Pentax Optio WG-2 GPS Digital Camera Review

JUN

14

The Pentax Optio WG-2 GPS is the latest rugged point and shoot camera from the company. The Pentax Optio WG-2 GPS also has a cheaper model, without the built-in GPS functionality. The regular WG-2 comes in red and black while the Pentax Optio WG-2 GPS has an orange or white finish. The Pentax lifeproof camera sells for US$350.

Pentax dubs its rugged point and shoot cameras as “lifeproof” cameras. The Pentax Optio WG-2 GPS has the look and the feel of a lifeproof, rugged gadget with the metal, plastic and rubber ensuring great handling while at the same time protecting your digital camera from the elements.

The camera body of the WG-2 can survive extreme shooting conditions – 40 feet underwater, a drop of 5 feet, temepertures as low as 14 degree F. It also boasts that it can withstand as much as 220lbs of pressure. It is sealed up and is completely dustproof. To add to its rugged look, the Pentax Optio WG-2 GPS has a carabiner strap instead of a normal camera strap.

This underwater, adventure camera’s built-in GPS allows you to record coordinates while shooting, as well as automatically setting the camera’s clock.

FEATURES

The Pentax Optio WG-2 GPS has a 16 Megapixel backside Illuminated CMOS imaging sensor, built-in GPS, LED ring light, 3-inch LCD and full 1080p HD video capture –all the necessary features of a digicam.

It’s fully automatic and has shooting modes for both above and below water. It also has additional features such as an HDR imitation feature, a digital microscope for extreme close-ups and several face detection features, making it a camera you can play with.

WG-2 HANDLING

The handling of the latest rugged Pentax is great as it has a thin body that’s easy to operate. The camera’s controls are tiny but you can find it easily and control it with ease. The LCD of the Pentax Optio WG-2 GPS is 3 inch, a good size, with 460,000 dot.

IMAGE QUALITY

The problem with the Pentax Optio WG-2 is with the outdoor image, which has a certain amount of noise present, even at the lowest ISO. This prevents users from taking sharp images. Some of the areas are also proned to over exposure.

This waterproof camera has 5x internal optical zoom which allows the camera to zoom even underwater. Its 35mm equivalent of 28-140mm is great for close to mid-ranged situations as well as vast landscapes.

Indoor shooting shows similar noise and softness as its outdoor images. Any setting above ISO 800 is unacceptable.

UNDERWATER CAMERA

The most enjoyable use of the Pentax Optio WG-2 is underwater where the LCD is easy to see. It also adjusts the color and light sensitivity when using the preset “underwater” shooting mode. Even face detection worked fairly well, detecting faces underwater; including faces that had goggles on. Again, the only dilemma with the camera is the noise it creates, especially with higher ISO.

Bottom Line – The Pentax Optio WG-2 is a true rugged camera, which will survive extreme adventures. The handling and aesthics of the camera is great but the quality of the images may not be the best in the market.