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Pentax Optio W30 WaterProof Digital Camera

Pentax W30

Buy At Lowest Prices
B&H $170.95
Adorama $195.00
AllAbout Electronics $218.99
Pavilion Electronics $275.00
Amazon.com $299.95
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Key Features of the Pentax W30 :
  • Ultra Compact Digital Camera with Enhanced Waterproof Function. 
  • 3x optical zoom lens and 7.1 megapixels deliver outstanding pictures
  • Bright, 2.5" LCD Screen.
  • Face Recognition AF and AE mode
  • Digital Shake Reduction (SR)
  • High-quality movies with Shake Reduction function
  • New auto-lock mechanism automatically locks the battery cover when closed.
  • Compatible with new SDHC memory cards, in addition to conventional SD memory cards
  • Approximately 21.9 MB of built-in memory
With an enhanced waterproof design, the Optio W30 performance capacity has more than doubled and now allows photographers to capture images underwater up to 10 feet for 2 hours. The generous 2.5-inch LCD monitor offers an LCD Bright mode that can adjust the brightness of the screen as necessary for improved viewing in the sunlight. Ever the perfect camera for capturing adventure in the outdoors, the Optio W30 also features both Digital and Movie SR modes to reduce blur in both image and video capture. The Optio W30 also features the Face Recognition function and Macro Photography mode to allow image capture at under half an inch for stunning close-ups of photography subjects such as flowers, insects, jewelry and much more.

Optio W30 Highlights

Enhanced waterproof function With an enhanced design, the Optio W30 waterproof performance capacity has more than doubled and now allows photographers to capture images underwater up to 10 feet for 2 hours. Improved construction of the camera incorporates metal front and back covers for added durability. Protective glass on the lens is treated with a Super Protect (SP) coating, developed exclusively by Pentax for superior water repellency. In addition to a JIS Class 8 waterproof standard, the Optio W30 features JIS Class 5 dustproof standard that protects the camera even more in outdoor settings.

3x optical zoom lens and 7.1 megapixels deliver outstanding pictures The Optio W30 includes a 3x optical zoom lens that covers focal lengths from 6.3 to 18.9 mm (equivalent to 38 to 114 mm for 35mm film) and features a refraction lens system so the lens never protrudes from the camera while zooming. By harnessing the full power of the 7.1 effective megapixels, the Optio W30 produces extremely high-quality prints with crisp detail even when the photo is greatly enlarged.

Bright, new LCD monitor is easy-to-view The Optio W30 is equipped with a high-intensity 2.5-inch LCD monitor with an LCD Bright mode that adjusts the brightness of the screen, making it easy-to-view even outdoors in strong sunlight. An Anti-Reflection (AR) coating on the monitor helps make the screen even more visible outdoors.

Face Recognition AF and AE mode The Optio W30 is equipped with a "Face Recognition AF and AE" function* that automatically detects and focuses on faces, regardless of where the people appear in the photo frame. In addition, optimal exposure settings are automatically conducted so that the areas with faces are not darkened even if there is backlighting.
*Available when the shooting mode is "Portrait" and the camera is directed at people from the front.

Digital Shake Reduction (SR) The Digital SR mode helps reduce camera shake and subject blur in still photography by adjusting sensitivity automatically to as high as the sensitivity of ISO 3200, to match the brightness of the subject. This enables photography with fast shutter speeds.

High-quality movies with Shake Reduction function The Optio W30 captures smooth, high-quality movies at 30 fps (frames per second) at a resolution of 640 x 480 pixels, which is comparable to movies taken with a camcorder. The Optio W30 also features Movie SR mode*, which automatically corrects camera shake, and an Interval Shooting mode that records images during each specified time interval as a movie for more creative options.
*Using the "Movie SR" function results in a narrower field of view than that during normal video recording.

Macro photography The Optio W30 can focus on objects at just under half an inch away for stunning close-up photography of subjects such as flowers, insects, or jewelry.

Auto Picture mode automatically determines best settings for shooting conditions The Auto Picture mode helps the Optio W30 automatically determine the best shooting conditions for Landscape, Portrait, Night Scene, and Program modes and choose the optimum settings for each subject. This Pentax original function makes photography a breeze for beginners since it eliminates the necessity of making a number of individual settings.

Other Features

  • New auto-lock mechanism automatically locks the battery cover when closed.
  • Auto-tracking AF continuously focuses on a moving subject
  • Compatible with new SDHC memory cards, in addition to conventional SD memory cards
  • mode Palette provides quick access to 25 shooting modes and 15 playback modes
  • Image Recovery function lets you retrieve accidentally erased pictures
  • Soft flash function avoids overexposure during close-up flash photography
  • Digital zooming provides up to 4x magnification
  • Digital Filter function that lets you enjoy editing photographed images
  • FotoNation’s red-eye correction function for correcting red eye after shooting, which occurs easily when photographing with flash
  • Approximately 21.9 MB of built-in memory
  • Includes the ACDSee for Pentax image viewer/image management software
  • Supports PictBridge, DPOF functions, Exif Print, and PRINT Image Matching III



Pentax W30 Photo Samples

Click here to view more samples.
These are actual photos taken with Pentax W30.
Photos courtesy of Flickr and belong to respective users. To view a larger image click on thumbnail.

