Choosing Between the Canon PowerShot SX270 HS and the Pentax Optio WG-2 GPS: A Detailed Hands-On Comparison

When it comes to compact cameras that promise versatility, portability, and decent zoom ranges, the Canon PowerShot SX270 HS and the Pentax Optio WG-2 GPS are two models that often pop up on enthusiasts’ radar. Both from reputable manufacturers, launched within a year of each other, these cameras target somewhat different audiences - but with overlapping appeal for travel and casual photography. Having extensively tested both, I’m excited to share a thorough, practical comparison that should help you decide which one fits your shooting style and priorities best.

First Impressions: Handling and Design Differences

Right out of the gate, you’ll notice that these two cameras, though both compact, have distinct physical presences. The Canon SX270 HS measures a trim 106 x 63 x 33 mm and weighs about 233 grams, while the Pentax WG-2 GPS is slightly larger at 122 x 61 x 30 mm but lighter at 198 grams. This difference reflects Pentax’s ruggedized construction designed for outdoor durability - more on that later.

The Canon benefits from a classic small superzoom design with rubberized grips facilitating secure one-handed operation. The lens barrel extends smoothly and feels reasonably robust for a compact. Pentax’s WG-2 GPS, in contrast, sports a noticeably chunkier frame, emphasizing environmental sealing and shock resistance. For photographers who hike, dive, or shoot in rough conditions, that robust build is a significant plus, though it does make the camera less pocketable.

Both cameras stick to fixed lenses, but Canon’s zoom range extends much farther - 25-500 mm equivalent versus Pentax’s 28-140 mm - which already hints at their differing use cases. Notice the cleaner button layout on Canon, favoring tactile feedback over Pentax’s somewhat utilitarian button cluster.

Ergonomics and Controls: Intuitive or Clunky?

The Canon SX270 HS offers shutter and aperture priority modes and manual exposure controls, something you don’t often find in this category. This appeals to enthusiasts wanting creative control in a compact body. The logical exposure compensation dial is a joy when needing quick adjustments. It’s a camera that clearly suits those who want a bit more flexibility without lugging heavier gear.

By contrast, Pentax’s WG-2 GPS is decidedly more point-and-shoot oriented. It lacks any manual modes, restricting you to auto or presets. While this may frustrate photographers who want to tweak settings, it suits beginners or travelers who prefer straightforward operation - just point, shoot, and move on. The inclusion of a timelapse recording mode in the Pentax is a nice bonus for creative time-lapse enthusiasts, something the Canon doesn’t offer.

Both have fixed 3-inch LCD screens with similar resolution (~460-461k dots) but Pentax’s “Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating” performs noticeably better outdoors, reducing glare under harsh sunlight. Canon’s screen, while crisp, can struggle in direct light, a small but tangible difference if you shoot a lot outdoors.

Sensor, Image Quality, and Performance: Pixel Peeping Every Detail?

Neither camera is a slouch in sensor technology, both sporting BSI-CMOS sensors measuring 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm, 28.07 mm² area). That’s typical for this class but inherently limiting in dynamic range and noise performance compared to larger APS-C or full-frame sensors.

The Pentax WG-2 GPS delivers 16 megapixels of resolution, a slight edge over Canon’s 12 MP. On paper, the higher pixel count may translate to finer detail, especially for landscape or travel shots you want to crop later. However, more megapixels on a small sensor can sometimes exacerbate noise issues - which is indeed observable under medium-to-high ISO conditions.

In real-world testing, the Canon SX270 HS impresses with slightly cleaner images at ISO 800 and above, thanks to Canon’s Digic 6 processor and noise reduction algorithms. Detail retention is solid up to ISO 400, but past that, noise creeps in more noticeably on the Pentax, especially in shadows. Canon’s sensor-handler synergy delivers punchier colors and superior skin tones, making it better suited for portraits.

That said, the Pentax’s sensor excels at resolving textures in good lighting, and paired with its sharp lens, landscapes and macro captures are quite appealing.

Autofocus and Shooting Speed: Who’s Quicker on the Draw?

Sharp, accurate autofocus is critical across almost all photography types but especially for wildlife, sports, and street photography where moments fly by.

Canon provides a continuous AF system optimized with contrast detection and face detection, supporting AF tracking for moving subjects. I found Canon’s autofocus faster and more reliable for dynamic scenes at moderate distances. Single AF mode locks focus relatively quickly, and the 4 fps continuous shooting rate is adequate for basic action shots.

Pentax, meanwhile, offers only single AF with contrast detection and face detection. Tracking AF is technically present but not as responsive, and continuous shooting maxes out at a leisurely 1 fps. If you’re after fast action photography, Pentax’s WG-2 GPS feels sluggish in comparison.

However, WG-2 GPS focuses impressively close - down to 1 cm in macro mode, compared to Canon’s 5 cm. For those who prioritize macro or close-ups, Pentax edges ahead.

Zoom Range and Versatility: Giants or Generalists?

The Canon’s massive 25-500 mm (20x optical zoom) lens is a standout feature. It gives you everything from wide-angle landscapes to far-reaching telephoto shots in one compact package. The aperture range of f/3.5-6.8 is reasonable for this zoom reach, although at the telephoto end, shooting handheld can get tricky despite the optical image stabilization.

In contrast, the Pentax sticks to a smaller 28-140 mm (5x zoom), limiting telephoto reach but keeping the lens optics simpler and lighter. This range suits general all-purpose shooting, travel snapshots, and underwater use (given the waterproof design). The Pentax also lacks optical image stabilization, which means at longer focal lengths or low light, camera shake is more noticeable.

