I’ve been looking at buying a new camera and I looking for feedback. Best Buy has an Olympus 550WP for $199.95 and Walmart has the Pentax WP30 for $250.00. Any opinions on these or others? Basically looking for waterproof and a macro for up close.
Thanks
I have the Pentax and I’m happy with it. When I was looking the Pentax had better macro capabilities but the Olympus was more shockproof. I don’t know if that is still true with the latest models.
The Olympus 850SW is an excellent camera for around the water and other outdoor activities. Best I recall without checking the specs, waterproof to 10’, shockproof from a 6’ drop, and freezeproof to 14F.
The camera is easy to use. Lots of modes but easy to navigate, and what I consider a superior macro feature. The one weakness, from my experience, is the zoom feature.
If you want to check out examples of the range and quality of pics possible with the Olympus 850SW, go to my thread '09 Elkhorn Bamboo Challenge on the Fishing Reports Forum. All the pics on that thread were taken with the 850SW, except for some of the wildlife pics which were taken with a Canon Rebel XSi, which doesn’t get near the water.
http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/showthread.php?t=25321
Considering the newer models in the Olympus SW line now available, you can probably get an 850 in the price range you quoted for the Pentax W30 at Walmart.
John
I have the stylus 790sw, as it was going out and the 850 was coming in.
Great camera. Takes good zoomed shots so you can get the shot even if your partner is not so close.
Also has macro, super macro, and super macro with an led light function for taking closeups of your flies!
Also waterproof and shockproof. I dropped mine friday, all it did was ding the plastic side and a little scuff on the screen.
I have the W30 and I like it very much. Some issues with low light macro BUT other than that…
Mark
Donat -
The first two pics are for Marco - the Greys River in Western Wyoming as seen with an Olympus 850SW.
Did I mention taking pics underwater ?? From the South Fork of the Snake.
John
I ~love~ my Pentax Optio W30. I bought it just as the W60 had came out and got a substantial discount over what ti was just a few months earlier.
I cannot say enough good about the Optio!!
A few recent shots taken with it:
Macro:
Underwater:
General:
Hey John,
Without kidding, I think I know the spot. The road runs on the left and there is a turnout for parking up there. It’s about 8-9 miles East of Alpine Junction.
Thanks for the pleasant reminder. Will be there with my Pentax Optio W30 later this year.
Mark
Take a look at this post:
http://surfdoc.blogspot.com/2009/02/pentax-optio-w60-camera-for-everyones.html
The Pentax will have superior macro, better optics and color saturation. The Olympus will have a deeper depth, shock resistance and a lower freezing point. Both are very good cameras.
Additionally you could consider buying any point and shoot along with a water proof bag or case for it. That allows you a lot mire options like Canon, Panasonic, Samsung, Sony, Kodak and etc…
Look at these:
http://www.waterproofcases.net/waterproof-camera-cases.html
In my opinion the bag/case is the best option.
By the way these shots were taken with a DSLR, Pentax K10D, form the bank with a circular polarizing filter:
Stained water and poor lighting conditions too boot.
Olympus 1050SW is what I got. Waterproof 3m, shockproof 1.5m. Takes nice pics, and has lots of easy features. Simple to operate. I put a neck strap on it so I can have it ready to shoot in a few seconds. I did like you, started a thread with about the same question. Lots of folks helped me with advice. What I did was go to the stores that sell them and check them out. Did a lot of online checking too. I ended up with what I wanted and not what I settled for. Take your time Donat, and shop around. Jim
I’ve had my pentax for about three years and it still works great…I wouldn’t mind having the olympus for the whole shock-resistance though…you really can’t go wrong with either one…
Darrin, I have the sam camera. Had problems, but Pentax repaired it very fast. Love it too. 
I have had both the Pentax and the Olympus and prefer the latter. Consider that the Olympus has an automatic lens cover. Without it the lens will get scratched by other things in your pocket whereupon all the pixels etc. will not make a difference in your photo.
I have the older Pentax Option W20 and i love it. I have put it through its paces - trying to take a photo i stumbled, dropped it and stepped on it in the mud, dropped from 15’ up in a tree and it still works.
The automatic lens cover does give you some protection however you run the risk of having the cover fail. Yes they do fail and I have seen them fail. Carrying your camera in a pocket with objects sharp enough to scratch anything is never a good idea as you will damage your LCD screen and camera finish too. If you are carrying the camera in a pocket then you may want to buy an inexpensive soft jewelry bag with a draw string closure like this one:
http://www.graphicice.com/index.php/action/prodspec/itemID/962478720
There are three things that I look for that, in my opinion, are vital to taking great pictures. Both of these have shake reduction and the same number of effective pixels. The W60 has a higher optical zoom and that would make it my favorite. Optical zoom is the physical ability of the lens to zoom in and is much more preferable to digital zoom. Digital zoom uses the software to increase the zoom and produces inferior results compared to optical zoom. The higher the optical zoom abilities of the lens the better your pictures, especially macro and long range telephoto, will be.
As far as shock resistance goes Pentax cameras are notoriously tough and I think you can get camera armor for the Pentax if you desire it. Anyway you do it an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Put the camera on a lanyard around your neck.
Correction: The Olympus Stylus Tough 8000 has 12MP vs the 10MP of the Pentax however the superior optical zoom of the Pentax will more than make up the difference of just 2MP.
Unless budget is an issue if you are going to buy the Pentax then why not by the W60? It is superior to both of the previously discussed models and only about $10-15 dollars more.
Here is one at B&H photo/video:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/566491-REG/Pentax_17231_Optio_W60_Digital_Camera.html
They are an excellent store.