1. 12.1 megapixel CCD
2. 720p high-definition video at 30 fps
3. Wide-angle 5x optical zoom (28?140mm equivalent)
4. 2.7" LCD 16:9 display
5. Waterproof up to 20 ft

Editorial Review :

PENTAX 16426 12.1 Megapixel Optio W90 Digital Camera (Green)

Customer Review :

Good at first look - but the jury is still out.

I purchased this camera with one purpose in mind - an upcoming trip to Atlantis. After a number of beach vacations in the US and Caribbean, I finally had to admit I really wanted a ruggedized/waterproof camera. On previous trips, I was constantly worried about dropping my other point-and-shoot into the water, and although I love my DSLR, it just isn't the right tool for a family beach vacation. After reading years of mediocre reviews on waterproof cameras, this one seemed to have enough positive comments to give it a shot.

On the good side, the controls of this camera are extremely easy to use, even while underwater. The screen is more than adequate, and although the audio isn't great, it does take passable HD movies. Startup time is extremely quick - much faster than my Cybershots. As others have mentioned, the number of pixels doesn't seem to be the critical factor - I don't notice the difference between 12MP and 7MP modes, but neither are even close to my DSLR's 6MP. That said, daytime shots are generally pretty good, with very vibrant colors. Underwater shots, as well as movies, are also good enough for my purposes. The one area that was disappointing was the nighttime capability of this camera. This seems to be an issue for not just this camera, but most waterproof cameras - the low-light/nighttime pictures and movies really aren't even usable, and unfortunately, I would have to say that this camera's low-light capability lags behind my Cybershot that I bought several years ago. I have also had issues with locking focus correctly (blurring), although this very well could be user error - about 20% of my shots just aren't focused correctly.

Regarding the waterproof capabilities of this camera, I would have to say it performs as advertised. I know some reviews noted a "streaking" on the LCD; I also experienced this. I was initially concerned, but after a while, I noticed that this usually happened right after the camera came out of the water, and usually when pointed in the direction of a light source. I suspect that this "streaking" is due to water rolling down the lens area, and light being focused on the CCD and overloading some of the sensors. This streaking always went away within a few seconds after the camera was removed from the water.

I took this camera through the ringer at Atlantis, using it both in the ocean and the waterpark for several hours each day. At the end of each day, I cleaned the camera in tap water as recommended, and left the waterproof doors open overnight to dry out any water on the seals. I also took care to remove any sand from the area around the seals. The camera held up well for the entire trip, and will no doubt be a staple for future family beach vacations.

I did have one issue with the camera - the day after we returned from Atlantis, the focus stopped working...pressing the button halfway would result in the camera immediately taking a photo, in focus or not. Despite trying to further dry the camera, I was unable to resolve this. I don't know what caused this problem, as I didn't see that any water had breached the waterproof seals...although, it is possible water was driven through the seals by pressurization as I took this camera on the plane without giving it a day to dry first. Fortunately, I was within my 30 day return period with Amazon; although I've never had to return anything prior to this, I was extremely pleased to find Amazon's return process completely hassle-free. Because I do like the camera, I decided to opt for a replacement rather than a refund, and we'll see how it goes with the new one.




Rating :

Great for hiking the Zion Narrows

I did one of the most strenuous, water logged hikes in America and the camera made it through with flying colors. Not until I tried opening a beer bottle with the side of the camera did it break ;)

Rating :

Best "In the woods" camera ever made

The PENTAX Optio W90 is hands down the best camera I have ever owned for use "in the woods"; camping, fishing, hunting and hiking. During a recent trip to the zoo, I took a photo of a ray (underwater) and inside of a waterfall. The microscope photo feature is great. All around great camera. Battery life is awesome.

Rating :

Pentax Waterproof Camera

I bought this little gem of a camera for its rugged go anywhere use. I am not disappointed. My first test was in the pool, just to be sure it was watertight, and it was. The camera has a lot of shooting modes, sometimes too many, and can be confusing.
The instruction book is three times the size of the camera, and that is only in English! But there is one mode which is most welcome, manual focus. Too many times, these point & shoot automatic cameras can choose the wrong focus point. I wouldn't leave it on manual, but only for a specific shot. Overall image quality seems good, and I only use the highest 12mp setting.
My advice is a bigger SDHC card, and especially extra batteries. The battery has a small capacity and will exhaust quickly.

