Photo Test: Pentax Optio W80 waterproof compact and Sony A380

A new waterproof compact camera, the Pentax Optio W80, has joined the family of all-terrain photography equipment, putting itself up against current stars like the Canon Powershot D10 or the Panasonic Lumix FT1.

An entirely different camera, the digital SLR Sony Alpha 380 has a very impressive 14 Megapixel sesnor.

The Pentax Optio W80 has some very interesting features: waterproof to a depth of five metres, a 5x wide-angle optical zoom and a 30 fps 720p HD video mode to name just three.  What it lacks, though, is the powerful optical image stabilisation that's needed to rival today's very best cameras.  What's it like in real life though? 

With its new range of digital SLRs, Sony is placing an emphasis on ease of use with new instructional menus and a much simpler interface.  The Alpha 380 also has a few other exciting features, like a Live View mode that includes a very powerful Autofocus, or that 14 Megapixel sensor.

> Product Survey: Compact Digital Cameras 2009

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