Pentax Optio W90 Review

There is no dearth of rugged digital cameras in the market these days, but you have to admit that Pentax is the leader among them. While most of the other manufacturers are new players in this field, Pentax is on its 11^th generation of rough and tough cameras. The most recently launched one is the Optio W90, which is an improvement on its predecessor W80.

Optio W90 is a 12-megapixel camera (with a versatile 5x zoom lens) which is waterproof down to 20 feet, shockproof to 4 feet, and freeze-proof to 14 degrees Fahrenheit. It is built from reinforced polycarbonate plastic and has a 2.7-inch TFT color display with an anti-reflective coating. A closer look at the lens surround reveals three LEDs that work to brighten your scenes. These lights pick up the minutest of details, making even the smallest element in your picture startlingly clear. The W90 is available in Black, “Pistachio” Green, and Orange.

The Option W90 also comes with a carabiner strap, which we personally feel is a nice addition. In case you are afraid of dropping in into water, Pentax makes a floating strap as well. Looks-wise the Pentax Optio W90 could pass for a digital camera if you turn it sideways. This is probably owing to the long and slim design of this camera which measures 59 x 107.5 x 25mm and weighs less than 170gm with accessories.

Of course, this is a fabulous camera to have if you are an adventurer and for a very long time have been mourning the loss of a rugged companion that would help you bring back great memories of your holidays, no matter what terrain you are on. However, there is a tiny little drawback in this camera. Its battery life is disappointing. From a full charge you can click a little over 200 photos. But, it’s hardly an obstacle that will stop you from buying this great camera. All you need to invest in are a couple of batteries and you are set to cover any field trip you may be planning.

What you get in the Box

• Optio W90 camera unit
• USB cable
• AV cable
• Rechargeable Li-Ion battery
• Battery charger
• AC Power cord
• Heavy duty dtrap
• Carabiner clip
• Software CD-ROM

Pentax Optio W90 at a Glance

• 5X optical zoom
• 12.1 megapixel sensor
• 2.7 inch LCD, with 16:9 wide-screen aspect ratio
• New Digital Microscope mode
• Waterproof to depths of up to 20 feet
• Shockproof from drops as high as 4 feet from the ground
• Coldproof/Freezeproof down to 14ºF/-10ºC
• Dustproof
• HDMI port for playing back HD videos and still images on you HDTV
• 720p HD video at 15 or 30 frames per second (lower resolution options also available)
• Pixel Track Shake Reduction
• Face Detection, Smile Capture, Blink Detection
• Autofocus assist lamp
• New LED macro lights built into the lens ring
• ISO settings from 80-6400
• Infrared remote control capabilities
• Rechargable Li-Ion battery

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