Rating :

Great digital camera

We bought the new Pentax Optio waterproof camera to replace a previous one. Everything we loved about the old one is still there and it has been significantly improved. The screen is much bigger and brighter and easy to see, the pictures of better, and the case is even easier to hold and take pictures with.

Rating :

More reviews...

1. 12.1 megapixel CCD
2. 720p high-definition video at 30 fps
3. Wide-angle 5x optical zoom (28?140mm equivalent)
4. 2.7" LCD 16:9 display
5. Waterproof up to 20 ft

Editorial Review :

PENTAX 16411 12.1 Megapixel Optio W90 Digital Camera (Black)

Customer Review :

Not waterproof

I splurged & bought a green one for my girlfriend's birthday. I had read that some of them leak, and figured "well I won't get one of the leaky ones" she went straight to the pool with it and after 2 pictures (98 seconds.) underwater It started to glitch. we got it out, we dried it off, and after 2 days it started to function again only now the power button light stays on and drains the battery. Long story short I had planned on buying a new orange one for myself but it definitely IS NOT an underwater camera. s) A real heart breaker, I wanted to love this camera so bad. I wanted it to do all it said it did. I saw it and thought, "Finally a camera that can keep up with our hobbies" I'd hoped it'd be something nice that you'd own forever and rave about to friends&family...MIS-TAKE!!!
"Waterproof to 0m" is what the box should say I'll never own another Pentax, Period.

Rating :

Pentax

All its compartments were correctly closed, but it got damaged after its first trip to the beach. It worked better on a swimming pool.

Rating :

Impressive

I had read many reviews before purchasing this Pentax Optio W90 camera and was somewhat skeptical. After receiving the new camera and having a chance to use it the past month, I do not understand where the negative reviews were coming from. When purchasing a small point and shoot camera one must understand that there will never be the quality of a larger format SLR. The lens and sensor capabilities will never be there, however, in my opinion this camera has far exceeded the competition as I have compared to several other point and shoot cameras including by Cannon, Nikon and Olympus. I have also bocome familiar with the Olympus line of of underwater/shockproof cameras (Stylus) and would have to say that the Pentax W90 has produced better images and has won the race overall. The macro settings and macro light functions are AMAZING, picture quality will rival any other camera of this class and size, comfortable fit in a pocket (similar to a cell phone in size) and of course the waterproof design is great for the outdoors, beaches, and streams yet design makes for an attractive camera for all occasions. Great camera. 100% satisfied with the purchase.

Rating :

Great Outdoor Camera

I bought this camera right when it came out, and it was the first camera I've ever purchased. I shopped around and decided on the W90 because I am a very active 20 year old guy am I am not easy on my gear.

PROS:
1. Waterproof feature is AMAZING! I've been underwater with it at least 10 times, in multiple pools and lakes.
Underwater pictures turn out great, and the video is pretty decent as well.
I've taken it with me for a firsthand video off of a 5 meter diving platform; the camera smacked the water with me and kept on recording!!
2. Durable: I've dropped it on rocks and dirt, etc etc more times than I care to count... nothing has been busted or malfunctioned.
3. Sturdy and Easy to hold: It feels very solid in your hand, and the rubberized outside makes it easy to hold on too (even when wet and hitting the water from 15 feet up!)
4. Landscape feature is very neat. The "ghost" image helps you line up the 3 images perfectly, and the software does a great job of stitching them together.
5. Macro mode is SWEET. As long as you can hold the camera still, the pictures turn out awesomely. I used it to photograph a diamond ring up close, and it gave some stunning pictures.

CONS:
1. Video does not appear as HD... it's pretty noisy. Although the underwater video seems to have better quality for some reason. If you are looking for a camera with great video, this most definitely isn't the ticket.
2. No real image stabilization - the anto-shake mode seems to try and compensate by increasing ISO.. doesn't help at all. I've actually had better luck using normal picture mode to reduce blurring.
3. Battery life isn't the greatest, but it will last a good day of photo taking.

