The Ricoh WG-20 replaces the Pentax WG-10 as Pentax's entry-level/affordable waterproof camera.
This 14-megapixel compact will be available in February for $199. In the US, it will be sold exclusively via Target, both in store and online.
Camera name
WG-20
Sensor
14 MP (4288 x 3216) 1/2.3 inch CCD
ISO range
80 - 6400
Aspect ratio
16:9, 4:3, and 1:1
Shake reduction
Pixel tracking and High-ISO anti-shake (Digital SR)
Exposure modes
Auto Picture, Program, Night Scene, Movie, Underwater, Underwater Movie, Digital Microscope, Landscape, Flower, Portrait, Digital Wide, Digital SR, Surf & Snow, Kids, Pet, Sport, Fireworks, Candlelight, Night Scene Portrait, Text, Food, Digital Panorama, Frame Composite, Report, Green mode, Voice Recording (via reprogrammable Green button)
Exposure compensation
+/- 2 EV (1/3EV steps)
Light meter
Multi-segment, center weight, spot
Shutter
Mechanical and electronic
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 (0.68 fps), burst shooting (5.26 fps for 19 frames at 5MP or 4MP resolution), 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, SP coating
Digital zoom
6.7x
Auto focus
9 point contrast detect, Normal, Spot, Auto tracking, Macro, 1 cm macro
Good price, easy to handle, very good image quality, shockproof
Cons:
Lens is always exposed, white is cool but other color options would be nice, buttons seem crowded together on back of camera
New or Used:New
Due to the loss of our older P&S (10MP) camera we found ourselves looking for a replacement. After the store hopping, web surfing for reviews and prices it was coming down to this and a Canon. Two and a half things sealed the deal for the WG-20: 1) the shock/water/dust proof feature - 2) the price and 2.5) it's not a Canon or Nikon. My wife wanted a camera that was a little easier in the menu area as our last P&S was a nightmare and the final two cameras were similar in this area (so a wash). The Canon was more expensive ($200) and had more zoom, a few extra features and a 20MP sensor (vs the 14MP here). The extra features were not something my wife and I would use, so it seemed like the extra money wasn't worth it. Regarding the WG-20, I pondered why I'd need a water proof camera and it suddenly occurred to me that it would be perfect for skiing. I rarely take a camera on the slopes for fear of damaging it with melted snow (otherwise known as water). This revelation sealed the deal, so back to Target I went.
For me, a big feature of the WG-20 is the shock proof aspect. It's good for a 5 foot drop, and although my wife never dropped our last camera, she's dropped others (and is a bit dropsy in general) so this takes some of the worry out of damaging the camera.
Once I got the camera home and could hold it without the theft cable the store attaches, I realized this camera handles very nicely. The longer shape and textured black border make it easier to hold than the slick rectangle exterior of most P&S cameras. I find the buttons on the back to be a bit crowded together but I'm sure I'll get used to it. It's also a bit foreign to have the lens exposed all the time. I suppose one will have to keep a clean shirt tail at the ready to dust it off before using. The screen is a bit smaller than on other cameras in this genre, but the longer/shorter dimensions of the WG-20 are the reason. The screen aspect can be changed to see more image and less menu stuff.
The included Operating Manual is massive and very helpful and looks like other Pentax manuals I've seen. The battery charger, USB cable and other included items are of high quality. I don't know that we'll use the carabiner strap, but it's fun to have the option (and it looks cool). According to the manual it takes 120 minutes to fully charge the battery, but the first charge out of the box took less than an hour.
The first impression one gets when looking at the WG-20 in the store is that it's fairly basic, but after thumbing through the manual it's got some nice features with some flexibility in the various menu settings. If you're looking seriously at this camera perhaps you could find the manual in PDF form and dive into the inner workings of the menu settings to make sure it does what you want.
The video playback was a little confusing when I was playing with it in the store, but after seeing how things work from the manual, it's just a matter of learning how to use the camera. Not difficult. Anything new has a learning curve and this camera doesn't make big demands there.
I'm guessing I'll have some curious questions when I use this camera around friends and family as it looks like nothing else on the market... and I like that.
The shutter can be activated remotely with the Pentax F Remote. Nice.
That's my impressions so far. I will add to this review after I've had a chance to play with the WG-20. I like the looks and feel and believe it's a very good camera for the price. It retails for $179.99 but found it on sale and saved $20. In the end it was nice to support "the mothership" of Pentax versus giving my money to one of the "big two" companies. Obviously Ricoh camera profits find their way to Pentax cameras, so I was happy to find a camera that fits our needs at a price we can live with and still get to support Pentax, even if "Ricoh" is printed on the front and back.
UPDATE - Sept. 9, 2014: I've only had the camera for a day and I would give a new WG Owner one piece of advice: put a screen protector on as soon as you can, the screen scratches very easily. I have a small scratch and fortunately it's disappeared after I put a cell phone screen protector on the WG-20. I used a protector cut for the iPhone, but cut it to make it fit. I was in a rush to get the screen covered to avoid scratching it again.
UPDATE - Oct. 29, 2014: I've found it's easy to induce a bit of shake when taking pictures due to the shutter button requiring a little more effort likely due to the waterproof nature of the camera. I've found the best way to overcome this is to brace the camera when possible. I got some very nice shots by making use of walls, handrails or other stationary structures. It's not a problem all the time, but it's one of the little things that comes with using the camera. As one gets used to the shutter I think it decreases the event of camera shake.
UPDATE: Nov. 2 & 3, 2014: Finally used the WG in water. Started by setting the camera in the street gutter with water draining into the drain. Not even half way up the camera but it was water tight. The next day I went to a nearby lake and submerged the WG-20 to where it was about 1-2 inches (completely) under. The pictures were clear and had good color and it survived about ten full dunkings. I used the 2 second delay so I could push the shutter button but the shake would be gone by the time the shutter fired.
Great camera, very strong great seal for immersion on water, sharp images, i have only taken 2 videos and image is not so sharp. Since i like pentax i miss the word pentax on my camera instead Ricoh appears thats the only thing i dont like about this camera.
I hate selfies but now is on the mood and this camera doesnt have front screen to view yourself, but there is an assistant, the macro leds blinks depending if you need to move your camero to right or left, then when you are on screen blinks another led and that indicates that you are framed. Very helpful for this kind of pics.
I have read reviews of other models like this and many people complains that lens is not protected. This looks like but the truth is that lens is behind that clear shield that is strong enough, besides, this shield is a little inside the camera body so even if it falls with the face downwards and hits directly to the ground , lens shield wont be even touched. Only on irregular surfaces and with very bad luck you could hit the lens protector.
Nice all terrain compact camera, i dont like point and shoot cameras, i use this only when i can't use my other pentax slr camera (rain, underwater, when my kids wants to use my slr, when slrs are not allowed) but this camera is really more than a compact camera nice features and great price.
Very useful, I dont give a 10 only for the video quality (is not so bad but is nos so great) and because there is no pentax logo
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