I picked this camera up about a month ago at samys.com (much better price than Amazon) and took it on a week-long trip to the Bahamas. Since I forgot to bring a decent memory card, I was limited to a 256 mb card that I had in the camera, so I took all of my pix at 4mp under the medium quality setting. I found the image quality to be perfectly acceptable and got about 300 pictures and a few very short videos on the card.Many other people have left great reviews of the camera, so I'll concentrate on the waterproof aspects. I had the camera in the water for an hour or more on each snorkel, typically twice a day, and never had any problems with water getting inside. This is about twice the recommended length of 30 minutes in the water. I don't dive, so never had the camera below 5 feet. I attached a floating key ring (available at any marine store for a couple of dollars) to the strap so that I wouldn't have to worry about letting the camera go and having it sink to the bottom. The camera is light enough that the key ring would actually keep it at the surface--I'd expected that it would simply slow it down on the trip to the bottom. This was a nice bonus, since I could just leave the camera floating while I dove to the bottom to get shells. I'd recommend a closed-cell foam float instead of the hollow plastic kind, as the plastic will eventually fill up with water and lose buoyancy.
In the water, I found the camera quite easy to use, although the buttons could have been a little bigger. The camera seemed to struggle to focus in areas where I was shooting fish from a distance or fish that blended in with the water (like a barracuda), but the pictures came out pretty well at the end. Snorkelers will note that it takes some practice to get a picture of a fish as the camera moves around with the smallest waves and there is just enough shutter delay to make things difficult. I found that by prefocusing (press shutter halfway and hold, with a green box indicating the focused area) and then waiting for the right moment, I got much better results. I couldn't tell a difference in photo quality between the camera's underwater setting and the normal setting. I used the macro setting for some close ups on land and was quite impressed with that.
If you'd like to see some underwater pictures for yourself, here is a link: Remember that I used the 4 Mpixel setting and 2 star quality setting to save space.
I rinsed the camera off at the end of each day but did not soak it as recommended and I haven't had any trouble or seen any signs of salt in the battery compartment. Speaking of the battery, I was a little disappointed here. I didn't like that I had to bring a bulky battery charger on my vacation--would much prefer that the camera ran on AAA batteries. I found battery life to be so-so. I could go about one full day, taking lots of pictures, then editing out all the bad ones, shooting videos, and keeping the camera on for hours at a time. But if I didn't charge it that night, it would quickly die on the second day. The battery level indicator is useless--it goes from full to half to dead in a matter of minutes, so keep the battery charged and if you're going to use it a lot, buy a spare. One other note about the battery--since you have to charge it every night (out of the camera), you can't use the camera's alarm clock feature. This was an issue for me, since I don't wear a watch, wasn't able to use my cell phone in the Bahamas, and had planned on using the alarm. The alarm isn't really loud enough to wake a heavy sleeper, by the way.
All in all, this camera does what it sets out to excellently. This is a camera for active people who want to take good quality snapshots while snorkeling, playing in the rain, kayaking, etc. It's not a camera for professional photographers or divers, but it doesn't claim to be.
To be upfront with it, the image quality is not the best. It's 6 megapixels, but there's a lot more to quality than having the most pixels. From a pure image quality standpoint, I'd rather have one of Canon's many offerings. Compared side-by-side with a Canon S550 (granted a more expensive camera with more pixels), the Pentax showed noise where the Canon showed weave pattern in a subject's sweater. Also, I'm used to shooting pro-level dSLRs so the difference in image quality was a bit of a surprise. Compared to the T4 film option I'm used to, I think I'm still bringing my film camera for those more difficult situations because there's just more info on the film and the lens is still better on that camera. Also, it lacks an AF-assist light which would really help in dim situations.
However, and this is important, I realize that most of the images I take with this camera are only going to be viewed online or will not be printed larger than 4x6. I have not yet printed images from this camera, but I think for that print size it will probably be fine. For web purposes, it's more than good. The many options in image size is very handy when you know you're going to web with an image. The sunset shots I took out the airplane window, while noisy, still have good gradation from black to white.
