Pentax Optio W10
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CNET Editors' Review
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.
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 ... Expand full review
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.
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.
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stars 6 of 6 users found this review helpful
"Pentax does not stand behind their ad copy on w10" By relova
Pros nice screen, performs ok out of the water
Cons cheap parts, not sand and water proof, Pentax service is a rip-off
Summary I really wanted to love this camera. I read good reviews. I have a canon digital camera with an underwater housing that works great but is kind of bulky. This slim solution seemed was very seductive plus the price was right. Well you get what you pay for.
I bought ... Expand full review
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