Overall the camera is perfect for me, with the exception of the sub-par image stabilization. It has dealt spectacularly with the abuse I've thrown at it so far. I recommend this to anyone looking for a rugged, waterproof camera to use in the great outdoors. I can't wait for the winter to get some pictures at the ski slopes!

Rating :

I wanted to love this camera!!!

I bought this camera in June specifically for a trip myself and my wife would be taking to the Dominican Republic in July. The camera arrived and I was very impressed with the camera. It took very good pictures and had loads of picture styles that actually seemed to work. This camera was going to become my kayaking and water sports camera, to compliment my DLSRs. Tried the camera out in the hot tub (@ 100 degrees), good underwater pictures. Tried the camera out in the pool, good underwater pictures. Used it for a lot of out of the water pictures just around the house and yard.

Fast forward to the trip. Get to the resort, walk the beach, make 3 good videos of the ocean and the waves from the beach. I took maybe 100 pictures to share with family and friends. Quality was amazing. Videos were amazing. Upload pictures that night. Day number 2. Start off going to the pool. Take lots of pictures, mainly out of the water with a few underwater. The camera was not in the water for more than 10 minutes. Do a quick underwater movie, less than 30 seconds. Get out of the pool, dry off camera and go to next pool. I was taking a few pictures around the pool and then decided to get into the pool and everything was working great, and again, great images. I start taking a few pictures underwater, never submerging the camera for more than 15 seconds at a time, and I start to notice that the pictures are coming out blurry with weird spots on the images. I figured that I just had some water on the lens area, except that I cannot wipe it off. The water had gotten into the lens area. After taking the camera out of the water and going straight to the towel, I dried the camera outside. I started reviewing pictures to see where the problem started (underwater pictures at pool number 2). As I am reviewing pictures, the camera starts to turn the display white and had lines all throughout it and now the camera will not even power up.

I have contacted Pentax. They have told me that I have to pay to send them the camera, and they will determine whether or not I misused the camera. They said that if they determine that it was something that I did (which will drive me nuts as I baby my electronics) that I will have to agree to pay to fix it and pay $12 to have it mailed to me.

I am waiting for some clarification from Pentax before I mail them the camera, but there aren't a lot of options except to mail it to them and see what they say.

Again, I wanted to love this camera. It took great pictures, but it very easily could have ruined a lot of people's vacations. Fortunately I had a second digital camera with me and was able to continue to take pictures of our vacation. A lot of people would have been stuck. I am giving Pentax it's fair chance with the replacement of this item, but my guess is they will find a way to blame the customer, but I hope I am wrong.

Rating :

More reviews...

1. 26x super-telephoto lens (26-676mm equivalent); 12.1-megapixel sensor is ideal for large prints or cropping flexibility
2. 2.7-inch LCD with anti-reflection coating; electronic viewfinder with diopter adjustment
3. Powerful automatic operation or creative manual and priority modes
4. Triple Shake Reduction technology includes a mechanical sensor-shift mechanism
5. Fast Face Detection technology quickly finds up to 32 faces; Super Macro mode

Editorial Review :

Kick the megazoom category up another notch with the PENTAX X90 digital camera.  Featuring an extra-wide zoom, longer battery life, and an electronic viewfinder, the X90 delivers effortless picture-taking in a wide variety of situations to photographers of all levels.  The key feature of the PENTAX X90 is the 26X megazoom, super-telephoto lens (26-676mm equivalent) also designed with a Macro mode that focuses to less than one inch away to capture images of subjects that are near or far.

Customer Review :

Sending this one back!

I recently purchased the Pentax X90. I was excited about this camera and its features until I took it outside for a day to do some wildlife photography. The shake was horrible, even with a tripod. Even in the lower zoom ranges, the shake was bad. Plus when the camera lens was zoomed out, it took way too long to get the lens back into a normal range. I tried shutting the camera off, then back on - the zoom would automaticaly zoom ALL THE WAY OUT when turned back on. This is a feature I don't have time to mess with when taking pics of wildlife.

Also, forget buying an extra battery! I searched everywhere (locally in town and on the internet). No one has the highly specialized battery that this camera uses.I contacted Pentax. They told me the battery may not be available for MONTHS. I shoot a LOT of pics and always need extra batteries. I can't depend on a camera with only one battery and no backup.

Rating :

Wouldn't Recommend - Sending Back!

