Pentax has recently announced an update to their rugged Optio W series of compact digicams, adding a “shockproof” feature (along with water-, dust-, and cold-proofing) that allows the new Optio W80 to take a crash to the ground from up to one meter.
The new design lets the 12.1-megapixel cam withstand depths of up to 16 feet, sub-zero temperatures of -10° Celsius (14° Fahrenheit), and dust particles to keep you shooting without having to worry about ruining the cam (or the moment). The cam itself sports a 5x internal optical zoom for going up close, and a wide angle 28mm lens for better landscapes and group shots.
The flip side is taken up by a 2.5-inch LCD screen that features anti-reflective coating for easy viewing under sunlight, while standard in-cam tech such as Face Detection and Shake Reduction makes it easy to shoot from the hip. The W80 is also capable of HD movie recording (720p at 30fps) and a super macro mode that lets you move in as close to 1cm away.
The Optio W80 is due out by mid to late July, 2009, but it’s already listed for preorders in Pentax’s Webstore for $299.95. Available in three colors (Gunmetal Gray, Azure Blue, and Cardinal Red).
Tags: Digital Cameras, Pentax, Rugged
