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Pentax has been making cameras for donkeys’ years and is the one photographic producer that’s nonetheless persevering with DSLRs. Its compact cameras have passed by the identify of Ricoh since that firm acquired Pentax again in 2011, however the Pentax badge has returned with the Pentax WG-8, which I’ve just lately reviewed. The WG-1000 that I’m reviewing right here has among the identical tough-guy credentials however has a lower-resolution for each its picture sensor and rear display screen, and lacks the intense macro mode and LED array across the lens. Even so, it units out to be one of many finest underwater cameras in addition to one of many finest cameras for youths, with a suitably inexpensive price ticket.
Pentax WG-1000: Specs
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Photograph Decision |
16.35MP |
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Video Decision |
1080p 30fps |
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Picture Sensor |
1/2.3″ CMOS |
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Selfie mirror |
No |
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Show |
2.7-inch, 230k dots |
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Touchscreen |
No |
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Battery |
Li-ion (300 pictures) |
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Connections |
USB-C, HDMI |
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Measurement (WHD) |
116x69x51mm / 4.6×2.7×2″ |
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Weight |
220g / 7.87oz |
Pentax WG-1000: Worth
The Pentax WG-1000 could be very competitively priced for a troublesome digicam, listed at $195 / £249 / AU$399. That’s solely about half the value of the Pentax WG-8, though that digicam has a extra refined characteristic set and is a little bit nearer to being indestructible, including ‘crushproof’ and ‘freezeproof’ to its credentials, in addition to venturing additional underwater to a depth of 20 meters / 65.6’ as a substitute of 15m / 49′ (that’s greater than deep sufficient for me, I’m not Jacques Cousteau).
Pentax WG-1000: Design & Dealing with
The Pentax WG-1000 is designed and constructed to take the knocks of a bruising, adventurous way of life and to brush off a good quantity of disrespect for devices. That’s actually what units it other than common budget-friendly compact cameras just like the Yashica Metropolis 100.
The Yashica sports activities Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and a flip display screen that may face the entrance for vlogging and selfies, however the Pentax has none of those. As an alternative, it’s all about absorbing these knocks. The headline options are that it’s waterproof to a depth of 15m / 49′ for as much as an hour of steady use (IPX8, JIS Class 8), dustproof (IP6X, JIS Class 6) and sufficiently shockproof to face up to being dropped onto a sheet of 2-inch thick plywood from a top of 2m / 6.5′.
It is a digicam that’s constructed to take much more punishment than simply taking pictures on a drizzly day earlier than being dried off and cosseted in a digicam bag. You possibly can shoot deep underwater, take footage on the seaside with out worrying about it getting sandblasted, and chuck it down in your seaside blanket from a substantial top while you’re carried out.
And there’s extra. Pentax says that the digicam provides reliable safety towards ethanol, sodium hypochlorite and chlorine dioxide options, generally used as disinfectants on the likes of medical services and manufacturing strains. So sure, the digicam can maintain its personal towards harsh chemical substances as properly.
So what’s within the field? Rather a lot, because it seems. There’s each a thin wrist strap and a large strap full with carabiner (to swimsuit totally different adventures). You additionally get a silicone delicate shell for if and while you’re feeling protecting. There’s a charging/information USB cable and I like that that is provided full with a mains charger moderately than assuming you’re going to offer one your self. As is the way in which today, the provided Li-ion battery is charged in-camera moderately than utilizing a separate charging cradle.
A few of the predominant options are written throughout the entrance of the digicam. In addition to waterproof, shockproof and adventureproof, there’s additionally lettering to proclaim a 16MP CMOS picture sensor and a Broad 4x Zoom. Certainly, the digicam encompasses a back-illuminated picture sensor though it’s bodily very small, of the 1/2.3″ format.
The lens has a 4x optical zoom functionality nevertheless it’s not overly ‘large’, equating to 27-108mm in full-frame phrases. As standard, you may enhance the telephoto zoom vary with ‘digital zoom’ interpolation, with the conventional drop in picture high quality, because the software program has to guess what’s in between the pixels it might probably really see. The entrance of the digicam additionally performs host to a small flash module.
There are giant and purposeful wanting strap lugs on either side of the digicam. Up on prime, the format is simplicity itself, that includes only a built-in microphone, an on/off change and a shutter-release button. The digicam subsequently lacks the taking pictures mode dial that takes pleasure of place on the highest panel of the pricier Pentax WG-8.
As an alternative of a mode dial for direct entry, the again panel has a ‘Mode’ button for accessing varied taking pictures modes by way of a menu system. The principle taking pictures modes on supply are Auto, Program AE, Handbook, Underwater and Film. There’s additionally a raft of scene modes to select from, together with Portrait, Panorama, Sport, Seaside, Sundown, Fireworks, Evening Panorama, Snow, Youngsters, Panorama, Glass, Anti-Shake, Panning Shot, Evening Portrait, Occasion, Indoor, Leaf and Museum, which ought to cowl most eventualities.
On prime of that, there’s a collection of colour modes together with Japan Type (enhances bluish hues), Italian Type (enhances greenish hues) and French Type (enhances reddish hues), plus black & white, sepia, destructive and sketch. The wealth of scene modes and colour modes goes some strategy to making up for the dearth of a RAW high quality seize mode however you’re nonetheless caught with what you shoot moderately than having the ability to make RAW changes on the modifying stage.
