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Pentax W80

 
Pentax Optio W80 front
 
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 64 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 156g - 100 x 56 x 25mm
  • Announced June 2009
  • Read full specs
  • Alternatives
  • Size Comparison
  • FAQ
Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
21
Overall
29

Pentax W80 summary

Pentax W80 is Pentax's Small Sensor Compact digital camera first launched on June of 2009. The camera comes with a 12MP, CCD 1/2.3" sized sensor and has a full resolution of 4000 x 3000.

The W80 is rated #198 out of 261 in Small Sensor Compact cameras & over-all #1151 out of 1465 for digital cameras in our collection. Please look at our Advanced camera search to see camera results based on your custom factors.

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Here is a diagram of multiple factors used in the rating system.

Pentax W80 history

The Pentax W80 is part of a family of cameras. You can read the complete range underneath.

ModelVisualizeLensResolutionSensor SizeReleased
Pentax-WG-3 front thumbnailPentax WG-3
W80 vs WG-3
25-100mm
F2.0-4.9
16MP1/2.3"2013
Pentax-WG-3-GPS front thumbnailPentax WG-3 GPS
W80 vs WG-3 GPS
25-100mm
F2.0-4.9
16MP1/2.3"2013
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Pentax-WG-10 front thumbnailPentax WG-10
W80 vs WG-10
28-140mm
F3.5-5.5
14MP1/2.3"2013
Pentax-Optio-WG-2 front thumbnailPentax WG-2
W80 vs WG-2
28-140mm
F3.5-5.5
16MP1/2.3"2012
Pentax-Optio-WG-2-GPS front thumbnailPentax WG-2 GPS
W80 vs WG-2 GPS
28-140mm
F3.5-5.5
16MP1/2.3"2012
Pentax-Optio-WG-1-GPS front thumbnailPentax WG-1 GPS
W80 vs WG-1 GPS
28-140mm
F3.5-5.5
14MP1/2.3"2011
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Pentax-Optio-WG-1 front thumbnailPentax WG-1
W80 vs WG-1
28-140mm
F3.5-5.5
14MP1/2.3"2011
Pentax-Optio-W90 front thumbnailPentax W90
W80 vs W90
28-140mm
F3.5-5.5
12MP1/2.3"2010
Pentax-Optio-WS80 front thumbnailPentax WS80
W80 vs WS80
35-175mm
F3.8-4.7
10MP1/2.3"2009
Pentax-Optio-W60 front thumbnailPentax W60
W80 vs W60
28-140mm
F3.5-5.5
10MP1/2.3"2009
Pentax-Optio-W80 front thumbnailPentax W8028-140mm
F3.5-5.5
12MP1/2.3"2009
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Pentax W80 Pros and Cons

Below is a shortlist of pluses and minuses of the Pentax W80 based on things which are typically regarded as necessary in a digital camera.

flash built-in
good zoom range (28-140mm 5.0 x zoom)
great minimum ISO (64)
manual focus
really wide (28mm)
weather proofing
continuous shooting slow (1.0 fps)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
has no phase detect autofocus
has no RAW format
lack of image stabilization
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing HDMI out
missing headphone support
missing mic support
no aperture priority mode
no articulating screen
no external flash support
no manual control
no shutter priority
screen has low resolution (230 k dots)
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
slow at full zoom (f5.5)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
small sensor (1/2.3")
tiny screen (2.5 inch)
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Pentax W80 Sensor info

The sensor size on the Pentax W80 is 6.08mm x 4.56mm (1/2.3"). The 28 mm² sensor has the capability to capture 4000 x 3000 pixels at aspect ratios of 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9.

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The CCD sensor has 12 megapixels and gives a standard ISO range of 64 to 6400. Sadly, RAW photos are not saved therefore the user has less room to maneuver in post.

The graphic underneath illustrates the W80's sensor dimensions when compared to other popular sizes. The W80 sensor has a crop factor of 5.9 and is highlighted in green.

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To get a sense of different aspect ratios, you can refer to the graphic below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Pentax W80 dimensions

Pentax W80 weighs in at 0.34 lbs (156 gr or 5.50 ounces) & the sizing of the camera is 100mm x 56mm x 25mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0"). The weight of average Small Sensor Compact camera is 174 gr and the Pentax W80 is less heavy when compared with its rivals.

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Here is a picture of the Pentax W80 besides a soda so you're able to get a sense of its scale.

Pentax Optio W80 dimensions scale

The top view underneath will provide the button layout on the W80.

Pentax Optio W80 topview buttons dials

Pentax W80 Lens info

The W80 features a built in lens providing a focal range of 28-140mm giving it a 5.0 x zoom which might not be perfect however it will probably be invaluable in a few circumstances.

At the widest 28mm, it features an aperture of f3.5 and that is really slow and not good for low light situations and you will likely find it difficult to get a shallow depth of field. You could also need to boost the ISO leading to noisy photos. Towards the tele end, 140mm comes at f5.5 which is quite slow and you would need to utilize slower shutter speeds.

Photography Glossary

Pentax W80 Connectivity

The W80 has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes

Digital cameras with NFC and Bluetooth compatibility can be controlled wirelessly with smartphones. You can copy files and usually alter settings with no need to connect physically to the camera.

