Pentax Rolls Introduces Its Latest Waterproof Camera Optio W80

Pentax adds to the lineup of swimming snap-shooters with its new Optio W80, which can withstand a dunk off the deep end down to 16 feet. It can shoot underwater photos and high-definition video for up to two hours, according to its maker.


The $300 Optio W80 is also ruggedized to handle dust, freezing temperatures down to 14 degrees Fahrenheit and drops of up to three feet.

Pentax has been poolside since 2003, when it introduced its first waterproof camera (the Optio W80 is an update of last year’s Optio W60). Today, the rugged camera market has expanded to include models like the Fujifilm Finepix 233WP, Olympus Stylus Tough 8000, Canon PowerShot D10 and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS1, which from $160 to $350.

That puts the new Pentax at the high end of the price scale. But the 12.1-megapixel Optio W80 has some nice specs, including a 5X (28- to 140-mm equivalent) lens, the ability to capture high-definition video (1280 by 720 pixels at 30 frames a second), image-stabilization technology and face-recognition technology.

The chassis is made of reinforced polycarbonate plastic and aluminum plating, with the necessary gaskets to keep out water. A protective coating protects the mineral-crystal cover of the internal-lens zoom to help repel water.

You will have your choice of red, gray or blue models when the Optio W80 hits stores in July.

http://gadgetwise.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/25/pentax-updates-its-waterproof-camera/