Pentax Optio W20 - UK Digital Camera Review

Pentax Optio W20 Review

A waterproof and dustproof compact digital camera, the Pentax Optio W20 can be used for underwater photography without the addition of any accessories (including a waterproof case).

The Pentax Optio W20 has 7 megapixels, 3x optical and 4x digital zoom and the addition of a Shake Reduction mode which means high quality, precise photographs without subject blurring. The inclusion of Face Recognition AF & AE also means that portrait photography results in quality prints.

Pentax Optio W20 Front
Pentax Optio W20 Back

There is a built-in memory of 22MB and the Optio W20 is compatible with SD and SDHC memory cards. Still image files are JPEG (Exif 2.2), DCF, DPOF, PRINT Image Matching III and movie files are MOV (QuickTime Motion JPEG) at 30fps and 15fps with sound (WAV/PCM, monaural). Images can be viewed on the 2.5" TFT colour low reflective LCD and playback includes a digital filter (black and white, sepia, fisheye and various colours).

Pentax W20 ISO equivalents are auto and manual (64/100/200/400/800/1600) with sensitivity being auto selected up to 1600 in the blur reduction mode. White balance modes are auto, manual, daylight, shade, tungsten and fluorescent and the Optio W20 has a built-in auto flash with flash-on, flash-off, soft flash and red-eye reduction modes.

Focus area is 9-point multi autofocus/Spot AF, Tracking AF switchable with still ranges in pan and manual focus and movie ranges in normal, macro, pan, manual and infinity landscape. The Pentax Optio W20 has 25 special scene modes where settings have already been selected to suit different situations and these include; night, movie, underwater, sport, surf and snow, fireworks, text, natural skin tone, landscape and portrait.

The Pentax W20 is powered by a rechargeable D-L18 lithium-ion battery and there is an optional AC adaptor available. The Optio W20 is PAL, NTSC and PictBridge compatible.

For the Pentax Optio W20

Pentax Optio W20 Specifications & Features

  • 7 Megapixels
  • 3 x Optical Zoom
  • 4 x Digital Zoom
  • 12 x Combined Zoom
  • 1cm Focusing Distance
  • Auto, Daylight, Shade, Tungsten light, Fluorescent light and Manual White Balance Settings
  • 2.5" LCD Screen, approx. 115,000 pixels
  • Flash On, Flash Off, Soft and Red-Eye Reduction Flash Modes
  • Maximum Image Size 3072 x 2304 Pixels
  • 640 x 480 Movies
  • PictBridge Compatible
  • Secure Digital (SD) and SDHC Card - 22MB Internal Memory
  • Rechargeable Li-ion Battery
  • Approximate Weight 135g

Pentax Optio W20 User Reviews

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Reviewer: Derek Traynor - UK
I needed a waterproof digital camera that could survive happily when I went sea kayaking.
My choice was limited to the Olympus Mju 720 or the Pentax W20.

After hunting through reviews of the Olympus and the W20's predecessor the w10, I decided to go for the Pentax. I reasoned that the W20 would address some of the shortcomings of the W10.
Also, a friend has the Mju720 and complains about the ergonomics and unfriendly menu system of the Olympus. This, plus the fact that the Pentax is about 80-90 GBP cheaper than the Olympus made me go for the Pentax.

The ergonomics are good. It's small but easy to handle, and I have no problems using it with one cold hand in the boat.
I think the 7Megapixel resolution is pointless, given that the biggest image file comes out at around 2.5Megs - that's some pretty aggresive compression.
Battery life is good, and the write speed to the SD card is fine.
The Pentax is very much a point and shoot compact, but it has a fair amount of flexibility built in around ISO selection, focusing and image quality modes to give good coverage of most shooting situations when combined with the built-in programs.

It's definitely waterproof too. So far so good.

But what's the point of a camera that can't take sharp images?

The auto-focus system on the W20 is a disaster, and it seems to choose shutter speeds that are completely unsuitable for the situation.

I've tried every pre-programmed setting. I've tried tweaking the auto-focus area and mode. You'd think Sport setting with a focus mode to track a moving image would give a decent result. 'Fraid not.

I came back from a kayaking trip yesterday, and about 70 out of 90 images I took were blurred - some slightly, some massively, all unusable.
Even the most basic 'let-the-camera-do-it-all-for-you' mode gives poor results.

I've given this camera a chance, but I shouldn't have to try and figure out obscure combinations of settings to try and get a good image. It's a point-and-shoot for godsake!

This camera is not fit for purpose.

Spend you money on something else. Anything else.

Features
Rating 5/10
Image Quality
Rating 1/10
Usability
Rating 8/10
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Pentax Optio W20 Review & Features - © UK Digital Camera Reviews 2008
For the Pentax Optio W20
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