Certain applications even provide a Liveview and release the shutter when you are not near the camera. If the camera includes a HDMI port, it can be hooked up to an external screen. Almost all cameras enable you to recharge the battery pack through the USB port.

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Pentax W80 Video info

The highest possible video quality on the Pentax W80 is 1280 x 720 and you can capture in Motion JPEG file format. 720p is low for today's standards. You should really shoot for at least 1080p quality for decent video. The camera does not offer a microphone and headphone port which means that you get no control over the audio. It is perhaps a better idea to shop for an alternative model should you want better audio for your videos.

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Pentax W80 Weather Sealing

Pentax W80 comes with weather proofing making it a great option for use in tricky environments. This can be especially valuable in case you are uncertain about the conditions you might face in outdoor photography.

Pentax W80 Screen and Viewfinder

The Pentax W80 comes with a 2.5" fixed screen boasting a resolution of 230k dots.

Please note that the screen has no touch support.

Pentax Optio W80 screen and viewfinder Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

The ViewFinder specifications for Pentax W80 are below:

  • ViewFinder None

For sunny outdoor conditions which make the camera displays washed out and tough to see, viewfinders can be rather useful.

Pentax W80 Shutter info

Pentax W80 has the capability to shoot continuously at 1.0 fps. The highest shutter speed is 1/1500 sec.

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Pentax W80 Flash and Hot shoe info

Pentax W80 features only built-in flash with missing external flash support.

Pentax W80 Autofocus info

Pentax W80 features just Contrast Detect AF & does not have Phase Detect AF. Phase Detection focusing is a lot quicker and precise when compared with Contrast Detect focusing.

It comes with 9 focus points to choose from. Pentax W80 includes manual focus in case it is needed in low light situations or you need more precise control on focus.

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Pentax W80 Battery life

The average Small Sensor Compact camera battery life is 241. Fujifilm X30 offers the best (470) battery life in this category of cameras.

Below is a number of Small Sensor Compact cameras with the best battery life:

Pentax W80 for specific styles of photography

The following diagram gives a outline of the Pentax W80 for specific styles of photography. To check out more, have a look at the specific section underneath.

Pentax W80 Portrait photography information

The Pentax W80 has a points tally of 27 which is terrible, meaning that it is simply not acceptable for portrait photos. Taking portraits leans heavily to sensor specs, RAW support together with the ability to use off-camera lighting.

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focusing manually
no manual control
can't use external flash
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files

Pentax W80 Street photography info

With a modest score of 54, the Pentax W80 is relatively suitable for street photography. A very good street photography camera has a fine balance of image quality plus portability.

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weather proofing
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format

Pentax W80 Sports photography information

A terrible sports photography points tally of 24 means the Pentax W80 is simply not acceptable for shooting sports. A camera needs fantastic autofocus plus shutter speeds for sports photography.

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weather sealing
slow fps (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
low MP (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF

Pentax W80 Travel photography features

Portability is pretty critical when picking a camera for travel. In general, the Pentax W80 gets a very good 64 as a travel camera which is a very decent option for your vacations.

Photography Glossary
weather sealing
has built in flash
relatively wide (28mm)
low MP (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)

Pentax W80 Landscape photography details

For anybody who is planning to choose a camera for landscape photos, the biggest aspect is going to be image quality. The Pentax W80 and it's terrible grade of 37 for a landscape camera is simply not acceptable in the current market.

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you can focus manually
decently wide (28mm)
environment proof
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is small (2.5 inches)
no manual mode
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format

Pentax W80 Vlogging details

A vlogging camera preferably should posses a articulating display screen, microphone input and if possible IBIS. Taking all things in to account, the Pentax W80 is simply not acceptable as a vlog camera as it delivers a terrible score of 25.

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decently wide (28mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external microphone support

Pentax W80 Alternatives

If you need replacements to the W80, below is a collection of the highest scored cameras which fall within the class of Small Sensor Compact.

The line chart below offers you an overview of the W80 versus it's top ranking rivals suggested previously.

Following are additional cameras you might consider as alternative options. To read through a comprehensive comparison, go to the "compare" link.

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Specifications

General Information
Brand
Pentax
Model
Pentax Optio W80
Class
Small Sensor Compact
Announced
2009-06-25
Physical type
Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type
CCD
Sensor size
1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions
6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area
27.7mm²
Sensor resolution
12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio
4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution
4000 x 3000
RAW pictures
Highest native ISO
6400
Minimum native ISO
64
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points
9
Lens
Lens mount
fixed lens
Lens focal range
28-140mm (5.0x)
Maximal aperture
f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus distance
1cm
Crop factor
5.9
Screen
Screen type
Fixed Type
Screen sizing
2.5 inch
Resolution of screen
230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder
None
DXO scores
DXO Overall score
not tested
DXO Color Depth score
not tested
DXO Dynamic range score
not tested
DXO Low light score
not tested
Features
Minimum shutter speed
4 secs
Fastest shutter speed
1/1500 secs
Continuous shutter rate
1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range
3.90 m
Flash modes
Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions
1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution
1280x720
Video format
Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless
None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS
None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight
156 grams (0.34 pounds)
Dimensions
100 x 56 x 25mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0")
Other
Battery model
D-LI78
Self timer
Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type
SD/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots
One
Price at release
$250