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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Performance Expectations
Unable to conduct our typical battery of lab tests on the convention floor, a true assessment of the W30 is not possible, but this First Impression review can give readers a general idea of the preproduction W30's capabilities.
 
The Digital Shake Reduction setting worked particularly well to reduce subject motion with a boost to 3200 ISO. Pentax’s decision to set the auto ISO to 400 seemed destined to produce noise in nearly every situation. It would make more sense to have the auto setting automatically adjust for lighting conditions, like so many camera manufacturers have done.
 
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