofing (note that no "abuse" occurred, as the camera was never under more than 5 ft of water, and was not subjected to any fast moving water, etc...). After 4 days, it finally started working correctly again, and I was able to use it with no problem for over an hour of snorkeling in salt water.
Hopefully, this was a fluke in manufacturing of this particular camera, but I'm returning it and trying the Panasonic TS2 instead.
UPDATE: I have to credit Amazon for a really smooth return. I returned the camera just under the 30 day limit, and they have refunded not only my purchase price but the expedited shipping charges that I had paid for 1 day delivery. So far the Panasonic Lumix TS2 is holding up after its first trip to the pool :)
97 of 112 people found the following review helpful
Initial Impressions: Excellent design; yet suffers from lack of shutter-priority and above-average image noise
April 6, 2010
Amazon Verified Purchase
Update: Shooting results after 24 hours of use - my initial impressions of the design and feature set are below. But first, a few words about image quality. So far, I've taken ~100 photos in different modes and lighting just playing around with the camera and settings. Image quality is not quite as high as I was hoping for. I was hoping for outstanding image quality; this is only good.
Color accuracy appears very good, with the exception of a strong yellow cast in some videos and in night modes. The camera consistently seems to use higher-ISO than I would prefer (or than would be used by similar PnS cameras), and the result is graininess for many of the photos.
Some small amount of graininess is present even in the fastest mode, ISO-80, in broad daylight and at fast shutter speeds. It is disappointing that there is noise present even in perfect conditions. My guess is that this is a reflection of 12.1megapixels being forced out of a tiny 1/2.3" CCD. This is not unusual, but the cameras I use most often -- a variety of 8-10mp Canon PnS cameras -- have noticeably less image noise.
The upside is that with 12.1mp and a 5x zoom, most people will seldom really need all those pixels. When printed in small sizes or reduced for the screen, little or none of the noise is apparent.
Another factor contributing to noise is that this camera lacks any actual image stabilization -- it has a software-implemented "shake reduction" feature for both the still-frame and video modes, but the "shake reduction" -- at least in my limited experience so far -- produces blurrier images when it's on than when it's off. I think this feature is marketing hype and does not translate to real world improvement on pictures. I have not tested it yet with video, only with still shots.
One of the biggest downsides to this camera is that there is NO WAY to set shutter or aperture priority. Shutter speed is whatever the camera feels like, and there is nothing you can do to change this. I spoke with Pentax tech support to confirm the complete lack of this feature. At this time, they have not released any plans to implement this feature in future software upgrades. But maybe if enough of us e-mail them (pentaxinfo at [...]), they will relent.
The place where the inability to change shutter speed is most frustrating is with the flash on. Usually, turning on a flash sets a PnS camera to a very fast shutter speed (1/500 on most PnS Canons)... with the Pentax W90, the shutter speed with flash enables locks to 1/50 -- ten times slower than many other models. This means that even with a flash, you can get some blur in the image.
The camera has a wealth of shooting modes, but it lacks some of the modes that you would expect, like a simple "outdoor" shooting mode or a simple "indoor" or "low-light" shooting mode. There are some neat feature modes like candlelight mode or fireworks mode that are seldom likely to be used, but some of the basic modes are missing.
On the bright side, the camera powers on and is ready to shoot very quickly. I'd estimate it's barely over 1 second from hitting the power button to being ready to shoot -- that's very fast. Shot lag time with full autofocus appears to be (my guess), about 1/3 of a second, which is also pretty fast and plenty good enough for everyday use. Flash recycle time appears to be 2-3 seconds, which is good as well. Shot-to-shot times (no flash) appears to be ~2 seconds. All of these figures are estimates, but probably close enough to give you some idea of the camera capabilities. The camera feels plenty quick, and comparable or better than most small PnS cameras.
Overall, I'm not 100% decided if I will keep this camera. I'm going to give it two weeks to see how it does in some real-world scenarios. I don't know yet if the inability to set shutter times, the 1/50 shutter time on flash photos, and the noise and tendency to default to high-ISOs are going to be deal-breakers or not. I really, really like this camera, and initial results are promising, though not conclusive.
