So we did some hiking recently with some friends and I took along our Pentax Optio W20. Mostly due to the fact that it was raining. This camera was a gift from a kayaker friend who keeps his in his PFD while boating. When we first got the camera I was not completely sold on a point in shoot.  But as you can see by my photos it does a pretty good job. The only issue I had with the camera was having it focus on what I wanted. This may have been due to operator error instead of  funtionalality,  but for a point and shoot I was impressed.

Digital Photography wrote that “the Optio W20 is the latest model in the PENTAX Optio W series of cameras that are waterproofed for underwater photography without requiring a waterproof case or other accessories. This model features a new Blur Reduction mode, which allows you take sharper photos without camera shake or subject blurring even of low-light scenes or fast-moving subjects, and an upgrade to a 7.0-effective-megapixel. All told, this camera boasts better image quality in a fun, easy-to-handle package.”

Major Features

1. Water and dust protection for worry-free use in all kinds of environments

2. New Blur Reduction mode reduces camera shake and subject blurring

3. Macro photography as near as 1 cm

4. 2.5-inch LCD monitor with superb visibility even outdoors

5. High-quality movies with an anti-shake function

6. Face Recognition AF & AE for beautiful one-step portraits

7. Auto-tracking AF continuously focuses on a moving subject

8. Digital filters add all kinds of fun expressions

9. Auto Picture mode automatically determines the best settings for the shooting
conditions

10. 3X optical zoom lens and 7.0 effective megapixels deliver outstanding pictures

11. Supports the SDHC memory card for greater storage of high-quality images and
longer movies