Pentax Optio W80 Waterproof Camera Reviews

Pentax has added a new waterproof to their stable in the form of the Pentax Optio W80. The successor to the w60, it has had a 2 MP boost over the w60′s 10 and is now waterproof to 5 mtr instead of 4 mtr. The Pentax Optio W80 has also been toughened up, now being certified shockproof for 1 mtr drops. The Pentax Optio W80 hits the shelves at around $280 so the improvements aren’t exactly cheap.

As the W80 is clearly targeted at the adventurous holiday maker, the camera will also operate successfully in temperatures as low as -10°C and it’s designed to be stubbornly dustproof. However, fingerprints on both the lens and the 2.5-inch LCD were noticeable and persistent.The build quality of the Pentax W80 appears at be superior to its older sibling although the basic body shape is very much the same as is the control layout and accessibility.

Used and New: Pentax Optio W80 Waterproof Digital Camera

With a 5 x wide-angle zoom, 100mm macro focus capability, high definition movie mode and ISO range that tops out at 6,400, the W80 is pretty versatile. The Pentax Optio W80′sslim profile isn’t compromised during shooting due to the fact that the lens doesn’t extend even at the maximum zoom settings. Although the 2, 5″ LCD isn’t the biggest, it is bright, sharp and saturated even under horrible lighting conditions.

The Pentax Optio W80 colors and exposure are good although pictures are somewhat gritty and soft even at low ISO’s. ISO 1600 is not too shabby but deteriorates quickly after that. The Pentax Optio W80 also had a mediocre lens which was has a sharp center point but lost focus towards the sides, noticeably more so on the left than the right.

Definition was rather weak, even in center frame and softened up considerably towards the edges. On a more general note, the control layout is spartan forcing excessive main menu use, even to effect basic settings such as white balance and ISO.

The lens issue aside, The Pentax Optio W80 produces average picture quality and looses user friendly points due to the menu access issues. The Pentax Optico W80 is one the most shock and waterproof digital compact camera currently on the market. All the joints have been tightened up so you can now dive down to five metres (compared to the previous four) and shoot continuously for up to two hours underwater.

The Pentax Optio W80 buttons also have a distinctly tacky feel to them. The auto focus is not the fastest and the face detection sometimes wandered. There is only digital shake reduction which just isn’t comparable with an image stabilisation system. The 1,280 x 720 pixel HD movie mode is desirable, but unfortunately you cannot zoom while filming and the Pentax Optio W80 does not have a HDMI output.

PhotographyBlog reviews the Pentax Optio W80 and writes;
“Pentax W80’s achilles heel is average image quality, with noise in particular proving a real problem with the relatively slow speed of ISO 100 suffering from easily visible noise. The camera did handle chromatic aberrations well, and the 1cm macro mode is a real highlight..”

RegHardware reviews the Pentax Optio W80 and writes;
“if you’re looking for a camera to use in the great outdoors and, in particular, underwater then the Optio W80 is a good choice when it comes to standing up against the elements. You can use this camera on a beach, up a mountain or below water, safe on the knowledge that the Optio W80 will come to no harm, provided you don’t do anything silly. A pity though, that the resulting images may not look so robust.”

Used and New: Pentax Optio W80 Waterproof Digital Camera