Pentax Optio 33WR

The Optio 33WR may not be to everyone's taste with its plain, square design, but looks aren't everything. The camera weighs just over 200g, so is both compact and easily portable and it is a 3.2-megapixel model, which is good quality for a camera of this size.

The 33WR has a 2.8 optical zoom, which isn't as good as similarly priced cameras but is acceptable. It offers a good range of shooting modes, though, including environmental settings for surf, snow, sunset and fireworks.

In addition, there's a movie-recording mode and a voice message feature, which is great for verbally annotating pictures.

The main attraction of the 33WR, though, is its build quality - it is water-resistant and sand-proof. It's not an underwater camera, but Pentax claims that the watertight shell prevents damage if it's dropped in the sea.

It comes with a 16Mb SD card and two AA batteries. You can also use rechargeable batteries but you'll have to buy these separately. It's not cheap, but its unique features make it a joy for travellers and holiday makers.

Contact: Pentax 01753 792731
www.pentax.co.uk