After doing much research and wanting to upgrade from my Panasonic TZ5 (10x Optical), I decided to try the Pentax for the greater zoom range...boy what a disappointment! Having owned several Digital Point and Shoots, this has to be the worst I have tried. I would normally try the camera before reading the manual, then read the manual to see what I may be missing. With this one though, I promptly read the entire manual while the battery was charging.

I was hoping to be able to get decent photos using both preset settings and my own, unfortunately after taking over 1000 photos - only a handful came out as "keepers". For the most part even up close birds came out blurred regardless of using the preset or my own settings. No matter what I tried I could not get this thing to focus correctly.

Another big draw back was the resolution of the LED screen, it would flash for a second to show a clear image, then go back to fuzz - it was hit or miss when you pressed the shutter button and most were misses. The screen never stayed focused on your subject even though the camera's little green boxes tried to say you were in focus, you couldn't tell using the LED or the Viewfinder as both stayed fuzzy at all times.

The few shots I did get that came out not blurry - the colors are washed out compared to my TZ5. As for using the zoom - if you plan on zooming in on inanimate objects such as buildings - it worked ok. If you plan on zooming in anything that may sway a bit, or breath - forget it - all photos are fuzzed or extremely soft around the edges. I get much clearer shots at the same distance away using only my 10x optical on the TZ5.

Surprisingly enough the best set of images I got, I took while holding my camera out the truck window and not looking at the LED screen or viewfinder at all.

I took this camera with me on a fishing trip with some friends we had not seen in a while - after about 30 minutes of being frustrated and not getting any images worth keeping, this camera got put away and I pulled out my old trusty TZ5. My friends were amazed at the photos it took, while they just shook their heads at the Pentax photos.

If you are into photographing bugs, flowers, and anything else up real close (Macros) this camera maybe what you want, as I did note the best images were those using Macro and Super Macro settings... one plus amongst the all other minuses.

I have packaged this one up, and have ordered the Panasonic DMC TZ35.
Summary:
Pros -Awesome Macros
Cons- slow to focus (if you can get it to focus)
LED stays fuzzy after only a short flash of a clear image on the screen (couldn't tell whether you are really focused or not - had to try and rely on the camera's green boxes and beep- which wasn't reliable either)
Zoom causes much blur and softness to anything that may move in the slightest
Lens cap falls off very easily

I should have listened to the one other reviewer here that also sent theirs back. I thought maybe they got a bad camera (lemon) ...now I know



Rating :

Awesome camera for this price point.

I have had this camera for more then a month. I have taken well over a thousand photos and am thoroughly impressed with the camera overall. The super macro is outstanding. I have taken so many close ups of very small things....(Ex. Ladybug eggs, small dragonflies, water droplets on greenery)that numerous people have asked me what camera am I using. I have also taken some really cool digital zoom photos as well. I am an amateur photographer and have used Fuji, Hp, Pentax SLR 35mm. I find that every photographer and their camera will not take perfect pictures 100 percent of the time but if you read your manual and enjoy taking photos you will not only find awesome ways to use this camera but you will not want to let go of this camera.

Some Pros:Amazing super macro, digital zoom, anti shake, many shooting options, ease of use, fun pre-installed picture frames, night time with flash, good size screen, viewfinder, battery charges a quick hour and a half. A cinch to connect to PC.

Some Cons; lightweight, not enough rubber grip, I would have liked a larger grip area, lens cap(but similar camera lens caps generally come the same),battery life about 200 or so pictures. Picture playback option a bit awkward (have to hold power button and play button together? Just play button would have been fine.

Conclusion.... At the new much lower price (Price was higher when I bought it) I would tell you to jump with both feet! Awesome camera for this price point Period. I have some photos up from this camera..check them out!

Rating :

Love It, Love It, Love It

all i can say is WOW, great value for money it is just brilliant for new wanabe photographers, it is a good price it has a great zoom and is not to bulky, I like the fact that it is a point and shoot camera but you can also play with the settings and do manual focus etc. I am not planing on being a profetional photographer but this is all you will ever need foor family photos and is also good at long shot photos of the family pet and the birds they are chasing.

all in all a great buy

Rating :

Pentax x90

I am very pleased with my new camera, although I've only shot about 200 pictures so far and not in every condition. I took a bunch of shots out on the water on a very blue, sunny day and was extremely pleased at how well they came out. The zoom is fantastic. My favorite feature by far. The only feature I'm not fond of is the flash and the fact that you have to manually turn it on before you can use it. After using a point and shoot where the flash was 100% automatic, it is difficult to remember to turn the flash on before you take the shot. This is my second Pentax camera and I would definitely recommend this one to anyone.

