Pentax Optio WS80: Review
Over the last couple of years, we have accidentally destroyed two compact cameras. The first one didn't survive the combination of cold and wet action in the snow and the second camera didn't survive a fall into wet and smelly swampland. Oh well. Someone with brains would have used a rugged camera or water resistant camera in such outdoors conditions. We decided to find out how the waterproof Pentax Optio WS80 would survive our outdoors activities and if the tiny camera could capture decent HD video.
The Pentax Optio WS80 is a small waterproof camera with 10 megapixel image sensor and 5 times optical zoom lens. The camera has been built and tested for underwater use. It can be used for two hours in 1.5 meter deep water. The camera lets you capture HD (high-definition) video in 1280x720 resolution at 30 fps (frames per second).
Waterproof case and HD video recording capability are the strongest features of the WS80. Naturally, swimmers, divers and kayakers need a waterproof camera, but anyone who likes to photograph in the great outdoors, may consider a waterproof camera. We found it truly convenient to be able to get out without having to worry about the camera getting wet. We tried the camera in water and it survived fine. It is important to check that the battery compartment cover is firmly closed before taking a dive with the camera.
HD videos captured in daylight looked stunning on the PC screen. It is good to remember that most video sharing sites, like YouTube, compress uploaded videos so much that a clear and smooth HD video may appear grainy on YouTube. The camera saves movies in AVI format. Pentax didn’t include a movie editing application with the product, but Windows PC users can try, for instance, the free Windows Movie Maker program. ACDSee image viewer application is included. Anti-shake function for video went nuts if we moved the camera at the same time as objects in the frame moved. Fortunately, anti-shake can be turned off.
The camera’s 5x optical zoom worked fast and accurately, as well as auto-focus. Still images taken in daylight are all right - similar in quality as photos taken with other small cameras. Photos snapped in low light tend to be grainy. It is possible to push the ISO level up to 6400, but it increases red tones in images. Still, the upside is that you get some kind of photos even in very low light. There are tens of photography modes in the camera and one almost-manual mode which makes most camera controls available to the photographer.
Anyone who has larger-than-average hands should try out the Pentax Optio WS80 if they can handle it. The camera is small and the keys are small as well. We appreciated the small size because it ensured a place in our pocket.
There are no connectors outside the camera, except for the tripod mount at the bottom. Battery compartment contains SD memory card slot and tiny USB connector. The same USB port can be used for hooking up the camera to a PC’s USB port and for connecting the camera to a TV monitor. Cables are included.
It is possible to tailor many features of the camera to your own taste, but you have to be ready to thoroughly explore the camera’s menu system. For example, we found an extremely useful feature that allowed us to choose which settings are preserved during power off and which settings are reset.
What we liked about the Pentax Optio WS80
- HD (1280x720 at 30 frames per second) video recording. In good light, we liked video quality..
- Small size. The slim camera fits practically into any pocket, making it easy to carry it along.
- Manual mode that allows adjusting most camera controls.
- Care-free photographing in wet conditions.
- Customizable button for frequently needed functions.
What we didn't like
- Video and image quality is fairly poor in low light.
- Terrible anti-shake mode in video recording. Fortunately, the feature can be turned off.
- Anything else except for automatic photography mode requires opening the camera menu.
- The battery is pretty small which often means it quickly wears out.
Amazon.com's price for the Pentax Optio WS80 is around $200
Value for the money: 4.5 out of 5
The Pentax Optio WS80 is a perfect camera for photographers who always want to carry a camera along to his or her outdoors (and indoors) trips. The camera is small and light. Since it is waterproof, the photographer doesn’t have to worry about the camera’s survival in the rain or snow. Pictures are all right, and the HD video looks stunning on a PC screen. When the price, features and quality are considered, we regard the Optio WS80 a good buy.
The Pentax Optio WS80 has the same problem as all tiny compact cameras. The camera optics and image sensor can’t produce sharp, bright photos in low light. If you want to avoid grainy videos and images, you simply have to organize more light to the frame. The whole thing is a compromise between camera size and image quality. It just has to be accepted.