The again of the digicam has a really related format to that of the Pentax WG-8, however with the addition of the Mode button that I’ve simply talked about and a few different button variations. There’s the identical T/W (Telephoto/Broad) rocker change on the prime for the motorized zoom lens, and a time-honored 4-way pad for accessing varied capabilities, with an OK button at its middle.
An even bigger distinction is that whereas the WG-8 has a 3.0-inch rear display screen with a good decision of 1040k dots, the display screen of the WG-1000 is smaller and has a decrease decision, equating to 2.7-inch, 230k dots. And I feel that basically is disappointingly low-res these days, particularly given the digicam’s lack of a viewfinder. It’s additionally not a touchscreen and has no tilt or vari-angle mechanism.
Down below, there’s a suitably waterproof flap on the underside panel that opens to disclose the Li-ion battery chamber, a reminiscence slot for (fortunately) full-sized SD/HC/XC reminiscence playing cards moderately than tiny microSD playing cards, and connection ports for USB-C and HDMI Sort-D. The rechargeable Li-ion battery has ample stamina for round 300 pictures, which is fairly beneficiant.
Rounding off the options listing are face-detection autofocus, an AF help lamp, single, steady and high-speed steady drive modes, and even blink detection. There’s a self-timer delay with choices for two seconds, 10 seconds and ‘smile detection’, in addition to interval taking pictures with choices of 30 seconds or 1 / 5 / 10 minutes. It’s important to go an extended strategy to discover a digicam that may’t shoot video in addition to stills today, and the WG-1000 obliges with film resolutions of as much as 1080p FullHD at 30fps or 640×480 pixels at 120fps for slow-motion seize. 4K UHD film seize isn’t obtainable.
Pentax WG-1000: Efficiency
On the subject of efficiency, the contrast-detection autofocus system could be fairly pedestrian and a little bit liable to searching in tough circumstances, nevertheless it has a very good hit price by way of accuracy all through my testing. I’d say that sharpness is suitable moderately than notably good, and it’s a little bit disappointing in the direction of the sides of the body on the wide-angle finish of the zoom vary.
I discovered that publicity metering proved extra correct and constant on this digicam than within the pricier Pentax WG-8, giving rise to higher picture high quality on a shot-to-shot foundation. Throughout my checks, the WG-8 was usually liable to slight overexposure, leading to pictures that seemed a little bit washed out.
The discount from 20MP to 16.35MP appears to pay dividends by way of a discount in high-ISO picture noise. Certain, noise will get steadily worse as you go up the dimensions, with positive element being progressively smoothed over, nevertheless it’s not overly dangerous even on the most sensitivity of ISO 3200. The next gallery comprises pictures of a mannequin motorbike below low pure lighting coming in via a window, in any respect ISO settings from ISO 100 to ISO 3200, so you may see for your self.
Picture 1 of 6
Colour rendition seems very pure within the Commonplace setting, and pleasantly punchy within the Vibrant setting. Dynamic vary is fairly good too, and total image high quality is spectacular for a digicam with such a small 1/2.3” picture sensor. You may assume that positive element and texture can be impaired with the WG-1000’s decrease megapixel depend however that’s not the case in apply. The next pair of pictures present how the colourful hedge in the back of my backyard look in Commonplace and Vivid settings.
Picture 1 of 2
Pentax WG-1000: Pattern Pictures
The next gallery of pictures was shot on the Bishop’s Palance and Gardens within the English metropolis of Wells. I used the Vivid colour settings all through, which works properly for giving journey and trip snaps that punchy image postcard look.
Picture 1 of 18
Pentax WG-1000: Video
Video decision of the WG-1000 maxes out at 1080p at 30fps. The standard is none too shabby however the digital picture stabilization made little to no distinction throughout my testing. I discovered that handheld video seize was fairly shaky all through, as you’ll see from the next clip.
Pentax WG-1000: Verdict
I loved my time with the Pentax WG-1000. I reckon it’s a enjoyable digicam to make use of while you’re actually having enjoyable, and need to substitute the intense enterprise of images with the enjoyment of taking pictures snapshots while you’re out having fun with your self, whether or not you’re taking part in seaside video games, snorkeling, canoeing or simply roaming round. It’s a disgrace you may’t hook up with different units by way of Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, to share your exploits, nevertheless it’s a neat and actually powerful little digicam that’s very competitively priced for one which’s so waterproof, dustproof and, as Pentax likes to say, adventureproof.
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Options ★★★☆☆ |
It’s bought a 4x optical zoom lens and flash however the total characteristic set is fundamental and it lacks Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. |
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Design ★★★★☆ |
The digicam is correctly rugged in a water-proof, shockproof and dustproof kinda means however the rear display screen is fairly small and low-res. |
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Efficiency ★★★☆☆ |
There are many colour settings and scene modes. Autofocus and metering are constant, and picture high quality is fairly good contemplating the very small sensor. |
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Worth ★★★★☆ |
It’s not the most affordable digicam in the marketplace however is nice worth contemplating its waterproof, dustproof and shockproof construct. |
