Pentax Unveils The WG-10 Waterproof Digital Camera

The outside world is a dangerous place for cameras, fraught with drops and jostles and inconvenient wet environments, whether it be pouring rain or an underwater subject. As such, there's no such thing as too many cameras aimed for the outdoorsy market, such as the recently unveiled Pentax WG-10. This model offers a water and shock-proof body complete with a unique, rugged design that hints at both the camera's durability and intended market.

The WG-10 is a compact, lightweight camera offerings basic specs, making it an underwater-capable point-and-shoot that can be easily pocketed and pulled out for impromptu images. The camera can be taken to water depths of nearly 33 feet (10 meter), and can withstands drops from nearly 5 feet (1.5 meters). Likewise, it can handle temperatures down to 14 degrees Fahrenheit.

In addition, the WG-10 is crush-proof with up to 100 kilograms of force and dustproof, being tested at JIS Class 6. The battery offers 2 hours of continuous use, and a Digital Microscope mode that utilizes five LEDs arranged around the camera's lens for uniform lighting. The lights are designed to illuminate brighter briefly during the shutter release in order to reduce blurs that result from slight vibrations and handshakes in macro photography.

As far as specs go, this camera from Pentax offers a 2.7-inch LCD display with a 16:9 aspect ratio and anti-reflection coating. There's a 28mm wide-angle lens, as well as 5x optical zoom and 6.7x digital zoom. The CCD sensor clocks in at 14-megapixels, ISO ranges from 80 to 6400, and videos can be recorded in up to 720p HD. The camera is set to hit shelves in April for $179.95.

[via Pentax]