Pentax WG-90 review: the compact camera you can take ANYWHERE

The Pentax WG-90, like other tough cameras, is first and foremost one of the best waterproof cameras. However, the more I've been carrying and using it, the more I realize that it's also one of the best compact cameras you can buy.

I definitely use the Pentax WG-90 more like a compact, with its built-in zoom lens and point-and-click simplicity, than I do a dedicated waterproof camera. So if you're looking for a compact that's way more versatile (if way less cool) than the Fujifilm X100VI or Ricoh GR III, and newer and cheaper than Gen Z faves like the Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III, the WG-90 is worth seriously considering.

It does have some limitations, such as the lack of RAW shooting and 4K video, but strictly as a point-and-shoot stills device it makes a compact, convenient and capable companion. One that just so happens to also be waterproof, freezeproof, shockproof and crushproof.

Bear in mind, though, that the Pentax WG-90 is simply a rebadged Ricoh WG-80. Aside from the color and brand name, the cameras are identical.

Pentax WG-90: Specs

Pentax WG-90: Price & availability

The Pentax WG-90 is widely available and has an RRP of $329 / £379 / AU$629, though it currently sells for around $297 / £349 / AU$526.

The more advanced Ricoh WG-6 carries an RRP of $399 / £399 / AU$549, and offers more and fuller features than its sibling. Unless the WG-90 is a considerably cheaper price at checkout, I'd opt for the greater oomph of the WG-6.

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Pentax WG-90: Design & handling

As far as build quality goes, the Pentax WG-90 is hard to beat. And heard to beat up! It's waterproof to 45ft 11in / 14m, shockproof to drops from 5ft 3in / 1.6m, freezeproof to 14°F / -10°C, and crushproof to 220.5lbs / 100kg. In short, you can't break this thing.

Its aesthetics won't be to everyone's taste; personally, I feel that the blue flourishes on the camera I tested make it look like a cheap digital watch aimed at pre-teens. The all-black variant, however, is much more tasteful.

Handling-wise, I enjoyed using the WG-90. It's incredibly small and slim, making it genuinely pocketable even in your jeans (so long as you remove the metal lens hood, which I did at the first opportunity). The camera is textured to provide purchase, though some will balk that there's not a substantial grip or thumb rest. There is, however, an included carabiner strap (though I took the camera wild swimming with no strap and didn't drop it once!).

The controls are easy and comfortable to use, despite being shrunken in size. But the menu system, while functional, feels a bit on the basic side, and the rear screen is low-resolution by today's standards at just 230,000 dots – so your images look very smeary when taking or checking them (though they're obviously fine on a proper display).

Pentax WG-90: Photo performance

For what it's supposed to do, I can't criticize the Pentax WG-90. You can't adjust the aperture and you can't take RAW photos, because this camera isn't intended for that kind of shooting; the WG-90 is a point-and-shoot, pure and simple, designed so that anyone can pick it up and take a picture – and it does that job perfectly.

Photos come out well exposed (as you can see, some of my test shots were taken in harsh midday sunlight conditions) and the face detection works impressively well (though I didn't get to test the sister pet detection mode). In fact, despite using a contrast detect system, the autofocus did a good job of focusing on what I wanted to take a picture of even in busy and crowded scenes.

There are a selection of creative filters – such as Sepia, Toy Camera, Fish-eye and HDR – though unlike OM System's Art Filters or Fujifilm's Film Simulations, they're all a bit icky and none are really worth using.

The camera's slow aperture and ISO range limit its use in deep water, though the LEDs that surround the lens make it great for underwater macro shots. In fact, for macro shots in general this is a really fun camera; the quality isn't on par with the OM System Tough TG-7, but the LEDs give you concentrated illumination right where you need it (unlike the TG-7, where the light is offset).

Pentax WG-90: Sample images

Pentax WG-90: Video performance

If you're looking for an underwater or compact camera primarily to shoot video, you should definitely look elsewhere. Both the Tough TG-7 and Ricoh WG-6 offer 4K capture, where the WG-90 is limited to FullHD. But the quality of that FullHD is pretty potato-y, and not a patch on what your phone can do (especially in the sound department).

You also need to watch out for the nasty digital zoom, which degrades the image quality even further. On paper, it might sound nice that you can boost the zoom range beyond the native 140mm limit all the way to 1008mm, but you should never do this. Trust me, digital zoom (basically cropping into the image) on a 1/2.33'' sensor isn't a pretty sight.

This is compounded by the fact that the zoom button automatically pushes beyond that native 140mm limit. So if you're calmly trying to zoom in on something, you'll get a nasty surprise as the image quality all of a sudden turns into digital crop garbage and you quickly need to zoom out again.

For a few cool clips taken in the sea or swimming pool to put on your Stories, it's fine. But don't expect to use this as a vlogging camera.

Pentax WG-90: Sample video

Pentax WG-90: Verdict

As a stills-only device, the Pentax WG-90 is a capable compact camera that withstands virtually anything you can throw at it (or anything you throw it at!). For a straightforward camera that offers point-and-shoot simplicity, with minimal manual frills, it offers a good zoom range and fun macro capabilities.

If you're looking for more advanced features, such as manual controls and RAW shooting, or greater image fidelity, you will need to look elsewhere as that's simply not what this camera is for. It's a great take-anywhere vacation and adventure snapper, not a high-end imaging device.

The video quality is pretty horrid, and I wish that the rear screen was higher resolution to give me a cleaner look at what I'm taking a picture of, but otherwise the WG-90 does exactly what I ask it to. It won't be replacing the Tough in my camera bag, but as a glovebox camera or something that's always charged up by the front door to take out with me, it's a welcome addition to my kit.

Pentax WG-90: Alternatives

OM System Tough TG-7
My personal pick, and the one I own and use, the TG-7 has great image quality, 4K video, superb macro modes, RAW shooting, pre-capture bursts, and a Field Sensor System with GPS, altitude, temperature and compass data.

Ricoh WG-6
The sister model to the WG-90, this one has a 20MP sensor that's back-side illuminated for better low light performance. It captures 4K video, and has the ability to record GPS data with your files, but lacks WiFi connectivity.