Pentax Optio W30

Viewfinder (0.0)
As with most point-and-shoots, there is no optical viewfinder on the Pentax Optio W30. The LCD monitor replaces the optical viewfinder, which is better for underwater shooting anyway. The only downside to not having a viewfinder is that users are forced to use the monitor to compose every shot, which eats away battery life. To compensate for the missing viewfinder, the Optio W30 does offer a Power Saving Mode in which users can control how long the LCD stays on (intervals from two minutes to off).

LCD (6.25)
The Optio W30’s 2.5-inch LCD monitor is a fair size compared to other point-and-shoots in its category - 2.5-inches is currently about the industry standard. The W30’s 115,000-pixel resolution, however, is outshined by newer models that offer a higher 230,000 pixel count. Users who like to pass their camera around the crowd to show off their photos might be disappointed with the less-than-stellar LCD resolution as images may appear pixilated. It's also difficult to check focus and technical details in an image using the screen.

Users can adjust the brightness of the monitor by two steps. The default brightness setting seems too dark for most indoor uses. Users might want to consider the brightest setting for most occasions, especially when underwater.

Images can be viewed just fine when the camera is held straight-on; however, the LCD tends to solarize when shifted to extreme horizontal or vertical angles. Overall, the LCD is a nice standard size, but the monitor’s resolution and default brightness are below average.

Flash (6.5)
Like many other point-and-shoots, the W30’s built-in flash is located to the right of the lens. The flash offers a healthy dose of light when needed but isn’t conveniently placed. The flash’s off-axis placement might lead users to sometimes accidentally block it with their left hand.

The Pentax W30 provides even flash coverage. With a reported effective range of 7.87 inches-11.8 feet inches in wide mode and 1.64 inches-9.84 feet in telephoto mode, the camera can effectively light a dark hallway or all the faces in a close group shot. Users can select standard Auto Flash, which as the function name implies, turns the flash on or leaves it off, depending on the lighting situation. Users can also manually choose from Flash Off, Auto Red-Eye Reduction, Flash On with Red-Eye Reduction, and Soft Flash, accessed through the flash button on the multi-selector.

The flash is sometimes slow to recharge -- there is about a 3-second delay from the moment the shutter is pushed to the time an image appears on the LCD. This may take some getting used to -- users will have to learn to keep the camera in place even after the pre-flash fires to prevent blurry photos.

Zoom Lens (6.5)
The Optio W30 is fitted with a 3x optical zoom Pentax lens, made up of 11 elements in 9 groups. The W30 has a non-extending zoom lens, which makes sense for underwater photography. The lack of a lens barrel will also prevent sand from seeping into the cracks and crevices. Geared for the active beachgoer or even the drink-spiller, the lens also has a water resistant coating.

The camera has a zoom range of 6.3mm – 18.9mm, equivalent to 38-114mm in traditional 35mm format. This focal length allows users to take sufficient close-up or landscape shots. The aperture, which can’t be manually controlled, ranges from f/3.3 – f/4, which is a bit slower than most.