Another camera I am bringing into the fold of my CCD collection is the Pentax Optio W90, a go-anywhere digital compact fitted with a 12MP CCD sensor. Designed to be dustproof, and waterproof up to 6 meters, the camera was introduced by Pentax in 2010. It is coldproof down to -10°C (14°F), and shock-resistant for drops of up to 1.2 meters, comes with a 5x zoom (28-140mm equivalent} lens, a 2.7-inch LCD, a Digital Microscope mode, HD video recording, and a face detection system that also recognizes up to three pet faces.
The Optio W90 has a normal shutter speed range from 1/4 to 1/1,500 second, up to 4 seconds in Night Scene mode, and a self-timer with a two- or ten-second delay. Normal ISO sensitivity is from 80 to 1,600, controlled either automatically or manually, and six white balance modes, namely Auto, Daylight, Shade, Tungsten, Fluorescent, and Manual. ISO sensitivity can be expanded to ISO 3,200 or ISO 6,400 under manual control, or in the automatic Digital SR mode, by dropping image resolution to five megapixels.
Exposure modes on the Pentax W90 include a Green (fully automatic) button, Auto Picture, Program, and a huge selection of scene modes that include Night Scene, Movie, Underwater, Underwater Movie, Landscape, Flower, Portrait, Digital Microscope, Digital Wide, Digital Shake Reduction, Surf & Snow, Kids, Pet, Sport, Fireworks, Candlelight, Night Scene Portrait, Text, Food, Digital Panorama, Frame Composite, and Report.
The Pentax W90 uses a 9-point contrast detection autofocus system, which includes face detection capability. Shots are framed and reviewed on a 2.7-inch LCD with 230,000 dots of resolution with anti-reflective coating and a wide viewing angle, features that make it easier to view the LCD in difficult conditions. The W90 does not come with any form of mechanical stabilization but is installed with the 'Pixel Track' Shake Reduction algorithms for correcting blur caused by camera shake.
Power to drive the camera operation is derived from a D-LI88 lithium-ion rechargeable battery, images and movies are stored on SD or SDHC flash cards, or in the camera's 26.7MB built-in memory. Connectivity options include a USB 2.0 High-Speed, as well as a high-definition HDMI and standard definition composite NTSC / PAL video output. The camera measures 107.5 x 59 x 25mm and weighs 161 grams with the battery and SD card installed. Battery life is rather short, though, with a CIPA rating of only 205 shots.
Menus and Settings
The multitude of functionalities of the W90 is spread over a couple function selections which are assessed from the Shooting (for Scene Selection) and Display (press Display and Menu) for Edit functions for Slideshow, Image Roration, Small Face Filter, Ink Rubbing Filter, Collage, Digital Filter, Original Frame, Frame Composite, Movie Edit, Red-et=ye Compensation, Subscreen Input, Resize, Cropping, Image/Sound Copy, Voice Memo, Protect, DPOF (Print Setting), Image Recovery, and Start-up Screen.
Camera setting, a four-page menu selection, is assessed via the Menu button. Setting options range from Image Tone, Recorded Pixels, and Quality Level, ... all the down to Data Imprint, and Macro Light. Beside the Menu button on the back of the camera is the Face Detection cycle button with options for Face Detection On, Off, and Smile Capture. Other buttons on the back of the camera include the (+) and (-) Zoom selector, the Self-timer, Flash mode, and Macro mode selection on the Four-way controller pad, and the multi-function Green button.
Early Images
These early images may not be the best this camera has to offer yet, may just be good enough to show the potential of the 12MP CCD sensor to a collector's enthusiast.
A look across to the ensemble on the dining table in SR (Shake Reduction) mode, and a normal Programmed shot of the clutter on my work table.
A couple of Macro Mode Shots of flowers in the garden.
A couple of scenic shots of the garden and a glimpse of the children's playpen of the community playground across the road from the house,
sight and scene in the vicinity of the weekend morning farmer's market,
hanging out at the LRT station entrance,
and a couple of sky shots to end the day.
In Use
The Optio W90 was quite well received when it was first launched way back in 2010, as can be seen from the reviews found as you Google it on the Net. Credit was given to a host of its features, including its exceptional shockproof build, ease of use, multifunctionality, macro shooting capability, and high-quality images with well-defined details.
More for the fun of having a go-anywhere do-anything, vintage CCD digital compacts like the Pentax Optio W90 will not replace the complex and sophisticated smartphone that you have, but if you do find the need for one for your outdoors rough-and-tough, do not miss out on the opportunity.
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