Digital Camera Review

Digital Camera Review

Mar 10, 2007 - By Tom Warhol
Pentax is showcasing the release of their latest waterproof camera, the Optio W30, at PMA in Las Vegas this year. Like its predecessor, the W20, the W30 received the highest ratings for water protection (JIS Class 8) and the second highest level for dust protection (JIS Class 5). Many features—7.1 megapixels; 2.5” LCD with 115,000 pixels; 3x, 6.3-18.9mm zoom lens; 4x digital zoom—are the same as the W20, but the increased durability is this camera’s selling point. The W20 could be submerged in five feet of water for up to thirty minutes, while the W30 is able to withstand submersion in ten feet of water for two hours. The W30 will retail for $299, the same price as the W20 at the time of its introduction.
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Likes
- Rugged construction
- Improved waterproof capabilities
- Ability to set up to four different controls for the on-camera green button
- Ability to reset menu order
- Competitive price in the compact waterproof category        
Dislikes
- Poor lens
- Low LCD resolution and angle of view
- Lens position easily gets covered by left hand’s fingers
Conclusion
The Pentax Optio W30 offers some great features for a slim, pocket camera, like multiple scene modes, customizable menus, programmable control button, good macro focus range, and of course, the waterproof qualities. However, unless you’re only interested in shooting underwater shots, it remains difficult to recommend this camera due to the lens’ poor focal length and aperture range, and the inadequate LCD screen.
 
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