08 Digital Camera thread

[leptar]

I had 3 Pentax's Optio WPi fail due to ??? all of them suffered the same problematic fate.. Not an issue of not being water proof but an issue regarding heat and exposure to sunlight... This caused the video and pictures to become messed up...
They blamed the memory, 5 different brands recommended by Pentax... Then it was the camera... then again... the third time i set it on the park bench for 30 minutes and snapped pictures, swapped cards and did it again.. got home what i though was happening proved to me that heat was causing the failure... Bestbuy swapped it out for the Olympus SW770 and i haven't looked back..

[Back Beach]

Originally Posted by leptar

I had 3 Pentax's Optio WPi fail due to ??? all of them suffered the same problematic fate.. Not an issue of not being water proof but an issue regarding heat and exposure to sunlight... This caused the video and pictures to become messed up...
They blamed the memory, 5 different brands recommended by Pentax... Then it was the camera... then again... the third time i set it on the park bench for 30 minutes and snapped pictures, swapped cards and did it again.. got home what i though was happening proved to me that heat was causing the failure... Bestbuy swapped it out for the Olympus SW770 and i haven't looked back..

What kind of heat/temps are we talking about here? Did you leave it on your dashboard on a hot day or something of the like? Was the camera itself damaged or just the memory card?
I'm curious as I just got mine.

[numbskull]

I posted this last year, but there are a few negatives about the Pentax Optio W60 for night photography and self portraits (which are, naturally, important to us ruggedly handsome, morally superior plugger types).

The camera does not use a visible infrared focus feature (as the non water-proof and since fried Canon Elph did) so your viewfinder is all black unless you put some light on the subject first (which is harder than it sounds). Secondly, the auto timer set up is poor. You only get a maximum of 10 seconds which makes it hard to get yourself in the picture with the fish oriented correctly to show the beautiful plug it ate.

Worse, the exposure and focus occur when you push the shutter button, not right before it takes the picture. Since you (or by day your shadow) are often in front of the camera when you set it up and push the button, the picture is ruined. It takes too much of a toll on the fish to try and take a second picture when you intend to release it.

Finally, the small print in the warranty suggests the camera be returned annually at your expense for seal replacement if it is used in a wet environment. Whether they will honor the warranty if you don't is not clear.

I am not sure, however, there are better options for a wet environment out there. Those shoot-through waterproof camera bags are useless at night.

[Back Beach]

Originally Posted by numbskull

I am not sure, however, there are better options for a wet environment out there. Those shoot-through waterproof camera bags are useless at night.

I purchased the optio 60w more for insurance purposes, meaning it may accidentally get wet, but not intentionally submerged. Also, seeing you owned one made my decision easier.