Pentax Optio WG-2 GPS Rugged Waterproof Digital Camera
| December 25, 2011 | Posted by admin under Pentax |
Perhaps unsurprisingly, given that its design resembles the Batmobile, the WG-2 doesn’t handle too well. It’s particularly hard to find anywhere to grip securely on the back of the Pentax without pressing a button or smearing the 3 inch widescreen LCD (which takes up most of the rear), although it is the only camera here where you don’t need to be wary of putting your finger over the flash.
Image quality is reasonable, and the WG-2′s 16MP sensor handles high ISOs well. Metering proved reliable both indoors and out. One of the WG-2′s major selling-points is its microscope mode, which uses a ring of six LEDs around the lens and allows you to place the camera directly onto an object. Sadly, the spread of light is uneven and tends to overexpose, and it also reduces file size to just 2MP, so the microscope mode is of dubious value.
A panorama mode stitches multiple frames together with a guide for composition, and face detection mode works surprisingly well. Video quality is very good too, but sadly this is the only camera on test that doesn’t allow you to zoom during recording. It also doesn’t have a dedicated video button.
Pros
- Unique design
- Macro LED lighting
- Integrated GPS
- Low noise at high ISOs
- Waterproof to 40 feet
Cons
- Soft lens
- Slow to start and shoot
- No optical stabilization
- Pricey
Sample Photos
Great Underwater Digital Camera
Bottom Line
The Pentax Optio WG-2 is a lightweight, but extremely rugged compact camera with some extra features and functions you won’t find in competing models. It can keep image noise under control at higher ISOs, but is hampered by a lens that isn’t as sharp as others in its class.
Specifications
Video Review