Getting back to the reason I bought this camera in the first place, I'm very pleased with its ability to function in wet conditions. I haven't taken it underwater yet, but I did shoot video with it while snowboarding and found out my skills definitely go down while trying to shoot video. But the camera kept going after being dunked in snow repeatedly. It was also snowing/raining so there was more than dry powder to deal with. The buttons, while small, are spaced far enough apart that I could activate them with gloves on. The screen was plenty big and legible from oblique angles while heading downhill with goggles on. Be aware, however, that the battery is physically not very big and therefore low temps have a noticable affect on battery life.
One of the best features is the green buttonit can be changed to access up to four different options/settings. I use mine for 1.exposure compensation; 2. white balance; 3. ISO setting; and 4. green (dummy) mode. So easy to set up and very useful if you still want some manual overrides (since there's no actual manual or priority modes, just different program modes). Without the green button, using the exposure compensation requires going into the menus and changing it but not seeing results until it's setwith the green button, it operates like every other camera, ie allowing you to see the changes as you make them.
Basically, foul weather functionality was the priority and I was pleasantly surprised by the easy and customizable interface (you can change the order of the program modes and the camera remembers certain custom settings, too). I was not impressed with the image quality and it's not replacing my film p+s or dSLRs anytime soon, but it's good for what I need it to do which is largely surviving being on the outside of my backpack or in my pocket in the rain, snow and dirt and still be ready to take a decent image when I turn it on.
Buy Pentax Optio WPi 6MP Waterproof Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom Now
This is one of the best purchases I've ever made. I absolutely love this camera. It is nice and small, super easy to use, and waterproof! Unlike other reviews that I've read here, I have taken it underwater. My whole life is water, so in only a few days of owning it it's been under plenty of times. It holds up like a champ!I also really like the features it has. It has a good zoom, lots of programmed settings, movie mode, high speed shutter, and the green button which allows you to be using one mode and hit one button to be in another pre-set mode. I think that the quality and features are comparable with a lot of cameras that cost as much or more, and it's waterproof.
Read Best Reviews of Pentax Optio WPi 6MP Waterproof Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom Here
Beginning with images shot through the window of the puddle jumper aircraft while flying, and extending to the underwater shots of fish and a sea turtle that I've placed in the gallery, I've been impressed with the Pentax OptioWPi. The underwater capability is GREAT for casual snorkelers like myself. (I snorkel once or twice a year on trips and have no desire to mess with a larger camera in a waterproof case.) Care was easy mine lives in a sunglasses case. I rinsed with bottled water after each dip in the sea, and soaked the 10 minutes suggested by the instruction manual when I charged the battery. I took about 400 images on a week long trip and did a lot of editing and reviewing, and the battery needed to be charged twice. A second battery to rotate would be nice, but is not entirely necessary.Yes, the viewfinder can be difficult to see especially when you're sitting in direct sun. I found that I could pull my hat down on my forehead, and then shade the viewfinder with another hat for best results. And finally, the ACDSee software that comes with the camera is terrific at enhancing images; better, in fact, in a side by side test than the photo kiosk at a local chain pharmacy. A sliding locking mechanism on the wrist strap would also be nice, since the camera doesn't float. If you're paranoid, you can probably rig something up with duct tape before snorkeling.
If you don't need the waterproof feature, you can probably find a better deal in a different camera. But if you fish, snorkel, beach bum, boat, etc. you'll appreciate this camera.
Want Pentax Optio WPi 6MP Waterproof Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom Discount?
I get great pictures with this camera and am wondering if reviewers below have failed to set their cameras to the highest picture quality setting. The camera does not come from the factory set at highest quality probably so you can take more pictures without SD card. I do agree about having problems seeing screen when very sunny out and have order folding screen shade to solve this problem. Another reviewer complained about low light level picture results well I have to say you should have read your instruction manual because it has a low light setting that works great with the aid of a tripod. Besides I have yet to own a pocket digital that rivals all the features and picture quality of this camera and can take the abuse of water and sand. If you like outdoor activities that may reek havok on a normal pocket shooter that this camera is for you. I do hope that PENTAX adds a viewfinder window to their next version though.
No comments:
Post a Comment