Pentax has released a new water and shock proof model in the form of the W90, which can survive up to 6 meters underwater and 1.2 meters shockproof. The Optio W90 also has a ‘microscope’ mode, in which three LED lights surrounding the lens illuminate the subject allowing for closer focusing.
The shockproof compact end of the market has grown at an impressive rate in recent years, with Olympus’ Tough range and the Panasonic FT models being joined recent by the Sony TX5 and Casio EX-G1. Pentax has a touch more pedigree than most, with waterproof models dating back to 2006 with the W10. As the extra protection in front of the lens often limits image quality the Optio W90 will do well to produce better results than mid-range snaps.