Clicky

Canon A3500 IS vs Pentax WG-2

Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
35
Overall
37
Canon PowerShot A3500 IS front
 
Pentax Optio WG-2 front
Portability
91
Imaging
39
Features
37
Overall
38

Canon A3500 IS vs Pentax WG-2 Key Specs

Canon A3500 IS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F2.8-6.9) lens
  • 135g - 98 x 56 x 20mm
  • Released January 2013
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
  • Launched February 2012
Photography Glossary

Canon A3500 IS vs Pentax WG-2 Overview

Following is a extended analysis of the Canon A3500 IS and Pentax WG-2, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Waterproof by companies Canon and Pentax. The image resolution of the A3500 IS (16MP) and the WG-2 (16MP) is relatively well matched and they possess the same exact sensor sizing (1/2.3").

President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

The A3500 IS was manufactured 12 months after the WG-2 so they are of a similar generation. Each of the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving through a in-depth comparison, below is a concise view of how the A3500 IS scores versus the WG-2 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards
	
	

Reasons to pick Canon A3500 IS over the Pentax WG-2

 A3500 IS WG-2 
LaunchedJanuary 2013February 2012More modern by 12 months
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax WG-2 over the Canon A3500 IS

 WG-2 A3500 IS 
Focus manually More precise focusing
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Canon A3500 IS and Pentax WG-2

 A3500 IS WG-2 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurement
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Canon A3500 IS vs Pentax WG-2 Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry around your camera frequently, you will have to consider its weight and volume. The Canon A3500 IS features physical measurements of 98mm x 56mm x 20mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") accompanied by a weight of 135 grams (0.30 lbs) while the Pentax WG-2 has sizing 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 A3500 IS and Pentax WG-2 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you have chosen at that moment. The following is the front view size comparison of the A3500 IS and the WG-2.

Canon A3500 IS vs Pentax WG-2 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the A3500 IS and WG-2 is 96 and 91 respectively.

Canon A3500 IS vs Pentax WG-2 top view buttons comparison

Canon A3500 IS vs Pentax WG-2 Sensor Comparison

Often, it's difficult to envision the difference between sensor sizes simply by looking at technical specs. The image below may provide you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the A3500 IS and WG-2.

As you have seen, both the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing and the same exact resolution so you should expect similar quality of images however you have to factor the release date of the products into consideration. The younger A3500 IS will have an advantage with regard to sensor technology.

Canon A3500 IS vs Pentax WG-2 sensor size comparison

Canon A3500 IS vs Pentax WG-2 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon A3500 IS vs Pentax WG-2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon A3500 IS as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax WG-2 as a Portrait photography camera
34
MP count decent (16MP)
offers face detection focus
lack of manual focus
lack of manual mode
can't use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
40
you can focus manually
good megapixels (16MP)
has face detect focusing
manual mode not possible
cannot use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon A3500 IS
Street photography with Pentax WG-2
67
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports focus via touch
lighter than average (135g)
screen is fixed
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
54
weather proof
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Sports Comparison

Canon A3500 IS Sports photography information
Pentax WG-2 Sports photography information
38
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16MP)
offers tracking autofocus
max frames per second very slow (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
small sensor (1/2.3")
low battery life (200 per charge)
no phase detect auto focus
38
good megapixels (16MP)
has tracking focus
weather proof
max frames per second very slow (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Travel Comparison

Canon A3500 IS Travel photography advice
Pentax WG-2 Travel photography advice
68
lighter than average (135 grams)
supports focus via touch
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
really wide (28mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
low battery life (200 CIPA)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
70
weather proof
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
decently wide (28mm)
does not have a selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Landscape Comparison

Canon A3500 IS as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax WG-2 as a Landscape photography camera
41
really wide (28mm)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
lack of manual mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
low battery life (200 shots)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
47
you can focus manually
decently wide (28mm)
screen is a good size (3")
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
weather proof
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
manual mode not possible
lack of image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Vlogging Comparison

Canon A3500 IS Vlogging highlights
Pentax WG-2 Vlogging highlights
34
really wide (28mm)
touchscreen enabled
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focus
lighter than average (135g)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have external microphone socket
30
decently wide (28mm)
has face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
does not have a selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
missing mic support
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Canon A3500 IS vs Pentax WG-2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon A3500 IS and Pentax WG-2
 Canon PowerShot A3500 ISPentax Optio WG-2
General Information
Brand Canon Pentax
Model Canon PowerShot A3500 IS Pentax Optio WG-2
Category Small Sensor Compact Waterproof
Released 2013-01-07 2012-02-07
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip DIGIC 4 -
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 surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4288 x 3216
Max native ISO 1600 6400
Min native ISO 100 125
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-140mm (5.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Highest aperture f/2.8-6.9 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus range 3cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3" 3"
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology - Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 15s 4s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 3.00 m 5.40 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (25 fps) 640 x 480 (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 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 135 grams (0.30 lb) 192 grams (0.42 lb)
Dimensions 98 x 56 x 20mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") 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 200 shots 260 shots
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NB-11L D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at release $115 $350