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Pentax Optio WG-1 / WG-1 GPS

Reviews	Views	Date of last review
4	24,549	Sat October 6, 2012

Recommended By	Average Price	Average User Rating
100% of reviewers	$253.33	8.75

supersize	supersize	supersize

Description:

This rugged outdoor digital camera comes in two versions: one with geotagging (Optio WG-1 GPS) and one without (Optio WG-1). The two models are identical in all other respects except for weight (the GPS is 0.6oz heavier).

Not only is this camera waterproof, but it's also dustproof, shockproof ,and coldproof, meaning that this is the ultimate camera for outdoor sports and hiking.

According to the specifications, it can withstand drops from up to 5 feet, depths of up to 33 feet in water, and temperatures as low as 14 degrees F (-10 C).

The non-GPS version is available for under $290, while the GPS version costs $399. This camera was launched in 2011. See below for complete specifications and purchase details.

Available colors: black, green, purple, gray, orange.

Camera name	Optio WG-1 / Optio WG-1 GPS
Sensor	14 MP 1/2.3 inch CCD
ISO range	80 - 6400
Aspect ratio	16:9, 4:3, and 1:1
Exposure modes	Auto Picture, Program, Night Scene, Movie, Underwater, Underwater movie, Landscape, Flower, Portrait, Digital wide, Surf and Snow, Kids, Pet, Sport, Candlelight, Fireworks, Night Scene Portrait, Text, Food, Digital Panorama, Frame composite, Report, Digital microscope, Green, Voice recording
Exposure compensation	+/- 2 EV (1/3EV steps)
Light meter	Multi-segment, center weight, spot
Shutter speeds	1/4s to 1/1500s. Night scene mode up to 4s
Drive modes	One shot, Self-timer (2s and 10s), Remote control (immediate or 3s), continuous shooting, burst shooting, interval shooting, auto bracketing
Lens	5x optical zoom, 5 - 25 mm F3.5 - F5.5 (28 - 140 mm eqv.)
Optics	11 elements (5 aspherical) in 9 groups
Digital zoom	6.7x
Auto focus	9 point contrast detect AF, spot, auto tracking, focus lock
Manual focus	Infinity, pan focus, manual focus
Closest focus distance	Standard: 50 cm/1.64 ft (entire zoome range)
	Macro: 10 cm/0.33 ft (entire zoome range)
	Super macro: 1 cm/0.4 in. (mid-zoom position)
Viewfinder	No
Live View	Yes
White balance	Auto, Daylight, Shade, Tungsten light, Fluorescent light, Manual setting
Digital filters	Twelve: B&W/Sepia, Toy Camera, Retro, Color, Extract Color, Color Emphasis,
	High Contrast, Starburst, Soft, Fish-eye, Brightness, Miniature
In-camera picture editing	Yes
Flash	Built-in: Range up to 3.9m/12.8 ft (wide angle), 2.5m/8.2 ft (telephoto)
Movie	HD (1280 x 720), VGA (640 x 480), QVGA (320 x 240), all at 15 and 30 fps.
Movie shake reduction	Movie SR (software based)
Sound	Mono
In-camera movie editing	Save as still, movie divide, add title picture
LCD monitor	2.7 inch, 230,000 dots
Storage media	SD, SDHC, SDXC, 97 MB built-in
File format	Still: JPG, Movie: MPEG-4 AVC/h.264
Connectivity	USB2.0, PC/AV, HDMI
Battery	D-LI92 lithium-ion, optional AC adapter K-AC117
Battery life	260 images, 70 min movie recording, 240 min palyback time
Special features	Face detection (up to 32 faces), smile capture, blink detection, self-portrait assist.
	Water proof to -10 m, shock proof (1.5 m drop), cold proof (-10 C / 14 F)
Size (W x H x D)	115.5 x 58.5 x 28.5 mm
Weight	167 g (5.9 oz) with GPS, 163 g (5.7 oz) without GPS; including battery

Megapixels:

14 MP 1/2.3 inch CCD

ISO Range:

HD (1280 x 720), VGA (640 x 480), QVGA (320 x 240), all at 15 and 30 fps.

Weight:

167 g (5.9 oz) with GPS, 163 g (5.7 oz) without GPS; including battery

FPS:

5x optical zoom, 5 - 25 mm F3.5 - F5.5 (28 - 140 mm eqv.)

