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Monday, January 26, 2026

Pentax Optio WG-II, Couldn't Ask For More

Pentax Optio WG-II
Compact Comeback: Image-making with the Pentax Optio WG-II, a rugged, 16MP, 5x optical-zoom compact camera designed for extreme environments.
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For vintage enthusiasts seeking the fun and flair of an affordable compact comeback camera, the Pentax Optio WG-II, a rugged point-and-shoot camera designed for outdoor adventure photography, is a very apt choice to look at.

The camera combines durability with practical imaging features for activities like climbing, hiking, water sports, and everyday snapshots, and is handy enough to slip easily into your shirt pocket.

The Optio WG-II, launched in 2012 alongside its GPS-enabled sibling, is waterproof up to 12 meters, shockproof from drops of 1.5 meters, crushproof up to 100 kilograms, and freeze-proof to -10°C.

Specifications include a 1/2.3-inch 16MP BSI CMOS sensor, an ISO range from 125 to 6400, a 5x optical zoom lens equivalent to a 28-140mm zoom on a full-frame camera with an aperture of f/3.5-5.5, and a 3.0-inch 460,000-dot high-resolution LCD screen with an anti-reflective coating.

Pentax Optio WG-II

Notable for the digital compact are the six LED macro lights positioned around the periphery of the lens to enable the camera to be used for macro photography, with a minimum focusing distance of just 1 centimeter.

Pentax Optio WG-II
Pentax Optio WG-II
Pentax Optio WG-II
Pentax Optio WG-II
Pentax Optio WG-II
Pentax Optio WG-II

Exposure modes include a selection of scenes covering underwater photography, landscape, portrait, fireworks, and sports. Face detection supports up to 32 faces with smile capture and blink detection functions. A unique 'Handheld Night Snap' mode combines four exposures to improve low-light results, while the 'Digital Microscope' mode allows for extreme close-focusing at just 1 centimeter.

Pentax Optio WG-II
Pentax Optio WG-II

Barring trade-offs such as handling limitations and image quality not comparable to higher-end cameras, there isn't much more you could ask for, really. In normal lighting conditions, images are crisp and well-saturated straight out of the camera, requiring little to no adjustments for posting, and the sense of security from having a camera you can take anywhere and do most everything you do, justifies its value.



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