Pentax Optio w60's on Amazon.com

I finally broke down and bought a Pentax Optio W60 and thought I'd share the decent price I found.  Luckily for me our old digital camera is dying and I used the "Yes I want it for fishing, but we can also take it swimming/sledding/outside in winter with Owen" excuse and I got the green light.



There are a lot of cheap prices on the internet for this camera but they're almost always on scam sites.   If you find a really cheap price it pays to do a quick internet search for "[online retailer name] scam" and you'll usually find a few sites telling stories of woe.  Things like.. "I bought camera X and then I got a call asking me if I wanted the battery/instructions/cables and that they would cost me way too much money so I cancelled the order"

However, I found the Pentax Optio W60 new for $233 on Amazon.com.  I also found that they have it for $219 used (w/ opened box) and $202 used (w/ open box, minor cosmetic blem on unit) on Amazon.com with free shipping.  This camera currently retails for ~$300 at most legit online retailers. These are sold under the "Amazon Wharehouse Deals" label and come with .."All purchases eligible for Amazon customer service and 30 day return policy."

I took a bit of risk and went with the opened box unit for $219 and it looks like they have a couple more.  I should have this on Wednesday so I'll let you know.

Brian

Beauty of a cam B. I've got an older one and it's still rocking after all these years. I'm sure the bells and whistles on the new one are way too nice. Enjoy!

Z

That's the same camera that I was using on the water at PC. Kim bought it for her "swimming with whale sharks" adventure in Baja. Unfortunately, she fractured her spine on the boat trip out to the resort, so no photos on this vacation. I have also taken some video of the dogs with the camera, and really like the quality. The only problem is with the sound on the video. If you have the autofocus engaged, you can hear clicks in the sound. Also, if you have the video zoom engaged, you also the hear motor sound in the video. The battery life also isn't what I expected, so you really need extra batteries. Other than these minor problems, the camera is great!

By the way, Kim had to be emergency airlifted out of Baja back to San Diego. She's back home now and in a hospital bed in the living room.

Dave

Thanks for mini-review Dave.  I haven't owned a digicam yet that didn't make internal noice while autofocusing in movie mode.    One option is often to turn autofocus off.  I also ordered an extra battery.

I wish Kim well.  A fractured spine doesn't sound at all like fun.

Brian

Kim bought it for her "swimming with whale sharks" adventure in Baja. Unfortunately, she fractured her spine on the boat trip out to the resort, so no photos on this vacation. I have also taken some video of the dogs with the camera, and really like the quality.
By the way, Kim had to be emergency airlifted out of Baja back to San Diego. She's back home now and in a hospital bed in the living room.

Dave

I hope she recovers soon!  I also hope she took out a travel insurance policy before she left!!!  It's amazing how cheap it is and how much it can save you if you need it.

OUCH!
 I am so sorry to hear of her accident
 I'm sure you will take good care of her while she is down.
 Is she mobile?, or are you on the bedpan patrol?
 sending good thoughts yer way GDog

Thanks for mini-review Dave.  I haven't owned a digicam yet that didn't make internal noice while autofocusing in movie mode.    One option is often to turn autofocus off.  I also ordered an extra battery.

I wish Kim well.  A fractured spine doesn't sound at all like fun.

Brian

It would be so easy (and cheap!) to get rid of that autofocusing noise ... says the guy that spent years designing chips for camcorders and now designs chips that reduce/removes background noise for cell phones.   

Dave, give Kim our well wishes please.

-Allen

However, I found the Pentax Optio W60 new for $233 on Amazon.com.  I also found that they have it for $219 used (w/ opened box) and $202 used (w/ open box, minor cosmetic blem on unit) on Amazon.com with free shipping. 

Brian

Dang! I pulled the trigger too soon!!!!! (I just bought a new Oly 850wp) I really wanted another Pentax to replace the Oly that took a powder. But hey! That was a present for my wife!!!! Maybe I deserve a camera of my own with my initials.

By the way, Kim had to be emergency airlifted out of Baja back to San Diego. She's back home now and in a hospital bed in the living room.

Ouaweee! That is not fun at all! Take good care of her and I hope she gets well soon!

So I went with the open box to save ~$20.  I received the camera today and all looks well.  The box was obviously previously open but the camera and all the contents seemed fine.  Fine that is until I went to upload the photos.. they repackaged it with the wrong USB and A/V cables.  

To buy the replacement cables will cost about $20.  Luckily I have a card reader, but I'd really like the right cables.  I guess when I get back from my trip (I kind of need it for then) I'll see if I can't get this fixed under the Amazon warranty.

Brian

Dang Dave, sorry about Kim, hope she gets well soon.How did she hurt herself? any Surgery?

bummer on the mixed up cables B. I'm sure Amazon will make it right. Good price on that camera, i might(need to) pick one of those up.

Whoa, was it a rough boat trip or a fall? (Or both?) In any case I hope she recovers quickly.

Brian, when I bought my W30, I also bought a SanDisc SD card with built in USB. http://www.dpreview.com/news/0501/05010606sandisksdflip.asp I am sold- it's a piece of cake to load photos without bothering with cables. Also functions as a flash storage device.