LCD:

2.7" with 230,000 dots

In Production:

Price History:

Author:

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wedge

Site Supporter

Registered: July, 2009

Location: Montco, PA

Posts: 154

Review Date: October 6, 2012

Recommended | Price: $150.00 | Rating: 8

Pros:	Rugged, compact, lightweight, decent IQ
Cons:	Ergonomics
New or Used: New

Only had this camera for a couple days, but initial impressions are positive. My son just started Cub Scouts, so I bought this primarily for the outings and trips where I may not want to take my K-r.

The image quality is pretty good for a camera this small & light. My only real complaint is that it's a little difficult to operate one-handed. I think the caribiner strap may be the problem, so I might remove that, as handy as I can see it being down the road.

Update (1/11/2013) - Strongly recommend a screen protector! I've been carrying this in the outer pouch of the backpack haul pretty much everywhere. From rubbing up against the material of the pack (nylon/cordura blend), the back screen has gotten a bit hazy with very fine scratches. This seems like an ideal use case for Gorilla Glass.

maxibaut

New Member

Registered: June, 2012

Posts: 8

Review Date: June 15, 2012

Recommended | Price: $400.00 | Rating: 9

Pros:	perfect outdoor protected camera
Cons:	image quality is not super, but good
New or Used: New

This is the perfect outdoor camera for me.
I work outdoors with chainshaws into the woods, where we make loghomes for people with a "very" lot of land.
During those constructions I make daily 30 pic. of the process of our work.
Oil, rain, dust and sand are here all of the time, so a camera must be perfectly waterproof and shockresistant.

I also like the timelapse recording, so people can see how we actually work the wood without me having to care about the camera.
We use this function also during the weekend, where we setup the camera to keep in on watch.
I recommended this camera to a independant working, to put it on his crain in timelapse mode, so there is no discussion from the customer side of view on the work that had been done.

The calendar fuction, we use it so show the actual progress to the client when they show up on the buildingground.

But don't ask it the shoot the perfect weddingpictures, as it will not do.

That camera is also great for my kids, I let them use it on vacation as they are not capable of breaking it.

I don't feel the need to buy the WP-2 for it's extra weight and it's bigger sensor.

Final word "this is the perfect camera for outdoor-working people who always complain of not haven taking any pictures of the creation they made"

vijones

New Member

Registered: March, 2010

Location: Apache Junction

Posts: 6

Review Date: April 20, 2012

Recommended | Price: None indicated | Rating: 9

Pros:	dependable
Cons:	a little slow
New or Used: New

I have had the WG1 for about a year now and I'm very satisfied with the results I am getting with it. I do a lot of close-up work. In fact I'm preparating an exhibit entitled A Small World for a show this coming fall. I can't wait for the WG2 which I have ordered and has been shipped, so any day now.

I'm an experienced photographer who has always used Pentax equipment, but unfortunately because of creeping old age, I am unable any more to haul around heavy cameras and a complement of lenses. The upside of that is that I have a new found freedom with this rugged but small equipment.

Vi

Chuckie

Site Supporter

Registered: November, 2010

Location: Douglas

Posts: 168

Review Date: December 11, 2011

Recommended | Price: $210.00 | Rating: 9

Pros:	Versatility
Cons:	Large video files
New or Used: New

I received my WG-1 about a month ago. So far I have been using it at work for photographing raw materials stockpiles, so I can vouch for the dustproof part of the IP68 rating. The photographs have all ended up the way I wanted with a bit of fiddling with settings, but nothing that I would not have been doing with any other camera.

This weekend it went along on a trip to Sun City. I was wanting to use it at the Valley of the Waves (water world theme park) and at the 2km zip line. I wanted to test the water-proofing and video capabilities. This camera is definitely waterproof for mild use in water! I video'd all of the water slides: the WG-1 got splashed, dunked and bumped all the time with no ill-effects. I am not a good videographer yet so my efforts were a bit jerky. Playback was wonderful and all the others were amazed at what it had gone through. I was doing my best to market Pentax as they watched. My only gripe here is the large video file size and exposure adjustment for changing light that is a little slow.

I think I will take it on holiday at the end of the year. We might be going on an underwater walk at uShaka Marine World which will be about 3-5m underwater.

The WG-1 is still a point-and-shoot (mik-en-druk) camera, but the results are good for what it is. If you want a camera that can take a beating and deliver decent quality images, buy it!

Here's an update. I have been using the camera in the DRC on a mine site for a few weeks and it is enduring mud, dust and torrential rain with no problems. The only issue I have is with poor quality zips on the original Pentax matching camera pouch which I bought with the camera. The main zip has failed and I have tossed the pouch. I transferred the carabiner to my new pouch which works well.