Pentax introduces the rugged Optio WG-2 cameras
The Optio WG-2 and WG-2 GPS combined rugged bodies with 16-megapixel sensors and full HD video in Pentax’s 2012 announcement.
Pentax introduced the Optio WG-2 and Optio WG-2 GPS as rugged compact digital cameras with water-, dust- and impact-resistant bodies, improved high-sensitivity image quality and full HD video.
A back-illuminated CMOS sensor was designed to reduce noise at sensitivity settings up to ISO 6400, paired with a new image-processing engine. Pentax said the combination would improve low-light photography, including evening scenes and dim indoor arenas, producing sharper images with fewer artifacts than earlier models.
Both cameras had 16 effective megapixels and recorded H.264 full HD video at 1920 × 1080 pixels. The high-resolution LCD had an anti-reflection treatment for use in bright sunlight. The bodies were rated waterproof to 12 meters under IPX8 and JIS Class 8 specifications.
The WG-2 GPS added a newly developed GPS module aimed at nature and travel photographers. It automatically corrected the clock to local time and logged the photographer’s movements.
Pentax specified resistance to drops from 1.5 meters and operation in temperatures down to −10°C.
Features included high-speed recording for slow-motion playback and interval movies. Digital Microscope mode activated six LEDs around the lens to illuminate close subjects. Face recognition could identify up to 32 faces in 0.03 seconds, alongside Smile Capture and 16 automatic scene modes.
The 5× optical zoom began at a 28 mm wide-angle equivalent in 35 mm terms, covering a broad range of shooting situations. Dual remote-control receivers were also included.
Availability was scheduled for March 2012, with approximate prices of SEK 2,899 for the WG-2 and SEK 3,299 for the WG-2 GPS.
