A Digital Camera That Likes Water

NEW YORK - Unlike many of the bite-size silver cameras on the market these days, the Optio 43WR is more nifty than it is sexy. But, design aside, this water-resistant digital Pentax model released in June gets the job done--rain or shine.

The Optio won't fit in the fold of your wallet like Casio's Exilim EX-S2, which is slimmer than a deck of cards. And it doesn't have a stylish sliding lens cover like Sony's (nyse: SNE - news - people ) Cyber-shot DSC-T1. All the same, there's fashion and then there's function. If you're looking for a digital camera that will freeze-frame those embarrassing bathtub moments, splashes or no, the Optio may be just the thing.

Though the camera won't take pictures underwater--kiss the snorkeling goodbye--it can withstand waves at the beach or a day of sightseeing in the rain. With 4 megapixels worth of detail and a 2.8x zoom lens, the Optio provides amateur photographers with the means to produce photo-quality 11-by-15-inch prints, plenty big enough for framing your moment of tall-tale triumph fishing the ocean deep. Too bad it doesn't float.

Square and simple in look and feel, the camera's straightforward controls and icons make it a quick study. You can point and shoot in less than a second; the 1.6-inch LCD monitor snaps to life almost immediately. There are nine picture styles to choose from, including modes for night scenes and portraits (though the firework mode is overkill). Playing back pictures is fast and easy, and a sound feature allows you to record messages to go along with the stills. If stills aren't enough, you can take moving pictures and record sound at the same time, turning out small-scale home videos, by holding down the shutter release.

The Stylus 410, made by Olympus, is the Optio's closest equivalent. Similar to the Pentax model, the Stylus is a 4-megapixel camera with a water-resistant exterior, geared toward amateurs with a sporty or outdoorsy bent. But while the Optio, like Furby, is ugly but cute, the photogenic Stylus has been given a promotional boost by Olympus and is as sleek as its less-hardy rivals. The Olympus camera sells for about $330, while the Optio has a suggested retail price of about $350, though it can be found for less.

One complaint: The 3.2-by-3-inch Optio 43WR would benefit from a shape similar to Nikon's Coolpix line, which sports rectangular dimensions and a sturdy curved grip on the right side. As the 7.3-ounce Optio is marketed for use in action-filled situations like skiing or swimming, the presence of a better handhold would make a difference as far as shooting stability goes. Then again, if you drop your new toy, chances are it will withstand the fall, thanks to the rounded rubber corners. Not a lot of sparkle, but at least it's sturdy.