Pentax WG-8 and WG-1000: Waterproof compact cameras for outdoor use
An old acquaintance and an entry-level model: Pentax presents the two outdoor compacts WG-8 and WG-1000. The robust cameras can withstand dirt and water.
(Image: Pentax, Hintergrund und Montage: heise)
- Christine Bruns
Pentax has introduced two cameras, the WG-8 and the WG-1000. While the WG-8 is merely a relabeled WG-6 from the beginning of 2019, which at the time still came from Ricoh, the WG-1000 is the new entry-level model in the series.
Pentax WG-8
The robust WG-8 has 20 megapixels on a 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor. The 5x zoom lens covers a focal length range of 28 to 140 millimeters (35mm equivalent). This allows landscapes as well as portraits and macros to be photographed. There are two macro modes for close and very close shots. The handheld night mode is designed to create blur-free images by taking several images of the same scene and stitching them together.
Videos can be recorded in 4K resolution (MPEG-4 AVC/H.264, 3840 × 2160, 30 fps). For handheld video recordings, there is an internal Movie SR+ electronic image stabilization, which creates a shake reduction effect similar to that of a gimbal.
Thanks to its dust and waterproof construction, the camera is well-equipped for outdoor activities. Dives of up to 20 meters should be possible with up to two hours of uninterrupted recording. The camera can also withstand temperatures down to minus 10 degrees Celsius.
Wi-Fi, GPS and a digital compass round off the features. Position data and travel log data can be saved in the captured images. The digital compass even records directional data. The module is activated at the touch of a button.
The camera is handy at 137 × 128 × 83 millimeters and weighs around 560 grams. There are six LEDs around the lens, which can be activated together or separately. They are particularly useful underwater and for close-ups to illuminate nearby objects. However, they can also be activated during live-streaming for better illumination of the person or object in front of the camera. However, the webcam function does not use 4K, but Full HD. Once again, 18 scene modes and 12 digital filters are on board.
The PENTAX WG-8 will be available from June 2024 in black and green at a price of 480 euros.
Pentax WG-8 (3 Bilder)
(Bild: Pentax)
Pentax WG-1000
The Pentax WG-1000 is an entry-level outdoor compact camera. It is intended for beginners and outdoor enthusiasts as well as for children, for documentation on construction sites or in medical facilities. It can even be sterilized with certain solvents and has a number of special functions.
(Image: Pentax)
Furthermore, it has many of the features of its big sister, the WG-8, including dust and water resistance and is said to survive drops from a height of up to two meters without any problems. Underwater photography should be possible down to a depth of 15 meters for a period of one hour.
The 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor has 16 megapixels. The optical 4x zoom with a focal length range of 4.9 to 19.6 millimeters (equivalent to approx. 27 to 108 millimeters in 35 mm format) allows flexibility in the choice of subject and image composition. There are seven additional shooting modes, including a special underwater mode that reproduces colors naturally and reduces the blue cast. There is even a manual mode available for more ambitious photographers. The camera also offers twenty different color modes to give the images an individual touch. From "Japan Style" with enhanced blue tones to "French Style", which emphasizes the reddish colors. Videos are possible in Full HD (H.264, MOV).
At 137 × 130 × 115 millimeters and weighing 520 grams, the Pentax WG-1000 is slightly smaller than the WG-8. It is charged via USB-C, GPS is not on board. The scope of delivery includes a protective cover for the camera body and a carabiner strap for quick access.
The Pentax WG-1000 will be available from July 2024 in green and black for 250 euros.
Pentax WG-1000 (3 Bilder)
(Bild: Pentax)
(cbr)
