Pentax Optio W90

[MikeW]

I am curious about the Pentax Optio W90 for taking pictures of pens, particularly the "Digital Microscope mode with LED lens lighting" that is supposed to "perfectly capture even the smallest and closest macro subjects as near as 1cm from the camera." Does anyone own or have they tried taking pen photos with this camera? How does it work? Does the Digital microscope with LED lens lighting work effectively or is it just a gimmick?

 

TIA for any assistance that you can provide.

Edited October 9, 2010 by MikeW

[MikeW]

One bump - is there no one who has direct or indirect knowledge of the performance of this pen?

[wimg]

It should actually work fine for pen photography. Any P&S with macro capability actually will.

 

HTH, warm regards, Wim

[MikeW]

Thanks Wim.

[wimg]

Sorry it is so little, but personally I only really shoot dslr these days. I always did like Pentax in the past (film), but with digital I switched to Canon, amongst others because they have much more on offer than Pentax has these days.

 

Warm regards, Wim

[Deirdre]

I am curious about the Pentax Optio W90 for taking pictures of pens, particularly the "Digital Microscope mode with LED lens lighting" that is supposed to "perfectly capture even the smallest and closest macro subjects as near as 1cm from the camera." Does anyone own or have they tried taking pen photos with this camera? How does it work? Does the Digital microscope with LED lens lighting work effectively or is it just a gimmick?

 

The modern Pentax does like its gimmicks, like this Lego phone.

 

That said, I don't know. I checked over on Serious Compacts but the lego camera was the only Pentax Optio model mentioned.

 

What I can tell you is this: it'll have noise issues, especially in low light, and at f/3.5 (at best), it's not particularly fast.

 

The sensor has 12 million pixels, but 1/8 the surface of a micro-4/3 camera, which is way smaller in sensor area than what Wim prefers.

 

Here's my secret for looking at cameras:

 

1) Pentax M90

 

...vs. two Micro 4/3 cameras...

 

2) Olympus E-PL1

 

3. Panasonic GF1

 

The secret, in short: look at flickr photos for the camera you're considering, and sort them by interestingness. In this case, I also added "macro" to the search. Then look at the photos full size (presuming you can find some).

[RLTodd]

Pbase has some W90 photos.

 

The Mosquito, I think, you might find looks interesting as does the long legged fly.

 

Steves Digicams tested the W90 and said the pictures were noisy at all ISO levels. (You have to judge for yourself on that one as I started with Ansco Super Hypan and pushed Tri X, so noisy/grainy is something I judge by different standards.) I imagine a person could download one of Steves pictures, take it down to Costco and have it printed out as a 8X10 to see if the noise met their level of satisfacion.

 

Steves example pictures don't appear to use the Super Macro function. The only closeup is a flower that I don't see as that "close".

[GirchyGirchy]

Go try it out at your LCS (Local Camera Shop).

 

Man, the Sample Image on Pentax's website of the red and white flower petals is just not good - are they trying to get you to buy the camera based on some out of focus blurry shot?

[RLTodd]

OTOH, take a look at the ant on the flower in this 4 megpix shot....

 

http://www.steves-digicams.com/camera-reviews/pentax/optio-w90/IMGP0339.JPG

 

It could probably be sharpened up but Steves said they shoot in the default mode with out adjustment.

 

The 1/2.3" sensor size is always going to be a limiting factor. The W90 would probably produce a cleaner picture if the resolution was set down to 5MP, but they don't test that way.

 

OP didn't mention what they want the pictures for, NET, 4x6 prints, 16x24 gallary prints, etc. The final use of the image is of some importance, in deciding what to buy also....

[Deirdre]

Go try it out at your LCS (Local Camera Shop).

 

Man, the Sample Image on Pentax's website of the red and white flower petals is just not good - are they trying to get you to buy the camera based on some out of focus blurry shot?

Most of the sample images appear muddy. What were they thinking?

[Deirdre]

OTOH, take a look at the ant on the flower in this 4 megpix shot....

 

http://www.steves-digicams.com/camera-reviews/pentax/optio-w90/IMGP0339.JPG

That's a way better shot than any on Pentax's site.