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Canon ELPH 500 HS vs Pentax WG-3 GPS

Portability
94
Imaging
36
Features
40
Overall
37
Canon ELPH 500 HS front
 
Pentax WG-3 GPS front
Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
43
Overall
41

Canon ELPH 500 HS vs Pentax WG-3 GPS Key Specs

Canon ELPH 500 HS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3.2" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-105mm (F2.0-5.8) lens
  • 185g - 101 x 56 x 25mm
  • Released February 2011
  • Alternate Name is IXUS 310 HS / IXY 31S
Pentax WG-3 GPS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-100mm (F2.0-4.9) lens
  • 238g - 125 x 64 x 33mm
  • Announced July 2013
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Canon ELPH 500 HS vs Pentax WG-3 GPS Overview

Here is a in depth analysis of the Canon ELPH 500 HS vs Pentax WG-3 GPS, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Waterproof by competitors Canon and Pentax. There exists a noticeable gap among the sensor resolutions of the ELPH 500 HS (12MP) and WG-3 GPS (16MP) but they possess the same exact sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The ELPH 500 HS was unveiled 3 years earlier than the WG-3 GPS and that is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before we go straight into a full comparison, below is a brief view of how the ELPH 500 HS scores versus the WG-3 GPS for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon ELPH 500 HS over the Pentax WG-3 GPS

 ELPH 500 HS WG-3 GPS 
Screen sizing3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution461k460kSharper screen (+1k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax WG-3 GPS over the Canon ELPH 500 HS

 WG-3 GPS ELPH 500 HS 
AnnouncedJuly 2013February 2011Fresher by 29 months
Manual focus More accurate focus

Common features in the Canon ELPH 500 HS and Pentax WG-3 GPS

 ELPH 500 HS WG-3 GPS 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen

Canon ELPH 500 HS vs Pentax WG-3 GPS Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to carry your camera frequently, you'll have to think about its weight and proportions. The Canon ELPH 500 HS enjoys outer measurements of 101mm x 56mm x 25mm (4.0" x 2.2" x 1.0") with a weight of 185 grams (0.41 lbs) whilst the Pentax WG-3 GPS has measurements of 125mm x 64mm x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") and a weight of 238 grams (0.52 lbs).

Analyze the Canon ELPH 500 HS vs Pentax WG-3 GPS in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you choose at that moment. Following is the front view overall size comparison of the ELPH 500 HS compared to the WG-3 GPS.

Canon ELPH 500 HS vs Pentax WG-3 GPS size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the ELPH 500 HS and WG-3 GPS is 94 and 90 respectively.

Canon ELPH 500 HS vs Pentax WG-3 GPS top view buttons comparison

Canon ELPH 500 HS vs Pentax WG-3 GPS Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its difficult to see the difference in sensor sizing purely by researching specs. The photograph underneath will help provide you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the ELPH 500 HS and WG-3 GPS.

All in all, the two cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same MP. You can expect the Pentax WG-3 GPS to render greater detail having an extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop pictures far more aggressively. The older ELPH 500 HS will be behind in sensor tech.

Canon ELPH 500 HS vs Pentax WG-3 GPS sensor size comparison

Canon ELPH 500 HS vs Pentax WG-3 GPS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon ELPH 500 HS vs Pentax WG-3 GPS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon ELPH 500 HS as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax WG-3 GPS as a Portrait photography camera
27
has face detection focusing
focusing manually not possible
no manual exposure
external flash not possible
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
41
you can focus manually
MP count good (16 megapixels)
offers face detect autofocus
manual mode not possible
no external flash support
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Canon ELPH 500 HS Street photography factors
Pentax WG-3 GPS Street photography factors
62
image stabilization (Optical)
features focus by touch
fixed screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
59
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proof
screen is fixed
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
heavier than others (238g)
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Sports Comparison

Canon ELPH 500 HS Sports photography advice
Pentax WG-3 GPS Sports photography advice
26
image stabilization (Optical)
max frames per second very slow (3.0 fps)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (180 per charge)
does not have phase detect AF
45
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16MP)
offers tracking focus
environment proof
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery (240 shots)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon ELPH 500 HS Travel photography info
Pentax WG-3 GPS Travel photography info
64
features focus by touch
built-in flash
rather wide (24mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
not so great battery pack (180 per charge)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
69
environment proof
MP count good (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
quite wide (25mm)
great max aperture (f2.0)
bad battery (240 shots)
heavier than others (238g)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon ELPH 500 HS
Landscape photography with Pentax WG-3 GPS
40
rather wide (24mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
nice screen size (3.2 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
no manual exposure
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
not so great battery pack (180 shots)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
54
you can focus manually
quite wide (25mm)
great max aperture (f2.0)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
environment proof
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
manual mode not possible
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
bad battery (240 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon ELPH 500 HS Vlogging information
Pentax WG-3 GPS Vlogging information
37
rather wide (24mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
has touchscreen
image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
doesn't have external microphone socket
34
quite wide (25mm)
great max aperture (f2.0)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display is not selfie friendly
doesn't have mic support
heavier than others (238 grams)
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Canon ELPH 500 HS vs Pentax WG-3 GPS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon ELPH 500 HS and Pentax WG-3 GPS
 Canon ELPH 500 HSPentax WG-3 GPS
General Information
Make Canon Pentax
Model type Canon ELPH 500 HS Pentax WG-3 GPS
Also called as IXUS 310 HS / IXY 31S -
Category Small Sensor Compact Waterproof
Released 2011-02-07 2013-07-19
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip DIGIC 4 with iSAPS technology -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 3200 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 125
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-105mm (4.4x) 25-100mm (4.0x)
Max aperture f/2.0-5.8 f/2.0-4.9
Macro focusing range 3cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3.2 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 461k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology PureColor II Touch TFT LCD Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 secs 4 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames per sec -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 5.00 m 3.40 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (24fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30, 120 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 240 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 185 grams (0.41 pounds) 238 grams (0.52 pounds)
Dimensions 101 x 56 x 25mm (4.0" x 2.2" x 1.0") 125 x 64 x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 180 photographs 240 photographs
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-6L D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC/MMC/MMCplus/HC MMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Retail cost $175 $350