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Canon A2100 IS vs Pentax WG-2 GPS

Portability
92
Imaging
34
Features
20
Overall
28
Canon PowerShot A2100 IS front
 
Pentax Optio WG-2 GPS front
Portability
91
Imaging
38
Features
37
Overall
37

Canon A2100 IS vs Pentax WG-2 GPS Key Specs

Canon A2100 IS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 36-216mm (F3.2-5.9) lens
  • 185g - 102 x 64 x 32mm
  • Introduced February 2009
Pentax WG-2 GPS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 198g - 122 x 61 x 30mm
  • Introduced February 2012
Photography Glossary

Canon A2100 IS vs Pentax WG-2 GPS Overview

Below, we are analyzing the Canon A2100 IS and Pentax WG-2 GPS, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Waterproof by rivals Canon and Pentax. There is a sizeable difference between the sensor resolutions of the A2100 IS (12MP) and WG-2 GPS (16MP) but they possess the exact same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The A2100 IS was revealed 4 years earlier than the WG-2 GPS which is quite a large gap as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving through a step-by-step comparison, below is a short summary of how the A2100 IS scores against the WG-2 GPS with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon A2100 IS over the Pentax WG-2 GPS

 A2100 IS WG-2 GPS 

Reasons to pick Pentax WG-2 GPS over the Canon A2100 IS

 WG-2 GPS A2100 IS 
IntroducedFebruary 2012February 2009More modern by 36 months
Manual focus Dial accurate focus
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Canon A2100 IS and Pentax WG-2 GPS

 A2100 IS WG-2 GPS 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurements
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither has Touch friendly display

Canon A2100 IS vs Pentax WG-2 GPS Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to carry around your camera often, you will have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Canon A2100 IS has physical dimensions of 102mm x 64mm x 32mm (4.0" x 2.5" x 1.3") and a weight of 185 grams (0.41 lbs) and the Pentax WG-2 GPS has measurements of 122mm x 61mm x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2") along with a weight of 198 grams (0.44 lbs).

Look at the Canon A2100 IS and Pentax WG-2 GPS in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you use during that time. Underneath is the front view overall size comparison of the A2100 IS compared to the WG-2 GPS.

Canon A2100 IS vs Pentax WG-2 GPS size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the A2100 IS and WG-2 GPS is 92 and 91 respectively.

Canon A2100 IS vs Pentax WG-2 GPS top view buttons comparison

Canon A2100 IS vs Pentax WG-2 GPS Sensor Comparison

Often, its hard to visualize the gap between sensor sizes just by going over a spec sheet. The picture here will give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the A2100 IS and WG-2 GPS.

Clearly, the 2 cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but different megapixels. You should expect to see the Pentax WG-2 GPS to deliver extra detail because of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will allow you to crop images somewhat more aggressively. The more aged A2100 IS is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Canon A2100 IS vs Pentax WG-2 GPS sensor size comparison

Canon A2100 IS vs Pentax WG-2 GPS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon A2100 IS vs Pentax WG-2 GPS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon A2100 IS Portrait photography factors
Pentax WG-2 GPS Portrait photography factors
26
comes with face detect focus
manual focus not available
lack of manual exposure
can't use external flash
MP count low (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
39
manual focus
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
provides face detect focusing
manual exposure not possible
external flash not possible
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon A2100 IS Street photography features
Pentax WG-2 GPS Street photography features
55
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
54
environment proofing
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon A2100 IS
Sports photography with Pentax WG-2 GPS
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
slow fps (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
37
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
provides tracking focus
environment proofing
max fps low (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon A2100 IS Travel photography factors
Pentax WG-2 GPS Travel photography factors
50
built-in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
MP count low (12MP)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
wide angle not great (36mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
70
environment proofing
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
rather wide (28mm)
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon A2100 IS Landscape photography details
Pentax WG-2 GPS Landscape photography details
31
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (36mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
lack of manual exposure
MP count low (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
47
manual focus
rather wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3")
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
environment proofing
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
manual exposure not possible
lack of image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon A2100 IS as a Vlogging camera
Pentax WG-2 GPS as a Vlogging camera
27
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focus
wide angle not great (36mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
video res low (640 x 480 pxls)
doesn't have mic jack
30
rather wide (28mm)
provides face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have microphone support
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Canon A2100 IS vs Pentax WG-2 GPS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon A2100 IS and Pentax WG-2 GPS
 Canon PowerShot A2100 ISPentax Optio WG-2 GPS
General Information
Make Canon Pentax
Model Canon PowerShot A2100 IS Pentax Optio WG-2 GPS
Category Small Sensor Compact Waterproof
Introduced 2009-02-18 2012-02-07
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
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 surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 4288 x 3216
Max native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 125
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 36-216mm (6.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.2-5.9 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus distance 1cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 230k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech - Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 15 secs 4 secs
Max shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 3.50 m 5.40 m
Flash options Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Max video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG 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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 185 grams (0.41 pounds) 198 grams (0.44 pounds)
Dimensions 102 x 64 x 32mm (4.0" x 2.5" x 1.3") 122 x 61 x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2")
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 - 260 pictures
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery model 2 x AA D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2, 10, Custom, Face) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus/HD MMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal
Card slots One One
Pricing at release $220 $300