Front (8.0)
The Pentax Optio W10 has a chrome ring around the lens, which sits just slightly to the left-of-center on the camera’s face. Waterproof cameras tend not to have telescoping lenses, because they are too hard to seal. The main panel of the W10's face is a fetching pale blue, with textured text for the Pentax Optio brand. A small flash window is at the upper right, and a round window for the self-timer light is at about 4 o'clock, relative to the lens. A triangular chrome hump sits on the left side, as if to help the user grip the camera, but it seems more decorative than functional.
Back (8.0)
The 2.5-inch LCD dominates the back of the W10. It has a distinctive matte finish which may become a love-it or hate-it feature. We didn't particularly notice any increase in glare or decrease in sharpness because of it. Pentax kept the controls sparse, which is appropriate for a simple camera and makes it easier to waterproof. The zoom bar at the top bulges at either end, vaguely like a dog biscuit. Below that, to the left, is the Green Button, which switches the camera into fully automated mode or brings up customized functions.
The playback button is below that, and the 4-way controller is lower still. It is made up of five clear plastic buttons which are labeled with their individual functions. The top button manages the self-timer and burst modes, the right button switches focusing modes, the bottom button brings up shooting modes, the left button controls the flash, and the “OK” button is in the middle. The Menu button is below and to the left of the 4-way controller. A ridge along the right side forms a remarkably secure thumb rest.
Left Side (8.0)
The left side of the W10 hosts no controls or user interface. There's a small screw toward the top, and the lip of the battery/media cover shows at the bottom.
Right Side (8.0)
A large chrome wrist strap lug runs the height of the W10's right side. It's a sturdy piece of metal and nicely shaped to match the Optio W10's styling.
Top (7.5)
The shutter release is a large chrome button toward the right side of the W10's top. The power button is smaller and slightly recessed. Small grids of holes form the microphone and speaker grills. The rest of the top is plain, except for type that says “6.0 Megapixels Optio W10.”
Bottom (8.0)
The waterproof door that protects the battery and the SD memory card makes up a bit more than half the bottom of the W10. A lock on the door should help prevent people from opening the camera accidentally. Given that the camera is meant to be used underwater, this lock is a vital feature—and we’d like to see similar locks on dry-land cameras. The tripod socket is whimsically placed at the far right, so tripods don't hold the camera as steadily as they should.
