Overview
The Pentax Optio WS80 is waterproof to depths of 1.5m. It is simple and easy to use. It is also small enough to slip into most pockets. For me that is probably where the plus points end. I found picture quality delivered by the Optio WS80 to be below average. When light dips it struggles to focus.
In fairness it is one of the cheaper waterproof digital cameras, so maybe allowances should be made when it comes to picture quality. In my view more expensive waterproof digital cameras offer better value for money.
Main Features
Megapixels:
Zoom:
LCD Screen:
Dimensions:
Weight:
10
5x
2.7 inches
95.5 x 91.5 x 22mm
105g
Macro:
HD Movies:
Manual Controls:
Batteries:
Memory Cards:
10cm
Yes
No
Lithium-ion Rechargeable
SD/SDHC
Image Quality - See Sample Images Below
Outdoor Scenic Shots in Good Light
I guess I could be polite and describe the Optio WS80 as a fun camera. This is because when it comes to picture quality this camera is well below average. It may not matter too much if you are after some simple fun snapshots, but if you are looking for anything more then it is best to look elsewhere.
My outdoor shots look o.k. when it comes to colour and brightness, but there is a lack of crispness about the photos. There is a degree of noise showing in areas of the shots and focusing slips as you move away from the very centre. Other problems I see from time to time such as loss of detail in the lightest and darkest areas of a shot show up here.
Portraits
My outdoor portrait has some very strong skin tones. This makes the face look quite pink. The picture is sharp, but I find the colours a little out of balance.
Moving into lower light conditions really throws the Optio WS80. Despite retaking my test shots taken with and without flash I could not get the camera to take a sharply focused shot. This camera seems to need a lot of light to lock focus. In addition there is also a fair amount of noise showing in my portrait taken without flash.
The indoor portrait results are almost too bad to be true. All I can say is that you will need decent lighting to get the best out of this camera.
Macro, Colours and Noise
The version of the Optio WS80 I used for testing was white. This coupled with the reflective silver around the lens made it very difficult to avoid a reflection of the camera showing on the watch face. You can expect better results when photographing non reflective subjects.
Colour in my outdoor test shots is one of the few areas I do not have an issue with when it comes to picture quality. The colours are quite strong, but this can add a bit of extra zest to your photos.
Noise is an issue when lighting levels drop. Areas of light shade also cause problems.
Summary
Perhaps it depends on what you are looking for in terms of picture quality, but compared to other digital cameras the Optio WS80 struggles.
Style
The Option WS80 has been given a bright and breezy look by Pentax. It comes in bold colours such as white / purple, vivid green, back / white and black / orange.
Shutter Lag Times
Single Shot
Five Shots
Single Shot With Flash
Five Shots With Flash
Turn on Time
0.32 seconds
13.52 seconds
1.61 seconds
15.12 seconds
2.73 seconds
Ease of Use
You should have no problems finding your way around the Optio WS80.
Points I Like
Very good. You should have no problems finding your way around the Optio WS80.
Where it Could Improve
Ease of use
Verdict
A much better all round waterproof digital camera is the Canon Powershot D10.
Product Shots
Front View
Back View
Top View
Sample Menus
Top Rated Cameras in this Category
Sony DSC TX10 Rating 84/100
The Sony Cybershot DSC TX10 has a great range of features, but picture sharpness can be slightly disappointing in certain situations. If you are not planning to make large prints then the issues with picture sharpness are unlikely to unduly trouble you. If on the other hand you can envisage producing larger prints of landscape style shots you may find the soft focus detracts from picture quality. Response times are very impressive.
Read Review: Sony DSC TX10 Review
Panasonic DMC FT10 Rating 82/100
The Panasonic Lumix DMC FT10 is waterproof, freezeproof, shockproof and dustproof. It handles most photo opportunities with a minimum of fuss. I like the picture quality on offer and I also found the camera easy to use. It has 14 megapixels and a 4x zoom lens.
Read Review: Panasonic DMC FT10 Review
Canon Powershot D10 Rating 82/100
The Powershot D10 has a distinctive, fun look that means it will not get mistaken for any other digital camera. It has a number of robust features and is waterproof, shockproof and freezeproof to varying degrees. It takes a good snap and is well worth a close look.
Read Review: Canon Powershot D10 Review
Related Pages
Pentax Optio WS80 Review Pentax Optio WS80 Specification Pentax Optio WS80 Sample Images Pentax Optio WS80 Features
Review Date
May 2010
