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TIPA Camera Test Online: Pentax Optio WG-1 GPS
By TIPA
Cameras
23 June 2011 12:41
The Pentax Optio WG-1 GPS is a compact camera with a 5x zoom lens (28-140mm) and a robust body which is water proofed to 10m, shock proofed (from a 1.5m drop) and has an integrated GPS system. The camera offers 14 MP resolution and some extraordinary features like “Digital Microscope” mode.
Comments on Handling:
The new Pentax WG-1 GPS is a camera for rough photo missions. Without an additional housing it can be used underwater to a depth of 10m depth, which is enough for water sports like sailing, white water rafting and more. The camera has a sturdy rubberised body - even a drop from a height of 1.5m or pressure up to 100kg won’t harm it.
The WG-1 offers-1 several scene modes including one that is particularly interesting - Digital Microscope - an addition to the standard macro setting. In Digital Microscope mode the camera uses 5 LEDs located around the lens to illuminate very small objects. Focusing is allowed down to a minimum distance of 1cm and the camera can still zoom in, therefore gathering an extremely detailed image of the subject. It’s perfect for coin or stamp collections for example.
The camera uses a 2.7inch sized LCD screen as electronic viewfinder and for menu navigation. The rear function control buttons have a very clear and noticeable pressure point making them useable even when wearing gloves in winter - the camera is frost proof down to -10 degrees C.
The camera’s integrated GPS system records geo data and saves this information in the EXIF data. This data can be used to place the location of the shot in Google Earth or similar software packages. It can also be used to classify these images to a special location in an image data base. However, the Pentax WG-1 GPS doesn’t offer a “travel guide” like the Panasonic TZ22 for example, which translates the GPS data into clear information (located city or street).
Test shots
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The WG-1 GPS created natural looking skin tones. Fine details like the hairs or the eye lashes are smoothed by the anti noise filtering, which causes an impressionist filter effect.
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The standard test box shows the shortcomings of the Pentax WG-1 GPS. The camera uses an intense anti-noise filtering (even in low ISO settings) and therefore softens image details. You will notice this effect in the metal sieve and the missing differentiation of red colours in the spool of yarn (upper right).
Comments on Image Quality
Colour:
The camera showed a very mixed behaviour in our colour tests. The standard test chart was reproduced with a saturation of only 98.34 percent, which is a very low result for a compact camera. While skin tones and most of the red, green and yellow colours hit their given values, some of the blue colours show vast aberrations. The automatic white balance system showed a very good performance when shooting the colour test chart, the model shot and the standard test box shot, although the exposure settings are a little bit low (P mode).
Sharpness:
The resolution results of the Pentax WG-1 GPS are disappointing. This is caused by the very intense anti-noise filtering, which is activated even in images taken with ISO 80 or ISO 100, and the heavy chromatic aberration effects of the lens system. The camera reproduced the ISO12233 chart with 2278 lines per picture height which is a poor result for a sensor with a nominal resolution of 3216 lines per picture height. The softening effects caused by the anti-noise filtering are clearly noticeable in our test shots, particularly on the hairs and eye lashes of he model and the metal sieve in the upper left of the box shot. In addition, the red spool of yarn in the upper right shows nearly no differentiation of the different red nuances.
Noise:
Although the camera uses an intense anti-noise filtering, all images taken even with low ISO speed settings show high luminance and colour noise. The luminance noise factor is nearly 1.0 in ISO 100 setting, but will increase insignificantly in higher ISO speed settings. This is based on the anti noise filtering which getting more intense with higher ISO settings. Colour noise is visible in images taken with ISO 200 or higher and shows annoying colour clouds/colour smear in images taken with ISO 800 and 1600. The “Noise spectrum” is high and smoothed, which causes the colour clouds.
The dynamic range results are on an average level for a compact camera with 1/2.333 in sensor. The camera gains a maximum of 9.89 f-stops in ISO 100 mode. Dynamic range will decline in higher ISO speed settings (6.4 f-stops in ISO 1600 mode).
Opinion
Pros:
+ waterproof down to 10m
+ shockproof (drop test 1.5m)
+ GPS system
+ easy handling, a lot of scene modes
+ innovative “microscope” mode for extreme macro shots
Cons:
- disappointing results in resolution tests
- LCD screen with low resolution
To download the PDF specifications sheet for the Pentax Optio WG-1 GPS, click HERE.
About TIPA
The Technical Image Press Association (TIPA) is a non-profit oranisation made up of a worldwide family of independent photo & imaging magazines with the most expert editors.
TIPA uses BetterNet GmbH in Heidelberg, Germany to perform routine digital camera tests based on an independent and objective testing method. The TIPA sponsored tests range from small compact cameras to popular DSLRs and even up to high-tech medium format models.
For more information on TIPA, its members and the annual TIPA Awards, visit www.TIPA.com.