Rating :

More reviews...

1. 12.1-megapixel resolution image sensor captures enough detail for photo-quality 13 x 19-inch prints
2. Coldproof design endures sub-freezing temperatures of 14 degrees Fahrenheit
3. Widescreen, HD movie capture that records resolutions up to 1280 x 720 pixels at full-speed 30fps
4. 2.5-inch LCD monitor; Pixel Track Shake Reduction (SR) ensures sharp images in any lighting condition
5. Capture images to SD/SDHC memory cards (not included)

Editorial Review :

The Pentax Optio W80's waterproof design withstands depths of up to 16 feet (5 meters) to protect from rain and spills, as well asallowing full underwater photos and video for up to two hours. On dry land, the rugged,shockproof design protects against drops of up to 3.3 feet to protect the camera from hard useand occasional spills. Also featuring 12.1 megapixels, a 5x internal optical zoom (equivalentto 28-140mm), a slim one-inch body, and a wide angle 28mm lens, the Optio W80 offers anexpanded perspective that is ideal for landscape, group and more confined shots. With a Pentax-developed imaging engine and a high-performance Pentax zoom lens, the OptioW80 delivers brilliant, high-quality images with well-defined details. A Super Protect (SP)coating applied to the mineral crystal cover of the internal zoom lens helps repel water, grimeand finger marks.

Customer Review :

Best in a limited field

I need compact, waterproof cameras for kayaking and there aren't many choices. The Optio series has been my go-to camera.

Generally, it fills the bill. The major irritation of this version is that the flash pops up when you turn the camera on, whether it's required or not. Other than that, the case isn't very grippy and I would like a lens window coating that sheds water (if it isn't sunny and windy out, takes a while to clear water droplets). On older models, you simply double tapped the trash button to clear all images. On the 80, you have to navigate through the menu. The autofocus for long zooms doesn't function well.

But, it is almost the only game in town and gets the job done.

Rating :

Great!...and Not So Great!...

I've had this camera 2 weeks now and am not really sure how to review it. It seems to really struggle taking basic photos - I'm talking about kids-sitting-on-couch type stuff. The photos are out of focus, poorly colored, noisey and frankly often unacceptable. I was ready to send it back, but decided to play around a little more and took a video. It was fantastic! Perfect focus, great quality, etc. This didn't seem to make sense, so played around with the settings and was able to get it to take decent pics some of the time - but the strange thing is that in "Auto Pic" mode on the highest quality with the highest MP setting the photos are generally lousy. Go figure. The kids took it in the pool (set to "Underwater") and the photos are GREAT. We tried this both at night and in the daytime with the same results. GREAT UNDERWATER PICS!! They got out of the pool (night) and took some more and most of the pics were terrible. I bought this to use boating and snorkeling and it's not our primary camera for "normal" photography so in that regard I've decided to keep it. I WOULD NOT recommend it as your primary camera since it often has poor quality photos on typical snapshots - but for the hard stuff and underwater stuff the quality is quite good. (Really makes no sense - I know!)

Rating :

awesome camera

The camera takes great pictures as long as you have it on the right settings. The battery lasts for a long time which is a major plus for trips. I spent a week in Panama and only charged it once toward the end of the week. The internal zoom works great. The only problem I've had is that sometimes after it's been on for a while it freezes up so i have to pop out the battery to turn it off and on again.

Rating :

Good choice

I bought this for my teen-age daughter who takes her camera everywhere. The underwater pix are so much better than I expected, and it does a good job above water too. She loves the on-board special effects. I love the fact that it's more sturdy than most digital cameras, especially the one with the "eyelid" style powered lens covers and the "pop-out" optic system. Those are usually the first things to break. Everything on the outside is fixed in place.

