Version: 2008
  • On The Insider: Britney's Bikini-Clad Top 10
advertisement

Pentax Optio W10

camera on top sides back

See all Pentax products

Add to my list Product summary

The good: Waterproof; compact.

The bad: Sluggish performance; photos look soft when viewed at actual size.

The bottom line: If you can get past its poor performance, the waterproof Pentax Optio W10 can take some pretty good shots where others can't even go.

Read full review

Compare this digital camera to:

CNET editors' review

  • Reviewed on: 05/17/2006
  • Released on: 02/28/2006

Neither rain, nor sleet, nor snow, nor sand, nor mud, nor dust will stop the 6-megapixel Pentax Optio W10. This postal-worker-worthy camera is specially sealed to prevent damage from the elements, completely submersible in water to a depth of 4.9 feet for up to 30 minutes, and impenetrable to dust particles as fine as talcum powder. Even if you don't plan on taking it into the drink or the desert, the Optio W10's design makes it virtually immune to the wet, nasty weather that could kill other cameras.

The Pentax Optio W10's compact plastic body weighs about 5.5 ounces, and at less than an inch thick, it can slip easily into your pocket; the modest 3X, 38mm-to-114mm lens zooms entirely into the body. It lacks an optical viewfinder, so you'll have to depend on its large, 2.5-inch LCD for composing your shots. The somewhat dim display is great for underwater shooting but can be difficult to view in low light. The screen barely gains up, and the LCD-brighten feature doesn't help much.

MTV Urge
The Pentax Optio W10's control layout is logical and convenient, despite the awkwardly recessed power button on the top edge.

The camera's body feels relatively comfortable to hold, and it even has a space on the back to rest your thumb while shooting. Also on the back is a zoom lever, a playback button, a menu button, a special green mode/delete button (more about that later), and a five-way-plus-OK pad to navigate the menu and to control settings such as flash, self-timer, and macro.

The tripod mount on the underside of the camera doesn't line up with the lens, but at least it's made of metal instead of strip-prone plastic. The battery/memory-card cover locks in place so that the compartment doesn't get soaked when the camera is submerged--but make sure it's secure before you take it for a dip.

Continue reading

Most helpful user reviews

Submit your review

Log in or create an account to submit your review for:

Pentax Optio W10

ORLog in with your Facebook account
1. Rate this product:
(Mouse over the stars to rate this product and click to set your rating.)
2. One-line summary:(Summarize your review in one line. 10 characters minimum; required.)
0 of 55 characters
3. Pros:(Tell us what you like about this product. 10 characters minimum; required.)
0 of 250 characters
4. Cons:(Tell us what you don't like about this product. 10 characters minimum; required.)
0 of 250 characters
Bottom-line summary:(Explain to us in detail why you like or dislike the product, focusing your comments on the product's features and functionality, and your experience using the product. This field is optional.)
0 of 5000 characters

The posting of advertisements, profanity, or personal attacks are prohibited.
Click here to review our site terms of use.

Submit

Compare prices for Pentax Optio W10

Price: $397.99
Amazon.com Marketplace $397.99
advertisement

Recent user reviews

Submit your review

Log in or create an account to submit your review for:

Pentax Optio W10

ORLog in with your Facebook account
1. Rate this product:
(Mouse over the stars to rate this product and click to set your rating.)
2. One-line summary:(Summarize your review in one line. 10 characters minimum; required.)
0 of 55 characters
3. Pros:(Tell us what you like about this product. 10 characters minimum; required.)
0 of 250 characters
4. Cons:(Tell us what you don't like about this product. 10 characters minimum; required.)
0 of 250 characters
Bottom-line summary:(Explain to us in detail why you like or dislike the product, focusing your comments on the product's features and functionality, and your experience using the product. This field is optional.)
0 of 5000 characters

The posting of advertisements, profanity, or personal attacks are prohibited.
Click here to review our site terms of use.

Submit

Special sponsor stores

advertisement

Reviews from around the WebPowered by alaTest

  • alaTest.com

    Editors' rating: 86

    Summary: alaTest has collected and analyzed 247 reviews of Pentax Optio W10 from international magazines and websites. Experts rate this product 74/100 and users 80/100. Comparing these reviews to 554627 other Digital Compact Cameras reviews gives this product an overall alaScore™ 86/100 = Very Good.

    Read full review

  • digicamera.com

    Summary: If you hang around wet places a lot - pool, lakes, or even the sea - the Pentax Optio W10 is a great choice. Its sealing comes in handy under any circumstances. You never have to worry about a bit of rain or sand, or have it getting splashed on. And ...

    Read full review

  • digitalcameraroundup.com

    Summary: And speaking of batteries, that's where we run into another design dilemma: consumers want their digital cameras as small and handy as possible because that's convenient. However, in order to make them small and handy, manufacturers have to forego ...

    Read full review

  • photographypress.co.uk

    Editors' rating: 80

    Summary: The Pentax Optio W10 provides a great all-weather package being both JIS Class 8 waterproofed and Class 5 dust proofed

    Read full review

  • whatdigitalcamera.com

    Editors' rating: 78

    Summary: Offering weather and waterproof functionality, Pentax has produced a stylish and durable model that is sure to appeal to all-terrain photographers looking to shoot in the great outdoors. However, a sluggish performance and lacklustre images makes the ...

    Read full review

  • digitalcamerareview.com

    Summary: The Pentax Optio W10 can withstand an accidental dunk in the water, a drop in the sand, or even some shallow snorkeling. Good image quality, good battery life, and easy operation make it a great performer, above water and below. This is a great camera ...

    Read full review

Pentax Optio W10