Pentax's Optio W80 point-and-shoot shrugs off water, haters
By Darren Murph 
posted Jun 24th 2009 6:00PM
posted Jun 24th 2009 6:00PM
PENTAX ANNOUNCES ITS MOST SHOCK AND WATERPROOF DIGITAL COMPACT CAMERA EVER: THE OPTIO W80
GOLDEN, CO (June 24, 2009)...The manufacturer that builds digital cameras to go boldly where none have gone before has announced the PENTAX Optio W80. More adventure-proof than ever, this latest PENTAX digital camera is waterproof, dustproof, coldproof, and now shockproof enough to withstand impact from a fall of more than three feet (one meter).
PENTAX first introduced dunkable digital cameras in 2003 to the delight of outdoor enthusiasts, travelers and families everywhere. Today, the PENTAX Optio W80's waterproof design withstands depths of up to 16 feet (5 meters) to protect from rain and spills, as well as allowing full underwater photos and video for up to two hours. On dry land, the rugged, shockproof design protects against drops of up to 3.3 feet to protect the camera from hard use and occasional spills. Also featuring 12.1 megapixels, a 5X internal optical zoom (equivalent to 28-140mm), a slim one inch body, and a wide angle 28mm lens, the Optio W80 offers an expanded perspective that is ideal for landscape, group and more confined shots. With a PENTAX-developed imaging engine and a high-performance PENTAX zoom lens, the Optio W80 delivers brilliant, high-quality images with well-defined details. A Super Protect (SP) coating applied to the mineral crystal cover of the internal zoom lens helps repel water, grime and finger marks.
Other important features in the Optio W80 include a:
• Coldproof design that allows the camera to be used in sub-freezing temperatures of 14 degrees Fahrenheit (-10 degrees Celsius), ideal for cold weather activities such as skiing and snowmobiling.
• 2.5 inch LCD monitor that features anti-reflective coating, making it easy to view, even in bright sunlight.
• Widescreen, HD movie capture that records resolutions up to 1280x720 pixels at full-speed 30 frames per second.
• Fast Face Detection technology that sees up to 32 faces in 0.03 seconds, with Smile Capture and Blink Detection, for perfect portrait shots.
• Pixel Track Shake Reduction (SR) that ensures sharp images in any lighting condition, without adding high ISO noise. Digital SR and Movie SR are also available.
• Close focusing, Super Macro mode that brings out the details in even the smallest subjects as close as 1 cm (less than one inch).
Available in Cardinal Red, Azure Blue and Gunmetal Gray, the Optio W80 will be available in July 2009 for $299.95 USD. To help keep the Optio W80 fresh and at hand, PENTAX offers a custom designed clear protective skin ($16.95 USD) and a comfortable floating wrist strap ($19.95 USD). More information about the Optio W80 and these accessories is available at: www.pentaximaging.com *and preorders may be placed now at www.pentaxwebstore.com .
KEY FEATURES
• 12.1 Megapixels for detailed images that can be printed in large sizes.
• 5X internal optical zoom in a slim 1 inch body is equivalent to 28-140mm.
• Wide angle 28mm lens gives an expanded perspective to images, ideal for indoor, landscape, or group shots.
• 2.5 inch LCD monitor features anti-reflective coating, making it easy to view, even in bright sunlight.
• Waterproof design withstands depths up to 16 feet (5 meters) to protect from rain and spills, as well as allowing full underwater photos and video.
• Rugged Shockproof design protects against drops of 3.3 feet, ensuring the camera is protected from hard use and the occasional "spills" on dry land.
• Coldproof design allows the camera to be used in sub-zero temperatures of -10° Celsius (14° Fahrenheit), ideal for cold weather activities such as skiing and snowmobiling.
• Widescreen, HD movie capture records resolutions up to 1280x720 pixels at full-speed 30 frames per second.
• Fast Face Detection technology sees up to 32 faces in 0.03 seconds, with Smile Capture and Blink Detection, for perfect portrait shots.
• Pixel Track Shake Reduction (SR) ensures sharp images in any lighting condition, without adding high ISO noise. Digital SR and Movie SR are also available.
• Close focusing, Super Macro mode brings out the details in even the smallest subjects as close as 1 cm.
Lol@ shrugs off haters
great title still love my Cannon SD 880 IS though
Glad to see the development of more waterproof gadgets. I've thought for years that even desktop computers could be a little more damage resistant.
First.
Aw, christnuggets, strike that last paragraph.
i just might upgrade to this!
the current olympus is great with waterproof, but doesnt shoot 720p
It's... so... sexy ... in........ r... re.... red.... must resist... waterproof... but.... bodily...
Damn you engadget!!! Too many good things coming out at once!! Zune HD...this camera...the camcorder...TOO MANY CHOICES.. OVER LOAD
That's a good looking camera.
This doesn't have optical image stabilization, does it?
Pentax's version is called shake reduction, and it apparently has it.
@Jon F
Yeah, I saw that, but it sounded kind of fishy. Here's a PR-type description of it that I found:
"When recording still images, the Optio P70’s new Pixel Track SR (Shake Reduction) mode effectively compensates for camera shake by processing the amount of image blur with a dedicated ASIC. Pixel Track SR tracks motion blur at the pixel level and calculates blur volume in real time. After exposure, the recovery filter centers the motion effect around each pixel to compartmentalize the blur. Then, an adjustment filter sharpens the pixels to help remove the blur effect. Pixel Track SR results in sharp images without adding high ISO noise."
That's not optical... and I don't like the sound of it.
This camera is SWEET...!
I like the protection on the edges. It looks like X symbol.
Been thinking to get a waterproof camera for Summer FUN at the beaches and pools.
Last time I dropped my Canon and died. The next P&S should be shockproof too. This could be the one.
Herman S @ Jun 24th 2009 6:57PM
Last time I dropped my Canon and died...
Wow. And now you comment from The Beyond... I don't think you need a ruggedized camera.
LOL --- "drops of one meter or less." I am glad someone finally invented SOMETHING that not only survives a drop of one meter, but also all the SHORTER distances between that and sitting flat on a surface. I can't tell you how many times I have dropped a camera from a height of seventeen feet, without any problem, only to find it wouldn't work after dropping it into my pocket too fast.
Well.. they found that cats need a certain height when they fall to be undamaged, so they have time to position themselves to cushion the fall, and theoretically they could put a sensor in a device to notice it was in freefall and quickly secure the loose parts, like how some portable HD's actually seem to have shock detectors that try to protect by reacting.
So in theory a device could be made that is protected from falls between 3 and 1 meter, but not less than 1.
Aren't I annoying :)
I wish they matched canon's 10m depth. 15 vs 30 feet is a good difference for underwater photography.
yah, or even olympus' stylus tough 8000. maybe not on the features, but hopefully the price is low.
Most people can't swim... and of those that can swim, most can't dive... and those that can dive can barely dive to 3 feet...
16ft is a pretty advanced free-dive... very few people can get there, I know it's pathetic, but nonetheless....
Yeah, ONLY engadget forgot to mention that canon D10 looks like a piece of doodlie-lee-doo...
yeah, this was the first I had heard of the canon D10 .... I could not see myself carrying something with camo ... unless it was a gun and I was in a millitary situation.
You get a lot more with the canon and it happens to come in a variety of colors. The optio is being sold primarily on its looks. Doubtless there will be a clientele. There always is.
Looks good.
Looks a ton like ths Panasonic TS1.