ORIGINAL REVIEW -- focuses on features and design:
Like many people, I've been eagerly awaiting this camera, along with the Olympus Tough 8010 and the Panasonic DMC-TS2. I've been trying to hold out for good reviews on each of them to decide which one to get. But alas, very little info is out, and with a trip coming up I finally broke down and bought the Pentax Optio W90, based on the feature set and a conversation with customer service at Pentax to confirm a few details about the camera.
The camera arrived today and I spent about 30 minutes trying out some of the features during lunch. It's not much content for a review, but I'm sure others are as anxious as I am to learn more about this particular model, so I'm posting what I know. For the record, I'm a bit of a techy with a solid photo background and a lot of experience with digital cameras -- everything entry-level point-n-shoot models to professional digital SLR equipment, so I feel fairly competent to share my impressions.
My initial impressions are very favorable. The w90 has a few features that I was hoping for, based on feature sets of previous models, but that I had been unable to verify. First and foremost is a pretty vigorous time-lapse capability.
There's the small-scale time lapse that will really make getting yourself in photos easy... you can set a timer and then have the camera take anywhere from 2 to 11 pictures at any interval you want. Amazing feature. For instance, you could do sets of 11 pictures at a time 2-3 seconds apart, after a 20 second lag to get set up... easy way to get just the right expression... this will be amazing (and much safer) for group shots when hiking... no mountaingoat jumps from rock-to-rock needed to get in the picture, and no need to go press the button again to try a second (or 3rd or 4th or 5th or 11th) picture. I think this is going to be immensely useful for travel.
The other version of time lapse I didn't really play with much, but it appeared you could set the camera to turn on and take a picture every minute or 5 minutes or hour or whatever... cool if you wanted to set it to capture a plant opening or sun coming across a garden or something like that.
Also has an alarm function which could be useful for travel. Have the camera wake you up instead of having to leave a cell phone turned on. Didn't try this either, but it seemed like a good idea.
Menus throughout are very clearly labeled and easy to navigate. Buttons feel good and are well placed -- especially for a ruggedized camera. The camera itself feels smaller and less intrusive than I expected based on the pictures. The zoom feels good and the 28mm-140mm range is generous and is pretty much a best of all possible worlds for everyday usage. It will be much, much, much easier to hold the camera at arms-length and get a good self-portrait thanks to the wider angle. I know that may sound silly, but I've got a lot of pictures with only half my face filling 1/3 of the frame when trying to hold a camera at arm's length.
Other functions include the ability to lock the full-auto shooting mode to a certain ISO range to prevent images from getting too grainy (this may sound overly simple, but is a rare option on digicams). And you don't have to lock it to a specific ISO, but to a range, 80-400 for instance... great little detail.
It's also got a well-implemented feature for stitching together panoramic photos in camera, and a mode for taking uber, uber, uber closeups of objects (distance of less than 1cm). The camera has three white LEDs surrounding the lens that provide lighting and help eliminate camera-shadow on uber-closeups. Not necessarily super useful, but could be cool for uber-closeups of flowers, plants, etc...
Also a mode that is optimized for taking pictures of text (like museum signs) which is something I do often to help my memory, and I think I will appreciate. The whole camera just seems very well thought out, and I'm impressed by the options... menus are clear, easy to read, and for the most part they clearly explain what each mode is best for -- no more having to guess at tiny little symbols.
I have no idea at this point what the image quality looks like from the actual pictures; it's too hard to tell from the tiny screen... but so far I'm impressed by the overall design.
The one semi-negative is that the tripod mount is way off-center (see pictures in the 360* view on the Pentax site)... I suspect this will make it harder to level pictures easily with small flexible tripods like the Gorillapod (my default for travel). However, the huge plus for the tripod mount is that it is made of metal, which is a very rare feature on digicams... and a metal tripod mount is much more important to me than whether or not the mount is centered. Much better longetivity and helps keep with the overall rugged design of the camera.