Pentax Optio WS80 Key Features and Specifications:
Waterproof and dustproof camera. JIS waterproof grade 8 and JIS dustproof grade 6 (IP68)
Continuous underwater operation for 2 hours at 1.5 meters.
High-definition (HD) video capture at 1280x720 resolution at 30 frames per second. Lower quality options down to 320x240 at 15 fps available as well.
10 megapixel image sensor.
5× optical zoom
Lens focal length 6.2 mm - 31 mm. Approximately 35 mm - 175 mm in 35 mm equivalent focal length.
Aperture F3.8 (W) - F4.7 (T)
Shake reduction mode (Digital SR) for still images.
Shake reduction for video recording (Movie SR).
White Balance Auto, Daylight, Shade, Tungsten Light, Fluorescent Light, Manual
2.7 inch LCD display (there’s no separate viewfinder).
Focus modes: autofocus, macro, pan focus, infinity, and manual focus
Configurable auto-focus point.
Focus range in standard mode 40 cm - infinity (whole zoom area) and in macro mode 10 cm - 50 cm.
Exposure Control Metering System Multi-segment metering, Center-weighted metering, Spot metering
Exposure
Shooting Modes Auto Picture, Program, Night Scene, Movie, Underwater, Underwater
Movie, Landscape, Flower, Portrait, Digital Wide, Surf & Snow, Digital SR, Kids, Pet, Half-length Portrait, Sport, Fireworks, Candlelight, Night Scene Portrait, Natural Skin Tone, Food, Digital Panorama,
Frame Composite, Party, Green
Maximum movie clip size is 2 GB
Shutter Speed 1/1500 sec. - 1/4 sec., max. 4 sec. (Night Scene mode)
Flash Range Wide-angle: approx. 0.4 m - 3.4 m
Built-in Flash Modes Auto, Flash Off, Flash On, Auto + Red-eye, Flash
On + Red-eye, Soft Flash
Shooting modes: single-frame, self-timer (approx. 10 sec., approx. 2 sec.), continuous, burst shooting, interval shoot
USB 2.0 interface
Video output to NTSC/PAL (monaural) TV monitors
Tripod mount.
Rechargeable lithium-ion battery D-LI88
Battery Life about 200 captured images.
Dimensions 91.5 (W) × 59.5 (H) × 22 (D)
Weight. 125 g (including battery and SD Memory Card).
Web hosting 25.04.2010 14:27 www.gossimer.com/hosting.php
These cameras are the need of the hour, I lost my two cameras as well! Chris Harris web hosting
herve leger 14.05.2010 21:33 www.preetylove.com
hey buddy,this is one of the best posts that I’ve ever seen; you may include some more ideas in the same theme. I’m still waiting for some interesting thoughts from your side in your next post.
anyting 14.05.2010 21:34
i love britney spears so much,she is really beautiful,this summer,i prepare a gift for her,best herve leger bandage dressfor best stars!
Bounty Bay Online coin 25.05.2010 01:11
Do you know Bounty Bay Online coin? if you play the online game,you will knowBounty Bay Online gold is the game gold. In the game, if you had moreBounty Bay gold, you will had a tall level. But if you wantBounty Bay Coin,you can come here and spend a little money to boughtbbo gold.Quickly come here.
Name 25.05.2010 10:20
It boomed for retin-a its buy retin-a online free offering of large space for photo sharing, though debated that it unfairly used the academic resource/bandwidth of the starters’ university in buy lumigan online its early day. It’s forced to move their servers out of school, because the sale lumigan of ADs. After commercialized, losing the free bandwidth in the university,buy flexeril online it’s becoming notorious for the sharp opinion against some flexeril big ISPs in controlling the bandwidth toward them and making their buy ventolin online service slower. But due to its big number of users seroquel in Taiwan, it was acquired by Yahoo! Taiwan recently, arising the argument buy prednisolone online over the Anti-Trust in the Web business in Taiwan. This deal buy seroquel online is being investigated prednisolone by the Taiwanese Government and waiting for approval ventolin.buy retin-a online cheap without prescription
rosetta stone 26.05.2010 19:59 www.rosettalanguage.com
rosetta stone rosetta stone spanish rosetta stone language 匡威 匡威鞋子
aion gold 02.06.2010 22:11 www.buyaion.net/
Do you knowaion gold?if you play the online game,you will knowaion kinais the game gold.
