Waterproof to a depth of 1.5m, this compact, 5-megapixel point-and-shoot camera is ideal for snorkelling, poolside parties, boating and other water-related activities. A few performance issues aside, the slim Pentax Optio WP delivers plenty of user-friendly features and image quality that will satisfy most snapshot photographers.
Design
About the size and shape of a mobile phone, the ultraportable Pentax Optio WP slides easily into just about any pocket or purse. Its mostly plastic, two-tone silver body is solidly constructed and weighs in at only 140g with battery and media card installed, making it ideal to wear on a lanyard for spontaneous picture-taking.
The lens zooms internally and is protected by a glass cover
If it weren't for the 'waterproof' designation printed discreetly on the front of the camera, you wouldn't know that the Pentax Optio WP can be submerged. Its design is pretty typical for a snapshot camera, although the lens zooms internally and is protected by a circle of glass, which is easily smudged by fingers (resulting in very out-of-focus shots) or scratched by keys when bouncing around in your pocket or bag, or even by dirt and sand if you take it out in the elements.
The camera top is simple, with just a power button and a shutter release along with the mic and speaker
The low-profile shutter release, power button, microphone and speaker are located on the top surface, keeping the camera's clean lines intact. Just be careful not to let your fingers stray over the microphone when recording. On the back, you'll find a 51mm (2-inch) LCD (but no optical viewfinder), a zoom lever, a four-way controller, and several dedicated buttons.
The multitasking green button provides access to the Green mode (an automatic setting that uses standard settings but not the highest resolution), the built-in help guide, the delete function and a user-assigned menu. It's a lot to remember, but it works well once you figure it out.
All the camera controls are grouped to the right of the LCD
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Bethanie Johnson 4 November 2005
Good: Internal zoom to prevent accidental damage, small and compact, size and feel of a mobile phone.
Bad: No lens cover -- waiting to see how long before it gets scratched.
Comment: A very good phone for someone who is worried about dropping it in a puddle or knocking the zoom lens (as there isn't one). All this combined with good photo quality and easy of use, and with more than ample settings for your average user.
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