Everyone wants a memory of their vacation - that perfect photo or video to share on facebook. This is especially true when going to an exotic place, like snorkeling in the Caribbean, or skiing in the Rockies. A weatherproof, waterproof, and compact digital camera is perfect to capture these moments, but which one? The author tested two of the leading names in rugged outdoor cameras, the Olympus Stylus Tough 3000, and the Pentax Optio WG-1, to see which one provided the best value for the money.
Olympus Stylus Tough 3000
This attractive little camera comes with 12 megapixels, and 3.6x zoom, is water proof up to 10 feet, and can withstand temperatures of 14ª F/-10ª C. If you drop this camera, not to worry, it is shock resistant up to 5 feet. It also has dual image stabilization and shoots HD video in 720p. The Olympus Stylus Tough 3000 is priced around $199.99.
Pentax Optio WG-1
This camera comes with 14 megapixels, and a 5x internal optical zoom. The Pentax Optio is waterproof up to 33 feet, coldproof to 14ªF/-10ªC, shockproof if dropped from 5 feet, and it's crushproof construction can withstand weights up to 100 KGF (kilogram force). It addition to all this, the camera is also dust proof, making it perfect for dry or sandy environments. It also shoots HD video in 720p.
The Pentax Optio WG-1 sells for $299.99. As the stats show, it is, on the surface, a very similar camera to the Olympus tough. Is the extra $100 worth paying if you don't plan on taking the camera further than 10 feet under water? Are the 2 extra megapixels even that noticeable? Testing these two cameras is the only way to find out.
Olympus Stylus Tough Not So Tough
When this camera was tested in a pool it worked fine (see pictures below). Then it was taken on a snorkeling expedition. It was never taken any deeper than arms length under the water, as the user was wearing a life jacket. The Olympus Stylus Tough was in the ocean for a five minutes to snap a few pictures. Then the video shooting mode was tried. It worked for almost 30 seconds, and then it made a bzzzt noise. That was it for the Olympus Tough.
Water had leaked into the housing, and even after drying it out, the Olympus would not turn on. No more vacation memories were to be saved with that camera. Thank goodness the SD card wasn't damaged.
Olympus 1 Year Warranty
It was a good thing this camera has a one year warranty, because it didn't quite last a month. After being sent out for repair, the camera was tested in a bathroom sink. Once again, it leaked. This time, the SD card was ruined as well. For the record, the bathroom sink was not deeper than 10 feet (in was more like 6 inches).
The retailer from whom the camera was purchased suggested that perhaps a tougher camera be purchased, as it seems that the Olympus could not withstand the use it was being put through. This is true when a supposed underwater camera can't survive a shallow sink.
Pentax Optio Lives Up To Promises
At the retailers suggestion, the Olympus was returned to the factory, and the money put towards a Pentax Optio WG-1. This camera not only survived swimming pools, water skiing, and being under water at the beach, but was actually able to spend long periods of time completely submerged in a fish tank.
Not only did the Pentax Optio perform in all these conditions, but the images and video taken looked great! The Optio has special presets for taking pictures and shooting video under water. These presets get rid of the blueish overtone many underwater shots have, and makes the images very clear (see photos below).
Pentax Optio Has a Whole Array of Innovative Functions
Not only is this pocket sized camera durable and works great underwater, it has a whole host of functions that are not only innovative, but actually fun to use. For instance, there is a function where you can take three pictures, and the camera automatically stitches them together to make astounding panoramic pictures (see below). There is a macro function that takes close-up pictures of plants and insects, and a variety of filters to take some real fun pics. Video can be edited right in the camera.
The Winner, Pentax Optio WG-1
The Olympus might work all right in snow or rain, but it just didn't work underwater, and really, this is the function that most people are looking for when they purchase a camera like this. In the end, The Olympus Stylus Tough 3000 just wasn't tough enough
The Pentax Optio WG-1 blew the Olympus out of the water (literally). The extra hundred dollars you pay for the Pentax instead of the Olympus is actually a bargain, when the durability and extra functions of the Optio are taken into consideration. Would you rather pay $200 for a water-logged paperweight, or $300 for a camera that you can use for many vacations to come?
References
www.olympusamerica.com/cpg_section/product.asp?product=1483
www.pentaximaging.com/digital-camera/Optio_WG-1_GPS_Gray/
The author has purchased and used both the Olympus Stylus Tough 3000 and the Pentax Optio WG-1.
Ian Shoust - With a degree in Communications and a certificate in Digital Video Editing, Ian Shoust has worked as a freelance videographer, editor, and ...
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