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Canon S120 vs Pentax WG-3

Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
57
Overall
45
Canon PowerShot S120 front
 
Pentax WG-3 front
Portability
90
Imaging
39
Features
44
Overall
41

Canon S120 vs Pentax WG-3 Key Specs

Canon S120
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-120mm (F1.8-5.7) lens
  • 217g - 100 x 59 x 29mm
  • Launched November 2013
  • Earlier Model is Canon S110
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 S120 vs Pentax WG-3 Overview

Its time to look much closer at the Canon S120 vs Pentax WG-3, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Waterproof by manufacturers Canon and Pentax. There exists a sizeable gap among the sensor resolutions of the S120 (12MP) and WG-3 (16MP) and the S120 (1/1.7") and WG-3 (1/2.3") provide totally different sensor measurements.

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The S120 was unveiled 5 months after the WG-3 so they are of a similar generation. Both of the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before diving into a detailed comparison, here is a quick introduction of how the S120 matches up versus the WG-3 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon S120 over the Pentax WG-3

 S120 WG-3 
Screen resolution922k460kClearer screen (+462k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax WG-3 over the Canon S120

 WG-3 S120 

Common features in the Canon S120 and Pentax WG-3

 S120 WG-3 
RevealedNovember 2013July 2013Same generation
Manually focus Very exact focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurements
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen

Canon S120 vs Pentax WG-3 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to carry around your camera frequently, you'll have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Canon S120 offers external dimensions of 100mm x 59mm x 29mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 1.1") with a weight of 217 grams (0.48 lbs) while the Pentax WG-3 has dimensions of 124mm x 64mm x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") with a weight of 230 grams (0.51 lbs).

Analyze the Canon S120 vs Pentax WG-3 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you select at the time. Following is a front view size comparison of the S120 against the WG-3.

Canon S120 vs Pentax WG-3 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the S120 and WG-3 is 92 and 90 respectively.

Canon S120 vs Pentax WG-3 top view buttons comparison

Canon S120 vs Pentax WG-3 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very hard to envision the contrast in sensor sizes just by looking through specifications. The pic below may give you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the S120 and WG-3.

Plainly, each of the cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The S120 using its bigger sensor will make getting bokeh less difficult and the Pentax WG-3 will provide you with extra detail having an extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop photographs a bit more aggressively.

Canon S120 vs Pentax WG-3 sensor size comparison

Canon S120 vs Pentax WG-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon S120 vs Pentax WG-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon S120 Portrait photography advice
Pentax WG-3 Portrait photography advice
42
has manual focus
supports face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
can't use external flash
low resolution sensor (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
40
has manual focus
resolution is good (16MP)
includes face detect autofocus
no manual control
no external flash support
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon S120
Street photography with Pentax WG-3
65
built in image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW formats
has focus via touch
screen is fixed
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
more heavy than competitors in class (217g)
61
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proofing
fixed screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Canon S120 Sports photography advice
Pentax WG-3 Sports photography advice
38
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports tracking autofocus
low resolution sensor (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
no phase detect AF
44
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
includes tracking focus
weather proofing
no shutter priority
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
low battery pack (240 CIPA)
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon S120 Travel photography highlights
Pentax WG-3 Travel photography highlights
67
has focus via touch
built-in flash
reasonably wide (24mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
more heavy than competitors in class (217g)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
72
weather proofing
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
decently wide (25mm)
good max aperture (f2.0)
low battery pack (240 CIPA)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Canon S120 Landscape photography info
Pentax WG-3 Landscape photography info
57
has manual focus
reasonably wide (24mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW formats
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
53
has manual focus
decently wide (25mm)
good max aperture (f2.0)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
weather proofing
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
no manual control
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
low battery pack (240 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon S120 Vlogging info
Pentax WG-3 Vlogging info
35
reasonably wide (24mm)
fast maximum aperture (f1.8)
touchscreen enabled
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
missing external microphone socket
more heavy than competitors in class (217 grams)
36
decently wide (25mm)
good max aperture (f2.0)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detect autofocus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display is not selfie friendly
doesn't have microphone jack
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Canon S120 vs Pentax WG-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon S120 and Pentax WG-3
 Canon PowerShot S120Pentax WG-3
General Information
Brand Canon Pentax
Model type Canon PowerShot S120 Pentax WG-3
Type Small Sensor Compact Waterproof
Launched 2013-11-26 2013-07-19
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Digic 6 -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/1.7" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 7.44 x 5.58mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 41.5mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 12800 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 125
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-120mm (5.0x) 25-100mm (4.0x)
Max aperture f/1.8-5.7 f/2.0-4.9
Macro focusing range 3cm 1cm
Crop factor 4.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 922 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech TFT PureColor II G Touch screen LCD 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 speed 12.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 7.00 m 3.40 m
Flash modes Auto, on, slow synchro, off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 or 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 217g (0.48 lbs) 230g (0.51 lbs)
Physical dimensions 100 x 59 x 29mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 1.1") 124 x 64 x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 56 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.3 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.9 not tested
DXO Low light rating 246 not tested
Other
Battery life 230 photos 240 photos
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-6LH D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at release $449 $300