free credit score 05.06.2010 02:55 www.freecreditreportsinstantly.org/
Good post.Really feel good reading this article.free credit score
sdfdfl; 29.06.2010 01:23
10629032517PMCabal gold | Cabal alz | Cabal money | cheap Cabal Alz |
Wholesale Hats Shop 05.07.2010 21:31 www.a-capshop.com
VERY CHEAP !!Welcome to http://www.a-capshop.com, The Wholesale Hats Shop.where you will find so many surprises. Providing you with the best products and the best customer service has always been our goal.
Wholesale Hats Shop 05.07.2010 21:33 www.a-capshop.com
VERY CHEAP !!Welcome to http://www.a-capshop.com, The Wholesale Hats Shop.where you will find so many surprises. Providing you with the best products and the best customer service has always been our goal.
k1 visa 08.07.2010 01:45 fiancee-visa.net
RHC Visa Service Firm has obtained thousands fiancee visa and the K3 marriage visa for entry into the United States of America, as well as other countries in the world.
christian louboutin discount 08.07.2010 18:24 www.christianlouboutinw.com/
dear baby，These Christian community forums augment discussion about various topics pertaining to the religion,sale christian louboutin, its beliefs and various paths in the process of communion with God. http://www.christianlouboutinw.com/ The discussion forums helps the members gain valuable insights .
rosetta stone spanish 08.07.2010 20:06 www.rosettalanguage.com
I want to say very thank you for this great informations. now i understand about it. Thank you ! rosetta stone spanish, rosetta stone, rosetta stone language.
cheap nfl jerseys 02.08.2010 01:56 www.wholesalecheapjersey.com
Dear friends, thank you for visiting our website ,we are an international trade company,which specializes in NFL jerseys.We wholesale jerseys at competitive price,providing a huge range of cheap nfl jerseys of different teams,such as Arizona Cardinal,Atlanda Falcons ,Baltimore Ravens,etc.You can buy cheap jerseys. Welcome to visist here .
ghd nz 05.08.2010 18:59
chi hair straightener and ghd hair straighteners on sale at we online store, chi flat iron an ghd hair straighteners with wholesale price and 100% quality guarantee and offer you free shipping all over the world. ghd uk on sale with wholesale price and free shipping! Enjoy you ghd ireland here,offer you best ghd newzealand!
herve leger dress 18.08.2010 20:57 www.regitl.com
HD videos captured in daylight looked stunning on the PC screen. It is good to remember that most video sharing sites, like YouTube,
Christian Louboutin 20.08.2010 21:21
Christian Louboutin Christian Louboutin hermes birkin Hermes handbags moncler moncler herve leger herve leger
christian louboutin 27.08.2010 19:48 www.gavots.com
http://masl.cis.gvsu.edu/2010/04/13/masl-demo-day/ http://depts.washington.edu/ontheroa/?p=178i love [url=http://www.gavots.com christian louboutin]very much
Atlanta Plastic Surgery 31.08.2010 12:41 www.atlantaplasticsurgeryoffice.com/
Very nicely written health tips ares free download link building service
ski jackets 01.09.2010 01:08 www.jacketsvscoats.com/
Save up to 50%,we offer best ed hardy wholesale clothing and discount ed hardynot only with lowest price , fast and safe shipping, but also fashionable looking wholesale ed hardy if you are interested in our coats & jackets ski jacket the north face,please go through our jacket website to choose any ski jacket you like. In addition, we sell other ski clothing as well.We can accept your small order with our special best price.come to pick it! Guarantee you a satisfying