Customer Reviews

Pentax Optio WS80 10MP Waterproof Digital Camera with 5x Internal Optical Zoom and 2.7-inch LCD (Black and Orange)

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I ordered this camera to use during water activties on a caribbean cruise. I used it the weekend before on dry land and thought it did a great job - especially shooting "Wide screen" video.

We left for our cruise and took the Pentax on our first beach day. Used it snorkeling (note I stay on the surface and never dive down so the camera would never be more than 3 feet submerged) and took fabulous underwater photos and video. I was very pleased.

When we returned to our cabin, some hours after leaving the water, I took out the battery and put it in the charger and also downloaded the photos & video into my computer. Next morning, however, I took the battery out of the charger and noticed the contacts were all corroded. Looked inside the camera and the same thing.

I managed to get it working and it took photos one more day. Drained the battery during another water-filled day. I could never get the battery to charge again. Sadly, I had no waterproof camera to use during the two remaining water fun days.

Returned the camera to Amazon and will be shopping for something similar but more "Waterproof!"

Just got it today and here's my 2 cents' worth. It's cheap, [...], a cheaper version of Pentax W80. So please have realistic expectations. Yes, I've read the reviews before I bought it(see [...]). Other sites haven't bothered to review it. The noise and image quality issue is well known, as panned by the reviewers herein. The picture is too soft, too dull. But it fits my strategy. I need an inexpensive splash-proof camera for use while sailing. Getting any picture is better than getting no picture. For better quality shots, I can use a Panasonic TZ5 in a Dicapac waterproof pouch and look real dorky. Near future replacement for the TZ5 for me could be the Sony HX5 or the Panasonic ZS5. For dry conditions, I have a Sony A200 and A300 DSLR at my disposal.

I also have a Pentax Optio W10, bought in 2006. After taking a few comparison shots with these two Pentax cameras, I can confirm that the WS80 is noisier than the W10 at the same ISO 400, but the WS80 still has more resolution, less pixelated than the W10. The extra 4 MP help. The WS80 is also better in some other ways - 5x zoom, cost, 720 movie, and kinda IS? One ergonomic problem I have with the WS80 is that I find it hard to fully depress the shutter button without causing some camera movement. My tweaks on the camera setting: set ISO at 200; crank up the sharpness and contrast in the P mode and do more post editing and add still more contrast. There's a little too much yellow, esp on grass.

If you want something more rugged with better image quality, then spend more money, ~$200+ more for a Panasonic TX1, TX2, Sony TX5 or Pentax W90. (Sorry, Canon looks too toyish and bulky.) For me this is cheap insurance against water damage to the DSLRs. Sailing pictures taken in brighter lights this summer may turn out OK then. Happy shooting!

Easy to use water proof camera you'll want to take to any water activity. All functions are simple and user friendly. The large picture viewing screen is extra good for older eyes with no glasses. You will not find better for the money. Old NC surfer.

I've had this camera a couple weeks and I finally got outside to take some pictures. Overall, for the price of the camera it takes OK pictures. If I wanted great quality pictures I would have bought a more expensive waterproof camera. I did however, buy this camera because it is waterproof. I did not buy it for the intent of snorkling but it will be exposed at some point to rapids, snow, and rain. After these entounters and no problems I will gladly raise this review to a five.

Camera is very easy to use. Takes nice pictures although on some pictures it looks a little blury in the background. When the shutter is pressed I experienced no delay even indoors. It was very easy to download pics to computer.

Overall, I would recommend this camera to anyone that wants a nice easy to use waterproof camera and is not to fussy about perfect pictures everytime. Camera is a good value at $169 w/free shipping. I'll update as I use this under different conditions.

Since I just started using the camera, I have not yet utilized it to its fullest capacity, but so far I am very pleased. I like the fact that the camera is water proof so I do not have to worry about using it around water. Also, I like the feature that the zoom lens is encased so the lens does not constantly extend then compact every time you turn it on/off. The 5X optical lens is very sharp and even the digital zoom is quite sharp. Although the manual is thicker than the camera, it comes with a quick guide to let you start taking pictures quickly. I can always read the manual on an as-need basis if necessary.

I have owned a Pentax camera before (Optio S sub-compact)and really liked it also. However, this camera is much easier to use and produces very sharp photos. For a little over $200, very well worth the price!

