So, Who's Getting the W90?

GerryL · 03-03-2010, 09:59 AM

Originally posted by stanjo

W90 has the same sensor as W80, which is crap - 12MP sensor this small is just too noisy.
IMHO the last decent Pentax W was W20. From then on, the megapixel race killed the model line, and here we are with W80/W90 with 12MP sensors and noise at ISO64.

I want my 5MP camera back !!!!

You can still get them cheap at ebay.

esman7 · 03-03-2010, 11:48 AM

Originally posted by dugrant153

I think I remember playing with a Pentax W20 or W30 a few years ago and it had very slow response time.

i haven't tried any of the newer ones but these look like really neat cameras! Being able to dunk it, drop it, freeze it... is a pretty awesome feature.

I had the same feeling... very slow. Especially when compared to a Canon Powershot. Hopefully the overall speed (processing speed) and controls have been re-engineered.

RioRico · 03-03-2010, 01:10 PM

Originally posted by stanjo

I want my 5MP camera back !!!!

You cannot have my 5mpx Sony DSC-V1, no-sirree! Get your own!

Seriously: I set up spreadsheets to store data on my lenses and cameras. For my digitals (including P&S's), I compute pixels vs sensor size -- the density, in megapickles per square centimeter.

My Pentax K20D dSLR has a nice low density, about 4.1 mpx/cm2. (Hmm, the K-x is at 3.3.) My ancient 1.1mpx Sony DSC-P20 is pretty good, about 6.25. Then things deteriorate. My 5mpx Sonys and Minolta are about 13.75. My 7mpx Sony (that just died) is about 19. My 7mpx Olympus is about 25.5. Current 10mpx and 12mpx midgets go up to 45. All the Pentax x80's and x90's are at 43. Too crowded! Too much f***king noise!

ANYONE considering ANY new (or used) P&S should check the pixel density. That info is in each listing in the dpreview.com camera database, and should be the basic criterion for filtering out the crud cams. I care not for smart sharpening, pet-face-detection, whether or not the cam can brew espresso -- at such density, the cam is ONLY good for video, or pasting snaps on FaceBook or whatever. Or for producing radical art. But not good still photography, nope. Not unless you get your prints at WalMart.

aerodave · 03-04-2010, 07:38 AM

Originally posted by RioRico

megapickles per square centimeter.

It does make you wonder how they cram all those pickles in there. Are these whole dill spears, or sandwich slices?

icywarm · 03-05-2010, 02:40 AM

if someone wants I can take their W80 off their hands so they can get a W90, at a discount of course, since I am doing you such a favour!

GerryL · 03-05-2010, 12:19 PM

Originally posted by icywarm

if someone wants I can take their W80 off their hands so they can get a W90, at a discount of course, since I am doing you such a favour!

Haha..nice offer but I wouldn't think anybody would bite as the W80 is still new.

I also like the look of the W80 over the W90 as the W80 is somewhat more refined looking vs the W90s rugged look.
The 3 LEDs are a nice touch but..

ve2vfd · 03-05-2010, 02:49 PM

Still happy with my W60, I'll wait until they come out with a newer generation of waterproof cameras with better IQ before I change it.

Pat

GerryL · 03-06-2010, 10:38 AM

Originally posted by ve2vfd

Still happy with my W60, I'll wait until they come out with a newer generation of waterproof cameras with better IQ before I change it.

Pat

This is actually good common sense as I still shoot with a K100D super.
Not unless I'm going to be happy with the upgrade and plan to use the upgrade for a long time, then there is actually no need for an upgrade.

**Ex Finn.** · 03-09-2010, 04:47 PM

Originally posted by GerryL

This is actually good common sense as I still shoot with a K100D super.
Not unless I'm going to be happy with the upgrade and plan to use the upgrade for a long time, then there is actually no need for an upgrade.

I 2nd on that, as far as 100D goes.

Cheers, Mike.

dimon19 · 03-14-2010, 10:22 AM

100% agree, I have WPi and W80, the later one, while improved on performance, lost the image quality to pixel count. most camera makers alredy started to go back to 10mp.

dvlrnr · 03-16-2010, 12:40 PM

A ruggedized P&S with 720p video that fits in the pocket of my cycling jersey is what I'm looking for. The W90 is definitely on my candidate list, but will also wait until there are several reviews around. The W80 and WS80 are also on the list, as are some competitors' cameras as well.

