Reader Reviews

Rating: 5 / 5

< 4.8 oz w/batteries, fully waterproof, decent optics, 5 MP, 0.6 oz battery spares, and pocketable in pants, or shirt.

I can't imagine another camera that might have more mass market appeal than this one.

The only real competitor is the Olympus Stylus Epic (e.g., D410), but that one isn't waterproof, and it's a little heavier and thicker.

Rating: 5 / 5

I must agree - took it on a three day trek. Battery life is great, allowing what appears to be 100+ pictures in 30-50F weather. This is with some flash use. (25% maybe)

Great capacity at full resolution with cheap and easy to find memory card.

Waterproof abilities seem to be adeqate thus far -

Not much of a 'zoom' available - the lens is behind another piece of glass to protect it from leaks - 3X I think, with 'digital' beyond that - which degrades the picture.

I have the newer 6MP version. An excellent trail camera for general and scenery...

Rating: 4 / 5

I very much like my Optio WPi (6 mp). I have found the waterproof feature to be of much greater value than I originally expected. For winter pictures, it is really handy to set up a picture and not worry about dropping it in the snow (or having slush fall into it, etc). I've taken quite a few pictures with it. You can get a good idea of it's capability (in the hands of an amateur) by going to my flickr site at http://www.flickr.com/photos/rossbl. I especially recommend looking at the landscapes at dusk, http://www.flickr.com/photos/rossbl/sets/72057594086466307/ as well as the close up flower pictures, http://www.flickr.com/photos/rossbl/tags/wildflower/ and the pictures I took of one of the most photogenic spots in the world, Antelope Canyon, http://www.flickr.com/photos/rossbl/sets/72157594146652113/. With all of these pictures, I recommend clicking the pictures, then click on "all sizes", then "original". You will have to scroll the picture back and forth, but you can see the detail that is possible. I am especially happy with the close up flower pictures.

Room for improvement: It would really be nice to have manual control (exposure time, etc.) in this camera. Of course, I don't know of any camera in this weight range that has this.

The biggest drawback is the lack of a viewfinder. If it had one, it would get a five star rating. There are too many times where I can't see the detail of what I am taking. I have to "shoot blind" (e.g. I can't see the mountain in the distance, but I can tell the nearby ridges are lined up, so hopefully it is framed fairly well). Plus, this may contribute to battery usage. I have run out after 100 or so pictures. This was in the winter, so I may be able to take more pictures in warm weather. I definitely recommend buying an extra battery (or two) for long back trips (unless you take fewer pictures).

All in all, this a great camera; I just wish it had a viewfinder (I would gladly pay for an extra ounce or so).

Edited by rossbleakney on 06/12/2008 18:16:46 MDT.

Rating: 5 / 5

I purchased the Pentax Optio S5i, the non-waterproof 5MP predecessor to the Optio WP, perhaps a month before the WP came out last year. At 4.2 ounces (with battery and memory card) it's a bit lighter than the WP and the lens extrudes up to 3X optical zoom with a 5 megapixel resolution, but they are otherwise very similar cameras. I would have gone with the WP if this version had been available. The only gripe is that the LCD screen has a tendency to wash out in bright light.

If you can afford this camera, then spring for an extra battery and a 1 GB memory card. I used less than half of a battery charge for 100+ pictures (including some short videos) over a week's section hike.

Rating: 5 / 5

The Optio WP is always in my pocket on a trip. Its lightweight and reliability ensures that I get every photo I want. Coupled with a gorilla pod it enables me to extend the range of light in which I can take photos. This camera is a 5, but I would love a bigger optical zoom.

Rating: 4 / 5

Excellent camera, but like anything else there is a newer model out. Pentax Optio W10 & 20.
http://www.pentax.ca/digital/digital_ps/index.php
The WP, for me has been a very dependable camera. It fit every thing I wanted.
Light, digital & waterproof.
It have no external moving parts, which I believe adds to the longevity of the camera.

Things I wish it had;
1 -view finder / peep hole for picture taking, to save battery power.
2 -lighter. (as always ...and the new ones are)
3 -cheaper (spare) batteries. They are very expensive.

Doug


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Rating: 5 / 5

I have the older 3 MP version. It is slightly more chunky than its newer svelte siblings and, yes, it's only 3 MPs but this has never been a limiting factor for me - how often do you really need to enlarge pictures more than 8X11 ?
BUT, it has all the features of it's newer siblings AND it has an optical viewfinder AND it runs off 2 AA batteries - so replacements are readily available. It is also almost bomb proof and has been dropped from multiple heights without a problem.

So, in this case, older is better.

These can still be found occasionally on sale and on ebay for well under $100.

Rating: 5 / 5

Just received my new Optio W20 purchased through Amazon.com. Mine weights 5.4 ounces with the battery and card installed. Nice package, light weight, compact and, so far at least, excellent picture quality. I am still learning to use all the rich features of this camera, but I can say already it is becoming my favorite. It easily fits in a pants pocket or waist belt pocket for quick use. The WP feature was the selling point for me; saving the Aloksak I would otherwise have to store the camera in.