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Canon A3500 IS vs Pentax WG-3

Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
35
Overall
37
Canon PowerShot A3500 IS front
 
Pentax WG-3 front
Portability
90
Imaging
39
Features
44
Overall
41

Canon A3500 IS vs Pentax WG-3 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-3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • 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 A3500 IS vs Pentax WG-3 Overview

Its time to look a little more closely at the Canon A3500 IS and Pentax WG-3, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Waterproof by competitors Canon and Pentax. The image resolution of the A3500 IS (16MP) and the WG-3 (16MP) is fairly similar and they feature the same exact sensor size (1/2.3").

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The A3500 IS was announced 6 months earlier than the WG-3 which means that they are both of a similar generation. The two cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting in to a detailed comparison, below is a quick summation of how the A3500 IS scores against the WG-3 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary

        

Reasons to pick Canon A3500 IS over the Pentax WG-3

 A3500 IS WG-3 
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax WG-3 over the Canon A3500 IS

 WG-3 A3500 IS 
Focus manually Dial accurate focus
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Canon A3500 IS and Pentax WG-3

 A3500 IS WG-3 
RevealedJanuary 2013July 2013Similar generation
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display size
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Canon A3500 IS vs Pentax WG-3 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to carry your camera regularly, you should think about its weight and measurements. The Canon A3500 IS offers physical dimensions of 98mm x 56mm x 20mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") and a weight of 135 grams (0.30 lbs) and the Pentax WG-3 has proportions of 124mm x 64mm x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") along with a weight of 230 grams (0.51 lbs).

Analyze the Canon A3500 IS and Pentax WG-3 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are utilizing during that time. The following is the front view measurement comparison of the A3500 IS and the WG-3.

Canon A3500 IS vs Pentax WG-3 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the A3500 IS and WG-3 is 96 and 90 respectively.

Canon A3500 IS vs Pentax WG-3 top view buttons comparison

Canon A3500 IS vs Pentax WG-3 Sensor Comparison

Often, its difficult to envision the difference between sensor sizing just by reading specs. The photograph here should provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the A3500 IS and WG-3.

As you can plainly see, the two cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing and the same exact resolution therefore you should expect similar quality of photographs but you really should factor the release date of the products into consideration.

Canon A3500 IS vs Pentax WG-3 sensor size comparison

Canon A3500 IS vs Pentax WG-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon A3500 IS vs Pentax WG-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon A3500 IS
Portrait photography with Pentax WG-3
34
megapixel count good (16MP)
supports face detect autofocus
no manual focus
manual mode not available
can't use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
40
manual focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
has face detect focus
manual exposure not available
cannot use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon A3500 IS Street photography factors
Pentax WG-3 Street photography factors
67
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides focus via touch
lighter than competition (135g)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
61
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proof
screen does not articulate
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Canon A3500 IS Sports photography info
Pentax WG-3 Sports photography info
38
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
supports tracking focus
low fps (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
bad battery (200 CIPA)
does not have phase detect autofocus
44
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16MP)
has tracking focus
environment proof
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (240 shots)
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon A3500 IS Travel photography advice
Pentax WG-3 Travel photography advice
68
lighter than competition (135 grams)
provides focus via touch
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
bad battery (200 CIPA)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
72
environment proof
megapixel count good (16MP)
built-in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
great max aperture (f2.0)
not so great battery pack (240 per charge)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Canon A3500 IS Landscape photography highlights
Pentax WG-3 Landscape photography highlights
41
fairly wide (28mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
manual mode not available
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
bad battery (200 CIPA)
doesn't have Timelapse function
53
manual focus
fairly wide (25mm)
great max aperture (f2.0)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (16MP)
environment proof
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
manual exposure not available
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
not so great battery pack (240 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon A3500 IS Vlogging information
Pentax WG-3 Vlogging information
34
fairly wide (28mm)
touch screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect autofocus
lighter than competition (135g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have microphone port
36
fairly wide (25mm)
great max aperture (f2.0)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have microphone support
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Canon A3500 IS vs Pentax WG-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon A3500 IS and Pentax WG-3
 Canon PowerShot A3500 ISPentax WG-3
General Information
Brand Name Canon Pentax
Model Canon PowerShot A3500 IS Pentax WG-3
Type Small Sensor Compact Waterproof
Released 2013-01-07 2013-07-19
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor DIGIC 4 -
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 16MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 1600 6400
Min native ISO 100 125
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-140mm (5.0x) 25-100mm (4.0x)
Largest aperture f/2.8-6.9 f/2.0-4.9
Macro focus distance 3cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech - Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 15s 4s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 3.00 m 3.40 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone 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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 135g (0.30 lb) 230g (0.51 lb)
Dimensions 98 x 56 x 20mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") 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 shots 240 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 1 1
Cost at release $115 $300