The pixel density of the W80 and W90 is of some concern, of course. But I'm hard pressed to believe either can produce worse results than my current P&S.

mrlebaron · 03-16-2010, 04:43 PM

Originally posted by ve2vfd

Still happy with my W60, I'll wait until they come out with a newer generation of waterproof cameras with better IQ before I change it.

Pat

How long have you had it - I'm anything but happy with my W60!

GerryL · 03-16-2010, 07:51 PM

You might have gotten a bad batch or you might be expecting too much out of a P&S.
Anyway, I don't have the W60 and am just thinking of what might have happened with your unit.
What are the issues that you seem not satisfied with it?

**Clarkey** · 03-17-2010, 06:03 PM

Sounds good, but honestly I would like Aperture and shutter priority back. You have to go all the way back to the 750Z to get that. That and deeper in the water for scuba would be really nice (although there is a housing - Yippee!). Now why can't they follow Olympus and do one for the K7.....

GerryL · 03-18-2010, 04:57 PM

Originally posted by Clarkey

Sounds good, but honestly I would like Aperture and shutter priority back. You have to go all the way back to the 750Z to get that. That and deeper in the water for scuba would be really nice (although there is a housing - Yippee!). Now why can't they follow Olympus and do one for the K7.....

Pentax is not so popular so either Pentax make it themselves as third party manufacturers have to look at the popularity and sales of what they are making their accessories for to make money too.
If the item they are making the accessories for is not sellable, then their accessories won't be sellable too.
This is also the reason why there are so many third party accessories manufacturer for Canon and Nikon.
You would see a lot of old accessories for Pentax as Pentax was popular then.

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03-03-2010, 09:59 AM	#16
GerryL Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: CA Posts: 2,731	Originally posted by stanjo W90 has the same sensor as W80, which is crap - 12MP sensor this small is just too noisy. IMHO the last decent Pentax W was W20. From then on, the megapixel race killed the model line, and here we are with W80/W90 with 12MP sensors and noise at ISO64. I want my 5MP camera back !!!! You can still get them cheap at ebay.

03-03-2010, 11:48 AM	#17
esman7 Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 322	Originally posted by dugrant153 I think I remember playing with a Pentax W20 or W30 a few years ago and it had very slow response time. i haven't tried any of the newer ones but these look like really neat cameras! Being able to dunk it, drop it, freeze it... is a pretty awesome feature. I had the same feeling... very slow. Especially when compared to a Canon Powershot. Hopefully the overall speed (processing speed) and controls have been re-engineered.

03-03-2010, 01:10 PM	#18
RioRico Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Limbo, California Posts: 11,263	Originally posted by stanjo I want my 5MP camera back !!!! You cannot have my 5mpx Sony DSC-V1, no-sirree! Get your own! Seriously: I set up spreadsheets to store data on my lenses and cameras. For my digitals (including P&S's), I compute pixels vs sensor size -- the density, in megapickles per square centimeter. My Pentax K20D dSLR has a nice low density, about 4.1 mpx/cm2. (Hmm, the K-x is at 3.3.) My ancient 1.1mpx Sony DSC-P20 is pretty good, about 6.25. Then things deteriorate. My 5mpx Sonys and Minolta are about 13.75. My 7mpx Sony (that just died) is about 19. My 7mpx Olympus is about 25.5. Current 10mpx and 12mpx midgets go up to 45. All the Pentax x80's and x90's are at 43. Too crowded! Too much f***king noise! ANYONE considering ANY new (or used) P&S should check the pixel density. That info is in each listing in the dpreview.com camera database, and should be the basic criterion for filtering out the crud cams. I care not for smart sharpening, pet-face-detection, whether or not the cam can brew espresso -- at such density, the cam is ONLY good for video, or pasting snaps on FaceBook or whatever. Or for producing radical art. But not good still photography, nope. Not unless you get your prints at WalMart.

