UPDATE: This review was updated on 9/1/08 to reflect the announcement within the Olympus 1050SW.

I am a self confessed camera freak. Concerning owned the Pentax WPi, W10, W30, also now, the W60. My other primary cameras is the Canon SD 870 (with waterproof housing for diving) and then a Canon SLR system with L series lenses, etc. I live in Hawaii and that i travel with regard to and i also can say that without a doubt, the Pentax W a list of cameras have already been my "go to" cameras for any activities that involve water, snow, sand, or dirt. They create a LOT of abuse whether or not it doesn't advertise this like Olympus. For optical quality inside of a "friendly" environment their don't need to lug my SLR, I favor my Canon SD 870 containing noticeably better optics.

Like many people who somehow trashed their previous W series camera, As well as waiting more than a year towards the W30 upgrade and that i can report that all in every, the W60 is usually a worthy upgrade to the W30 only when for the 28mm lens. Additionally, it's lighter, the screen is brighter, and it's got two useful software upgrades. For a nice and making use of the camera for just a month now.

Make no mistake, it is a "fun" outdoors camera. In case you are not gonna take you within the water, for the beach, or mountain biking stop reading now in order to find a camera with better optics. The W60 is only o.k. and no worse compared to the W30. When it comes to barrel distortion at 28mm, it's probably just slightly worse than my Canon SD 870 that mean the distortion is there and its noticeable, expressly a group shot by the pool or working to get the length of a kayak AND an isle in the background, I'll experience the ever so slight distortion. An individual could simply click the lens to 37mm and get rid of the distortion as with every other compact.

I'll also confess that I'm a Mac user so are not aware the right way to read manuals. For that reason, I find the "smile detect" and "blink detect' features amazingly annoying they aren't find a way to work as long as your subjects are usually not wearing sunglasses. Fortunately, for illiterate and/or lazy idiots including myself, you're able to ignore most features and locate fairly easily delivering ones like underwater white balance.

Here's whatever i like and dislike relating to this particular model.

LIKES

1) Nothing beats not worrying about sand, water, dirt, or mud. I did the Olympus 1030SW for two days before sand screwed in the retractable lens cover (good idea, poor execution with which has been addressed at the recently announced 1050SW). Also, if you let your sons or daughters take photos like We do, you possibly can worry less about camera damage when one particular inevitably throws your camera within the other one or tries to kick or punch them within the head using it while in the pool.

2) 28mm lens. Wide angle (vs. the conventional 38mm) is really an option I'd favour today. Also, there's an easy crazy "wide" feature of your bit diverse from panoramic stitch that works pretty much. In brief, two portrait shots are stitched in camera in a 5MP 21mm image. It's hardly ever "publishable" quality, but I've actually been having quite a bit of fun for it.

DISLIKES

1) HD movie clips. I have been very disappointed which the 720p movie clips are simply 15 fps. My old Canon S80 had exactly the same specs and that i discover jerkiness at 15 fps too distracting. The primary pr release (specs since updated) didn't disclose this. Oh well. I'd still buy it. 640 movie clips at 30 fps are as clean evidently along with shake reduction works fairly well (but cuts down on frame to something only 28mm). Also, some text on reviewers who complain about sound recorded with the focusing drive, exchange signal of infinity focus which works fine in 90% ly situations knowning that annoying sound can be eliminated).

2) Noticeable barrel distortion at 28mm. Like I said earlier, far better to have the option available and focus when able. Even at 28mm, your shot defintely won't be ruined. Also, if you have had a mother in law you can actually cleverly position her at the end in the frame and the distortion will make her look slightly thinner (in the case she accuses your SLR of constructing her look fat).

3) Still no travel charger included or officially available (that we find inexcusable) although inelegant any such solutions exist online (and then the multi battery use ones still work even though they've changed battery model).

4) No external user replaceable lens protecter. Can happen Pentax engineers. How hard would it be to develop an exterior casing that allowed for one user replaceable transparent protective "filter" just like an SLR. There's a reason I've bought four models. I trash them.

Now in the important feature: Underwater Imaging

If you need a camera for deep sea diving stop reading now and go buy a Canon with some of their factory built cases. This may not be a diving camera.

If you need a camera for snorkeling, kayaking, surfing, or kiteboarding; or if you are planning to plan you to beach; or if you'd rather hiking while it is raining or mountain biking, you'll certainly be stoked with this particular camera. (Previous W series models I owned worked fine on the snow and cold whereas my compact Canons sometimes freeze) The Olympus 1030SW is usually a close second to me for an additional reasons. 1) I really like the rectangle form factor with the Pentax a tad more; 2) I find SD cards easier than XD cards (plus I own a couple and my computer possesses a slot on their behalf); 3) the bad exposure to the 1030SW retractable lens cover; 4) movies relating to the Olympus models are limited to Just a few seconds (vs. how large your memory card over the Pentax 30 minutes on my 4GB card); and 5) the Pentax is noticeably lighter (but doesn't feel cheap). I do believe additionally , there are some merit to truth this is exactly Pentax's sixth generation of W series cameras. They've learned a lot. Also, I would point out that That i used to utilize a Sony compact with a waterproof "Sport" case and besides making the complete camera "fat", the picture quality suffered greatly.

UPDATE in connection with new Olympus 1050SW: While i have not used this camera (that should be released on 10/31/08) with the specs and photos I can see they've addressed the retractable lens cover trouble with a Sony style system nevertheless they have increased the focal length to 38mm (equivalent). I'd still prefer a 28mm. Also, 640 movies continue to inexplicably limited to Ten seconds vs. the strength of you storage device to the Pentax models.

Underwater videos of kids inside the pool rock (set focus to infinity from the Settings menu to not have mechanical noise). Videos masters surfing are priceless (buy your hair a neckstrap). Being in position to wash you off in the end throughout is amazing. It could be particular fun to decrease it in a very mug of beer within the Hofbrauhaus in Munich and freak your pals out.

I recommend the Pentax W60 for anybody with an outside lifestyle and loves to record memories. This can be a great secondary camera when followed by something a little more serious just like an SLR. It isn't the top camera for meeting to get a night out partying and it's not the most beneficial camera in case you are taking the vacation a person can have that won't involve many water or dirt. Have a good time!