Pentax Optio W60 Waterproof Digital Camera

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Official Pentax Optio W60 Press Release

Pentax Optio W60 Waterproof Digital CameraLooks like I’m going to have to update the Outdoor and Waterproof Digital Camera Guide I wrote a few weeks ago. Today, Pentax announced a new entry in the waterproof / outdoor digital camera category. The new Pentax Optio W60 has a 10-megapixel sensor and can submerged up to 13 feet for as long as 2 hours. The 5x internal zoom lens has a 28mm (35mm equivalent) wide end and the camera can also be used at temperatures below freezing. Among other improvements, the new Optio W60 also has Face Detection and sensitivity up to ISO 6400. Looks like Pentax has been paying attention to the competition. These are significant improvements over the Optio W30 we reviewed last year and I look forward to testing the new Optio W60.

Official Pentax Optio W60 Press Release

Key Features:

  • 10 Megapixels for large, detailed images.
  • 5x optical zoom in a slim 1 inch body is equivalent to 28-140mm.
  • Wide angle 28mm zoom lens ideal for landscape, indoor, or group photos.
  • Waterproof to 4m (13 feet) protects from rain and spills, as well as allowing underwater photos and video.
  • 2.5 inch IPS (In Plane Switching) LCD monitor with Anti-Reflective coating is viewable at wide angles, even in bright sunlight.
  • Coldproof for use in extreme, sub-zero temperatures.
  • HD movie capture to vividly capture moving memories in widescreen 720p.
  • Advanced Face Recognition technology sees up to 32 faces in 0.03 seconds, with Smile Capture and Blink Detection.
  • PENTAX Shake Reduction system automatically sets ISO up to a high 6400 to prevent subject blur. Movie Shake Reduction also available.
  • Close focusing, Super Macro mode brings out the details in even the smallest subjects as close as 1 cm.

Related Content:
Pentax Optio W30 Review
Outdoor And Waterproof Digital Camera Guide
All Pentax Reviews
Pentax Cameras Forum

WATERPROOF PENTAX OPTIO W60 SHOOTS DEEPER, WIDER AND AT COLDER TEMPS

GOLDEN, CO (May 22, 2008)…PENTAX Imaging Company has announced the PENTAX Optio W60 compact digital camera. Lightweight and fully waterproof, the Optio W60 features 10 megapixels and a 5X zoom lens with 28mm wide-angle capability. The enhanced design of the Optio W60 allows the camera to operate up to 13 feet underwater for two hours and at extreme temperatures well below freezing.

Perfect for photography in adventurous as well as everyday settings, the 5X optical zoom refraction lens never protrudes from the Optio W60, yet it covers focal lengths from 5mm to 25mm (approximately 28mm to 140mm in 35mm format). This range allows the camera to capture a wide variety of scenes including expansive landscapes, architecture, and group photos in confined spaces as well as close-up telephoto shots of subjects. A Digital Wide function merges two shots into one image for ultra-wide-angle image capture (equivalent to a focal length of 21mm in 35mm format).

The Optio W60 also accompanies users to new aquatic depths. With improved design and construction of the shutter button and controls, as well as reinforced, airtight joints, the Optio W60 allows underwater photography up to 30 percent deeper than previous PENTAX waterproof models. In addition to the JIS Class 8 waterproofing standard, the camera is JIS Class 5 dustproof against dirt, sand and dust and operates in extreme temperatures as cold as 14 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 10 degrees Celsius).

Other important features and modes of the PENTAX Optio W60 include a High-Quality Movie mode with HD resolution up to 1280 x 720 pixels (comparable to a 720p HDTV) as well as Auto Picture mode, fast Face Recognition, Smile Capture, Blink Detection, an Underwater Movie mode, High Sensitivity Digital SR mode that automatically adjusts the sensitivity up to ISO 6400, and an LCD monitor with a 170 degree wide-angle view and Anti-Reflection coating to reduce glare.

A perfect companion for indoor and outdoor enthusiasts, the PENTAX Optio W60 performs well during winter and summer activities as well as in and around water and sand. The PENTAX Optio W60 will be available in July 2008 for US $329.95 in a choice of two colors: Ocean Blue and Silver.

PENTAX Imaging Company is an innovative leader in the production of digital SLR and compact cameras, lenses, flash units, binoculars, scopes, eyepieces, and mobile printers and scanners. For more than 80 years, PENTAX technology has developed durable, reliable products that meet the needs of consumers and businesses. With headquarters in Golden, Colorado, PENTAX Imaging Company is a division of PENTAX of America, Inc.

Pentax Optio W60 Waterproof Digital Camera

PENTAX Optio W60 FACT SHEET

10 Megapixel Resolution
With 10 effective megapixels, the PENTAX Optio W60 delivers highly detailed photos.

5X Zoom Lens
The PENTAX Optio W60 features an internal 5X zoom lens that covers focal lengths from 5mm to 25mm (approximately 28mm to 140mm in 35mm format) and a refraction lens that never protrudes from the camera while zooming. This system allows the camera to capture a variety of scenes including expansive landscapes, architecture, and group photos in confined spaces as well as close-up telephoto shots of subjects. When combined with the intelligent digital zoom function (up to 5.7X) zoom magnification may be increased to 28.5X.

Enhanced Waterproof And Extreme Weather Performance
The Optio W60 operates underwater up to 13 feet (four meters) for up to two hours, which is an increase of 30 percent over the performance of previous PENTAX models that were limited to 10 feet. This performance is the result of improved construction of the shutter button and other controls and reinforced, airtight external joints. Waterproofed to the JIS Class 8 standard, the camera is dustproof to JIS Class 5 against sand and dust and operates in temperatures as cold as 14 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 10 degrees Celsius). This makes it a perfect choice for outdoor winter activities such as skiing as well as for water sports including boating, fishing, kayaking, snorkeling, etc.

