Pentax Optio W30 - Expert Reviews

Review summary: Having the options of taking pictures under water is an undeniable bonus. In this domain, the Pentax W30 functions extremely well with an honorable image quality; however, its lack of speed is a bit irritating.

Review summary: camera

Review summary: The Pentax Optio W30 is part of a growing line of weather- and dust-resistant cameras geared for active point-and-shooters.

Pros: Waterproof, dustproof, Attractive Design, Handles noise reasonably well at ISO 800 and under, Sturdy locking battery and port compartments, Built-in image recovery, Plenty of options for almost every setting, Good price for a waterproof camera

Cons: Poor LCD resolution, Inaccurate, undersaturated colors  , Limited dynamic range over ISO 400, Lots of barrel distortion at wider focal lengths, Low light auto focus (no assist lamp), Color fringing, Slow burst, Complicated menu system, C

Review summary: - Pentax are not the only manufacturer making robust, water and dust proofed cameras, Pentax seemingly vying with Olympus, the other notable maker building digital compacts that can be used in all weathers or underwater without a housing.

Pros: Waterproof to 3 metres, excellent metering and colour balance, good build and feature set, image quality, low noise at low ISO, SP (anti-drip) lens coating

Cons: Slow tracking AF, anti-reflective screen (still) difficult to use in direct sunlight, no optical viewfinder, slow response, sharpness issues

Verdict: It's pocketable and simple to use but not without some flaws