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Pentax WG-8
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Pentax · Compact · 20.2 MP · 1/2.3” · 4K video

Pentax WG-8

From $426.95 — 1 offer
KEY FACTS
BrandPentax
Announcement dateJun 2024
Released2024
Camera typeCompact
What We Like
+Exceptional waterproof, shockproof, freezeproof, and crushproof durability for extreme conditions
+Outstanding macro photography capability with 6-LED ring light and 1cm minimum focus distance
+4K video recording with advanced Movie SR+ stabilization technology
+Built-in GPS for geotagging and travel logging; useful webcam mode for streaming
+Rugged aluminum construction with glove-friendly controls and sealed design
Worth Knowing
−Image quality is merely adequate; not competitive with premium compact or mirrorless cameras
−No RAW format support, only JPEG—limiting for post-processing flexibility
−Limited exposure controls with no Aperture Priority or Shutter Priority modes
−Slower autofocus and less advanced manual features compared to enthusiast cameras

General

Brand
Pentax
Announcement date
ⓘ
Refers to the date the manufacturer publicly announced the upcoming release and general specs of this camera.
Jun 2024
Released
ⓘ
Refers to the year this camera was officially made available for sale.
2024
Camera type
Compact
Read our notes on general
The Pentax WG-8 is the toughest model in the WG series, featuring outstanding waterproof, shockproof, and cold-resistant performance to 20 meters depth, 2.1-meter drop resistance, and -10°C operation. With a back-illuminated 20-megapixel CMOS sensor and five-times optical zoom (28-140mm equivalent), it delivers high-resolution images and versatile focal coverage. As a rugged point-and-shoot compact, it excels in extreme conditions, delivering color-rich images with pleasing detail suited to its intended adventure photography purpose. While image quality is adequate and it lacks RAW capability, its LED ring light for macro work and genuine durability make it valuable for harsh environments where standard cameras would fail.

Sensor

Type
Back-illuminated CMOS
Resolution
20.2 megapixels (5184 x 3888)

Optics

Focal Length
5-25mm (28-140mm equivalent in 35mm format)
Zoom
5x optical zoom
Minimum Focus Distance
1cm (macro mode)
Sensor format
ⓘ
Refers to the most commonly used sensor sizes.
1/2.3”
Megapixels
ⓘ
The higher the number of megapixels, the more detail the cameras sensor can capture.
20.2 MP050

Exposure

ISO Range
125-6400
Shutter Speed
1/4000 to 1/4 second
Metering
Multiple modes with spot metering

Video

Resolution
4K (3840 x 2160)
Frame Rate
30fps
Codec
H.264
Stabilization
Movie SR and Movie SR+ modes
Max video resolution
ⓘ
The best resolution this camera can capture video in. Modern cameras can capture up to 8K video.
4K

Build durability

Waterproof
20 meters (65.6 feet), up to 2 hours continuous (IPX8/JIS Class 8)
Shockproof
2.1 meters (6.8 feet) drop
Freezeproof
-10°C (14°F)
Crushproof
100 kgf (kilogram force)

Display

LCD Size
3.0-inch
LCD Resolution
1,040,000 dots
Aspect Ratio
3:2
Anti Reflective Coating
Yes

Features

Ring Light
6-LED multi-application ring light
GPS
Built-in with travel log
Autofocus
9-point contrast-detect AF with manual focus option
Scene Modes
24 options including auto picture, underwater, macro, depth of field composite
Webcam
Full HD (1920 x 1080) at 30fps via USB Video Class mode
Recording Format
JPEG (no RAW support)

Connectivity

USB
USB-C
Video Output
HDMI Type D
Memory Card
SDXC, SDHC, SD