Bright, Wide-angle LCD Monitor
The 2.5 inch high-resolution (approximately 230,000 dots) LCD monitor features an Anti-Reflection coating to reduce reflective glare and be easily viewed even in bright sunlight. The monitor’s wide viewing angle (about 170 degrees both horizontally and vertically) allows users to view images from nearly any angle.

High-Quality Movies With Shake Reduction And HD Resolution
The Optio W60 captures movies at resolutions as high as 1280 x 720 pixels, which is comparable to HDTV resolution at 720p. The camera also features Movie Shake Reduction to automatically correct camera shake and an Underwater Movie mode that optimizes color settings for recording underwater.

Auto Picture Mode
Featuring scene-recognition technology, the camera’s Auto Picture mode determines the subject’s shooting conditions and automatically selects the optimal scene mode. Optio W60 photographers also may select from seven capture modes including Flower, Sport, Night Scene Portrait, Landscape, Portrait, Night Scene, and Standard modes.

Face Recognition Function
Face Recognition AF & AE function on the Optio W60 delivers beautiful portrait shots with a single setting. This convenient function automatically sets the focus and exposure detecting up to 32 faces at one time in 0.03 seconds. The camera also features Smile Capture mode that automatically captures images when subjects smile and Blink Detection, which warns the photographer if any subject’s eyes are closed during exposure.

High Sensitivity Digital Shake Reduction
The Optio W60 features Digital Shake Reduction, which compensates for camera shake and subject blurring during still-image photography. This mode automatically adjusts sensitivity up to a maximum of ISO 6400 based on ambient lighting, which permits a faster shutter speed to capture sharp, clear images. In addition, Digital Shake Reduction for playback corrects blurring in images post-capture.

Additional Features

  • Macro focusing can focus on subjects as close as a centimeter (less than one inch) for stunning close-up shots
  • PENTAX proprietary SP (Super Protect) coating adds superior water repellency and scratch resistance to the lens’s front protective glass to prevent water droplets from forming
  • Panorama mode stitches a series of up to three shots into one wide photo
  • Intelligent zoom function extends the zoom range without compromising the optical zoom’s image quality
  • Supports SD memory cards and SDHC memory cards
  • Approximately 36.4 MB of built-in memory
  • Frame composite function allows photographers to shoot and create images with decorative frames; 80 styles to choose from
  • Date and Time imprint function for easy image categorizing
  • Includes the ACDSee for PENTAX 3.0 image viewer/image management software, that supports Windows Vista
  • Supports PictBridge, DPOF printing, Exif Print, and PRINT Image Matching

Pentax Optio W60 - Blue

Pentax Optio W60 - Silver

Pentax Optio W60 - Rear LCD

PENTAX and Optio are trademarks of HOYA CORPORATION.*
All other brands or product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.
This product supports PRINT Image Matching III. PRINT Image Matching enabled digital still cameras, printers and software help photographers to produce images more faithful to their intentions. Some functions are not available on printers that are not PRINT Image Matching III compliant.
Copyright 2001 Seiko Epson Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
Print Image Matching is a trademark of Seiko Epson Corporation.
The PRINT Image Matching logo is a trademark of Seiko Epson Corporation.
Design and Specifications is subject to change without notice.
*PENTAX Corporation merged with HOYA CORPORATION on March 31, 2008.

About the author: Photo-John

Photo-John, a.k.a. John Shafer, is the managing editor of PhotographyREVIEW.com and has been since the site launched back in 1999. He's an avid outdoor enthusiast and spends as much time as possible on his mountain bike, hiking or skiing in the mountains. He's been taking pictures for ever and ever, and never goes anywhere without a camera.


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  • Zoe Hellar says:

    Just like the Olympus mju models, these cameras are changing the face on how we percieve camers. No longer will htey be seen as precision instruments, but more a go anywhere piece of equipment, allowing more unique photos to be taken.
    Zoe

  • Randy S. says:

    I purchased a W60 in Feb of 2009. This is by far the best camera I had ever had and I used it a lot during the year both on vacation and often every day in my work. I used Many of the features including the macro, HD movie mode and waterproof mode while in pools, rivers and oceans. By Dec 2009, some of the keys were sticking and I returned it to Pentax in January 2010 for servicing and they reparied it at no cost and I had it back in less than 2 weeks. I didn’t use it much in Feb, but went on a vacation in March 2010 and the first day in a hotel pool, the camera filled up with water and now it does not work at all. I did not buy any type of extended warranty, so the camera is dead and I miss it a great deal. I am trying to decide whether to buy the next model W90 or go with another brand this time. The failure point on the camera is at the battery door. I had put pure silicon on the rubber gasket several times over the year and I believe that it was in good shape, but the actual plastic door appears to have warped over time and allows water in. I attempted to dry the camera out, but after several weeks, I have given up on it. The camera was a great camera while it lasted. I probably took 5000 pictures with it during the year so perhaps I got my moneys worth.

  • dan says:

    I bought this camera for kayaking and other sports two years ago. I ended up using it mostly for hiking in the desert I got tired of lugging my SLR. So now almost 2 years later I am in the tropics and used it underwater very shallow took 50 pictures of coral reefs you have to get real close to focus the fish. The second time I used it underwater I took 20 shot then washed it with fresh water No water in battery cavity. I took 20 more beach sunset pictures I noticed the review funtion was real slow or did not work. then went the shot of a life time come up the battery died I noticed a crackling sound. I charge the battery and nothing. Now I put the battery in the green light comes on thats it. So my traveling partner notices her new Panasonic does not auto focus. So we will only have our visual memories on this trip.

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