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Canon A3100 IS vs Pentax WG-2

Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
14
Overall
26
Canon PowerShot A3100 IS front
 
Pentax Optio WG-2 front
Portability
91
Imaging
39
Features
37
Overall
38

Canon A3100 IS vs Pentax WG-2 Key Specs

Canon A3100 IS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 35-140mm (F2.7-5.6) lens
  • 165g - 97 x 58 x 28mm
  • Introduced January 2010
Pentax WG-2
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 192g - 122 x 61 x 30mm
  • Announced February 2012
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Canon A3100 IS vs Pentax WG-2 Overview

Let's look more closely at the Canon A3100 IS and Pentax WG-2, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Waterproof by manufacturers Canon and Pentax. There exists a noticeable gap between the image resolutions of the A3100 IS (12MP) and WG-2 (16MP) but both cameras boast the identical sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The A3100 IS was manufactured 3 years earlier than the WG-2 which is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before getting into a in-depth comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the A3100 IS grades against the WG-2 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon A3100 IS over the Pentax WG-2

 A3100 IS WG-2 

Reasons to pick Pentax WG-2 over the Canon A3100 IS

 WG-2 A3100 IS 
AnnouncedFebruary 2012January 2010More modern by 25 months
Manual focus More accurate focusing
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Canon A3100 IS and Pentax WG-2

 A3100 IS WG-2 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lack of Touch friendly screen

Canon A3100 IS vs Pentax WG-2 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to carry around your camera often, you will want to factor its weight and measurements. The Canon A3100 IS has exterior dimensions of 97mm x 58mm x 28mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 1.1") with a weight of 165 grams (0.36 lbs) while the Pentax WG-2 has proportions of 122mm x 61mm x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2") accompanied by a weight of 192 grams (0.42 lbs).

Take a look at the Canon A3100 IS and Pentax WG-2 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you select at the time. Here is a front view overall size comparison of the A3100 IS against the WG-2.

Canon A3100 IS vs Pentax WG-2 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the A3100 IS and WG-2 is 94 and 91 respectively.

Canon A3100 IS vs Pentax WG-2 top view buttons comparison

Canon A3100 IS vs Pentax WG-2 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very hard to imagine the gap between sensor sizes merely by checking a spec sheet. The picture underneath should offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the A3100 IS and WG-2.

Clearly, each of these cameras come with the identical sensor size albeit different MP. You can count on the Pentax WG-2 to give extra detail due to its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will let you crop shots a good deal more aggressively. The more aged A3100 IS is going to be behind in sensor tech.

Canon A3100 IS vs Pentax WG-2 sensor size comparison

Canon A3100 IS vs Pentax WG-2 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon A3100 IS vs Pentax WG-2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon A3100 IS Portrait photography features
Pentax WG-2 Portrait photography features
21
manual focus not available
manual mode not possible
external flash not possible
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
40
manual focus
decent megapixels (16MP)
features face detection focusing
manual exposure not available
no external flash support
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon A3100 IS Street photography factors
Pentax WG-2 Street photography factors
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
54
environment sealing
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon A3100 IS
Sports photography with Pentax WG-2
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
slow frames per second (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
38
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
features tracking autofocus
environment sealing
max fps low (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon A3100 IS Travel photography factors
Pentax WG-2 Travel photography factors
51
flash built-in
does not have Time Lapse mode
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
wide angle not fantastic (35mm)
slow max aperture (f2.7)
70
environment sealing
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (28mm)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon A3100 IS Landscape photography information
Pentax WG-2 Landscape photography information
27
built in image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (35mm)
slow max aperture (f2.7)
tiny screen (2.7")
manual mode not possible
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
does not have Time Lapse mode
47
manual focus
reasonably wide (28mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
environment sealing
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
manual exposure not available
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon A3100 IS as a Vlogging camera
Pentax WG-2 as a Vlogging camera
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not fantastic (35mm)
slow max aperture (f2.7)
screen is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (640 x 480 pixels)
does not have mic socket
30
reasonably wide (28mm)
features face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
lack of external mic port
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Canon A3100 IS vs Pentax WG-2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon A3100 IS and Pentax WG-2
 Canon PowerShot A3100 ISPentax Optio WG-2
General Information
Brand Canon Pentax
Model type Canon PowerShot A3100 IS Pentax Optio WG-2
Type Small Sensor Compact Waterproof
Introduced 2010-01-05 2012-02-07
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD 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 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 100 125
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 35-140mm (4.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Max aperture f/2.7-5.6 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focusing distance 3cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.7 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 230 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology - Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15s 4s
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 3.00 m 5.40 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, 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 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 format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 165 gr (0.36 lb) 192 gr (0.42 lb)
Physical dimensions 97 x 58 x 28mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 1.1") 122 x 61 x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 - 260 photographs
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-8L D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2, 10, Custom, Face) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC/MMC/MMCplus/HD MMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Launch price $159 $350