Rating :

Pics a little grainy but fantastic weatherproofing

Interior pictures tend to be a little grainy and the anti-shake function does not work very well which can lead to fuzzy pictures so not recommended for high quality picture-taking but the camera is weather proof and can take a hell of a beating which makes it perfect for family travel anywhere

Rating :

More reviews...

1. 12.1-megapixel resolution image sensor captures enough detail for photo-quality 13 x 19-inch prints
2. Coldproof design endures sub-freezing temperatures of 14 degrees Fahrenheit
3. Widescreen, HD movie capture that records resolutions up to 1280 x 720 pixels at full-speed 30fps
4. 2.5-inch LCD monitor; Pixel Track Shake Reduction (SR) ensures sharp images in any lighting condition
5. Capture images to SD/SDHC memory cards (not included)

Editorial Review :

The Pentax Optio W80's waterproof design withstands depths of up to 16 feet (5 meters) to protect from rain and spills, as well asallowing full underwater photos and video for up to two hours. On dry land, the rugged,shockproof design protects against drops of up to 3.3 feet to protect the camera from hard useand occasional spills. Also featuring 12.1 megapixels, a 5x internal optical zoom (equivalentto 28-140mm), a slim one-inch body, and a wide angle 28mm lens, the Optio W80 offers anexpanded perspective that is ideal for landscape, group and more confined shots. With a Pentax-developed imaging engine and a high-performance Pentax zoom lens, the OptioW80 delivers brilliant, high-quality images with well-defined details. A Super Protect (SP)coating applied to the mineral crystal cover of the internal zoom lens helps repel water, grimeand finger marks.

Customer Review :

Good choice

I bought this for my teen-age daughter who takes her camera everywhere. The underwater pix are so much better than I expected, and it does a good job above water too. She loves the on-board special effects. I love the fact that it's more sturdy than most digital cameras, especially the one with the "eyelid" style powered lens covers and the "pop-out" optic system. Those are usually the first things to break. Everything on the outside is fixed in place.

Rating :

Great!...and Not So Great!...

I've had this camera 2 weeks now and am not really sure how to review it. It seems to really struggle taking basic photos - I'm talking about kids-sitting-on-couch type stuff. The photos are out of focus, poorly colored, noisey and frankly often unacceptable. I was ready to send it back, but decided to play around a little more and took a video. It was fantastic! Perfect focus, great quality, etc. This didn't seem to make sense, so played around with the settings and was able to get it to take decent pics some of the time - but the strange thing is that in "Auto Pic" mode on the highest quality with the highest MP setting the photos are generally lousy. Go figure. The kids took it in the pool (set to "Underwater") and the photos are GREAT. We tried this both at night and in the daytime with the same results. GREAT UNDERWATER PICS!! They got out of the pool (night) and took some more and most of the pics were terrible. I bought this to use boating and snorkeling and it's not our primary camera for "normal" photography so in that regard I've decided to keep it. I WOULD NOT recommend it as your primary camera since it often has poor quality photos on typical snapshots - but for the hard stuff and underwater stuff the quality is quite good. (Really makes no sense - I know!)

Rating :

Pics a little grainy but fantastic weatherproofing

Interior pictures tend to be a little grainy and the anti-shake function does not work very well which can lead to fuzzy pictures so not recommended for high quality picture-taking but the camera is weather proof and can take a hell of a beating which makes it perfect for family travel anywhere

Rating :

Best in a limited field

I need compact, waterproof cameras for kayaking and there aren't many choices. The Optio series has been my go-to camera.

Generally, it fills the bill. The major irritation of this version is that the flash pops up when you turn the camera on, whether it's required or not. Other than that, the case isn't very grippy and I would like a lens window coating that sheds water (if it isn't sunny and windy out, takes a while to clear water droplets). On older models, you simply double tapped the trash button to clear all images. On the 80, you have to navigate through the menu. The autofocus for long zooms doesn't function well.

But, it is almost the only game in town and gets the job done.

Rating :

awesome camera

The camera takes great pictures as long as you have it on the right settings. The battery lasts for a long time which is a major plus for trips. I spent a week in Panama and only charged it once toward the end of the week. The internal zoom works great. The only problem I've had is that sometimes after it's been on for a while it freezes up so i have to pop out the battery to turn it off and on again.

Rating :

More reviews...