I also really like the features it has. It has a good zoom, lots of programmed settings, movie mode, high speed shutter, and the green button which allows you to be using one mode and hit one button to be in another pre-set mode. I think that the quality and features are comparable with a lot of cameras that cost as much or more, and it’s waterproof.

To be upfront with it, the image quality is not the best. It’s 6 megapixels, but there’s a lot more to quality than having the most pixels. From a pure image quality standpoint, I’d rather have one of Canon’s many offerings. Compared side-by-side with a Canon S550 (granted a more expensive camera with more pixels), the Pentax showed noise where the Canon showed weave pattern in a subject’s sweater. Also, I’m used to shooting pro-level dSLRs so the difference in image quality was a bit of a surprise. Compared to the T4 film option I’m used to, I think I’m still bringing my film camera for those more difficult situations because there’s just more info on the film and the lens is still better on that camera. Also, it lacks an AF-assist light which would really help in dim situations.

However, and this is important, I realize that most of the images I take with this camera are only going to be viewed online or will not be printed larger than 4×6. I have not yet printed images from this camera, but I think for that print size it will probably be fine. For web purposes, it’s more than good. The many options in image size is very handy when you know you’re going to web with an image. The sunset shots I took out the airplane window, while noisy, still have good gradation from black to white.

Getting back to the reason I bought this camera in the first place, I’m very pleased with its ability to function in wet conditions. I haven’t taken it underwater yet, but I did shoot video with it while snowboarding and found out my skills definitely go down while trying to shoot video. But the camera kept going after being dunked in snow repeatedly. It was also snowing/raining so there was more than dry powder to deal with. The buttons, while small, are spaced far enough apart that I could activate them with gloves on. The screen was plenty big and legible from oblique angles while heading downhill with goggles on. Be aware, however, that the battery is physically not very big and therefore low temps have a noticable affect on battery life.

One of the best features is the green button- it can be changed to access up to four different options/settings. I use mine for 1.exposure compensation; 2. white balance; 3. ISO setting; and 4. green (dummy) mode. So easy to set up and very useful if you still want some manual overrides (since there’s no actual manual or priority modes, just different program modes). Without the green button, using the exposure compensation requires going into the menus and changing it but not seeing results until it’s set- with the green button, it operates like every other camera, ie allowing you to see the changes as you make them.

Basically, foul weather functionality was the priority and I was pleasantly surprised by the easy and customizable interface (you can change the order of the program modes and the camera remembers certain custom settings, too). I was not impressed with the image quality and it’s not replacing my film p+s or dSLRs anytime soon, but it’s good for what I need it to do which is largely surviving being on the outside of my backpack or in my pocket in the rain, snow and dirt and still be ready to take a decent image when I turn it on.