JC

Bought this as a gift to replace a 3-4yr old Canon S70 digital camera, which took very good pictures, but was a bit bulky to put in your pocket (not to mention the battery was old and only did 30s of 640x480 video). I considered other small models by Canon, Sony, Olympus, Pentax and even Fuji. This one was waterproof (at least splashproof) and did 720p video at 30fps. The waterproof Pentax W60 lacked 720p/30fps and the W80 had poor image quality since bumping the sensor to 12MP. I thought this camera might have been the best of both worlds. It is nice and small. The picture quality is so terrible, I'm sending this back to Amazon ASAP. I tried changing the ISO to 100, made sure I was in the highest quality mode. But, no luck. I'm embarrassed to have given this to my wife. I would buy any of the Canon SD models, but I think we are going to stick with the old one and my 40D DSLR for now.

This camera produces beautiful pictures even by an inexpeienced photographer as myself. The battery wore down rather quickly but I do expect improvement when it gets recharged. I haven't tested it in wet conditions yet. I miss a view finder since most of my shots are in bright sun, but I've learned to trust the camera and am happy with the results.

The most critical part of the camera, its picture quality, was not up to my expectations. The pictures that I took up close (a few feet away) came out pretty well. However, when I tried to take pictures of a group of people from about 10 feet away, nothing I did could get them to come out clear. They were all blurry to some degree. I had seen a similar review to this on a different waterproof camera model from Pentax, but I was hoping this one would be different. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case in my experience, so I'm sending it back.

Some background so you know where this review is coming from...

I'm a semi-pro photographer, which means I've sold some work (mainly those kind of high-end greeting cards you buy that come wrapped in individual cellophane, "nature" images..) but don't make enough money off it to quit my day job.

I've been through many cameras in my life. In film, started with Canon SLR's (AE-1, then A-1), switched to Nikon 20 years ago (FM2, multiple N8008 bodies), have also owned medium format (Rolleicord, Yashica, Mamiya 645..) Current outfit is much simplified - a Nikon D80 digital SLR with a bunch of lenses...

Have also owned lots of digital point and shoots - from the Sony Mavica (remember saving to floppy disc?) through some Sonys and Canons.

My latest Canon point-and-shoot (the one my wife uses) died recently, and since we live near the beach and have a pool (and three small children who shoot pictures) I thought I'd get something waterproof as well as small. Did not want to spend a lot of money on that - I have enough money in cameras, thank you very much - and it looked like the Pentax fit the bill.

Oops.

Although the Pentax seems like it might be a good camera for some people, for me picture quality is paramount. If the camera doesn't take good pictures, you might as well not take them.

Pentax did a good job with exposure (with and without flash) but despite the megapixel count the final image was always "noisy" - a grainy-looking effect, noticeable without an extreme amount of magnification. I tested this under every condition I could think of - bright sunlight, shade, indoors with flash, and with the camera at every setting (ISO and picture size) that I could think of. Same result.

I did NOT test the underwater capabilities of it. Given that it could not produce acceptable pictures for me above water and I was going to return it (which I did) I didn't want to risk having something happen to it in the water.

Now... one might think "that's just the way small cameras are" but I've tested multiple "non-underwater" cameras in the same price range and they take MUCH better pictures. For example, I've replaced this with a Canon SD780IS and it's flawless...

So... again, the picture quality is not AWFUL, I'm sure if your only purpose is to post pictures on Flickr or print 4x6's (or 5 x 7's, maybe) most normal people would not be able to see what I'm talking about, but if you're a somewhat fanatical photographer I can't recommend this one.

Perhaps it's a side effect of the underwater nature of it, I've seen similar reviews that suggest if you go to a higher end UW camera the picture quality gets better, but for me I was not willing to spend twice as much to find out - we'll just have to keep the kids away from our Canon at the beach and pool.

Again, if you're looking for an inexpensive camera that's supposed to be waterproof and aren't too picky about picture quality (if camera phone pictures look good to you!) then this might be the one, but not for me...

My first review,I just had to write.Just returned from a vacation to SIARGAO ISLAND. PI.First day 60 photos later never under 2 feet quit gave error message never tuned on again and lost all photos.That's what I get for going cheap.
Beware Lost great photos cant replace.Glad I had my sony back up for the rest of the trip.Not happy