Pentax intros rugged WG-1 camera, silver K-5
updated 05:45 pm EST, Mon February 7, 2011
Pentax unveils Optio WG-1 and silver K-5
Pentax led into the run-up for the CP+ camera show with one of its most hardened point-and-shoot cameras as well as special-edition DSLR hardware. The 14-megapixel Optio WG-1 is one of its toughest cameras to date and is not only dustproof, shockproof to five feet and waterproof to 33 feet deep, but also now crushproof. It can take pressure of up to 220 pounds without cracking.
Its ergonomics are equally tough and include a conspicuous space for a carabiner clip as well as five LED lights that can be used to illuminate a macro subject in a poorly lit area, such as during a nighttime hike or underwater. Face detection has been given an uncommon self-portrait assist mode that can tell when the photographer is in the frame without needing a second display. It captures video at a native 720p and focuses on the wide angle with a 5X, 28-140mm equivalent lens.
The WG-1 will be available in a regular version and a GPS-equipped model that can geotag photos. Both ship in April starting at $350 for the plain edition and $400 for the GPS-aware camera.
Along with the outdoor-ready camera, Pentax has put out a special edition of one of its higher-end DSLRs. The K-5 Silver trades black for its more conspicuous namesake color to evoke a nostalgic look and is matched by three optional silver lenses, including a 21mm f3.2 lens, a 40mm f2.8 model and a 70mm f2.4 example.
All should come in with features and prices matching their existing equivalents, which for the K-5 demands $1,700 for a body-only model.
