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Nikon D80

Pentax Optio W60 Waterproof 10MP Digital Camera with 5x Wide Angle Optical Zoom (Ocean Blue)

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Brand: Pentax
Category: Photography

List Price: ~~$299.95~~
Buy New: $222.95
You Save: $77.00 (26%)

New (62) Used (1) from $309.57

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

27 reviews
Sales Rank: 65

Media: Electronics
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Optical Zoom: 5
Display Size: 2.5
Maximum Focal Length: 25
Minimum Focal Length: 5
Maximum Resolution: 10
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 3.9 x 2.2 x 1

MPN: B0019V2CW8
Model: B0019V2CW8
UPC: 027075144040
EAN: 0027075144040
ASIN: B0019V2CR8

Release Date: July 5, 2008
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Promotion: Save $10.00 when you spend $50.00 or more on Qualifying Items offered by Amazon.com. Enter code BMLSAVES at checkout. Terms and Conditions
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours

Customer Reviews:

Showing reviews 6-10 of 27

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Poor Image Quality July 30, 2008
Alan A. Mapes (Albany, NY USA)
8 out of 10 found this review helpful

I had really high hopes for the new Pentax waterproof, but have been sadly disappointed. The handling of the camera is really nice - all the functions work well, and it's really convenient to have the camera in the pocket of my PFD while kayaking. The problem is lousy image quality - I mean really lousy. All photos are extremely grainy, and I'm shooting at the highest quality the camera offers. The claim is 10MP, but the photos can't hold a candle to my old 4MP camera. There is not enough resolution to work with in cropping photos. The camera can't handle backlighting and burns out on highlights even with the sun in back of you. For low light situations it is useless. I love my Pentax digital SLR's, but this model is not ready for prime time - I'm returning it.

4 out of 5 stars

Pentax W60 Underwater August 7, 2008
Frank Delle (San Francisco, CA USA)
7 out of 7 found this review helpful

Aloha from Hawaii.

This is the place for snorkeling and underwater photography, among many other things. I bought the W60 specifically for this vacation to complement a Canon G7 + underwater housing for snorkeling and photo op events. I am trying to add some real perspective to the vast amount of very subjective reviews, this one being no different.

If this is your only camera for occasional underwater photos, it is a true companion. It beats by any strength of imagination all the remaining 35mm 400 ASA cheap plastic enclosed (and oversized) cameras available. You're already spending a fortune on air travel, accommodations, food, souvenirs, etc., so make the memories and last and don't mind the $300+ bucks for this camera. The Pentax is equally well positioned for all your holiday photos and it comes in a small handy package. It's the perfect travel companion in your back pockets. But that's it.

Underwater, the W60 has a decent quality to it. Photo quality is sharp but a little less low contrast (contrast, saturation settings can be changed). Close up images are superior, focusing is quick and easy. If you want quantities of decent photos, the camera get's you there very quickly. I would not expect high-gloss tourist guide book under water pics. For that you will need scuba gear and $5000 worth of photo gear anyway.

Comparing the W60 image quality to my true and tried Canon G7 + housing, it's day, and somewhat night. The Pentax is not too far off. I have taken better pics with the Canon, but at the expense of a much bulkier setup and a slower response for focus and shutter release. When snorkeling, I take one or the other, both are producing satisfying results.

I have no second thoughts taking this camera anywhere, from the ocean beaches, mountain hiking, ski vacation, to the desert heat (last two are not tried, but I plan..)

Positives: smallest package for underwater snapshots. Lot's of options. Fast response. Fast shutter release. Good battery life (one charge is fine for a typical Hawaii day, including pool photos and review of the day's results). Goes anywhere without adding backpack real estate.

Negatives: (when compared to Canon G7). Low contrast. Slight blue tinge underwater (no surprise). Outdoor photos: less nuances, whites are washed out. Focuser makes noise when taking videos.

Overall it's a winner for point&shoot camera.

4 out of 5 stars

Good waterproof camera, minor clicking on the audio. July 28, 2008
Nadine Latief
6 out of 7 found this review helpful

I wanted a camera that was good underwater, but also for everyday use (since I'm not in the water that often.) This one comes close, but not quite, hence the 4 stars.

The underwater picture was great, but you definitely need clear water, otherwise murky lake water yields fuzzy pictures.

It's not shockproof unlike the Olympus 840 SW I had which was water and shock proof. But the audio on the videos were better then the Olympus 840 SW. There is still some clicking on the Pentex Optio W60 even when I turned off Autofocus and set it to MF, PF or Infinity. To me, it's pretty minor compared to the 840 SW... but still occasionally annoying enough that I will need another camera to do videos.