It appears this camera is better thought out than any other model I'm aware of for taking pictures anywhere of anything and getting the shot you want -- with you in it. If picture quality is anywhere near design quality for this camera, I am going to be very, very pleased.
I wish I could answer questions I know people are asking: what is the shot lag like? what is the shot-to-shot time like? What is the flash recharge time like? How is quality underwater? At what ISO do the pictures get too noisy? etc... I'm sorry I can't help yet with any of those questions -- hopefully a full review will be coming soon for the camera. But for now, hopefully this helps fill in a few gaps for people who are on the fence.
Color accuracy appears very good, with the exception of a strong yellow cast in some videos and in night modes. The camera consistently seems to use higher-ISO than I would prefer (or than would be used by similar PnS cameras), and the result is graininess for many of the photos.
Some small amount of graininess is present even in the fastest mode, ISO-80, in broad daylight and at fast shutter speeds. It is disappointing that there is noise present even in perfect conditions. My guess is that this is a reflection of 12.1megapixels being forced out of a tiny 1/2.3" CCD. This is not unusual, but the cameras I use most often -- a variety of 8-10mp Canon PnS cameras -- have noticeably less image noise.
The upside is that with 12.1mp and a 5x zoom, most people will seldom really need all those pixels. When printed in small sizes or reduced for the screen, little or none of the noise is apparent.
Another factor contributing to noise is that this camera lacks any actual image stabilization -- it has a software-implemented "shake reduction" feature for both the still-frame and video modes, but the "shake reduction" -- at least in my limited experience so far -- produces blurrier images when it's on than when it's off. I think this feature is marketing hype and does not translate to real world improvement on pictures. I have not tested it yet with video, only with still shots.
One of the biggest downsides to this camera is that there is NO WAY to set shutter or aperture priority. Shutter speed is whatever the camera feels like, and there is nothing you can do to change this. I spoke with Pentax tech support to confirm the complete lack of this feature. At this time, they have not released any plans to implement this feature in future software upgrades. But maybe if enough of us e-mail them (pentaxinfo at [...]), they will relent.
The place where the inability to change shutter speed is most frustrating is with the flash on. Usually, turning on a flash sets a PnS camera to a very fast shutter speed (1/500 on most PnS Canons)... with the Pentax W90, the shutter speed with flash enables locks to 1/50 -- ten times slower than many other models. This means that even with a flash, you can get some blur in the image.
The camera has a wealth of shooting modes, but it lacks some of the modes that you would expect, like a simple "outdoor" shooting mode or a simple "indoor" or "low-light" shooting mode. There are some neat feature modes like candlelight mode or fireworks mode that are seldom likely to be used, but some of the basic modes are missing.
On the bright side, the camera powers on and is ready to shoot very quickly. I'd estimate it's barely over 1 second from hitting the power button to being ready to shoot -- that's very fast. Shot lag time with full autofocus appears to be (my guess), about 1/3 of a second, which is also pretty fast and plenty good enough for everyday use. Flash recycle time appears to be 2-3 seconds, which is good as well. Shot-to-shot times (no flash) appears to be ~2 seconds. All of these figures are estimates, but probably close enough to give you some idea of the camera capabilities. The camera feels plenty quick, and comparable or better than most small PnS cameras.
Overall, I'm not 100% decided if I will keep this camera. I'm going to give it two weeks to see how it does in some real-world scenarios. I don't know yet if the inability to set shutter times, the 1/50 shutter time on flash photos, and the noise and tendency to default to high-ISOs are going to be deal-breakers or not. I really, really like this camera, and initial results are promising, though not conclusive.
ORIGINAL REVIEW -- focuses on features and design:
Like many people, I've been eagerly awaiting this camera, along with the Olympus Tough 8010 and the Panasonic DMC-TS2. I've been trying to hold out for good reviews on each of them to decide which one to get. But alas, very little info is out, and with a trip coming up I finally broke down and bought the Pentax Optio W90, based on the feature set and a conversation with customer service at Pentax to confirm a few details about the camera.
