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Canon A1200 vs Pentax WG-3

Portability
92
Imaging
35
Features
19
Overall
28
Canon PowerShot A1200 front
 
Pentax WG-3 front
Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
44
Overall
41

Canon A1200 vs Pentax WG-3 Key Specs

Canon A1200
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 185g - 98 x 63 x 31mm
  • Revealed January 2011
Pentax WG-3
(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
  • 230g - 124 x 64 x 33mm
  • Revealed July 2013
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Canon A1200 vs Pentax WG-3 Overview

Let's take a deeper look at the Canon A1200 vs Pentax WG-3, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Waterproof by rivals Canon and Pentax. There is a sizeable difference among the resolutions of the A1200 (12MP) and WG-3 (16MP) but they come with the same exact sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The A1200 was manufactured 3 years earlier than the WG-3 which is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving through a thorough comparison, below is a quick view of how the A1200 grades versus the WG-3 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon A1200 over the Pentax WG-3

 A1200 WG-3 

Reasons to pick Pentax WG-3 over the Canon A1200

 WG-3 A1200 
RevealedJuly 2013January 2011More modern by 30 months
Manual focus Dial exact focusing
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kSharper screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Canon A1200 and Pentax WG-3

 A1200 WG-3 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch screen Neither provides Touch screen

Canon A1200 vs Pentax WG-3 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to carry around your camera often, you're going to have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Canon A1200 provides exterior measurements of 98mm x 63mm x 31mm (3.9" x 2.5" x 1.2") having a weight of 185 grams (0.41 lbs) whilst the Pentax WG-3 has proportions of 124mm x 64mm x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") having a weight of 230 grams (0.51 lbs).

Check out the Canon A1200 vs Pentax WG-3 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have attached at that time. Here is the front view measurement comparison of the A1200 and the WG-3.

Canon A1200 vs Pentax WG-3 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the A1200 and WG-3 is 92 and 90 respectively.

Canon A1200 vs Pentax WG-3 top view buttons comparison

Canon A1200 vs Pentax WG-3 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's difficult to visualise the contrast in sensor sizes just by going through technical specs. The image underneath might provide you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the A1200 and WG-3.

As you can tell, the 2 cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same megapixels. You should count on the Pentax WG-3 to show extra detail due to its extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also help you crop shots far more aggressively. The more aged A1200 will be behind in sensor tech.

Canon A1200 vs Pentax WG-3 sensor size comparison

Canon A1200 vs Pentax WG-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon A1200 vs Pentax WG-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon A1200 Portrait photography info
Pentax WG-3 Portrait photography info
26
offers face detect focusing
lack of manual focus
lack of manual exposure
can't use external flash
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
41
you can focus manually
decent MP (16MP)
has face detect autofocus
manual mode not available
external flash not possible
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Canon A1200 Street photography information
Pentax WG-3 Street photography information
46
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
61
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proof
no articulating screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Canon A1200 Sports photography highlights
Pentax WG-3 Sports photography highlights
23
offers tracking focus
slow frames per second (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
bad battery (200 per charge)
lacks phase detect AF
45
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
has tracking focus
environment proof
no shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery pack (240 shots)
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon A1200 Travel photography factors
Pentax WG-3 Travel photography factors
55
flash built-in
pretty wide (28mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
bad battery (200 per charge)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
72
environment proof
decent MP (16MP)
built-in flash
rather wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
bad battery pack (240 shots)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Canon A1200 Landscape photography advice
Pentax WG-3 Landscape photography advice
27
pretty wide (28mm)
lack of manual focus
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
screen is small (2.7 inches)
lack of manual exposure
no image stabilization
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
bad battery (200 CIPA)
lack of Time Lapse mode
54
you can focus manually
rather wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
environment proof
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
manual mode not available
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
bad battery pack (240 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon A1200 Vlogging factors
Pentax WG-3 Vlogging factors
27
pretty wide (28mm)
offers face detect focusing
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of mic jack
36
rather wide (25mm)
great maximum aperture (f2.0)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detect autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
missing microphone support
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Canon A1200 vs Pentax WG-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon A1200 and Pentax WG-3
 Canon PowerShot A1200Pentax WG-3
General Information
Brand Canon Pentax
Model Canon PowerShot A1200 Pentax WG-3
Class Small Sensor Compact Waterproof
Revealed 2011-01-05 2013-07-19
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip DIGIC 4 with iSAPS technology -
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 1600 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 125
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-112mm (4.0x) 25-100mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/2.0-4.9
Macro focus range 3cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.7 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 230k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech TFT LCD Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (tunnel) None
Features
Min shutter speed 15 secs 4 secs
Max shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 1.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 4.00 m 3.40 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (24 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone 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 None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 185g (0.41 lb) 230g (0.51 lb)
Dimensions 98 x 63 x 31mm (3.9" x 2.5" x 1.2") 124 x 64 x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 200 pictures 240 pictures
Battery style AA Battery Pack
Battery model 2 x AA D-LI92
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC/MMC/MMCplus/HCMMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal
Card slots One One
Launch cost $109 $300