The Optio WP from Pentax expands the ever-popular Optio line and takes it where it has never been before - underwater! Wonder what the best digital camera is for underwater? This is it. The WP is a waterproof/splashproof (JIS Class 8 waterproof-rated exterior) 5MP (mega pixel) camera with a 3X optical zoom, with just a .6 second startup and 5/100 sec. shutter lag - no more missed shots, even when going down the waterslide at the theme park! And when was the last time you could wash your camera off under the hose after a day at the beach! It does NOT have a viewfinder window - you must use the 2.0" LCD on the back for composing photos, but that is what you would want underwater anyways. There are larger pictures below.
It has a compact design, less than 1 inch thick, and includes the standard features found on most cameras these days: continuous auto-focus, 20 pre-programmed shooting modes (action, snow, sunset, etc.), red-eye reduction, etc. Storage is covered by SD memory cards - you can pick up a 1GB version for $75 or so, which holds over 250 high quality photos. So how waterproof is it? According to the specs, it can be submerged up to 3 feet deep in water for up to 30 minutes (it has rust-resistant metal exterior, rubber seals, water-tight locking mechanism for battery and memory card access, and special lens protection). So this is more a recreational camera that is safe for beach, waterslides, rainy weather, snow, sailing, pool, and snorkeling - no deep sea diving. Picture quality is a little lower than we've seen in other 5MP cameras, at less than 1200 lines of resolution - colors were a little washed out, and with only 3 aperture settings those looking for more control over depth of field will be disappointed.
Focusing Range: Autofocus: Normal - 1.31 ft (0.4m) to Infinity, Macro - 0.4 inches (0.01m) to 2.0 ft (0.6m), Manual Focus - 0.4 inches (0.01m) to Infinity
Lens : Type - PENTAX power zoom, Focal Length - 6.3mm - 18.9mm (35mm Equivalent - 38mm - 114mm), Aperture Range - F3.3 - F4
Dimensions: (W x H x D) - 4.0 x 2.0 x 0.9 Inches, 4.20z
Verdict: Good pictures, nice compact size, made for the outdoor enthusiast who wants to enjoy the elements, not worry about his or her camera. If splashproof/waterproof is your concern, this is a great low-cost camera. If you are looking for the best, top of the line digital camera with complete manual controls, this Optio is not for you. Rating: 7 out of 10.
Current price is just under $250. The links on this page contain further reference materials and information.
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