Ricoh has launched a new rugged camera, the WG-30W (formerly under the Pentax Optio brand). The big update here is built-in Wi-Fi, which lets you pair with a smartphone for image transfers and uploads, as well as remote operation.
The WG-30W has that trademark design and form-factor shared by other WG cameras. It uses a new back-illuminated 16-megapixel CMOS sensor for better low-light performance. But it isn’t as rugged as the WG-4. The WG-30W is waterproof down to 40 feet and shockproof from 5 feet, versus the WG-4’s 45 feet and 6.6 feet, respectively; the WG-30W is also crushproof (up to 220 pounds), withstands temperatures down to 14 degrees Fahrenheit, and is dustproof. Still, it’s fairly rugged.
Related: Ricoh joins the likes of GoPro, Sony with its first action cam, the WG-M1
The new camera has the Digital Microscope mode that lets you get sharper details of close-up images, using six LED macro lights around the lens for better, even illumination. There’s no GPS, but you could possibly use your smartphone for geotagging info. Other specs include a 28mm wide-angle, 5x optical zoom lens; 2.7-inch display (rated 230,000 dots); digital image stabilization; and Full HD 1080 video recording at 30 frames per second.
The WG-30W comes in Carbon Grey and Flame Orange colors, and there are 10 optional mounts you can add. The camera costs $300, and will be available in December. The previous WG-20 was billed as an entry-level rugged camera, but the WG-30W costs as much as the WG-4 with GPS, but the attraction here is the Wi-Fi, which is a nice bonus for a travel camera.
Globally, there is also a non-Wi-Fi version, the WG-30, but Ricoh hasn’t announced its availability in the U.S., if it’s even coming here in the future.
