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Just ahead of Memorial Day weekend (in the US), Pentax tonight released the Optio W60. Where other cameras need special shells underwater, the W60 is explicitly designed to be waterproof from the outset and includes watertight joints that extend to the lens: as the optics never protrude from the body, no room exists for water to seep in, the company boasts.

The W60 still won’t be able to offer a performance that matches the DSLR range in any way, but at least the option of expanding one’s horizons to shoot in dry as well as wet places makes the transition period easier. The Pentax Optio W60 features 10 megapixels as well as a 5x zoom lens with 28mm wide-angle capability, and will function just fine up to 13 feet underwater for up to 120 minutes, and is hardy enough to withstand a wide variance in temperature, even well below freezing. The 5X optical zoom refraction lens never protrudes from the Pentax Optio W60, despite the fact that it can cover focal lengths from 5mm to 25mm.

Features of the W60 include a high quality movie recording mode, and Auto Picture mode, fast Face Recognition, Smile Capture, Blink Detection, an Underwater Movie mode, In the High Sensitivity Digital SR mode, the sensitivity will be adjusted automatically up to ISO 6400, while its LCD monitor comes with a 170 degree wide-angle view and Anti-Reflection coating to reduce glare.

Thanks to an improved design and construction of the shutter button and controls, coupled with reinforced, airtight joints, the Optio W60 makes underwater photography a snap and will be able to dive up to 30% deeper than other Pentax waterproof models. It complies with the JIS Class 8 waterproofing standard, while the camera itself is JIS Class 5 dustproof against dirt, sand and dust and will be able to function from 14 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 10 degrees Celsius) upwards. For those who are interested, you will be able to pick up the Pentax Optio W60 this July onwards for $329.95, and you can choose from either Ocean Blue or Silver colors.

Tags: Optio W60, Pentax cameras