New Pentax waterproof cameras released: WG-1000 and WG-8
Posted on Jun 7, 2024
Ricoh announces two new Pentax waterproof digital compact cameras: the entry-level Pentax WG-1000 and the high-end Pentax WG-8
The WG-100 and WG-8 join the WG series of durable, all-weather adventure cameras, featuring robust designs that are waterproof, dustproof, and shock-resistant.
Pentax WG-1000
The Pentax WG-1000 is aimed at enthusiasts who enjoy casual underwater photography, offering water resistance up to 49.2 feet (15 meters) for a continuous hour.
The WG-1000 is also engineered to withstand harsh conditions on land, with dustproofing and shock protection from up to 2m.
It’s also light and compact, weighing in at 220g and measuring 116 (W) x 68.5 (H) x 50.5 (D)mm. Add to this a carabiner strap and a protective jacket and you have a real take-anywhere camera.
Performance
From a performance point of view, the WG-1000 features a back-illuminated 16.35-megapixel CMOS sensor and a 4x optical zoom lens ranging from 4.9mm to 19.6mm (full frame equivalent of 27mm to 108mm). This can can also be extended to approximately 24 times using a digital zoom function.
Pentax WG-1000 (grey) | Image: Ricoh
Pentax WG-1000 (olive) | Image: Ricoh
PENTAX WG-8
The PENTAX WG-8 will replace the WG-6 and claim the title of toughest model in the WG series. It is waterproof to a depth of 20m, shockproof from falls up to 2.1m, and works in temperatures as low as -10°C. The camera weighs 242g and measures 118.2 (W) x 65.5 (H) x 33.1 (D)mm.
Performance
The WG-8 captures 20 megapixels of stills resolution and 4K video with a 1/2.3” CMOS sensor. Its five-times optical zoom lens covers 5mm to 25mm (full frame equivalent of 28mm to 140mm)
There is also an Intelligent Zoom function, which Ricoh says extends the zoom range by up to 40.5 times without losing image quality.
The lens has a minimum focusing distance of 1cm and maximum magnification of 0.4x. To complement such a close focusing distance, the WG-8 includes a built-in ring light for macro photography. This can also be used when recording video, which should interest vloggers.
PENTAX WG-8 (black) | | Image: Ricoh
PENTAX WG-8 (green) | Image: Ricoh
Price and availability
The WG-1000 will be available in grey or olive and is expected to ship mid-July 2024 for £249.99. The WG-8 will be available in black or green and is expected to ship in late July 2024 for £479.99.
For more details, visit the Ricoh website.
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