The camera arrived today and I spent about 30 minutes trying out some of the features during lunch. It's not much content for a review, but I'm sure others are as anxious as I am to learn more about this particular model, so I'm posting what I know. For the record, I'm a bit of a techy with a solid photo background and a lot of experience with digital cameras -- everything entry-level point-n-shoot models to professional digital SLR equipment, so I feel fairly competent to share my impressions.
My initial impressions are very favorable. The w90 has a few features that I was hoping for, based on feature sets of previous models, but that I had been unable to verify. First and foremost is a pretty vigorous time-lapse capability.
There's the small-scale time lapse that will really make getting yourself in photos easy... you can set a timer and then have the camera take anywhere from 2 to 11 pictures at any interval you want. Amazing feature. For instance, you could do sets of 11 pictures at a time 2-3 seconds apart, after a 20 second lag to get set up... easy way to get just the right expression... this will be amazing (and much safer) for group shots when hiking... no mountaingoat jumps from rock-to-rock needed to get in the picture, and no need to go press the button again to try a second (or 3rd or 4th or 5th or 11th) picture. I think this is going to be immensely useful for travel.
The other version of time lapse I didn't really play with much, but it appeared you could set the camera to turn on and take a picture every minute or 5 minutes or hour or whatever... cool if you wanted to set it to capture a plant opening or sun coming across a garden or something like that.
Also has an alarm function which could be useful for travel. Have the camera wake you up instead of having to leave a cell phone turned on. Didn't try this either, but it seemed like a good idea.
Menus throughout are very clearly labeled and easy to navigate. Buttons feel good and are well placed -- especially for a ruggedized camera. The camera itself feels smaller and less intrusive than I expected based on the pictures. The zoom feels good and the 28mm-140mm range is generous and is pretty much a best of all possible worlds for everyday usage. It will be much, much, much easier to hold the camera at arms-length and get a good self-portrait thanks to the wider angle. I know that may sound silly, but I've got a lot of pictures with only half my face filling 1/3 of the frame when trying to hold a camera at arm's length.
Other functions include the ability to lock the full-auto shooting mode to a certain ISO range to prevent images from getting too grainy (this may sound overly simple, but is a rare option on digicams). And you don't have to lock it to a specific ISO, but to a range, 80-400 for instance... great little detail.
It's also got a well-implemented feature for stitching together panoramic photos in camera, and a mode for taking uber, uber, uber closeups of objects (distance of less than 1cm). The camera has three white LEDs surrounding the lens that provide lighting and help eliminate camera-shadow on uber-closeups. Not necessarily super useful, but could be cool for uber-closeups of flowers, plants, etc...
Also a mode that is optimized for taking pictures of text (like museum signs) which is something I do often to help my memory, and I think I will appreciate. The whole camera just seems very well thought out, and I'm impressed by the options... menus are clear, easy to read, and for the most part they clearly explain what each mode is best for -- no more having to guess at tiny little symbols.
I have no idea at this point what the image quality looks like from the actual pictures; it's too hard to tell from the tiny screen... but so far I'm impressed by the overall design.
The one semi-negative is that the tripod mount is way off-center (see pictures in the 360* view on the Pentax site)... I suspect this will make it harder to level pictures easily with small flexible tripods like the Gorillapod (my default for travel). However, the huge plus for the tripod mount is that it is made of metal, which is a very rare feature on digicams... and a metal tripod mount is much more important to me than whether or not the mount is centered. Much better longetivity and helps keep with the overall rugged design of the camera.
It appears this camera is better thought out than any other model I'm aware of for taking pictures anywhere of anything and getting the shot you want -- with you in it. If picture quality is anywhere near design quality for this camera, I am going to be very, very pleased.
I wish I could answer questions I know people are asking: what is the shot lag like? what is the shot-to-shot time like? What is the flash recharge time like? How is quality underwater? At what ISO do the pictures get too noisy? etc... I'm sorry I can't help yet with any of those questions -- hopefully a full review will be coming soon for the camera. But for now, hopefully this helps fill in a few gaps for people who are on the fence.
