Value (7.5)
If last year’s digital camera trend was face detection, this year’s is waterproof cameras. Only a few manufacturers, such as Olympus and Ricoh, offer built-in waterproofing without the need for additional (and costly) external camera housing. One of the best things about the Pentax W30 is its price; at $299, the Pentax W30 currently holds the best value in the waterproof digital camera category. However, if waterproofing is not a concern, we recommend looking at cameras with otherwise similar specs for as low as $100 or upgrading to a model with superior manual control or image quality.
Who’s this Camera For?
Point and Shooters – The Pentax W30’s target consumer is the point-and-shooter who enjoys basic control options, built-in editing tools, and its waterproof feature.
Budget Consumers – The Optio W30 comes at an economic price for a waterproof camera, considering external underwater housing oftentimes shares the price tag of the camera itself. Users not interested in the camera’s aquatic abilities should shop around for a less expensive camera.
Gadget Freaks – The enticing waterproof capabilities of the W30 might just be enough to persuade the Technocurious into the unexplored Pentax camp. Even if the camera user isn’t a water sport athlete, it can still be used in the rain or for aquatic photo experimentation.
Manual Control Freaks – Controlling types will likely look to a DSLR or compact ultra-zoom instead of this point-and-shoot. The Pentax W30 offers little control over aperture or shutter speed.
Pros / Serious Amateurs – Photo professionals might consider it a gift for someone else or a back-up camera taking their cameras where their SLRs won’t go – underwater.
Comparisons
Pentax Optio W20 – Introduced in August 2006 at same $300 introductory price, the Pentax W20 shares the same basic specs as the newer W30. The W30 and W20 share a 7-megapixel count, 3x optical zoom, and 2.5-inch LCD. However, the W30’s sensitivity range (3200 ISO) clearly trumps that of the W20 (1600 ISO). The W30 also surpasses the W20’s 5 feet/30 minutes underwater limit with a new standard of 10 feet/2 hours.
Olympus Stylus 770SW – The Olympus Stylus 770 SW, ideal for the accident-prone, is shockproof, waterproof, freezeproof, and crushproof. For $80 more than the Pentax W30, users will get a 7.1 megapixel sensor, 3x optical zoom lens, and a 230,000-pixel 2.5-inch LCD screen. Like the Pentax camera, the Olympus 770 SW has a JIS Class 8 Waterproof classification, a water immersion grade in accordance with the Japanese Industrial Standards. However, the Olympus model promises an increased depth of up to 33feet. Olympus also promises added superpowers: it will survive a 5-foot fall, temperatures as low as 14 degrees F, and 220 pounds.
Olympus Stylus 720SW – The 770 SW’s predecessor matches its 7.1 megapixel count, 3x optical, and 2.5-inch LCD. At a retail price of $380, the Olympus 720SW is more costly than the Pentax W30. The Olympus camera has a 10 feet limit on underwater submergence for up an hour, verses the Pentax’s 10 feet limit for up to double the amount of time (2 hours). With the Olympus camera, users will gain 5 feet of shockproof abilities, a feature not offered on the W30.
