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Pentax Optio W60 reviews
You can find here the most interesting reviews / ratings from the well-known expert sites about the Pentax Optio W60 Camera. Here are the reviewers:
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- 05 December 2008 - |
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- 4.5 |
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- 16 September 2008 - |
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- 0 |
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- 08 September 2008 - |
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- 3.5 |
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- 15 August 2008 - |
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- 4.5 |
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- 31 July 2008 - |
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- 0 |
CameraLabs 's conclusion / rating - 05 December 2008 |
“ There was a time if you wanted a waterproof compact, Pentax was the only name to consider. Over recent generations though, Olympus has grabbed much of the attention with its SW range, but now with the Optio W60, Pentax is back with one of the most compelling models around.
The waterproof capabilities of these cameras have been pretty good from day-one. So long as you stay within the specified depths and times, and realise the AF may be relatively slow, the screen sometimes tricky to see and the flash only illuminate a short distance, then you’ll be fine. Indeed the sheer novelty of shooting underwater will outweigh any technical limitations, and as discussed above, you’ll find yourself grabbing photos at times you never considered using a camera before.
The big issue traditionally facing underwater cameras though is how well they perform above the water compared to normal compacts. Pentax has put in considerable effort here with the W60, equipping it with a 5x optical zoom range with decent wide angle coverage. There’s also neat gadgetry in the form of smile detection and interval shooting, along with controls for the contrast, saturation and sharpness.
It’s a step forward for an underwater camera, and the image quality is also pretty good, but a decent terrestrial model like the Canon IXUS 870IS / SD 880IS will still out-perform it in both still and video performance, while crucially offering stabilisation and a nicer screen to boot.
Ultimately you have to ask yourself two questions: do you need waterproofing, and if so, how deep do you want to go? If you’re not bothered about underwater or splash-proof capabilities, you’ll get better picture and video quality from a decent terrestrial compact like the Canon above. If you’re a serious diver who needs to go deeper than 4m, then buy a decent terrestrial compact with an underwater housing, such as the Canon IXUS 870IS / SD 880IS with the WP-DC26, or the PowerShot G10 with the WP-DC28, both rated to 40m... ”
CameraLabs's rating: |
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- 4.5 |
Complete review here
DigitalCameraInfo 's conclusion / rating - 16 September 2008 |
“ Most of us miss out on great photo opportunities because we're afraid to ruin our cameras in harsh conditions. The beach is a wonderful place to grab shots of our family (or particularly attractive members of someone else's family, for that matter), but waves and spray could have you wiping out without going near a surfboard. Same goes for the pool, or the slopes for skiing or snowboarding. The Pentax takes the worry out of these situations, and for many users that's going to be worth a few extra dollars compared to a less rugged camera with otherwise similar features. Image quality is adequate if not outstanding, but good enough for the point-and-shoot task at hand. The fact that the camera is a bit slow on the shutter is a greater concern, but compared to no camera at all, you can learn to live with it.
If you're a serious outdoorsman, though, we'd point you to the Olympus 1030 SW, which boasts much tougher construction and the ability to plunge to depths of 33 feet, versus 13 feet for the Pentax. Both are equally adept at dealing with the cold, though, so balance the $60 price difference ($329.99 for the Pentax, $399.99 for the Olympus) against your personal preferences for physical feats of derring-do. ... ”
DigitalCameraInfo's rating: |
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- 0 |
Complete review here
ePhotozine 's conclusion / rating - 08 September 2008 |
“ This camera is perfect for shallow scuba diving or, as our pictures show, for watersports such as surfing. Don't go looking on the seabed with it as you won't get far.
I think the performance of the waterproofing needs to be worked on more, simply because there are other models that don't have a time limit on how long they can stay under water. Pentax also say that the rubber seals should be replaced once a year which can work out quite expensive as it's not under warranty.
There are some interesting comments from one of our readers who's let us know what he thought when he tried it, as well as our very own Gadget Granny.
It does have some good features such as the 28mm wide lens, 5x optical zoom and brilliant portrait performance. I'm divided on the results from the noise test. They're not that bad but could be better and if they couldn't increase the quality at higher ISO, I'd personally rather see it taken out.
If you like your trips to the coast for a stroll along the water's edge or if you're a surf dude that wants some snaps, then take a look at the Pentax.... ”
ePhotozine's rating: |
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- 3.5 |
Complete review here
TrustedReviews 's conclusion / rating - 15 August 2008 |
“ The Pentax Optio W60 is a unique camera. It offers much the same performance, image quality and features as a typical modern compact camera, but with the added bonus of being waterproof and ruggedly built. If you’re looking for a camera for a travel and adventure, but also want a stylish pocket camera for social photography, then you’ve just found it. ... ”
TrustedReviews's rating: |
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- 4.5 |
Complete review here
Steves Digicams 's conclusion / rating - 31 July 2008 |
“ The Pentax Optio W60 is an easy to use and very versatile, go anywhere camera. With various pre-programmed shooting modes and the one-push green "Easy" mode, the W60 is easy enough for anyone to use. While many features are the same as found on the W30, the 10-megapixel imaging sensor, HD movie mode and 28mm wide 5x optical zoom make great additions. Overall, we found that shooting performance and image quality were great for a camera in this class. With a MSRP of US$329, this is an excellent deal for anyone that travels or spends a lot of time around water. ... ”
Steves Digicams's rating: |
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- 0 |
Complete review here
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Comments (3)
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