The HD video is nice, but as someone else pointed out, the low 15 fps means that it isn't very smooth.

I also find the lack of cover on the lens annoying since fingerprints get on it.

Other then that, I do like that it can take pictures at very close distances, and the LCD viewer seems pretty clear to me. And the user interface pretty friendly.

I find the picture quality reasonably good, and don't even bother to use the highest 10 MB setting. I use the next lower one.

5 out of 5 stars

Great little camera! August 12, 2008
Lee Krohn
4 out of 4 found this review helpful

This is a great little camera! Waterproof (I tested it on a week long sea kayaking workshop), nice wide angle, great image quality, and "sticky" settings so you don't have to keep resetting your preferences unless desired. Auto shutoff is great, as well, especially with the tiny batteries all of these small digital cameras use and depend on. The lens does seem to shed water as advertised, and there are quite a few features built in (including image editing) that I have not yet begun to explore. On occasion, I have had trouble with the autofocus at the telephoto extension; this is usually cured by zooming back wide and then out long again. Unlike most of my other gear, this camera is also small enough to carry everywhere; I've already published two photos taken with this camera. You can see sample images, fine tuned out of the camera, on my sea kayaking workshop gallery at www.leekrohnphoto.smugmug.com

Have fun with it!
Lee

2 out of 5 stars

A Camera Shouldn't Meow August 28, 2008
R. Shelden (Davis, CA USA)
4 out of 5 found this review helpful

I did a bit of researching on the internet trying to compare the Pentax w60 and the Olympus 1030SWOlympus Stylus 1030SW 10.1MP Digital Camera with 3.6x Optical Wide Angle Zoom (Black). I was rather torn on what to do. I was determined to find a camera that can go out into the wild and survive. Sadly, the only cameras that are compact and have a rugged design have refracting lenses, which tend to not have the best picture quality. The big push i had that made me order the Pentax is that my friend had a Olympus stylus 1000 and it took rather poor pictures and had even worse movie quality. Furthermore, i know Pentax and Casio have done a few deals with regards to lenses - i had a Casio Exilim Z600 that took amazing pictures so i gave the w60 a shot

So here is why i'm considering keeping it:
-its water proof up to 13 feet! and it can stay underwater for over 2 hours
-its stylish. Its nothing compared to my older casio exilim, but it has a nice body casing thats sleek looking
-it has a 5x optical zoom and 28mm wide-angle lens
-it takes 1280x720 video, a rare camera function. even though it is only 15fps, still this is a very valuable and uncommon feature.
-outside it takes nice pictures, full of vibrant color
-i like the green button that sets everything to auto/default

Here's why i'm considering returning it
-the camera has a cheap feel to it, it feels like a aluminum box filled with packing peanuts (don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with a light camera, but it just feels like it isn't made well)
-the picture quality in low lighting conditions is poor - i expected this in this style of camera, but it takes forever to focus, makes a lot of noise while focusing and then takes a severely poor and grainy picture
-the camera claims that it has an image stabilizer, but it just manipulates the iso rating so you get a poor quality picture
-the user interface is a joke! it is one of the most complicated menu systems i have ever encountered.
-furthermore, the menu system (i.e. the icons and sounds) just seem foreign, as if Pentax decided to market its cameras in the US by slapping on English language text.
-This is just a personal preference, but a camera should never meow. you can set the shutter sound, icon change sound, and power-up sound to mimic that of a cat's meowing - uh, no thank you.
-there is no lens cover! There is no protection for the most import part of the camera - if you leave it face up in the sun, good luck on taking a picture. also the lack of a cover allows the lens to be easily scratched. I have a case for it, but this severely reduces its rugged like nature.
-the battery feels just as cheap as the camera housing. it charged super fast (a good thing), its light (a good thing), and it discharges quickly (not a good thing)
-the flash is poorly placed. its right below the spot where you hold your finger. the lens catches some of the reflection off of your finger. also it takes a bit of training to simply not cover the flash.

I've traveled to Bestbuy to look at the olympus 1030sw and i like it better. i am afraid that it will have poorer picture quality. But i plan to buy my girl friend a nice camera that will take high quality pictures, so it might be in my best interest to buy a camera that can be dropped from 6 feet and stepped on, like the 1030sw. I'm disappointed that the olympus can only take 640x320, but i think its features overcome this flaw. Also the buttons to navigate the menu and options are laid out in a nicer orientation.

I like the W60, its a nice camera with decent features. but when i spend that much money for the camera, i want a camera that i love.

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