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.
Advertisement
 
 
Connectivity
Software
Pentax has an agreement with ACD See to include their bundled image editing and printing software with all Pentax cameras. Exact software versions were not provided in the spec sheets.
 
Jacks, Ports, and Plugs
A computer USB port and a DC port can be found behind the port door on the bottom of the camera. These are typical for direct connection to a computer.
 
Direct Print Options
Like many other compact cameras, the W30 is PictBridge compatible, so it can be connected to any printer with a PictBridge connection to print images directly. PictBridge is a standard print format, so its inclusion here is right on par with many other cameras. Making the camera compatible with additional formats, such as DPOF or ImageLink, another format commonly used by Pentax, would make the camera even more compatible and widely desirable.
 
Battery
The power source for the Pentax W30 is a proprietary Li-ion battery, which the manufacturer says has a life of about 200 shots or a playback time of 240 minutes. These estimates will be tested in our labs on a review model, but this reviewer did notice that what was apparently a full or nearly full battery ran out during show floor testing.
 
Memory
The camera is compatible with SD and SDHC memory cards, a standard media for many compact cameras. The slim design of the W30 would likely prohibit incorporation of any other media card slots. Internal memory of 22 megabytes could only accommodate three high resolution images at most.
 
Other Features
Green Button – Any of the W30’s menu functions can be set to be displayed and utilized via the Green button at the lower right of the camera back. This customizable option is a great feature, especially in the absence of a mode dial.
 
Focus Limiter – This control, while on the Off setting and accessed through the menu (but programmable to the Green button) makes it easier to switch between focusing modes. This is a handy feature, especially for quick change situations.
 
Image Parameters Page 9 of 12 Overall Impressions
Pentax Optio W30 First Impressions Review Navigation
Advertisement