03-04-2010, 07:38 AM	#19
aerodave Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Dayton, OH Posts: 365	Originally posted by RioRico megapickles per square centimeter. It does make you wonder how they cram all those pickles in there. Are these whole dill spears, or sandwich slices?

03-05-2010, 02:40 AM	#20
icywarm Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Saskatchewan Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,278	if someone wants I can take their W80 off their hands so they can get a W90, at a discount of course, since I am doing you such a favour!

03-05-2010, 12:19 PM	#21
GerryL Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: CA Posts: 2,731	Originally posted by icywarm if someone wants I can take their W80 off their hands so they can get a W90, at a discount of course, since I am doing you such a favour! Haha..nice offer but I wouldn't think anybody would bite as the W80 is still new. I also like the look of the W80 over the W90 as the W80 is somewhat more refined looking vs the W90s rugged look. The 3 LEDs are a nice touch but..

03-05-2010, 02:49 PM	#22
ve2vfd Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Montreal, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,433	Still happy with my W60, I'll wait until they come out with a newer generation of waterproof cameras with better IQ before I change it. Pat

03-06-2010, 10:38 AM	#23
GerryL Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: CA Posts: 2,731	Originally posted by ve2vfd Still happy with my W60, I'll wait until they come out with a newer generation of waterproof cameras with better IQ before I change it. Pat This is actually good common sense as I still shoot with a K100D super. Not unless I'm going to be happy with the upgrade and plan to use the upgrade for a long time, then there is actually no need for an upgrade.

03-09-2010, 04:47 PM	#24
Ex Finn. Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Southern Maryland. Espoo. Kouvola. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,975	Originally posted by GerryL This is actually good common sense as I still shoot with a K100D super. Not unless I'm going to be happy with the upgrade and plan to use the upgrade for a long time, then there is actually no need for an upgrade. I 2nd on that, as far as 100D goes. Cheers, Mike.

03-14-2010, 10:22 AM	#25
dimon19 New Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: ny Photos: Gallery Posts: 10	100% agree, I have WPi and W80, the later one, while improved on performance, lost the image quality to pixel count. most camera makers alredy started to go back to 10mp.

03-16-2010, 12:40 PM	#26
dvlrnr New Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Turku Posts: 3	A ruggedized P&S with 720p video that fits in the pocket of my cycling jersey is what I'm looking for. The W90 is definitely on my candidate list, but will also wait until there are several reviews around. The W80 and WS80 are also on the list, as are some competitors' cameras as well. The pixel density of the W80 and W90 is of some concern, of course. But I'm hard pressed to believe either can produce worse results than my current P&S.

03-16-2010, 04:43 PM	#27
mrlebaron New Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: North Carolina Posts: 2	Originally posted by ve2vfd Still happy with my W60, I'll wait until they come out with a newer generation of waterproof cameras with better IQ before I change it. Pat How long have you had it - I'm anything but happy with my W60!

03-16-2010, 07:51 PM	#28
GerryL Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: CA Posts: 2,731	You might have gotten a bad batch or you might be expecting too much out of a P&S. Anyway, I don't have the W60 and am just thinking of what might have happened with your unit. What are the issues that you seem not satisfied with it?

03-17-2010, 06:03 PM	#29
Clarkey Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Brampton, ON, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,456	Sounds good, but honestly I would like Aperture and shutter priority back. You have to go all the way back to the 750Z to get that. That and deeper in the water for scuba would be really nice (although there is a housing - Yippee!). Now why can't they follow Olympus and do one for the K7.....

03-18-2010, 04:57 PM	#30
GerryL Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: CA Posts: 2,731	Originally posted by Clarkey Sounds good, but honestly I would like Aperture and shutter priority back. You have to go all the way back to the 750Z to get that. That and deeper in the water for scuba would be really nice (although there is a housing - Yippee!). Now why can't they follow Olympus and do one for the K7..... Pentax is not so popular so either Pentax make it themselves as third party manufacturers have to look at the popularity and sales of what they are making their accessories for to make money too. If the item they are making the accessories for is not sellable, then their accessories won't be sellable too. This is also the reason why there are so many third party accessories manufacturer for Canon and Nikon. You would see a lot of old accessories for Pentax as Pentax was popular then.