Compare Pentax W30 with similar cameras

Name: Sony DSC-T9 Pentax W30 Sony DSC-G1 Canon SD1100 IS
Megapixels: 6.0 7.1 6.0 7.0
Optical Zoom: 3 X 3 X 3 X 3 X
Max Res: 2816 x 2112 3072 x 2304 2816 x 2112 3264 x 2448
LCD Screen: 2.5 " 2.5 " 3.5 " 2.5 "
Digital zoom: 2X Yes, 4 x Yes, 6 x 4x
Image stabilizer: Yes, lens No No Yes, CCD
Media Card: Memory Stick Duo, Memory Stick Pro Duo SD/SDHC card, Internal Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal SD/SDHC/MMC Card
Battery: InfoLithium (NP-FT1) & charger Lithium-Ion rechargeable InfoLithium (NP-BG1) & charger NB-4L Li-ion battery
Weight (with batteries): 185 g (6.5 oz) 155 g (5.5 oz) 238 g (8.4 oz) 165 g (5.8 oz)
Lowest Price: $169.99 $170.95 $188.99 $149.00
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Pentax W30 User Reviews

Avg. Rating
3.5
Out of 5
This item is reviewed by 89 people so far.
Click here for complete reviews.

4
Out of 5
Tiny camera but excellent photos; and yes it is waterproof!
- Reviewd on: 2009-01-02 By: Candace S. Skalet
I bought one of these about two years ago and I've loved it! I've taken thousands of photos with it, at home and overseas, and been quite pleased with the results. Obviously it doesn't have the features of a big, expensive camera...but that hasn't stopped people from complimenting many of the photos (especially after they see the little thing I took them with). And it's so easy to take along everywhere. Yes, I have used it underwater several times and in saltwater no less, and had no leaks of any kind. However, I wasn't diving or otherwise dunking it deeply, merely sticking it underwater while sitting in a kayak or wading around a reef. :) One note, if you use it in saltwater, plan to clean the lens before using it again out of the water, as salt residue will collect on it. Speaking of the lens, when I got the camera I was concerned about the lack of any lens cover. I expected to constantly be getting a thumbprint or dirt on it, or that it might be easily damaged. But after lots of use (including often carrying it loose in a pocket), I've found the lens stays surprisingly clean. My only complaint is that the battery doesn't seem to hold a charge all that well anymore, but it's been through a lot of charge/discharge cycles. Excellent little camera!

5
Out of 5
Great Digital Camera
- Reviewd on: 2008-10-03 By: S. Ball
This digital camera was recommended by a friend. It was hard to find in the stores so I bought online. I love the way it focuses and needs very little preparation. I was shooting moving objects and also I was on a moving ferry shooting other moving objects. The pictures were great. Very clear. Also very misty and rainy days and no problem as the camera is waterproof. I would recommend this camera to anyone. Great price by the way. I paid $100.00 less then the going price. Thanks.

4
Out of 5
Pentax Optio W30 makes it Easy to Take Great Pictures
- Reviewd on: 2008-09-30 By: Jeff Bullard
I've only had this camera about three months and will do a long term review at a later date. I bought this camera primarily to take pictures from my boat in Choctawhatchee Bay and on river canoe trips. I was looking more for splash resistance as I don't plan opn taking photos under water.
The W30 is easy to use and takes very nice rich looking pictures.The camera is well made and the size makes it easy to bring everywhere. The video is very good also but you must switch to pan focus or the sound of the auto focus motor is about all you will hear on playback. I plan to contact Pentax to see if there is a setting that will make it automaticly go to pan focus when movie mode is selected.
So far this camera has exceeded my expectations.

2
Out of 5
Worked great for one whole year! Then died for no reason...
- Reviewd on: 2008-09-08 By: A. Foxter
Difficult to say what happened. It was a phenomenon. I took pictures of my child learning to swim at 1 year of age and then as he approached his 2 year birthday it died. Pentax was no help, a repair costs 70% of the cost of a new camera. What to do?

The camera worked like a dream for the first 12 months. Perfectly. I mean like a dream. Excellent quality, water proof. Durable. Good battery life, you name it. Then it up and died. Hmmm.....

3
Out of 5
concerns...
- Reviewd on: 2008-08-31 By: Joe Bradley
I bought this camera a while ago. This week I gave it to my 16 yr old daughter because she fell in love with it. It's a great idea but for me, I was a little disappointed for two reasons:

1) I have familial hereditary tremors...a cute little phrase doctors use when they have no idea what it is. It's not Parkinson's Disease but I do shake, which makes it harder to get sharp photos with small Point-and-Shoots like this one. At least half of my shots came out blurred. Not the end of the world, since my 2-MB card holds LOTS of photos and I can pick and choose. But many times an important shot that looked good on the LCD turned out blurry and unusable on my Mac's screen at 4x6". This however is more the fault of being 61 and with the lightness of most P&Ss. However, I would LOVE to see Pentax make an underwater camera with real optical VR, rather than just upping the ISO.

2} I live on Maui. Several times a year we go out on whale-sighting boats. This time the sea was rough. I placed the W30 in a side pocket of my pants and the next time I took it out the screen was cracked. I could still take photographs, I just couldn't compose them on the LCD screen. This cost $120 to fix by Pentax Corp. I don't remember hitting said pocket against anything, so I was confused by how easily the camera was put out of commission.

So I just ordered the W60, the W30's underwater successor. Hope springs eternal, not to mention that being able to take the camera underwater and into dusty or sandy areas is so cool. I'm going to buy a small bean bag to use as a rest for the camera, which should eliminate the effects of my shakes. I also have a padded case for it to protect it from rough seas or whatever.

I hope this review proves useful to those who shake, and who still go down to the sea in ships.