Ricoh WG-30w Review

Conclusion

We were excited when the Ricoh WG-30w was first announced, as this camera represented the start of a wireless-enabled lineup of Pentax/Ricoh outdoor camera models.   The wireless functionality impressed us when it came to features and range, so our review was originally off to a great start.

Orange Ricoh WG-30w

Unfortunately, after capturing just a few photos with this camera, we already had enough.  Having to endure using the low-resolution LCD screen (2.7", 230k dots) was an instant and complete turn-off.  It seems that this camera was a sandbox for the development of wireless functionality, as it's otherwise just a re-branded Pentax Optio WG-2 with a worse LCD screen.  It is beyond us why this camera went into production with such a poor screen and why a version without wireless was even released in Europe given the existence of the WG-10/WG-20.  We are happy, at the very least, that the WG-30w does not bear the Pentax logo.  This camera might be worth considering at $99, but paying the current sticker price of $279 would be crazy.

If you are in the market for a waterproof compact that can be controled remotely, do yourself a favor and turn to a different brand.  For less money, you can pick up a camera like the Nikon AW120, which not only has a 921k dot LCD with quadruple the resolution (the same used in high-end DSLRs), but also superior waterproofing and other features such as stabilization.  There is no question that Ricoh Imaging has a lot of catching up to do when it comes to outdoor compacts, even with its currently flagship, the WG-4.

Pros

• Rugged and durable
• Easy to hold and carry
• Great for hand-held macro and extreme macro photos
• Dedicated mounting accessories available
• Reliable wireless functionality
• Easy to use menu system

Cons

• Very poor LCD screen
• Mediocre image quality
• No mechanical image stabilization
• No optical zoom while recording videos
• Overpriced
• Dated hardware
• Full user manual not included, hard to find online

Rating

The one positive thing we can take away from all this is that the wireless functionality found in the WG-30w will likely make its way into a future Pentax DSLR.  The existing FluCard solution just can't compete with a native antenna with proper transmitting power and range.