(Credit: Ricoh Imaging)
After a few generations of Ricoh WG tough compacts, the series fully returns to its Pentax-branded roots with today's release of the WG-8 and WG-1000 compacts. These sit on either side of last year's Pentax WG-90 to round out a set of entry, mid, and premium rugged compact cameras.
WG-1000: Entry Rugged, With Filtered Looks
The WG-1000 is a new model in the line, one that serves creators on the entry level with some color filter effects. It snaps shots in a few different country-named styles, each with its own color cast filter: Japan Style is blue, Italian Style is Green, and French Style is red. Standard color, black-and-white, and sepia tones are available as well.
(Credit: Ricoh Imaging)The camera snaps 16MP photos in JPG format with a Type 1/2.3 BSI CMOS image sensor, so we don't expect it to match up that well against the latest smartphones in dim light, especially given its maximum ISO 3200 sensitivity. A 27-108mm zoom lens is decently bright at the wide angle (f/3.0), but narrows down to f/6.6 when zoomed in, and stabilization is fully digital with no optical IS included. As such it's a camera that you'll want to use on a sunny day; the built-in flash is a good idea for indoor snaps. Video features are basic too, just 1080p30 with H.264 encoding, there's no 4K support on this model.
You can take the WG-1000 to the beach, however. It is rated for up to an hour of continuous use at 65.6-foot (20-meter) depths, and is advertised as dustproof. It's also tough enough to survive 6.5-foot (2-meter) drops. A carabiner clip is included to prevent fumbles, and the camera also ships with a soft protective jacket to soften the impact and prevent scratches. The rear display is a little small, 2.7 inches, with a meager 230k dot resolution.
(Credit: Ricoh Imaging)The Pentax WG-1000 launches in mid-July and comes in either a gray or olive finish for $229.95.
WG-8: The Toughest WG Compact
The Pentax WG-8 replaces the Ricoh WG-6 in the series, with the change in the brand name and model number the only differentiator. Even so, its specs indicate that it's a capable pocket camera among limited competition in the ruggedized segment. It uses a 20MP Type 1/2.3 BSI CMOS sensor for JPG snaps at up to ISO 6400 sensitivity and 4K30 video. The lens covers the 28-140mm angles at F3.5-5.5, focuses as close as 1cm, and is surrounded by a LED flash array that provides illumination for macro photos.
(Credit: Ricoh Imaging)The WG-8 is very rugged too. It features a metal exterior and is rated for use at 65.6 feet (20 meters) underwater, is shockproof to 6.8 feet (2.1 meters), and crushproof to 220.5 pounds of force. An integrated GPS adds location data to pictures, and a sharp, 3-inch 1.04 million dot display is included to frame and review images. The WG-8 also supports UVC/UAC webcam streaming through its USB-C port.
You can get the Pentax WG-8 in black or green starting in late July for $399.95, which matches the retail price of the WG-6. However, the WG-6 is on discount for $50 off at press time, so there's no reason not to get the Ricoh edition for less while it's still available if you're shopping for a waterproof camera.
(Credit: Ricoh Imaging)We haven't had the chance to test either the WG-8 or WG-1000 as of yet. For more ruggedized camera choices, check out our list of the best waterproof cameras we've reviewed. If you're just looking for a small camera to slide into your pocket, we've also rounded up our favorite point-and-shoot cameras.