Pentax Optio WG-2 Review

4.0

March 7, 2013 | Gavin Stoker |

Buy a Optio WG-2 16 Megapixel Compact Camera - Black (7.6 cm 3" LCD - 5x Optical Zoom - Electronic IS - 4608 x 3456 Image - 1920 x 1080 Video - HDMI - HD Movie Mode)

Lowest Price: N/A

Buy a Optio WG-2 Waterproof Digital Camera Standard; ; ;

Lowest Price: $195.88

Conclusion

Though costly if you take its maker’s suggested cost as the one you’ll have to pay – pitching it directly against the still-to-be-rated but less eccentric looking Olympus TG1 – street prices for the ‘adventure proof’ WG-2 GPS shave an enticing margin off this. It has to be said though if you’re not too bothered about the toughened qualities, a travel zoom camera for a very similar price (Sony Cyber-shot HX20 or Panasonic’s TZ3 to take two leading exponents) may prove a more creatively versatile option thanks to the broader focal range on offer compared to the modest 5x found here. Since the likes of Olympus’ entry level E-PM1 digital Pen camera are also hovering around the £349 mark, which offers interchangeable lenses to boot, there’s a tough decision to be made.

All this being said and without wishing to be the killjoy of anyone’s fun, results from the Optio WG-2 will certainly be good enough – and perhaps even a pleasant surprise – for anyone looking to capture an aide memoire of a scene that they wouldn’t have attempted with any camera other than the toughened WG-2 (or one of it competitors) – as long as they are happy with snapshot quality images of course. And, over time and a few weeks of use, you begin to see past the stylistic horrors/design genius of the WG-2’s faceplate. Though rather more than most cameras it’s what’s on the outside that counts as much as what’s on the inside when it comes to the WG-2, one aspect – try as hard as it might – doesn’t totally overshadow the other. Shop around for a good price first and you just might be tempted by this Pentax.