Our Rating ***~~ (3/5)

Good: Shockproof up to 1m; 5x wideangle zoom range; high-definition movie mode

Bad: Poor lens performance; noisy image processing; over-reliant on menus

dpreview.com reviews the Pentax Optio W80 and writes:
“Pentax has announced the Optio W80 rugged compact camera. It’s certified waterproof at depths of up to 5 meters for two hours, shockproof for drops of up to 3.3 feet (1m) and coldproof up to -10 degrees Celsius. It’s got a 12.1MP sensor, 5x optical zoom and a 2.5″ LCD, and includes features such as HD movie recording and Pixel Track digital Shake Reduction.”

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dirtcheapcameras writes:
“The W80 has all the makings of a rugged camera ready for some rough conditions, but its 12.1 megapixel sensor and 5x optical zoom (28-140mm equivalent) are right in line with high-end point-and-shoots, rugged or otherwise. It will also record HD 720p video at 30fps with sound, a feature that much of the competition doesn’t offer. However, it should also be noted that with a 1GB SD card, the W80 will only record around five minutes of video at its highest resolution and frame rate.”

total-image reviews the Pentax Optio W80 and writes:
“If you’re looking for a camera to tote around through the elements (and especially one to use near water) I would give this model a serious look. The camera measures in at 3.9 x 2.2 x 1.0 inches (9.9 x 5.6 x 2.5cm) which means it could very easily fit in a pocket or bag without adding much bulk into the situation.”

PCMag reviews the Pentax Optio W80 and writes:
“the W80 can capture beautiful images, but our Lab tests, using Imatest, revealed a few issues. During our initial tests, the W80 was able to produce decent results, capturing an average of 1816 lines per picture height in the center of the lens, which means images are fairly sharp.”

Steve’sDigicams writes:
“Performance is very good, while image quality suffers a bit due to the amount of noise present in our photos. This is something to consider, especially if you plan on making large prints.”

ITReviews writes:
“If you need a tough little compact digital for that scuba holiday or a bit of snowboarding, then this upgrade from Pentax is certainly rugged enough, but for the price the overall quality of the images – except those taken underwater – is unexpectedly disappointing.”

CNET.uk reviews the Pentax Optio W80 and writes:
“Putting aside the lens issue, the Pentax Optio W80’s picture quality is still pretty average, and its over-reliance on its menu system makes it a drag to use. Enhancements to the design mean the W80 can now tough it out with the best of its rivals, like the 8000, D10 and FT1, but the build and finish still don’t quite feel in the same league.”

RegHardware reviews the Pentax Optio W80 and writes:
“if you’re looking for a camera to use in the great outdoors and, in particular, underwater then the Optio W80 is a good choice when it comes to standing up against the elements. You can use this camera on a beach, up a mountain or below water, safe on the knowledge that the Optio W80 will come to no harm, provided you don’t do anything silly. A pity though, that the resulting images may not look so robust.”

Pentax Optio W80 Sample Photos

- Pentax Optio W80 Sample Photo @ CNET.uk

- Pentax Optio W80 Sample Photos @ RegHardware