60 of 69 people found the following review helpful
Amazon Verified Purchase
This is the third Pentax Optio Waterproof camera that I have owned. I have been pleased with this family of cameras over the years, but I had read that recent versions of the camera were not as good as the older versions which I had owned. But I must say that this latest version is amazing and a lot of fun. It looks very different from previous Pentax Optio Waterproof cameras... In fact, it looks pretty different than any camera I've ever seen! The pistachio green camera, which I own, has a really cool, outdoors look. The camera has a sturdy feel and rugged design, but it is also slim and light and fits comfortably in a pocket. The camera was already dropped on a tiled floor on the second day that I owned it, and it was fine.
What really surprised me is how much better this camera does with INDOOR pictures. I was always pleased with the quality of outdoor pictures in my previous Optio WP cameras, but the quality of indoor shots was not as good on those cameras. Not so with this camera... I am not a camera expert, but it seems that there is a lot more technology built into this camera to help pictures turn out well. It can take close up pictures, it has face recognition capabilities, and it can even detect when a person smiles and then take the picture at that moment.
I have not yet used it outdoors, but I am looking forward to taking it with me on numerous camping trips, bike rides, ski trips, mountain climbs, and other outdoor adventures, as I have done with my previous Optio WP cameras. This camera is perfect for those kinds of uses.
What really surprised me is how much better this camera does with INDOOR pictures. I was always pleased with the quality of outdoor pictures in my previous Optio WP cameras, but the quality of indoor shots was not as good on those cameras. Not so with this camera... I am not a camera expert, but it seems that there is a lot more technology built into this camera to help pictures turn out well. It can take close up pictures, it has face recognition capabilities, and it can even detect when a person smiles and then take the picture at that moment.
I have not yet used it outdoors, but I am looking forward to taking it with me on numerous camping trips, bike rides, ski trips, mountain climbs, and other outdoor adventures, as I have done with my previous Optio WP cameras. This camera is perfect for those kinds of uses.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Amazing, until warranty expires Two and a half stars
I bought this camera for an adventure in the Middle East. It stood up to sand, super salty water and a bit of being banged around. I loved it! Read more
Published 2 months ago by LJG_Sport
I love this camera...
My husband and I enjoy many different outdoor activities. This camera is perfect for us. We can take it on the kayaks and not worry about it being damaged by water. Read more
Published 3 months ago by T. Tipton
Poor battery life, no support
All I can say is that the battery life for this camera is absolutely horrible. Don't be surprised if the battery lasts an hour at most. Read more
Published 3 months ago by geocan
broke but seller replaced with a newer model
this is a great looking camera but it didn't take great photos for the short time it worked.
to the seller's credit we returned the camera for repair and after a couple... Read more
to the seller's credit we returned the camera for repair and after a couple... Read more
Published 4 months ago by lauren
Awful!
I used it to take pictures on the sea, to capture pics and videos of myself and my friends surfing. But after a few uses it died. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Matias
lasted about 2 hours of underwater use...
same problem as many of the other reviewers had mentioned.
once the camera was taken under water, in my case about 4ft... i got about 1 hours of use... Read more
once the camera was taken under water, in my case about 4ft... i got about 1 hours of use... Read more
Published 10 months ago by choppy
Fits my rugged lifestyle perfectly!
I have dropped this camera many times, taken tons of underwater photos, hiked and snowshoed falling and scraping it along rocks and basically treated it badly. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Ginny W
Rock Solid
I'm not a profesional photographer. I'm just a young guy who loves to get rough and dirty, and enjoys taking pictures of the ridiculous things I've done. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Outdoors Greg
Just died...
Worked for less than a year then died.
Takes good photos in daylight.
I liked it when it worked.
Takes good photos in daylight.
I liked it when it worked.
Published 13 months ago by John
Good Camera but......
I recently took this camera on a vacation trip to South America. It took great pictures and, with an 8 Gig card, I had plenty of room for tons of them. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Willard T., Engelskirchen
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