PENTAX INTRODUCES ELEVENTH GENERATION WATERPROOF OPTIO W90 DIGITAL CAMERA BUILT FOR ADVENTURE:
Latest Optio Features Unique Macro Photo LED Lighting, Carabiner Strap And Eye-Fi Connectivity
GOLDEN, CO (February 24, 2010)…PENTAX Imaging Company has announced the eleventh generation PENTAX Optio waterproof digital camera built for rugged adventure in every way. The PENTAX Optio W90 offers enhanced waterproof, shockproof, dustproof, and coldproof performance and features an inventive Digital Microscope mode with LED lighting to capture small but intriguing subjects. Designed with the look of mountaineering equipment, the Optio W90 kit includes a woven web fabric strap complete with a carabiner to attach the camera to a backpack and other outdoor gear.
Adventure photography doesn’t get any better than this. The rugged Optio W90 offers photographic performance, innovative features and style that surpass other outdoor compact digital cameras now available on the market.
- Waterproof to 20 feet for reliable underwater photography
- Shockproof to 4 feet withstanding the rigors of extreme use
- Coldproof to sub-freezing temperatures for use in wintery, snowy activities
- 12.1 megapixel sensor and wide angle 5X optical zoom (28-140mm equivalent)
- Digital Microscope mode with LED lens lighting perfectly captures the smallest and closest macro subjects as near as 1cm from the camera
- Eye-Fi wireless SD memory card connectivity for built-in Wi-Fi capability to transfer photos and videos from the camera to a computer or an online sharing site such as Picasaweb, Flickr, Facebook and YouTube (Eye-fi cards sold separately.)
- Large 2.7 inch LCD with 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio that is easy to view in strong light or underwater
- Capture movies in widescreen 720p HD video at 30 frames per second
- An HDMI port plays back beautiful high resolution imges and video on HDTVs
- Advanced Pixel Track Shake Reduction captures blur-free images in any lighting
- Fast Face Detection, Smile Capture, Blink Detection, and processing modes specifically designed for portraiture, and new Pet Recognition captures up to 3 pre-programmed pet faces in memory
- Infrared remote control compatibility with new waterproof Remote Control WP, as well as other PENTAX infrared remotes
- Autofocus assist lamp helps to quickly and accurately focus, even in challenging lighting
Priced at $329.95 USD, the PENTAX Optio W90 will ship in April 2010. A waterproof infared remote control (sold separately) for use with the PENTAX Optio W90 and other infrared compatible Optio models will be available at the same time for $29.95 USD. More information is available here: www.pentaximaging.com. The PENTAX Optio W90 is available for preorder on: www.pentaxwebstore.com
PENTAX Imaging Company is an innovative leader in the production of a variety of digital cameras including weather resistant digital SLRs and stylish, compact, waterproof cameras, as well as lenses, flash units, binoculars, scopes, and eyepieces. For 90 years, PENTAX 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 W90 Hands-On Preview And Video >>
Related Content:
All Pentax User Reviews
All Digital Camera User Reviews
Digital Cameras Forum
Pentax Cameras Forum
Outdoor And Waterproof Digital Cameras Article
Pentax News & Articles
Underwater Photography News & Articles
PMA 2010 News & Articles
Pentax Web Site
wheres the viewfinder? ha ha my comment submit code reads ” camera wannabes”
There’s no optical viewfinder. Optical viewfinders are becoming very uncommon and there are no waterproof cameras that have them. I do think it would be nice to have one. But the reality is, most people would rather have a larger LCD display. I’ve also heard good optical viewfinders are expensive to manufacture so camera companies are probably happy just making bigger LCDs.
You should have made a screen shot of that Captcha validation code
I wouldn’t be worried about not having an optical view finder. I currently use a camera with out one now. It was odd at first, but once you get used to it, it’s not bad at all. In fact, I really like not having one. As long as the LCD screen is bright enough to see in all light conditions it shouldn’t be a problem.
I am really excited for this to come out.
It’s next to impossible to get tight panning action shots without an optical viewfinder. They are definitely a rarety now. But as a mountain biker, skier and outdoor photographer, I feel its my responsibility to keep pointing out that cameras with just an LCD display are compromised for action photos.
Wow, just purchased the W90, and am going to return it!. I bought this camera based on looks, touchy-feely appeal, options with the camera and this one offered a 2 year manufacture warranty (as opposed to 1 year with most).
I used the camera on a camping trip and both the pictures and video, in and out of the water, were fantastic! I changed the settings all around and the camera performed as it’s advertised. BUT, using the camera indoors, or with ‘low’ light produces grainy, poor quality pictures and video. I tried to change the setting around, but the quality was still lacking.
On a sunny day, outside – camera takes GREAT pictures and video. Go inside on that same day, in a well lit room, the quality soon fades.
Roddy-
Thanks for the comment. I thjnk you need to adjust your expectations about point-and-shoot digital cameras – especially the waterproof ones. If you read my Outdoor & Waterproof Camera Guide you’ll see that I say all waterproof cameras have compromised image quality. And in low light, that is going to be even more of a problem. If you like the features, feel and outdoor photo quality of the W90, I recommend you keep it. Or – go to a non-waterproof camera. Really, any point-and-shoot is going to have mediocre quality in low light. That’s one of the reasons people spend the big money on digital SLRs.
I’m looking at the pentax optio w90 as a waterproof camera for my trip to Bali. I like the look of it, and I like the strap for secure attachment to a bag or belt loop, since I have some concern about theft on my trip, but I was reading the instruction manual off the official website and it warned against taking the camera into humid climates and warm water which would obviously be a problem in a place like Bali. So my question is should I be worried about this? Or are they just being over cautious. And if I should be worried, do you have any suggestions for a waterproof camera that would hold up better in a humid environment?