The Canon’s longer reach also benefits wildlife and sports photography, provided you stabilize your shots, while the Pentax feels more like a rugged, easy travel companion.

Weather Sealing and Durability: Ready for Adventure?

This is where the Pentax WG-2 GPS truly shines. Built for rugged environments, it’s waterproof (down to 12m/40ft), dustproof, shockproof, crushproof, and even freezeproof. That’s remarkable durability for such a compact camera and makes it an obvious choice for serious outdoor enthusiasts, snorkelers, or anyone working in extreme weather.

Canon SX270 HS lacks any environmental sealing and isn’t designed for exposure to harsh elements. If you’re careful and shoot mostly in urban or tame outdoor settings, that’s fine - but for adventurous or rugged use, it’s a no-go.

Additionally, the Pentax includes built-in GPS for geotagging, a neat feature for travelers who want to map their shots without carrying extra gadgets.

Battery Life and Storage: Practical Considerations

Pentax’s WG-2 GPS edges out with an estimated 260 shot battery life compared to Canon’s 210 shots per charge. Modest endurance by today’s standards but typical for compact point-and-shoots of this era.

Both cameras rely on proprietary rechargeable battery packs - NB-6L (Canon) and D-LI92 (Pentax) - which you’ll want to invest in spares of if you’re going to spend a day shooting outside.

Storage-wise, both use SD/SDHC/SDXC cards with a single slot, so no surprises there.

Video Capabilities: Modest but Serviceable

Both cameras can shoot Full HD 1080p video at 30 fps; Canon also offers 1080p at 60 fps for smoother motion capture. Video quality between them is generally similar, with MPEG-4 and H.264 formats.

Neither has microphone or headphone ports, and there’s no 4K video - understandable given their launch dates. Canon’s video stabilization helps make handheld clips less shaky, while Pentax’s lack of image stabilization can cause more jitter in video footage.

For casual videographers, Canon’s faster frame rate and image stabilization give it a slight advantage.

Image Samples and Real-World Use Scenarios

I ran both cameras through a series of genres to see which suits your style. Here’s a quick overview, with some real image examples in the gallery below:

Canon SX270 HS front Canon SX270 HS screen back Pentax WG 2 GPS front Pentax WG 2 GPS screen back

Portraits: Canon’s better skin tone reproduction and bokeh thanks to depth of field control makes it a more flattering choice for portraits.

Landscapes: Pentax’s higher resolution and sharp optics delight in landscape shots, especially in bright daylight where its dynamic range, while limited, still produces pleasing results.

Wildlife: Canon’s extended zoom and faster AF system are by far better suited for wildlife. Pentax’s short zoom and slow AF limit its usability here.

Sports: Similarly, Canon wins for sports with faster continuous shooting and tracking, while Pentax is too slow and limited.

Street: Here it’s a toss-up. Canon’s smaller size and discrete design win points, but its longer zoom can be intrusive. Pentax’s bulk and rugged look might draw attention but is ready for unpredictable street environments (rain, dust).

Macro: Pentax benefits from close = 1cm focusing, winning hands down for macro and detailed close-ups.

Night/Astro: Both cameras are limited due to small sensors and limited ISO performance, but Canon’s cleaner noise handling in low light makes it preferable.

Video: Canon’s 60 fps mode and stabilization provide smoother footage.

Travel: Pentax’s ruggedness and GPS make it a go-to for adventurers. Canon’s zoom and control versatility favor general tourism and diverse shooting needs.

Professional Use: Neither is a professional mainstay, but Canon’s manual controls make it a better supplement tool in the right contexts.

Technical Rundown: What’s Under the Hood?

• Sensor: Both 1/2.3" BSI-CMOS; Canon 12 MP, Pentax 16 MP.
• Processor: Canon Digic 6 offers better noise control; Pentax processor details unlisted.
• Zoom: Canon 20x vs Pentax 5x.
• Stabilization: Canon Optical IS vs no IBIS on Pentax.
• AF Points: Pentax lists 9 points - all contrast detection; Canon’s exact number unspecified but with face and tracking.
• Exposure Modes: Canon supports full manual; Pentax limited to auto and scene.
• Screen: Both 3” fixed LCD, Pentax’s has anti-reflective coating.
• Connectivity: Pentax with Eye-Fi wireless compatibility and built-in GPS; Canon none.
• Durability: Pentax fully rugged; Canon none.
• Battery Life: Pentax 260 shots; Canon 210 shots.
• Weight: Canon slightly heavier.
• Price: Essentially neck and neck, roughly $280-$300 street price.

Final Thoughts and Recommendations

If you’re a photography enthusiast who values manual control, extensive zoom, and better low-light performance, the Canon PowerShot SX270 HS is your best bet. It delivers versatility with respectable image quality and more creative freedom. It’s perfect for casual wildlife, travel, or portrait photography and for those wanting a compact travel zoom that behaves more like a traditional camera.

On the other hand, if you lead an active outdoor lifestyle - hiking, diving, skiing - or need a truly rugged companion that won’t quit in harsh environments, the Pentax Optio WG-2 GPS makes a compelling case. Its robust weatherproof design, built-in GPS, and excellent macro capabilities cater perfectly to adventurers and nature lovers who prioritize durability and location tagging over zoom reach or manual controls.

Dear Canon, if you ever consider a weather-sealed version of the SX270 series with GPS and longer battery life, you might just capture both markets!

No matter your choice, these cameras serve very different but valuable niches. Your final pick should hinge on where and how you shoot most often: controlled creative shooting or rugged adventure-ready reliability.

Thank you for reading my detailed comparison - feel free to reach out with questions or for deeper insights on specific use cases. Happy shooting!

End of Review